U.S. Indicts 2 in Case Of Divulged Secrets: "Former AIPAC director of foreign policy issues Steven J. Rosen, 63, of Silver Spring was indicted on two counts related to unlawful disclosure of 'national defense information' obtained from Franklin and other unidentified government officials since 1999 on topics including Iran, Saudi Arabia and al Qaeda. A former AIPAC analyst, Keith Weissman, 53, of Bethesda, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to illegally communicate classified information.
Rosen was instrumental in making AIPAC a formidable political force and helped pioneer the strategy of lobbying the executive branch as energetically as Capitol Hill, beginning in the Reagan administration. The FBI's long-running investigation -- which has involved clandestine wiretaps and other surveillance dating back several years -- has angered many political supporters of Israel and has caused friction between the two governments.
AIPAC fired Rosen and Weissman but continues to pay their legal fees. 'AIPAC dismissed Rosen and Weissman because they engaged in conduct that was not part of their jobs, and because this conduct did not comport in any way with the standards that AIPAC expects of its employees,' said Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC."
3 comments:
It's interesting that AIPAC ramains so close to indicted espionage criminals.
I wrote a post on my blog about the NY Times' coverage. It said that it was 'unusual' to indict the officials because they did not hold security clearences, though they did clearly violated the law. They didn't even subtantiate the claims, and I've never hearrd that before.
The Bush administration is playing this very cool. The AIPAC annual meeting this year was, once again, a watering spot for leading politicians from every corner of Washington, and there has been nary a word of complaint about AIPAC possibly violating the Espionage Act. Of course, AIPAC cut its losses and sensibly fired the two targets of investigation as soon as they could read the writing on the wall. Nonetheless, there are two linked elements to this story that are roiling beneath the calm surface: one, is a clear message to AIPAC and Israel that they better be careful interfering in the U.S. foreign policymaking; and, two, this legal action has been blessed categorically by the White House.
Interesting analysis. I have always wondered what the executive outlook is, ever since Bush I's "Jewish lobbyist" outcry.
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