US contractor admits passing secrets to Ethiopia
Abraham Teklu Lemma shared classified intelligence with Ethiopian officials for over two years.
An Ethiopian-born American citizen, Abraham Teklu Lemma, has pleaded guilty to providing classified intelligence to Ethiopia, including information intended to help target fighters in the country's civil war. The former US contractor admitted to sharing dozens of classified documents and photographs with senior Ethiopian officials between 2021 and August 2023.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that Lemma betrayed his oath, colleagues, and country, jeopardizing national security. The 54-year-old worked for agencies including the State Department and the National Reconnaissance Office, extracting electronic intelligence files and copying sensitive information into handwritten notes. He faces up to 22 years in prison.
Lemma's plea agreement includes a sentencing scheduled for next April. The civil war, which concluded prior to his arrest, reportedly killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Why it mattersAn Ethiopian-born American citizen pleaded guilty to passing classified intelligence to Ethiopia, jeopardizing national security.