U.S. government investigators are focusing on conversations that two top American Israel Public Affairs Committee staffers allegedly had with a Washington Post reporter and an Israeli diplomat
Apparently, the investigation could lead to spying charges against the two.
In addition, information gathered during the investigation into leaks from the Pentagon analyst, Larry Franklin, to the two ex-AIPAC staffers suggests the FBI began probing AIPAC officials just before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.
There is mounting evidence that the government plans to indict the two AIPAC staffers, Steve Rosen, AIPAC’s former policy director, and Keith Weissman, its former senior Iran analyst.
Franklin, was arrested earlier this month on charges of leaking classified information.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that the FBI is believed to have co-opted Franklin in 2003. A year later, he met in Virginia with Keith Weissman, a former senior Iran analyst for the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, and allegedly leaked information related to some Iranian intelligence plans to kidnap and murder Israelis and Americans in the Kurdish region of Iraq.
Weissman in turn, allegedly told Rosen about the conversation, and the two informed the White House, as well as Naor Gilon, who represents the Israel Embassy in Washington, and Washington Post reporter Glenn Kessler, the agency reported.
The pro-Israel lobby fired the two men last month, citing new information.
But AIPAC is continuing to pay the men’s attorneys, incurring legal costs that one source says have reached $1 million. Rosen is being represented by Abbe Lowell, one of Washington’s top lawyers.
