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_TlME.com PrintPage: NatioroExclusive: Feds Probe a Top DemOCCORelation~p
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TIME
NATION
Friday, Oct. 20, 2006
Exclusive: Feds Probe a Top Democrat's
Rela.tionship with AIPAC
The Department ofJustice is investigating whether Rep. Jane
Harman and the pro-Israel group worked tog~ther to get her
reappointed as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence
Committee
By TIMOTHY J. BURGERJWASHINGTON
Did a Democratic member ofCongress improperly enlist the support ofa
major pro-Israel lobbying group to try to win a top committee assignment?
That's the question at the heart ofan ongoing investigation by the FBI and
Justice Department prosecutors, who are examining whether Rep. Jane
Harman ofCalifornia and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC) may have violated'the law in a scheme to get Hannan reappointed
as the top Democrat on theHouse intelligence committee, according to
knowledgeable sources in and out ofthe U.S..government.
The sources tell~ that the investigation by Justice and the Federal
Bureau ofInvestigation, which has simmered out ofsight since about the
middle oflast year, is examining whether Harman and AIPAC arranged for
wealthy supporters to lobby House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on
Harman's behalf: Harman said Thursday in a voicemail message that any
investigation of- or allegation ofimproper conduct by.-·her would be
"irresponsible, laughable and scurrilous." On Friday, Washington GOP
super lawyer Ted Olson left voicemail messages underscoring that Hannan
has no knowledge ofany investigation. "Congresswoman Hannan has
asked me to follow up on calls you've had," Olson said. "She'is not aware
ofany such investigation, does not believe that it is occurring, and wanted
to make sure that you and your editors knew that as far as she knows, that's
not true....' No one from the Justice Department has contacted her.n It is .
not, however, a given that Harman ,would know that she is under
investigation. In a follow-up phone call from California, Olson said
Hannan hired him this morning because she takes seriously the possibility
ofa media report about an investigation ofher, even though she does not
believe it herself.
A spokesman for AIPAC, a powerful Washington-based organization with .
more than 100,000 members across the U.S., denied any wrongdoing by the
group and stressed that it is not taking sides in regards to the committee
assignment. Spokespersons for Justice and the FBI decline4 to comment.
The'case is a spin-offofa probe that has already led to charges under the
Espionage Act against two AlPAC lobbyists, whose case is still pending,
and to a 12-and-a-half-year prison sentence for fonner Defense Intelligence
Agency official Lawrence A. franklin. Franklin pleaded guilty a year ago
http://www.time.comltimelnaQonlprin!outlO.88 I~, 1.S49Q~9,OO.h~1
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DATE 07-29-2010 BY 60324 uc baw/sab/1sg