Full Release - IRmep

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intelligence community sources.
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Franklin didn't know it, but the FBI's counterintelligence division was
monitoring his May 2004 phone conversation with the CBS reporters,
including Ciralsky. - ,
In the conversation with CBS, Franklin's remarks reportedly revealed
sensitive intelligence intercepts, potentially compromising sources and
methods of intelligence gathering, according to some sources aware of
the call. Others aware of the call say the FBI would,be hard-pressed to
prove Franklin's comments actually breached national security.
Friends and colleagues describe Franklin as a dedicated pUblic servant
deeply concerned ~bout growing Iranian influence in Iraq.,
"He ran off at the mouth. and hated the intelligence community for what
he saw as recklessness." one colleague said. "He was Willing to take
matters into his own hands for what h~ saw as the good of the nation."
Another who knows him added, "Franklin spoke to CBS reporters in an
effort to ring an alarm" about White House indifference to a looming
threat. "but it was clearly wrong if it involved classified information."
Shortly after the CBS call. agents from Szady's FBI counterintelligence
division confronted Franklin, sources say.,
During this time, Franklin was not represented by an attorney, and the
governmen~ placed him on unpaid leav~ ..
Franklin, who is the sole breadwinner for five children and a wheelchairbound
Wife, was terrified by the threats, according to multiple sources
familiar with his situation.
Szady's FBI counterintelligence division then devised a strategy to use
Franklin as a plant to set up AI PAC" ac~rding to sources.
FBI officials refused to discuss the matter.
The FBI sting, first reported by Janine Zacharia in The Jerusalem Post,
allegedly directed Franklin to offer AIPAC officials supposedly urgent
classified information about Iranian plans to kidnap and murder Israelis
operating in northern Iraq. Whether the information was manufactured or
accurate is not ~Iear.
The exact date and location of the sting, which came in the form of a
meeting, have not previously been disclosed, but according to sQurces
with access to prosecution information, it took place on July 21,2004, at
a suburban Virginia mall. .
Believing they had a life or death situation on their hands, AIPAC
officials reportedly contacted the Israeli Embassy, thereby prompting
action by the FBI counterintelligence division.