Special to WorldTribune.com

[Third of three excerpts from the new book, Hard Drive. Click here for Part I,   Part II.]

On June 24, 2012, Dr. Shane Truman Todd, a young American engineer, was found hanging in his Singapore apartment, just a week before his scheduled return to the United States. Although Shane had repeatedly expressed apprehension that his work with a Chinese company might compromise U.S. security, authorities immediately ruled his death a suicide. Upon arriving in Singapore, his family realized the evidence suggested not suicide, but murder. Hard Drive: A Family’s Fight against Three Countries is the captivating story of Shane’s mysterious death and his family’s grueling battle to reveal the truth.

Excerpts from Chapter 11: A Law Firm on Every Corner

Shortly after the Financial Times (FT) published “Death in Singapore,” Rick and I received a phone call from Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf, inviting us to Washington D.C. to meet with him and several high-ranking FBI officials. We recognized that this invitation was a huge step forward for our case. Congressman Wolf serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and is the chairman of the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee that funds the Commerce Department and the Justice Department (which includes the FBI).

Additionally, Congressman Wolf had a special interest in our case. In 2006, his office computers were targeted in a cyber-attack by Chinese operatives that resulted in the theft of valuable information. Since that time, Congressman Wolf has worked diligently to protect our country from cyber espionage and has been instrumental in funding efforts to combat cyber-attacks from state-owned or government associated Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers, such as Huawei.

The timing of Wolf’s call couldn’t have been better as “48 Hours” producer Ryan Smith was currently in Montana filming us. Ryan asked if he could accompany us to Washington, and when we enthusiastically agreed, he arranged for an entire film crew to meet us there. In the meantime, Rick and I were able to contact and make appointments with our two Montana senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, and our state representative, Steve Daines…

***

…The next morning, we awoke to the FT headline “Senator Takes Todd Death to White House.” The article, written by FT reporter Richard McGregor and correspondent Ray Bonner, announced that “Max Baucus, a Democratic Montana senator, and Frank Wolf, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Virginia, are both due to meet the Todd family in Washington.” The article also stated that Senator Baucus had discussed the case with the White House and several Singaporean officials and quoted him saying, “As a father my heart is broken for Shane’s parents and I will do everything in my power to help them get the answers they deserve.” Our day was certainly starting off on a promising note!

With the “48 Hours” crew still filming our every move, Rick, John, and I headed to our first meeting with Congressman Wolf. We were met by Wolf’s legislative director, Thomas Culligan, who ushered us into an impressive office and introduced us to the congressman, a distinguished looking gentleman, with a full head of white hair. I was immediately encouraged by Wolf’s serious demeanor, which seemed appropriate considering the matter we had come to discuss. Wolf informed us that we would first hold a private meeting and then representatives from the FBI would join us.

As Rick and I prepared to present the evidence we had compiled, we were taken aback, but pleased, when Congressman Wolf informed us that he was already familiar with our story and that he believed us. He emphasized that what he really wanted to know was how he could be of help to us.

We responded to Wolf’s generous gesture by telling him that we were seeking a congressional investigation into the death of our son. Wolf looked at us intently and grimly responded, “You are doing the right thing to press for a congressional investigation, but you are not going to get anywhere.”

Shocked and bewildered, I asked, “Why not?”

I will never forget Wolf’s blunt reply: “Huawei has a law firm on every corner in Washington D.C. and has helped elect several current members of Congress.”

Even though I heard Wolf’s words, I could not believe what he was claiming: “Does China really have that much influence over our country’s political decisions?” At that moment, I realized that Congressman Wolf was warning us that our quest for truth would be a battle, not only against Singapore, but also against the ubiquitous influence of China and its sway over members of our own government…

***

A couple days later, Rick and I returned to Washington D.C. to meet with Minister Shanmugam. Throughout the entire meeting, Shanmugam assured us that the SPF was one of the finest police forces in the world and that they were working hard to thoroughly investigate the death of our son. He promised that Singapore would carry out an open and transparent investigation and would share any relevant evidence with the FBI, but he was totally disinterested in discussing or viewing the evidence we had compiled. Shanmugam was clearly more concerned with pacifying us than with acquiring the truth.

A week and a half after we returned to Montana, we discovered through various media sources that Minister Shanmugam was still in Washington D.C. and was scheduled to meet with Senator Baucus, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Eric Holder, and various other government officials, including Arizona Senator John McCain.

Prior to these meetings, USA Today cited Sen. Baucus, emphasizing that the SPF and Singaporean government “have been less than forthcoming” in the Shane Todd case and that evidence he had seen so far raised “very, very strong questions” and “deep concerns about national security.” …

Click here for Part I,   Part II.

  Huawei