Kendall Myers
Encyclopedia
Walter Kendall Myers is a retired U.S. State Department Officer who, with his wife, Gwendolyn, was arrested and indicted on June 4, 2009, on charges of nearly 30 years of spying for Cuba
.
. He is also related to William Howard Taft
through his father. He graduated from Brown University
and earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
. He began working for the US State Department as a contract instructor at its Foreign Service Institute
in 1977, and for 20 years, he has been a part-time faculty member at Johns Hopkins' Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
. From 2000 until his retirement in October 2007, he worked as a European analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Myers’ State Department service was primarily in domestic positions. Myers’ spouse, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, was never employed by the U.S. Department of State.
" between the United States and the United Kingdom as "one sided" and a "myth". He said that he was "ashamed" of the treatment by US President George W. Bush
toward Prime Minister Tony Blair
.
In response, UK MP Denis MacShane
said, "After the Republican defeat in the midterm election, every little rat who feasted during the Bush years is now leaving the ship. I would respect this gentleman, who I have never heard of, if he had had the guts to make any of these points two or five years ago."
The US State Department distanced itself from Myers comments, stating, "He was speaking as an academic, not as a representative of the State Department."
operation and that they had been spying for Cuba for "nearly three decades." The authorities also said that Myers usually relied on his memory or notes for information rather than stealing documents. The couple allegedly used shortwave radio to communicate with Cuban intelligence and also were said to have met with Cuban agents in numerous locations both inside and outside the United States. Myers told undercover agents that he had spent an evening with Fidel Castro
in 1995.
as "one of the great political leaders of our time." Other entries quoted reference a comparison of health care in the United States
and healthcare in Cuba, and "complacency about the poor" in the United States.
in U.S. District Court. Myers pleaded guilty to a three-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to commit espionage and two counts of wire fraud. His wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, 71, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging her with conspiracy to gather and transmit national defense information. As part of his plea agreement, Kendall Myers has agreed to serve a life prison sentence and to cooperate fully with the United States government regarding any criminal activity and intelligence activity by him or others. As part of her plea agreement, Gwendolyn Myers has agreed to serve a sentence of between six and seven and a half years in prison and to cooperate fully with the United States government.
without possibility of parole
. His wife Gwendolyn was sentenced to a total of 81 months in prison.
Hillary Clinton has ordered that a damage assessment be done to investigate the extent of damage done to United States security. The Secretary of State takes this matter seriously and has directed staff to conduct a comprehensive review of this case. She has also undertaken a thorough assessment of past and current Department of State security procedures and practices and provide recommendations for any appropriate or necessary improvements to ensure effective measures are in place to protect sensitive and classified information. In addition, the Secretary directed the Department to conduct a comprehensive damage assessment in coordination with the intelligence community in accordance with established damages protocols and regulations.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Background
Kendall Myers is the grandson of Gilbert Grosvenor and great-grandson of Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
. He is also related to William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
through his father. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He began working for the US State Department as a contract instructor at its Foreign Service Institute
Foreign Service Institute
The Foreign Service Institute is the United States Federal Government's primary training institution for employees of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington...
in 1977, and for 20 years, he has been a part-time faculty member at Johns Hopkins' Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
. From 2000 until his retirement in October 2007, he worked as a European analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Myers’ State Department service was primarily in domestic positions. Myers’ spouse, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, was never employed by the U.S. Department of State.
US–UK "special relationship" controversy
In November 2006, Myers created controversy by describing the "special relationshipSpecial relationship
The Special Relationship is a phrase used to describe the exceptionally close political, diplomatic, cultural, economic, military and historical relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, following its use in a 1946 speech by British statesman Winston Churchill...
" between the United States and the United Kingdom as "one sided" and a "myth". He said that he was "ashamed" of the treatment by US President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
toward Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
In response, UK MP Denis MacShane
Denis MacShane
Denis MacShane is a British politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Rotherham since the 1994 by-election and served as the Minister for Europe from 2002 until 2005, as well as being a current Policy Council member for Labour Friends of Israel.On 14 October 2010, it was announced...
said, "After the Republican defeat in the midterm election, every little rat who feasted during the Bush years is now leaving the ship. I would respect this gentleman, who I have never heard of, if he had had the guts to make any of these points two or five years ago."
The US State Department distanced itself from Myers comments, stating, "He was speaking as an academic, not as a representative of the State Department."
Espionage charge
On June 4, 2009, Myers was arrested and charged, along with his wife Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, with acting as an illegal agent of the Cuban government for nearly 30 years, with providing classified information to that government, and wire fraud. Authorities said that Myers and his wife were caught by an FBI undercoverUndercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
operation and that they had been spying for Cuba for "nearly three decades." The authorities also said that Myers usually relied on his memory or notes for information rather than stealing documents. The couple allegedly used shortwave radio to communicate with Cuban intelligence and also were said to have met with Cuban agents in numerous locations both inside and outside the United States. Myers told undercover agents that he had spent an evening with Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
in 1995.
Alleged motive
It is alleged that the Myerses' actions may not have been prompted by greed, but more by ideology. According to a "law enforcement official", they were "true believers" in the Cuban system. The United States federal affidavit quoted a diary entry by Kendall Myers as saying, "I can see nothing of value that has been lost by the revolution. The revolution has released enormous potential and liberated the Cuban spirit.", and referred to Fidel CastroFidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
as "one of the great political leaders of our time." Other entries quoted reference a comparison of health care in the United States
Health care in the United States
Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. Health care facilities are largely owned and operated by the private sector...
and healthcare in Cuba, and "complacency about the poor" in the United States.
Plea
The Myers pleaded guilty on November 20, 2009, at a hearing before Judge Reggie WaltonReggie Walton
Reggie Barnett Walton is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.-Early life and education :...
in U.S. District Court. Myers pleaded guilty to a three-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to commit espionage and two counts of wire fraud. His wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, 71, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging her with conspiracy to gather and transmit national defense information. As part of his plea agreement, Kendall Myers has agreed to serve a life prison sentence and to cooperate fully with the United States government regarding any criminal activity and intelligence activity by him or others. As part of her plea agreement, Gwendolyn Myers has agreed to serve a sentence of between six and seven and a half years in prison and to cooperate fully with the United States government.
Sentence
On July 16, 2010, Kendall Myers was sentenced to life imprisonmentLife imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
without possibility of parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
. His wife Gwendolyn was sentenced to a total of 81 months in prison.
United States
United States Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Clinton has ordered that a damage assessment be done to investigate the extent of damage done to United States security. The Secretary of State takes this matter seriously and has directed staff to conduct a comprehensive review of this case. She has also undertaken a thorough assessment of past and current Department of State security procedures and practices and provide recommendations for any appropriate or necessary improvements to ensure effective measures are in place to protect sensitive and classified information. In addition, the Secretary directed the Department to conduct a comprehensive damage assessment in coordination with the intelligence community in accordance with established damages protocols and regulations.
Cuba
Upon hearing the news of Myers' arrest, Fidel Castro stated that the case read like "an espionage comic strip". The former Cuban leader declined to say whether the Myers couple really had passed secrets to his regime, but added that they deserved praise if they did.External links
- Why Cuban Spies Are So Difficult To Find by Pamela Hess, The Huffington Post, June 6, 2009
- Disdain for U.S. Policies May Have Led to Alleged Spying for Cuba by Mary Beth Sheridan, The Washington Post, June 7, 2009
- Supermarket Trollies - Tools of Trade for Castro's 'Spies' by The Sydney Morning Herald, June 9, 2009
- Cuba's Spy Program Deeply Rooted in U.S. by Carlos Montaner, The Miami Herald, June 23, 2009
- Spying for Fidel: The Inside Story of Kendall and Gwen Myers by Toby Harnden, Washingtonian, October 2009