Fox News Guest Analyst Charged With Fraud Over CIA Claims

Wayne Simmons, a frequent guest on Fox News who has professed to be an expert on covert operations with a long career at the CIA, has been arrested for making false statements, major fraud against the U.S. and wire fraud.

Simmons has said that he worked for the CIA for 27 years, from 1973 to 2000, performing special operations, the Washington Post reports. Federal prosecutors say this is untrue, and that he used these falsehoods to gain not only traction in the media, but also government contracts with some degree of security clearance in recent years.

Since two guns were found in Simmons’ possession when he was arrested—and because he has a previous felony conviction—an assistant U.S. attorney has asked that he be detained, and a district court judge complied on Friday.

[Washington Post]