In his nearly 30 years as a State Department intelligence analyst, Walter Kendall Myers was privy to top-secret information about Cuba. Friends and colleagues described him and his wife as "very good people, very humane, humanitarian people," but now they are in court facing charges of spying for the Cuban government. The government says the Myers' received coded instructions by short-wave radio in their apartment in Washington, D.C. then met Cuban spies in supermarkets, handing off secrets by switching shopping carts. The couple has pled not guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy, and acting as agents of a foreign government. If convicted, the 72-year-old Myers and his 71-year-old wife each face up to 35 years in prison. Today the judge ordered them held without bond scared they may escape to Cuba. Secretary of State Clinton has now ordered an assessment of what damage the couple might have done, as well as a review of State Department security. Quotes "I am so bitter these last few months," Walter Kendall Myers, State Department “Kendall and Gwen are very good people, very humane, humanitarian people, and it's hard for me to believe they would do anything to hurt the United States. I can understand they might have been angry at the government, but the United States itself, I just can't believe they'd hurt them.” Former Senator James Abourezk (D), South Dakota “What's interesting is very few of [spies for Cuba]seem to do it for the money. It seems like it's a real ideological commitment, as is the allegation in this case.” Mary Beth Sheridan, The Washington Post Warm Up Questions 1. Where is Cuba? 2. Why does the United States have a strained relationship with Cuba? Discussion Questions 1. Can you name other spies? How are the similar or dissimilar to this case? 2. Does the prosecutions’ evidence prove the Myers are guilty? Why or why not? 3. The prosecution alleges that the Myers’ were not paid, does this surprise you? What does that mean? 4. If you were in charge, how would you protect against spying? Additional Resources Read the transcript