Former Pentagon Analyst Franklin Indicted

Lawrence Franklin, the former Pentagon analyst, was indicted on charges he leaked classified information to a lobbying group and a foreign government.

In the 20-page indictment filed by U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty in Alexandria, Virginia there were allegations the Franklin gave top-secret information to two employees of a lobbying group believed to be the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The foreign government Franklin is alleged to have leaked information to be is Israel.

The indictment also charges Franklin with five counts of conspiracy to communicate and communicating classified and national defense information to persons not authorized to receive it.

Franklin entered a not guilty plea to all counts at his hearing in federal court. Judge T.S. Ellis set a trial date for September 6, 2005.

According to those close to the case Franklin was reportedly offered a plea bargain in exchange for his confession to the lesser charge of mishandling classified material and then receiving a lighter sentence. However, Plato Cacheris, Franklin’s lawyer and Franklin himself have both denied this claim.