| Coruscant_Journal | Date: Friday, 08 November 13, 10:45 PM | Message # 1 |
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SBI Says Chancellor "Spied on Spies"
Coruscant — Royce Tomson, the Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence (SBI), has made the sensational claim that Supreme Chancellor Pryce has hired the Bothan Spynet—a private espionage network—to "spy on the SBI" and numerous Republic officials, including many Senators and Tomson himself. "In essence, he has spied on the spies," Director Tomson told The Coruscant Journal. If true, the Chancellor may have committed a serious crime.
Director Tomson provided evidence to the Journal showing that the Senate Bureau of Intelligence was aware of Bothan spies attempting to intercept SBI communications with high-profile Senators. Tomson also produced records of payments made to known intermediaries of the Bothan Spynet by the "Chancellor's Fund," an account with the Bank of Aargau (outside of Republic jurisdiction) under the control of the Chancellor's office.
The Chancellor's Fund—established by Chancellor Pryce "to directly invest in construction projects on Republic worlds to stimulate the economy"—was already under investigation by the SBI over allegations that the Chancellor solicited donations to the Fund as bribes, which were later "invested" on home improvements to Pryce's residence on Metellos (including the hugely-expensive construction of an artificial ocean complete with whaladons imported from the planet Dac).
The Chancellor did not answer the Journal's requests for comment, but he has previously referred to the SBI investigation as "politically- and personally-motivated," and "a Dathomir witch hunt."
Now it appears that the Chancellor's Fund has made payments to the Bothan Spynet to listen in on Director Tomson's communications with prominent Senators, including Senators Ordan and Finbar—both well-known critics of Pryce. Tomson also told The Coruscant Journal that "the relationship between the Chancellor and the Bureau of Intelligence has completely broken down," and that Pryce "no longer reads intelligence briefings" from the SBI.
If indeed Pryce contracted with a foreign intelligence agency to spy on Republic officials, he may be guilty of espionage, or even treason. However, Director Tomson wouldn't reveal to The Coruscant Journal how the SBI had uncovered this information, and we could not independently verify his claims since the Bank of Aargau is located outside of Republic jurisdiction and Pryce has refused to make public any of the Chancellor's Fund records.
But the revelation is sure to provide ammunition to critics of Pryce, who insist that the Chancellor must go. The Coruscant Journal will continue to follow the story as it develops.
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