Robert S. Vrooman collection pertaining to Wen Ho Lee and Los Alamos National Laboratory
Collection
Identifier: MSS-849-BC
Scope and Content
The collection consists of personal correspondence, background materials, and legal documents pertaining to the U. S. Government's investigation of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, scientist at Los Alamos National Labs, accused (and ultimately vindicated) of espionage. The collection provides valuable documentation of the Wen Ho Lee investigation and the controversial manner in which it was carried out. The materials provide useful information on broader topics such as: executive-legislative relations, inter-agency relations (or lack thereof), political manipulation of 'impartial' bureaucracy, the role of race in US politics and society, international relations (cooperation and antagonism), the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the role of the university in weapons production.
In the case that resulted from the investigation, the Department of Energy’s Chief Counter Intelligence officer, Notra Trulock, sued Vrooman, Charles E. Washington, and Bill Richardson for defamation and civil conspiracy. The case filed in the United States District Court of Eastern Virginia, Trulock v. Washington et al, was dismissed. Trulock appealed and lost his appeal. The "Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant Vrooman’s Motion to Dismiss and for summary Judgment," filed January 22, 2001, provides a solid overview of the defamation case resulting from the investigation and Vrooman’s belief that Lee’s Chinese ethnicity contributed to him being a suspect. Other motions filed provide insight into the investigation.
"Clinton's Scapegoat: The Persecution of an American Scientist" provides first hand documentation of Vrooman's experience with the investigation.
The collection is divided into 3 series:
Manuscript and Source Material: contains personal correspondence, news clippings, speeches, statements, press releases, reports, and interviews related to Robert Vrooman's involvement in the Wen Ho Lee case. A copy of Vrooman's manuscript, "Clinton's Scapegoat: The Persecution of an American Scientist" is included (Box 2, Folder 6).
Trulock v. Vrooman: contains legal documents and court materials about the Wen Ho Lee investigation, from the perspective of Los Alamos National Lab counterintelligence officers, such as Vrooman and Charles E. Washington, a DOE subordinate, who objected to the lab being depicted as having lax security.
Requests for Information: consists of information requested and accumulated by Vrooman in preparation for legal proceedings. Included are documents relating to Los Alamos National Labs, Wen Ho Lee, the Department of Energy, FBI investigation of espionage, and China.
In the case that resulted from the investigation, the Department of Energy’s Chief Counter Intelligence officer, Notra Trulock, sued Vrooman, Charles E. Washington, and Bill Richardson for defamation and civil conspiracy. The case filed in the United States District Court of Eastern Virginia, Trulock v. Washington et al, was dismissed. Trulock appealed and lost his appeal. The "Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant Vrooman’s Motion to Dismiss and for summary Judgment," filed January 22, 2001, provides a solid overview of the defamation case resulting from the investigation and Vrooman’s belief that Lee’s Chinese ethnicity contributed to him being a suspect. Other motions filed provide insight into the investigation.
"Clinton's Scapegoat: The Persecution of an American Scientist" provides first hand documentation of Vrooman's experience with the investigation.
The collection is divided into 3 series:
Manuscript and Source Material: contains personal correspondence, news clippings, speeches, statements, press releases, reports, and interviews related to Robert Vrooman's involvement in the Wen Ho Lee case. A copy of Vrooman's manuscript, "Clinton's Scapegoat: The Persecution of an American Scientist" is included (Box 2, Folder 6).
Trulock v. Vrooman: contains legal documents and court materials about the Wen Ho Lee investigation, from the perspective of Los Alamos National Lab counterintelligence officers, such as Vrooman and Charles E. Washington, a DOE subordinate, who objected to the lab being depicted as having lax security.
Requests for Information: consists of information requested and accumulated by Vrooman in preparation for legal proceedings. Included are documents relating to Los Alamos National Labs, Wen Ho Lee, the Department of Energy, FBI investigation of espionage, and China.
Dates
- 1986-2007
- Majority of material found within 1995-2004
Creator
- Vrooman, Robert Schuyler (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography / History
Robert Vrooman is a retired intelligence officer and a key participant in the defense of Los Alamos scientist Dr. Wen Ho Lee who was charged with espionage by the Clinton Administration. Mr. Vrooman worked as a case officer in the Central Intelligence Agency from 1969 to 1984 and as an intelligence officer at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1984 to 1998. His specialty was collecting information on foreign nuclear weapons programs particularly China and Russia. He has known Dr. Lee since 1979. Most of the documents in this collection were generated between 1995 and 2004 and cover the original investigation of Lee to his vindication.
Vrooman has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico. He has done further graduate work at the University of Rochester, American University and the University of the Philippines. He served in Viet Nam as a captain in the United States Air Force. His honors include a National Science Foundation grant while at UNM, a Distinguished Graduate award from the Air Force Officer Trainee School and a Distinguished Performance Award from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Vrooman has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico. He has done further graduate work at the University of Rochester, American University and the University of the Philippines. He served in Viet Nam as a captain in the United States Air Force. His honors include a National Science Foundation grant while at UNM, a Distinguished Graduate award from the Air Force Officer Trainee School and a Distinguished Performance Award from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Extent
17 boxes (6 cu. ft.)
Abstract
The collection documents the U. S. Government's investigation of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, scientist at Los Alamos National Labs, accused (and ultimately vindicated) of espionage. "Clinton's Scapegoat: The Persecution of an American Scientist" provides first hand documentation of Vrooman's experience with the investigation.
Arrangement
3 series:
- Manuscript and Source Material, 1986-2007
- Trulock v. Vrooman, 2001-2003
- Requests for Documents, 1999-2000
- Asian Americans -- Ethnic identity
- Discrimination in criminal justice administration -- United States
- Espionage, Chinese -- New Mexico -- Los Alamos
- Espionage, Chinese -- United States
- Governmental investigations -- United States
- Lee, Wen Ho
- Legal documents
- Letters
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- National security -- United States
- Nuclear weapons information -- United States
- Racial profiling in law enforcement -- United States
- Vrooman, Robert Schuyler
Creator
- Vrooman, Robert Schuyler (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Robert S. Vrooman collection pertaining to Wen Ho Lee and Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1986-2007
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- N. Sedore, B..Silbergleit, J. Dory-Garduño
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu