Secretary of State, Diplomats Subpoenaed in Spy Case

U.S. Judge T.S. Ellis III decided yesterday to let lawyers for former lobbyists accused of spying subpoena Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and three diplomats as they try to show that talking about confidential information is commonplace. The lobbyists, Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, worked for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee when they claim to have received leaks from Rice, U.S. Ambassador to Russia William Burns, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq David Satterfield and former Special Envoy to Israel Anthony Zinni.

Rosen and Weissman are charged with communication of national defense information for sharing those leaks with the press and the Israeli government. Lawrence Franklin, a former Defense Department intelligence analyst, was sentenced Jan. 20 to 12 1/2 years in prison for leaking the information.

The judge's decision, which was earlier reported by the Associated Press, commands the four officials to appear. They can still contest the decision. The rationale for the subpoena remains under seal, according to an e-mail from lawyer Abbe Lowell, who argued Rosen's and Weissman's case.

`The claims of these defense lawyers are false and without basis. Secretary Rice is the most careful person in the handling of classified information. She in no way conveyed classified information to these individuals,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said today. The case is USA v. Franklin, 1:05-cr-00225-TSE-2, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=abR4mF1hBB3Y&refer=home

Besides, she was pre-occupied with planning her next shoe-buying expedition to New York.

I guess * would have to prosecute them under his no tolerance policy (even tho he's Leaker-in-Chief) :crazy: