Sue Mi Terry FARA Trial Canceled as DOJ Gives Deferred Prosecution Agreement

Sue Mi Terry FARA Trial Canceled as DOJ Gives Deferred Prosecution Agreement by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 13 – Sue Mi Terry was on the US National Security Council. Now she has been indicted for violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act for South Korea, in exchange for $37,000 and luxury handbags, among other gifts.   Her handler, it was said, worked at the South Korea Mission to the United Nations, which Inner City Press has also covered, along with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.   Terry has been released on $500,000 bond co-signed by her husband, columnist Max Boot. Jump cut to October 13, 2026 when after 5 pm DOJ filed that it is granting Sue Mi Terry a deferred prosecution agreement, now on Patreon here. On July 22, the US Attorney's Office had filed notice that it intends to use Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act information as to her. Notice on Patreon here. On August 4, with the trial set for October 27, the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking Judge Schofield to order Terry to disclose by September 1 any affirmative defenses including any purported exemptions to FARA. On August 11 Terry's lawyer said early disclosure is not required, and in any event would have to come after Government disclosure. On August 20, Judge Schofield denied Terry's motion to suppress: "OPINION & ORDER as to Sue Mi Terry. Defendant's motion to suppress is DENIED. The parties shall maintain the exhibits submitted in connection with this motion for purposes of any appellate review. (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 8/20/2026)" - full 16 page order on Patreon here On October 7 Judge Schofield ruled on motions in limine, including Terry's "motion to: (1) prohibit the Government from using espionage rhetoric is in large part GRANTED under Rules 401 and 403, except that -- after opening statements -- the Government may elicit testimony that uses any term that Defendant herself used unprompted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agents who interviewed her, and only then by giving notice and obtaining Court approval at least two trial days in advance of eliciting such testimony. There is little or no probative value to labeling Defendant as a “source,” National Intelligence Service (“NIS”) officials as “handlers,” intelligence officers’ use of a diplomatic title as “diplomatic cover” or their networking efforts as “recruiting.” Such language, invoking “espionage or spying[,] would be inflammatory and unfairly prejudicial.” See United States v. Sun, No. 24 Crim. 346 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 3, 2025), Dkt. No. 238 ¶ 22" - full 8-page ruling on Patreon here. The case is USA v. Terry, 1:24-cr-427 (Schofield). *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2024 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com