Recurring Guest On Fox News Arrested For Falsely Claiming He Was In CIA
A regular FOX News guest was arrested for pretending to have worked for the CIA for over two decades.
Wayne Simmons, 62, claimed to be an "Outside Paramilitary Special Operations officer" for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1973 until 2000, according to CNN.
He often appeared on FOX News above the label "Former CIA Operative" to discuss matters regarding CIA interrogation, national security and terrorism with hosts such as Sean Hannity and Neil Cavuto.
Simmons' online biography reads,
He spearheaded Deep Cover Intel Ops against some of the world's most dangerous Drug Cartels and arms smugglers from Central and South America and the Middle East.
But on Thursday, Simmons was arrested after a federal grand jury indicted him for allegedly committing major fraud and wire fraud, making false statements to the government and using his fallacious identity to gain government security clearances and a job as a defense contractor.
A press release from the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia reportedly stated this contractor position involved Simmons "getting deployed overseas as an intelligence advisor to senior military personnel."
Simmons was also previously arrested and convicted for a variety of offenses related to violence and firearms.
The federal indictment against him noted much of his criminal prosecutions "were directly related to his supposed intelligence work for the CIA," Huffington Post reports.
Some of the many outrageous statements Simmons made on FOX News include claiming waterboarding is not torture and saying there are "at least 19" training camps for Muslim extremists in the US.
He may go to prison for up to 35 years if convicted of the fraud charges.
On Thursday, FOX News spokesperson Irena Briganti told CNN Simmons "was never a contributor" and was not paid for his appearances.
Citations: Wayne Simmons recurring Fox News guest charged with lying about CIA ties (CNN Money), Comment Feds Arrest Fox News Commentator Allege He Lied About CIA Past (Huffington Post)
