their claim is that they are agents for their client states (which in none (or at least the vast majority) of the publicized cases) has been Israel. i.e. it was state sponsored espionage, where they were the state's agent (be it saudi, or any other state).

Personally, I don't see how this claim works, if a foreign govt pays someone to spy, that person still goes to jail if they get caught.

also as the justice dept came out against their claim, it would seem they dont really have much of anyone "in their pocket".