Clinton friend was spy's target

A leading Democratic fundraiser and close political ally of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was been a target of the alleged ring of Russian spies arrested yesterday by federal authorities.

The president of the high-end tax accounting and financial advising firm Morea Financial Services confirmed earlier today that the alleged spy "Cynthia Murphy" was a longtime employee and a vice president at the company, which is located on lower Broadway in Manhattan. Federal and state campaign finance filings suggest that the little-known company manages the finances of one of New York's top Democratic financiers: Alan Patricof, a venture capital figure and the finance chairman of Clinton's Senate campaign, as well as a top presidential campaign fundraiser.

According to the federal complaint, Murphy had "several work-related personal meetings" with a person it describes as "a prominent New York-based financier," and says she and her husband and alleged co-conspirator accurately reported back to Moscow that the financier was "prominent in politics" and "an active fundraiser for" a major political party, as well as "a personal friend" of a current Cabinet secretary, and in a position to provide information about foreign policy.

Murphy, the complaint says, was assigned this person's account.

Patricof fits those descriptions: He's a friend of Secretary Clinton as well as a major Democratic fundraiser.

He also appears to be a Morea client. A 2009 filing with the New York State Board of Elections lists him and his wife Susan "c/o Morea Financial Services," while a Federal Elections Commission document that year lists him as an employee of Morea Financial Services, likely a typo connected to his method of payment, but one which seems to confirm that he used the firm.

Moscow Center, the complaint said, replied to Murphy that the financier in question was a "very interesting target" and that she should "try to build up little by little relations with him moving beyond just [work]."

The target, Moscow Center suggested, could supply "remarks re US foreign policy" as well as

'roumors' about White House internal 'kitchen.'"

The complaint does not make clear whether Murphy was successful in obtaining information, or intensifying her connection, to her target.

Patricof didn't respond to an urgent message left with his office, including details of the connection, earlier this afternoon. Morea, who said she was "shocked" at the spying allegations, didn't respond to a later message asking about Patricof.

Murphy claimed on her LinkedIn page to have studied at both Columbia's and New York University's business schools. A person named Nancy Murphy is a 2000 graduate of New York University's Stern School of Management, a school official said today; another source confirmed that she had studied at Columbia. The complaint alleges that she was also tasked to spy on classmates.

UPDATE: A shocked Patricof confirms that he appears to have been the target, and says he never even talked politics with Murphy.