Former EPA Official Who Admitted to Stealing $900,000 by Impersonating CIA Offficial Pleads Fifth at House Hearing

Top Democrat shocked by "betrayal of the public trust"

A former federal official, who has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $900,000 by impersonating a CIA officer, refused to testify before a House committee Tuesday.

John Beale, who admitted last week to stealing salary, bonuses and other payments from the Environmental Protection Agency for more than a decade while he pretended to work for the CIA, sought protections under the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.