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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Rise and Fall of a Fox News Fraud
Wayne Simmons used CIA credentials to get on TV and work with the Pentagon, but prosecutors say it was all a lie
By Reeves Wiedeman January 26, 2016
Simmons was largely anonymous when he first appeared on Fox, in 2002, but he soon became a regular face on the network, alongside a cast of retired military officers who, like Simmons, had been recruited into the Pentagon's "military-analysts program." The initiative invited retired officers who had made names for themselves as television-news commentators to attend regular briefings from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and to make trips to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. In 2009, The New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its report on how the Pentagon used the analysts to build public support for the war in Iraq. The program disbanded, and many of those involved tried to distance themselves from it. But Simmons boasted of his connection as a way to bolster his bona fides, even mentioning it in his Amazon author biography. In 2012, Simmons co-wrote The Natanz Directive, a novel about a retired CIA agent called back for one last op. When the book was published, Rumsfeld contributed a blurb: "Wayne Simmons doesn't just write it. He's lived it."
But according to prosecutors, Simmons was living a lie. Last October, the government charged him with multiple counts of fraud, saying he had never worked for the CIA at all. Prosecutors alleged that Simmons used his supposed intelligence experience not only to secure time on Fox and an audience with Rumsfeld, but also to obtain work with defense contractors, including deployment to a military base in Afghanistan. He was also charged with bilking $125,000 from a woman, with whom prosecutors say he was romantically involved, in a real-estate investment that did not exist. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his trial is scheduled to begin February 23rd. If convicted, he will likely face several years in prison.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fox-news-fraud-20160126
You can bet he's not the only "expert", who is an absolute fraud appearing on the cable news, and not just on fox.
glowing
(12,233 posts)Surely someone checked his credentials? Surely I can't just bid for a military contract without some sort of security clearance? WTF? And probably the thing that caught him up was the real estate fraud.
MerryBlooms
(11,770 posts)LiberalArkie
(15,719 posts)you were ok. Background checks are done by outside contractors unlike they used to be.
longship
(40,416 posts)That was in the 80's, but they went way back.
I passed fine but the FBI had interviewed neighbors from my childhood! They did not kid around with it.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,047 posts)If you promote the right wars, there's no need for background checks.
The Polack MSgt
(13,189 posts)When his background check showed he was full of shit.
Signing on to go into the theater was the beginning of the end of his scam.
It's pretty routine to get an interim clearance while the investigation takes place. Hell he probably just showed some clips from fox to get hired.
But once DIA starts looking and they find out you lied on your application you are in for some trouble.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Exactly right, you don't just get something because you want it. Someone took a bribe.
Blanks
(4,835 posts)How hard would it be to keep from putting some dude that claims to be an expert AND is saying exactly what you want to hear.
It was just too much temptation.
MerryBlooms
(11,770 posts)emulatorloo
(44,131 posts)That includes all of their genuine former government and legal 'experts'
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)and those self-involved morons will believe and hire them. The DNC could hire actors and idiots like Rummy would never know the difference.
No wonder our nation's finances are swirling down the drain.
blm
(113,065 posts)I hope the 'no difference' crowd takes the time to read this.
gwheezie
(3,580 posts)I keep hearing trump saying he gets his foreign policy and terrorism information by watching all the shows.
MerryBlooms
(11,770 posts)2naSalit
(86,646 posts)listening to the voices in his head.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)On the other hand, he was a pretty decent linebacker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Simmons_(American_football)
d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)Say it ain't so!
Separation
(1,975 posts)It would almost be like if they had some batshit crazy idea to put Mark Furhman on there..
packman
(16,296 posts)than some of those very attractive, long legged "newcasters" Fox has on their expert panels.
Archae
(46,335 posts)Not to mention Dinesh D'Souza, and Walid Shoebat.
Johonny
(20,851 posts)fred v
(271 posts)Not surprising that they hired one.
tenderfoot
(8,437 posts)eom
mountain grammy
(26,623 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,770 posts)hughee99
(16,113 posts)did not work for the CIA and everyone takes them at their word. n/t
lpbk2713
(42,759 posts)Apparently they will take anyone.
nitpicker
(7,153 posts)ALEXANDRIA, Va. Wayne Shelby Simmons, 62, of Annapolis, Maryland, a former Fox News commentator who has falsely claimed he spent 27 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), pleaded guilty today to major fraud against the government, wire fraud, and a firearms offense.
(snip)
In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Simmons admitted he defrauded the government in 2008 when he obtained work as a team leader in the U.S. Armys Human Terrain Systems program, and again in 2010 when he was deployed to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence advisor on the International Security Assistance Forces Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team. Simmons admitted making false statements about his financial and criminal history, and admitted that there are no records or any other evidence that he was ever employed by or worked with the CIA, or ever applied for or was granted a security clearance by that agency. Simmons also admitted that in order to obtain the senior intelligence advisor position, he lied about work he had done a year earlier as a team leader on the Human Terrain Systems program. Simmons admitted to making similar false statements in 2009 as well, in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain work with the State Departments Worldwide Protective Service.
As to the wire fraud charge, Simmons admitted to defrauding an individual victim, identified as E.L., out of $125,000 in connection with a bogus real estate investment. Simmons admitted to sending E.L. promised monthly disbursements to make it appear as if her funds had been invested as promised, and to repeatedly lying to her about the whereabouts of her money in order to perpetuate the fraud. As Simmons admitted, he simply spent the funds on personal purposes and there was never any actual real estate investment project.
As to the firearms charge, Simmons admitted that at the time he was arrested in this case, he was unlawfully in possession of two firearms, which he was prohibited from possessing on account of his prior felony convictions, including a prior Maryland felony conviction and two prior federal felony firearms convictions.
Simmons was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 14, 2015, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the major fraud against the government count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the felon-in-possession of a firearm count when sentenced on July 15. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
(snip)