Bribery Accusations Against U.S. Diplomats in Spain

According to the Spanish newspaper "El País," on Thursday, citing government sources, "Madrid quietly expelled at least two members of the U.S. embassy staff for allegedly bribing elements in the Spanish intelligence services to obtain confidential information." "El País" reported that there may be more than "two American spies" involved in this case. It added that two Spanish intelligence agency officers, a regional chief and his assistant, were arrested two months ago, and a court has ordered that their case remain confidential. The report stated, "This is a very serious matter because recruiting secret agents from a host country to betray their own nation is an open acts of hostility, carried out with enemy governments, but it never happens with friendly or allied governments." No immediate confirmation has been issued from either of the two countries, which are allies and typically share sensitive intelligence information.