AJC Concerned Over Government Delays in Rosen-Weissman Case

NEW YORK, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee expressed today its ongoing concern with the consequences of serious delays by the government in going forward with its case against former AIPAC staffers Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, and the resultant impact on their constitutional rights.

"Judge T.S. Ellis III's recent rebuke of the prosecution for not moving forward expeditiously is warranted," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. "Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman are entitled to their day in court to explain their actions and be given every opportunity to rebut allegations that they illegally passed on classified information in violation of the 1917 Espionage Act -- a statute never before used to prosecute private citizens."

The two defendants were indicted in August 2005, and there have been a series of delays in the government's efforts to prosecute the case. Last month, Judge Ellis denied a government motion to close the trial to the public. He called the government's proposal "novel," and said to grant it would mean that "what the public does not see or hear is the heart of this case."

The judge added that it would violate the Sixth Amendment, protecting a defendant's right to a public trial. "It is always true that justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done," said Ellis.

"Closing the trial would inappropriately shroud the government's case in a veil of secrecy," said Harris. "Judge Ellis was correct when he recently noted that it is important to 'get it tried as soon as possible -- or not tried.' We commend Judge Ellis for insisting that the prosecution has an obligation to either expeditiously go forward with this case in a public venue open to all or, after nearly two years, reevaluate the basis for its charges."