A pretty startling story from the Forward today about the investigation of Aipac:

Fears that the case was headed to court increased this week, with some Jewish activists assuming that the issuing of subpoenas meant that the grand jury had been asked to issue indictments...Subpoenas are not necessarily an indication that indictments are imminent, but they can be indications that "the case is at a rather advanced stage," said Rita Simon, a professor at American University's school of public affairs and school of law and an expert on the jury system. "This indicates, obviously, that the jury is not dropping the case."

Almost all federal criminal cases referred by prosecutors to a grand jury for indictment end in charges being filed. In the 1993 fiscal year, federal prosecutors secured 99,341 indictments, according to official Department of Justice records; only 55 requests for indictments were declined by a grand jury.

Posted by Laura at December 9, 2004 11:24 AM