John Kiriakou Says CIA Used Sex Operations Until the 1980s, Ending MK Ultra in 1975
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 14
John Kiriakou Says CIA Used Sex Operations Until the 1980s, Ending MK Ultra in 1975
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14
John Kiriakou said in a recent interview that the CIA used sexual espionage routinely into the late 1970s and early 1980s, describing it as a longstanding intelligence tool.
1975 marked the end of MK Ultra, he said, citing Operation Midnight Climax as one of the best-known examples of CIA-linked sexual operations.
Ronald Reagan’s arrival in office roughly coincided with the U.S. dropping such tactics, Kiriakou said, because blackmail-based recruitment was seen as ineffective for building long-term spy relationships.
Russian and Israeli services remain especially associated with “honeypot” tactics, he said, while former Russian agent Aliia Roza separately described sex as a moment when targets are more likely to divulge information.
The account underscores a broader counterintelligence risk: people in sensitive roles are trained to spot unusually flattering or unlikely approaches that may be part of an operation.
Did the CIA truly abandon sexpionage, or did it evolve into more sophisticated forms of manipulation?
As AI masters digital deception, will cyber 'honeypots' become more effective at stealing state secrets than human spies?
Did Jeffrey Epstein's alleged 'honeypot' operation successfully influence US policy and funding for foreign allies?