Civilians Probed in Embassy Spy Scandal : FBI Examining Possible Criminal Violations by U.S. Employees

The FBI is investigating civilian involvement in the U.S. Embassy spy scandal in Moscow that has triggered the arrests of Marine guards, FBI Director William H. Webster said Friday.

Several possible criminal violations, including gross negligence, are being examined in the probe of a number of current and former State Department and other government employees, Webster told Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) in a letter.

Hollings, chairman of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that controls the FBI’s budget, had demanded assurances of a “thorough investigation” before permitting a Senate vote on Webster’s nomination as director of the CIA.

In making Webster’s letter public after meeting with him, Hollings said that he was satisfied and that he had released his “hold” on Webster’s nomination.

Overwhelming approval of the nomination is expected next week.

Broke in March

The spy scandal broke in late March when the Marine Corps alleged that two former Marine security guards had allowed Soviet agents wide access to the embassy in 1986.

Sgt. Clayton J. Lonetree, 25, and Cpl. Arnold Bracy, 21, were charged with espionage and accused of improperly fraternizing with Soviet women. A third Marine who had supervised the other two--Staff Sgt. Robert S. Stufflebeam, 24--also was held on suspicion of improper social contacts with Soviet women but was not linked to spying.

Nearly four dozen other Marines have been recalled to the United States for questioning in connection with that case and possible security violations at other diplomatic posts.

Hollings complained to President Reagan on Wednesday that he was “getting the runaround” from the Justice Department and the FBI about his demand for “a vigorous and thorough investigation” of civilian as well as military personnel at the embassy.

The senator said he had been “appalled” by the congressional testimony of John Glover, a high FBI official, who “indicated the FBI was only monitoring the Naval (Investigative Service) investigation of military personnel ‘and assisting where necessary.’ ”

Disciplinary ‘Breakdown’

Hollings asserted that an all-out probe is needed because “there’s been every indication that there was a general breakdown of discipline and responsibility and perhaps criminal conduct by civilian employees.”

In his letter, Webster told Hollings: “I understand your desire to see this important matter properly investigated and hope to alleviate your concerns.”

After outlining the scope of the inquiry, Webster said the FBI had “received the full cooperation of high-level officials from the White House, Department of State and other agencies.”