The pro-Israel world is aflutter at the vindication – those are the words of the Washington Post – of the two staffers that were under indictment for espionage. Formerly on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Mr. Steven Rosen and his colleague Keith Weissman were charged with violating the World War I-era Espionage Act; specifically, “that they had disseminated sensitive information gathered during conversations with government officials to members of the press and foreign diplomats.”
Ben Smith at Politico tells us:
The Justice Department filing blames unfavorable preliminary rulings in the case and the “nature, quantity, and quality of evidence” against the two men, Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, who were charged with mishandling classified information, which they allegedly passed on to Israel. Their lawyers have argued that the information was not actually secret, and court rulings had bolstered their ability to make that argument.
JTA broke the news, which is a black eye for the FBI, a relief for the Israel lobby, and a sort of vindication for Jane Harman.
One of the men, Rosen, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against AIPAC for firing him as the case proceeded.
AIPAC’s Mega Conference is set to open on Monday. Will Rosen and Weissman will receives a heroe’s welcome, as if they had been released from custody? Unlikely.
