Full Release - IRmep

National News
o o
Page2of5
Indeed, Franklin's in~ictmetit cites as evidence apparently tapped
phone conversations ofRosen even before he met Franklin,
suggesting that the government stumbled across Franklin in the
course oftracking Rosen.
Another source familiar with the government's case against Rosen
says an investigation was launched as early as September 2001
because the Bush administration wanted to quash what it believed
was a promiscuous culture ofleaking in Washington. Rosen was
renowned for his access t9 inside infonnation.,
.Cacheris would not speculate about the government's rationale for the
case. "There seems to me there is something driving it,II he said.
"What it is, I don't know yet."
Five ofthe six charges in Franklin's indictment focus on his
relationship with Rosen and Weissman; the sixth involves his
relationship with Naor Oilon, head ofthe political desk at the ~sraeli
Embassy in Washington.. According t~ the indictment, Franklin's
acquaintance with Oilon predates his meetings with Rosen and
Weissman.
Cacheris said a relationship between Gilon and Franklin - two men
with a professional interestin Iran - was hardly surprising. He
characterized the indictment's implication that Franklin sought
some$ing from Israel in exchange for infonnation as "rather flimsy.."
The indictment mentions a store giftcard Franklin received from
Oilon and a letter ofreference Oilon 'wrote on behalf ofFranklin's
daughter, who was going to visit Israel.
Franklin sought Cacheris' legal· assistance late last year after the FBI
said it would press charges againsthim, even though he had
cooperated with the government's investigation ofRosen and
Weissman.
Asked why Franklin agreed to the FBI's alleged request last June to
participate in a sting operation involving Weissman and Rosen
without even asking for a lawyer or any quid pro quo, Cacheris
smiled..
"Larry's a little bitguileless - maybe a lot guileless - and maybe a
bit unsophisticated for a guy with a Ph.D. in Asian studies," said
Cacheris, a Southerner with an awncular manner and a fondness for
seersucker suits. liThe questions that you would have asked, he didn't
ask."
tllf he had a lawyer up front, we wouldn't be talking today," Cacheris
said.
http://www.jewishtimes.comlNews/4833.stm 7/13/2005