American Naval Officer Is Accused of Passing Secrets to Saudi Arabia

NORFOLK, Va. — An American officer is charged with spying for Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, while he was stationed there, the Navy said Wednesday.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael Schwartz is accused of passing on secret documents and computer disks, including daily intelligence summaries, while assigned to the U.S. military training mission in Saudi Arabia, where he was posted from November, 1992, to September, 1994.

Investigators said they don’t believe Schwartz traded information for money but declined to elaborate.

Schwartz, 43, of El Paso, Tex., will undergo an Article 32 investigation at the Norfolk Naval Base, where he is assigned while the probe continues, said Cmdr. Kevin Wensing, a spokesman for the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet Air Force.

An Article 32 proceeding is similar to a grand jury investigation. The charges could be sent to court-martial or recommended for administrative discipline, or the case could be dismissed.

Schwartz is charged with violating federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including three counts of espionage, five counts of violating regulations by taking classified documents home and storing them in a gym bag, and one count of making a false official statement.

Schwartz’s lawyer, Lt. Cmdr. Julie Tinker, declined to take a reporter’s call Wednesday.

No date has been set for a hearing.