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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former cable news pundit who appeared on Fox News claiming to be a CIA officer is set to plead guilty to federal criminal charges.
A change of plea hearing is scheduled Friday for Wayne Simmons of Annapolis, Maryland. He was charged last year in federal court in Alexandria with fraud and making false statements to the government.
An indictment states Simmons lied about having a 27-year career with the CIA as an "Outside Paramilitary Special Operations" officer. Prosecutors have said Simmons had no connection whatsoever to the CIA.
Prosecutors say Simmons claimed CIA ties while pursuing security clearances and in seeking work as a defense contractor.
Fox has said that Simmons was never a paid contributor to the network.
Simmons' lawyer declined comment Thursday.
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