Wayne Simmons spent twenty seven years deep, underground for the c I a taking down cartels and hunting terrorists skills that allowed him to do work so secretive entirely unrecorded there's just one thing: Wayne Simmons was also a liar. I am Alex French. an investigative journalist and host of the new Spotify original from poor cast impostors every They discover the many truths lies and lives of self proclaimed Spy in the six part limited series here more, exclusive clip from the first episode, if you enjoy it, be sure to follow. impostors, free and only on Spotify. I've always been fascinated by spy stories. Aren't we all

my movies spy novels. All that shadowy high stakes drama its seductive. My favorites are not action, movie, spies with guns and gadgets, I'm talking about the ones whose deception, false identities, They seem ordinary, but there the furthest thing from it, because the best by stories or about our secret lives. What we show the world what we conceal thereabout it. One question: who are you really? My name is Alex French, I'm an investigative journalist, a few years ago, I got caught up in a real life spy thrilling. It's not your typical cold war yarn. This tale is rooted in the era of known unknowns, the mid Thousands back when Tea party conservatives were considered fringe before big news entered. The lexicon wicked spear

seek terrorists were hunted to spawn in their lies, didn't flow through the public consciousness so freely our little dramatists, the history of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the toxic tribalism nation of american politics in the middle of it all, is a man claiming he's being framed by the state crushed by the system. His name is waning. Simmons Wayne says he had a secret life for nearly forty years, but he's not keeping its grit anymore. I was right in the middle of it and I had intelligence and nobody else had. This is impossible. The spine. I only met Wayne Simmons in person twice over coupled weakens back an early twenty sixteen, but as stories followed me around ever since its not surprising, because wean could really tell a story. Jaya presence in law I had a presence in Hong Kong. I oughta presents all over the world. What have we

stories goes like this. It's Nike ninety five he's in Kazakhstan, the raw palace, hotel, swampy bar marble, floors, domed glass,. ceiling weeds wearing an expensive suit. He looks like a classy in business man, Donald Trump and business now you want something to get started hell. I'm game he's well into a glass of vodka he's running. I russian guys hanging on his every word laughing at all his jokes, then back I'm out, Poison weaned suddenly realized. His cover is blown because we is in the c. I a and the Russians are on to him. the soviets are famous for the ship for poisoning coral hydrate normally and if, if there, Sure you are, but they want to send a message that they're watching you they they dose wins trouble he's fading in and out of consciousness, so he calls

his ground contact, a colonel in? U S, Millet hurry and says I don't what's going on, but there's a big big problem, I've got russian mafia, then another, and they were they were all through this five star hotel commentary, When do you want military war, plain clothes. I want both from challenges. eight minutes, ten minutes the doors, but up everybody came in, I can imagine it tactical teams and black kicking down doors, undercover operatives, pulling guns out of hidden stars I mean it was an all out there. all our absolutely totally out of control. They cleaners, frickin, guys out, wins, got tons of these stories during escapes major stings. That's all it is past now He just wants to enjoy the cushy retirement that an american hero deserves between is not enjoying his retirement. On Monday, I met him back in early twenty. Sixteen Wayne,

On house arrest, we were at his place Apples Maryland the war now During my visit. We knew he might be facing prison time because a whole lot of people. That wine is lying about that Kazakhstan story all of his stories in fact they say Wean was never in the c I a at all, but wean tells me the government is lying. He spent AIDS risking his life for his country as a deep cover operative and now he's been betrayed. My life is forever changed forever forever changed, I'll, be vindicated I'll, be vindicated,

I've been obsessed with weaned Simmons for years. I can't tell if he's the hero of the story or charismatic its bigger than It's about the world of espionage and how power operating it's a look crucial moment in the history of American propagate it. It's about truth. the edge of a new era. We know we can agree on so I'm going to track down, expires FBI agents over the whole drug runners whom swirl around Wayne story they're going to help me figure weaned. Simmons really is because, if he's telling the truth, about his CIA career and there's been a giant miscarriage of justice. What, if he's lying? It means he's misleading the american people for years, because Wayne spent over

decade as respected pundits on Fox news. He was build as a national security experts, his views shaped public opinion and even foreign policy from Washington S former CIA operative waned, Simmons Wayne welcome to the programme. We became upon it at a pivotal moment right after nine eleven that day, the world changed. What we have been fearing have for the longest time here apparently has come to pass a disastrous terrorist attack. tourism rights slips into the american psyche as the biggest existential threat Wayne Simmons. We're CIA operative is anointed. Terrorism analysed. This is what I did my aunt her career. I know how to do this. He says he has the experience to make sense of the new world were living I know how to get my assets to make sure this is what we do.

and we did it to our enemies. We looks great on tv, like Captain America's GAD Red tie, slick suit, a little white mustache trimmed perfectly. We were shot this cell down and we will win We will win nail by the way the time the Iraq war begins, two thousand three he's a network mainstay now. As former ceo operative internationalist wings democracy, I operative Wayne, celebrated Land Simmons, says he's not so sure that Marine STAR continues to rise for fifteen years and every time windows on tv, his words are info sing american voters. We are in a global war, against Islamic Jihad. We ve got it these nineteen paramount Terry the Lamb training for what is in the United States. You kidding room and sometimes the people listening or policymakers, like congressmen, Louie Gomer back who uses

wanes words to support his argument on the floor of Congress for see I operative, weighing Simmons terrorist, analyse, who indicates that dumb now he was amazed at the medical treatment that was provided to those who to kill and destroy us wanes opinions make it all the way to Capitol Hill, but in twenty fifteen his world came crashing down. Finally, today, as some of you might now in the last twenty four hours, it has come to our attention that a frequent guest on this show might not then, who reported debate federal prosecutors? Now Wayne. Simmons was not a former Zaire operate it or for that matter, work of the CIA it'll wean was accused of line, he was convicted of fraud and he was sent to prison. I'm not just shit that the government says I am. This is what we

hold me when I last spoke to him before he went to prison in twenty. Sixteen, he insisted he's not lie, that the country he risked his life for his left him out in the cold wandered around out here, Alex with a story, wandering around out here without frickin proof weeds, to his story and if he's telling the truth, he deserves a chair, two clear his name, If I'd, never say another word to you for the rest of my life. This I promise on what I'm telling you the truth and number two I've got the files to prove it. The files wins got a big black binder that he says contains plenty that should exonerate him. He showed me bits and pieces But he says he can't show me the really compelling evidence the classified files, because he says it would be treason. These are governments secrets. This is I told you I'd have to kill you kind of stuff. I know what I did.

All of those years. I know what my family went through. I know what my wife went through figure, I'm on Fox NEWS all those years. Nobody says anything. Every Scrooge along I'm, not bother, and anybody talking and conservative position. Nobody believes that I've ever going to do anything to hurt. You see I am, I know what we did. I know that until four for almost a decade, nobody said african word about me. Possible. Wins work really was so secretive that the CIA has to pretend they never heard of him, and it's not like you, can just call up the CIA and ask if we never worked there. They keep details about their spies under layers of secrecy. So I'm starting from the outside I'll all the evidence. I can get my hands on talk to everyone. I can find who knows waned. Slowly drilled deeper and deeper into wanes, passed a football player

the drug traffickers and intelligence officer con man, who is waned. Simmons father part limited series? Impostors was free, and only on Spotify.