‘I am a traitor’

This is photo of U.S. State Department diplomat Michael Schena holding up an iPhone to copy a classified document on his office computer screen:

It was taken by a hidden surveillance camera on February 27, 2025 while Schena, a South Caribbean desk officer, was under investigation for selling military and diplomatic secrets to Chinese agents. (The actual document is blacked out in the photo, though the name of the State Department’s classified computer syste, ClassNet, is visible.)

The Chinese agents, who posed as international business consultants, had recruited Schena on LinkedIn, according to court records. He sold at least 11 documents to the agents for more than $13,000.

Schena confessed while being interrogated by the FBI.

“I am a traitor,” he admitted.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to four years in prison last month.