Posted on 05/04/2005 7:06:08 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
Washington - The FBI arrested a defence department analyst on Wednesday on charges that he passed classified information on Iran to employees of a pro-Israel lobbying group.
Larry Franklin, 58, turned himself in on Wednesday, FBI spokesperson Debra Weierman said.
He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in US district court in Virginia later in the day, Weierman said.
Franklin, who specialised on Iran and Middle Eastern affairs, allegedly gave the information to two people not entitled to receive it at a meeting in June 2003.
The people at the lunch were employees of the American Israel public affairs committee (AIPAC), a law enforcement official said on condition of anonymity because they are not identified in court papers.
FBI agents twice searched AIPAC offices as part of the investigation about whether Israel improperly obtained classified US information on Iran.
They also have interviewed two AIPAC employees about whether Franklin gave them classified information that would up with Israel.
AIPAC said it gave the FBI files related to those same two employees, who previously were identified - Steve Rosen, the director of research, and Keith Weissman, deputy director of foreign policy issues.
They don't work for the group anymore.
AIPAC declined to comment on Wednesday.
It was not immediately clear how the information related to Iran.
I can't get too exercised over this, since it seems that the US doesn't have the will to do anything with this info anyway.
Well, this revelation only cost some poor US spy his life, but it's nothing to get exercised over.< /sarc>
" Well, this revelation only cost some poor US spy his life, but it's nothing to get exercised over.< /sarc>"
Meanwhile, Sandy Burgler walks away... Something wrong with this picture.
Doesn't matter. He wasn't at a level where it was his decision to decide to give what info to whom.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
TREASON!!!!!
The last time a high-profile spy was caught transferring classified military information to Israel, the information ended up in the hands of the f#%&ing KGB.
Well I can get exercised because American government workers don't have the right to pass out classified information to any foreign country they want to. That's a very treacherous road to take. One rule applies for all American government workers involved with classified material, and if they break it they are American traitors.
The last part is true. However, it is far more likely that the espionage came from Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. Of course, instead of looking for spies, the CIA and FBI practice CYA and blamed Pollard and Israel.
Agree.
The notion that Israel would have helped the Soviets is on its face preposterous.
From what I have read this whole Franklin case is a political fight between CIA/FBI and Defense, shades of Chalabi.
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