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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (141894)	10/6/2005 12:46:41 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793914

Turns out, Franklin has been DoD emp since 1979 ...Ex-Analyst Faces New Federal Charges Posted 5/26/2005 05:00 AM wtrf.com An Eastern Panhandle man is accused of keeping classified documents in his home. Story by Juliet A. Terry Email \| Bio Lawrence Anthony Franklin, 58, who already has been accused of illegally disclosing military secrets, now is facing charges for unlawfully housing 83 top-secret or classified federal government documents at his Kearneysville home. "We filed a criminal complaint today (May 24) based on an affidavit filed by an FBI agent, charging Lawrence Franklin with unlawful possession," said Thomas E. Johnston, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia. Johnston said Franklin's home was searched June 30, 2004, and FBI agents found 83 government documents relating to national defense. As a U.S. Department of Defense analyst with top-secret clearance, Franklin had the ability to view and transport classified documents. "His courier authority did not authorize him to carry these documents to his home," Johnston said. His carrier territory spread only to the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Md./Richmond, Va., region but not into West Virginia. FBI agent Terry Grzadzielewski entered a sworn affidavit attesting to what was found at Franklin's home. Johnston said the affidavit is used as evidence of probably cause when the case is presented to a federal magistrate judge, who can authorize the issuance of an arrest warrant. Now that the warrant has been issued, Johnston said the U.S. Attorney's Office has 30 days to present an indictment to a federal grand jury. Franklin turned himself in May 24 and is out on bond. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is not being charged with espionage Of the 83 documents, approximately 38 were classified as top secret, 37 were considered secret and eight were classified as confidential. Nine of the documents were found on computer disks. The documents spanned three decades. The criminal complaint was based in part on the following six documents: Terrorist Threat Integration Center, terrorism situation report -- top secret/sensitive compartmented information (SCI), dated June 8, 2004. Central Intelligence Agency document concerning Al-Qaida -- top secret/SCI, dated June 9, 2004. CIA document concerning Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida -- secret/SCI, dated Oct. 7, 2003. CIA document concerning Al-Qaida -- secret, dated May 12, 2004. CIA memorandum on Iraq -- secret, dated June 4, 2004. CIA defense executive intelligence view concerning terrorists -- secret, dated June 10, 2004. Franklin also is facing charges in the Eastern District of Virginia that Johnston said are related but separate to the new accusations. In the Virginia case, Franklin is accused of illegally disclosing classified information related to potential attacks on American forces in Iraq. According to media reports, Franklin came under suspicion after a June 2003 lunch meeting with two officials from the lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The group recently fired senior staff members Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman. The New York Times reported May 22 the AIPAC staffers were fired because of their association with Franklin. According to an FBI agent's affidavit in the Virginia case, Franklin had lunch with two people during which he disclosed classified government information. The two people are not identified in the affidavit, but it has been speculated widely that Franklin is accused of sharing government secrets with the pro-Israel lobby. Franklin, who has a doctorate in Asian studies and is considered an expert on the Middle East, particularly Iran, has been a Department of Defense employee since 1979. He also is a colonel with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. His security clearance and access to classified documents was suspended June 30, 2004, the day the FBI searched his home. Franklin also is listed as an adjunct faculty member of the history department at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown.