-Caveat Lector-

FBI Raids Home of Accused Scientist

By BARRY MASSEY
.c The Associated Press

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) -- FBI agents searched the home of a fired Los Alamos
National Laboratory scientist for nearly six hours Saturday, hauling away
boxes of evidence in their investigation into whether nuclear weapons secrets
were leaked to China.

The raid at the single-story brick and wooden home of Wen Ho Lee pierced the
tranquility of the suburban neighborhood just outside Los Alamos where the
Taiwan-born American scientist lives.

``There was a lot of commotion going on. People were driving by, neighbors
were outside and agents were coming and going,'' said Phillip Warnock, a
neighbor who also works at the Los Alamos laboratory.

Warnock said Lee, who hasn't spoken publicly since he was fired earlier this
year on suspicions he may have given nuclear secrets to China, emerged
briefly from his home without speaking. ``He looked like he was going to
prune the tree outside'' then spotted a cameraman and retreated inside,
Warnock said.

In Washington, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said the search was part of
``the ongoing investigation of alleged espionage'' at U.S. nuclear weapons
laboratories.

Richardson said the FBI is ``pursuing this case vigorously, and the
Department of Energy is supporting the law enforcement effort fully. We've
also taken a number of actions to ensure strong protection of the national
security capabilities at Energy Department labs, now and in the future.''

Lee has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and FBI officials caution they
may not have a criminal case when their investigation ends. ``No inference of
guilt should be taken in regard to the search warrant,'' FBI special agent
Doug Beldon said.

The search occurred the day after Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji wrapped up a
trip to Washington that included meetings with President Clinton and
congressional leaders. China denies stealing any U.S. secrets.

The investigation began in 1996 into whether Lee transferred intelligence on
the W-88 nuclear warhead during the Reagan administration.

China's government-run Xinhua News Agency reported last month that Lee
attended two conferences with Chinese counterparts in the 1980s but said no
secrets were passed.

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