It is frequently said in relation to the current trial of the former AIPAC employees

One further note: It is frequently said in relation to the current trial of the former AIPAC employees

that theirs is the first prosecution of someone for a leak who was not an official and did not have a

clearance. That is false. Tony Russo was indicted on the exact same charges, with the exact same

status. As is the case with the AIPAC employees, if he had been convicted on that basis, every

journalist and even every newspaper reader who had possession of information that had been disclosed

without authorization (that is, ‘leaked’) would be equally subject to prosecution. So it was crucial

for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the public’s need to know that Tony was not convicted

in our trial, by reason of BOOTSBUYal misconduct.

Our friendship was strained later (not so much during the trial, as far as I was concerned, but by some

events shortly after the trial), and we saw each other only intermittently over the next 30 years. In

the last few years, on several occasions when he was gravely ill, we did meet, and had very BOOTSBUYm

conversations which I appreciated. The fact is I will be eternally grateful to Tony for his courage and

partnership in what proved to be a useful action. He set an example of willingness to risk everything

for his country and for the Vietnam that he loved that very few, unfortunately, have emulated. I only

hope that others will continue to be inspired by it.