ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A judge ruled Tuesday over prosecutors’ objections that a Defense Department civilian employee who is a U.S.-Turkish dual citizen can remain free on home detention while he awaits trial on accusations he mishandled classified documents.
Gokhan Gun, 50, of Falls Church, was arrested Friday outside his home and charged with mishandling classified material.
When he was arrested, Gun was on his way to the airport for trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, according to an FBI affidavit. He was carrying papers including a document that was marked Top Secret.
Gun told authorities he was going to Mexico on a fishing trip. Prosecutors say he agreed to a search of his home. Inside they found other classified documents.
At a detention hearing Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria, prosecutors asked that Gun remain jailed while awaiting trial. They said they may bring additional charges, including possible charges under the Espionage Act, if the ongoing investigation can prove that he not only mishandled classified documents but sought to disseminate documents relevant to the national defense to a foreign power.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Rodregous said the fact that Gun was arrested carrying classified documents, as well as his intelligence-community credentials, on the way to the airport for a purported Mexican fishing trip was circumstantial evidence of his intent to distribute the documents.
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