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AIPAC again raided by the FBI today. A source says this was a massive raid--the FBI surrounded AIPAC with cars, took stuff out, etc. "This is no joke," he said.
Reader SC writes:
I've seen this at Ha'aretz and the JTA, but no where else just yet:
22:39 FBI agents search offices of pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, seek evidence that members received classified information
and;
AIPAC offices searched
The FBI searched the headquarters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee again. Officials searched the Washington office on Wednesday, seeking information related to an ongoing investigation into the pro-Israel lobby. An FBI spokeswoman confirmed the search, but had no further comment. Federal investigators have reportedly been investigating AIPAC for two years, and the case is said to focus around a former Pentagon official suspected of passing a classified draft policy statement on Iran to AIPAC, which allegedly then passed it on to Israel. The search came after several months of reported quiet...In a statement Wednesday, AIPAC continued to deny any wrongdoing...
Update: Here's Time's take (thanks to Eric Umansky.)
Update II: Here's AIPAC's statement circa 5pm today:
[Thanks to SW.]AIPAC learned in August that the FBI was investigating two AIPAC employees when the authorities visited the AIPAC offices and requested and obtained computer files related to these two employees. Today, the FBI returned and requested and obtained additional files relating to the same two AIPAC staff members and delivered subpoenas requiring the appearance of four senior AIPAC staff before a grand jury.
AIPAC has done nothing wrong. Neither AIPAC nor any member of our staff has broken any law. We are fully cooperating with the governmental authorities. We believe any court of law or grand jury will conclude that AIPAC employees have always acted legally, properly and appropriately.
Despite the false and baseless allegations that have been reported, AIPAC will not be distracted from our central mission of supporting America's interests in the Middle East and advocating for a strong relationship with Israel.
And here's the AP piece. Here's some good background related to the case here.
Update III: The Jerusalem Post's Janine Zacharia reports that four AIPAC employees have been subpoenad to appear before a federal grand jury. The FT's Guy Dinmore says they are being asked to appear as witnesses. Knight Ridder reports, "Investigators have interviewed people at the White House, State Department and Pentagon, the current and former officials said. They also have asked questions about whether Ahmad Chalabi, a prominent Iraqi exile backed by the Pentagon who provided bogus intelligence on Iraq, improperly received highly classified U.S. intelligence about Iran."