This'll Never Get Off The Ground

AIPAC Judge Keeps Evidence Classified

The federal judge in the AIPAC classified-information case ruled that prosecutors may withhold evidence from the defense.

In a hearing Wednesday in the case against Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman, two former staffers of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Judge T.S. Ellis of the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., ruled in favor of government arguments that recordings and transcripts of tapped conversations involving the defendants include material that would be harmful to the national interest if revealed. Ellis said he would determine what material the defense can use and what material it can not access.

Rosen’s lawyer said that despite the ruling, Ellis showed sensitivity to the defense’s concerns. “We’re pleased that the court understands the complexities involved in providing our clients with the right to a fair trial in the midst of all these classified procedures,” Abbe Lowell said.

Because the process of determining what material the defense may see is likely to be long and involved, Ellis pushed back the trial date from Jan. 2 to April 25.

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