FBI raids AIPAC offices for second time Summary: Larry Franklin is suspected of providing classified information about Iran and other sensitive info to representatives from the right-wing pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The powerful hawkish lobby group is believed to be closely aligned with the Sharon government. The group has become increasingly influential in recent years. In GNN’s new book, True Lies, we detail how the organization funded the targeted removal of two congresspeople who called for more attention to Palestinian human rights issues.
Looking for info about alleged spy...
For the second time in 13 weeks, FBI agents raided the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) offices yesterday searching for information against Larry Franklin, an analyst at the Middle East desk of the Pentagon.
Franklin is suspected of obtaining classified material from internal Bush administration discussions of policy on Iran and Iraq, and transmitting it to AIPAC staffers.
FBI spokeswoman Debbie Weirman confirmed that agents had conducted the search, but refused to provide additional details. Weirman said the order authorizing the search was sealed.
This is the second time that FBI agents have searched AIPAC’s Washington offices. On the previous occasion in late August, they confiscated files from the computer of Steven Rosen, AIPAC’s director of foreign policy issues.
The investigation into Franklin’s activities has been going on secretly for a year.
Rosen and another AIPAC employee, Keith Weissman, an Iran expert, have been the focus of U.S. media attention as Franklin’s alleged contacts. According to media reports, the FBI is investigating the possibility that AIPAC employees passed on the information to the Israeli Embassy. Classified information on Iran transmitted at this point could ostensibly have given Israel an opportunity to influence the administration’s decision-making process, because Israel would allegedly have been aware of the considerations guiding policy- makers.
Rosen and Weissman were questioned by investigators a short time after the story broke at the end of August. Shortly thereafter, the pair took a leave of absence from AIPAC for several weeks.
According to sources in Washington, Franklin is now undergoing a grand jury investigation, at the end of which it will be decided whether to indict him, and on what charges. Charges of espionage had originally been discussed, but the lesser charge of inappropriate handling of classified materials now appears likely.
It is not known why the FBI returned to the AIPAC offices and what the investigators took with them yesterday. AIPAC officials said they were cooperating fully with the FBI in order “to swiftly get these false and baseless allegations put fully to rest.” AIPAC stressed that the organization has done nothing that is against the law.
12-03-2004
MShakur (12-19-2008)
Lower Navigation
Linear Mode
