Ex-Hill aide charged in spying for Iraq

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A former congressional aide for several Democratic lawmakers was arrested yesterday as a spy and agent of influence for Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Susan Lindauer, 41, was arrested at her home in Takoma Park. She was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday for conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent for Iraq from October 1999 until February.

As she was led to a car outside the Baltimore FBI office, Miss Lindauer shouted: "I'm an antiwar activist and I'm innocent.

"I did more to stop terrorism in this country than anybody else," she said. "I have done good things for this country. I worked to get weapons inspectors back to Iraq when everyone else said it was impossible. I'm very proud and I'll stand by my achievements."

An intelligence official said Miss Lindauer was first detected by U.S. counterintelligence methods, including surveillance of Iraq diplomats in New York.

Details of the effort were also disclosed in documents uncovered in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April, the official said.

The official declined to reveal any damage from the case.

"She was more of an influence peddler," the official said.

From March to May 2002, Miss Lindauer worked as a press secretary for Rep. Zoe Lofgren, California Democrat. Mrs. Lofgren, a Judiciary Committee member, said in a statement, "To my knowledge, this former employee had no access to sensitive information."