Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin faces espionage and other charges stemming from allegations that he shared information on national defense

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A US navy officer will stand trial on espionage charges for allegedly handing military secrets to Taiwan and China, an official said Friday.

Prosecutors say Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin committed a string of offenses including espionage, mishandling classified information and failing to follow lawful orders. He was also accused of adultery and using a prostitute.

Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Tim Hawkins told AFP the commanding admiral in the case, Philip Davidson, this week ordered Lin to stand trial at a court martial.

Lin must answer to all the original charges, except for the adultery and prostitution allegations.

The charges of “prostitution and adultery were dismissed without prejudice, meaning further punitive or administrative action may be taken,” Hawkins said.

According to his charge sheets, Lin communicated “secret information relating to the national defense to representatives of a foreign government”.

Officials have said he gave secrets to China and Taiwan, and potentially other countries.

Lin’s defense lawyer Larry Youngner has said his client was entrapped in a “nefarious scheme” by government officials. Youngner did not immediately return a call Friday.

Prior to his arrest, Lin, 39, was assigned to a special squadron based out of a marine corps air base in Hawaii that flew special intelligence-gathering planes.

Lin will be arraigned Tuesday at a naval station in Norfolk, Virginia.