Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 04, 2007 Cheshvan 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:18 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. (AP Archives) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:14 04/11/2007 AIPAC trial judge okays defense to subpoena Rice and Hadley By Shmuel Rosner , Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters tags: Condoleezza Rice, U.S.  The United States judge presiding over the trial of two former staffers of a pro-Israel lobby who are accused of giving Israel classified information approved Friday subpoenas for top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, former senior staffers at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), are accused of conspiring with a former Pentagon analyst to communicate national defense information to persons not entitled to receive it, including foreign government officials, policy analysts and the media. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in Alexandria, Virginia has approved 16 of the 20 subpoenas of current and former officials requested by the defense. More on this ruling on Rosner's Domain. Advertisement Rosen and Weissman had asked to subpoena the officials, with whom they held meetings, saying "the testimony of these persons will negate the government's contention that the information defendants obtained and disclosed was NDI [National Defense Information] by showing that this information was neither closely held by the U.S. government, nor were the disclosures of this information damaging to the U.S." The defendants argue that the U.S. government's use of AIPAC as a "back channel" to advance U.S. foreign policy goals calls into question whether they could have been expected to know that they were committing a crime by passing on the information. The government opposed 16 of the requests, including those to call Rice and Hadley to testify. The judge overruled most of the objections, saying the "defendants are entitled to show that, to them, there was simply no difference between the meetings for which they are not charged and those for which they are charged ... and that they believed that the meetings charged in the indictment were simply further examples of the government's use of AIPAC as a diplomatic back channel." Rosen's attorney Abbe Lowell issued a statement on both defendants' behalf praising the ruling, saying it would help the defense prove that his client's behavior was both "lawful" and "completely consistent" with the practices of AIPAC. The trial has been scheduled to begin in January. Among the other subpoenas approved were for White House deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams, former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, former deputy secretary of defense Paul Wolfowitz and former undersecretary of defense Douglas Feith. A former Pentagon analyst, Lawrence Franklin, has pleaded guilty in the espionage case to disclosing information to Rosen and Weissman from early 2002 through June 2004. Ellis also approved a subpoena for Franklin. Asked about the Rice subpoena, U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said, "We are not going to comment on an ongoing legal matter. I would refer you to the Department of Justice." A Justice Department spokesman had no comment. More Jewish World news and features Related articles: AMCHA: Closing AIPAC trial to public may lead to 2nd Dreyfus affair Did the government pressure AIPAC to stop paying Rosen's and Weissman's legal fees? Is it possible to support both AIPAC and its former lobbyists? The AIPAC case and the humble pie Bookmark to del.icio.us Academic freedom The High Court has challenged strict IDF criteria for the entry of Palestinian students. Rapping rabbi British Jewish rapper MC Rebbe is a finalist in the world's largest blog competition.   1.   Clean the rats out once and for all 21:44  |  Natallie Durson 02/11/07   2.   What Irony 21:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/11/07   3.   SUBPOENA RICE, GOOD REWARD BEFORE ANAPOLIS, PALESTINIAN STATE)))) 22:15  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 02/11/07   4.   SUBPOENA RICE, GOOD REWARD BEFORE ANAPOLIS, PALESTINIAN STATE)))) 22:36  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 02/11/07   5.   The Government`s Error 23:02  |  US Citizen 02/11/07   6.   Sic` em 23:13  |  William 02/11/07   7.   bad P.R. for Israel 23:44  |  sol 02/11/07   8.   Is AIPAC listed as a foreign Lobbying Group? 00:11  |  Esther 03/11/07   9.   RE #5 00:13  |  Billy Jack 03/11/07   10.   #5 US Citizen in Wash. DC - AKA an AIPAC pawn 01:13  |  Pablo B 03/11/07   11.   Aipac too powerful, more then Bush 01:16  |  Amin 03/11/07   12.   Sedation 02:34  |  Binco 03/11/07   13.   #8 Esther - It is not a foreign lobbying group 02:47  |  Slibovitz 03/11/07   14.   AMERICA, THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY 03:25  |  VIPER 03/11/07   15.   The the government`s use of AIPAC as a `diplomatic` back channel 03:45  |  Tom 03/11/07   16.   #11 Amin - Iraq not in Israel`s interest 04:25  |  Jacob 03/11/07   17.   Small traitors 04:31  |  Mark Lincoln 03/11/07   18.   #7 End Soon? 04:48  |  ballistic 03/11/07   19.   Fire is catching AIPAC 07:00  |  Ibrahim 03/11/07   20.   AIPAC?? 08:36  |  S 03/11/07   21.   10 Pablo B - It Might Be Dismissed 08:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/11/07   22.   this trial was a travesty from day 1! 10:17  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   23.   #14theozzie adder adds up 2+2 and makes it 3.2 10:23  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   24.   Cleaning House 10:25  |  windex in hand 03/11/07   25.   Cleaning House 10:25  |  windex in hand 03/11/07   26.   #24 windex is smearing the windows by idiocy 11:55  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   27.   Australian VIPER #14 16:37  |  S 03/11/07   28.   Justice Shoule Be Served 16:45  |  Double Click 03/11/07   29.   victor hardman#26 17:40  |  S 03/11/07   30.   AIPAC had betrayed America for Israel 20:01  |  American CItizen 03/11/07   31.   Aipac trial judgeokays defense to subpoena Rice 20:02  |  Steve V Gure 03/11/07   32.   It will be interesting................ 21:49  |  Deborah 03/11/07   33.   Americans 22:07  |  Binco 03/11/07   34.   #29 whats a few $ trillion between friends 22:41  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   35.   #13 Slibovitz - Foreign lobbying group 00:07  |  Abner Shnuzel 04/11/07   36.   Jewish spies in America 01:11  |  Scott Hunter 04/11/07   37.   Those trying to drive a rift between America and Israel 03:11  |  Efox 04/11/07   38.   re: Mark Lincoln 03:17  |  Efox 04/11/07   39.   re: Scott Hunter 03:19  |  Efox 04/11/07   40.   AIPAC`s strangle hold 04:21  |  Sam Rosen 04/11/07   41.   to Effox, don`t try to distract us 07:08  |  American 04/11/07   42.   to Effox,the traitors defender 07:51  |  American 04/11/07

Today Online Court challenges criteria for Palestinian student entry to Israel Responses: 106 Turkey seeks right to build monument in Jerusalem's Old City Responses: 134 IAF strikes kill four Palestinians after Qassams hit Negev Responses: 213 Leftists scuffle with supporters of Rabin's assassin outside jail Responses: 107 Olmert: Core issues are on the agenda for Annapolis summit Responses: 163 Rosner's Domain * NY's Bloomberg: No rational case for bombing Iran * Rosner's new Guest: Women's perspective on the Torah * The genes that make Jews smart (What To Read) * AIPAC trial: Bring on the top government officials More Headlines 22:38 Olmert: Core issues are on the Annapolis agenda 20:12 Three East J'lem men arrested for planning attacks in Israel 18:47 IDF strikes kill 4 Gazans as Qassam volleys hit Negev 17:51 Protesters scuffle with supporters of Rabin's assassin outside jail 20:49 Gov't okays payments for overlooked Holocaust survivors 20:39 Palestinian factions DFLP, PFLP attempt to mediate between Hamas, Fatah 19:35 'Rapping rabbi' makes finals in world's largest blog competition 19:11 PA awards former Mideast envoys Wolfensohn, Hansen prize for excellence 16:57 Egypt unveils King Tut's mummy to the public for the first time Previous Editions Select Day 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct

Special Offers Advertisement learn Hebrew online with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved