Shepherd University Professor Charged with Sharing Top Secret Documents with Pro-Israeli Officials

NBC - May 24, 2005

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV- He's a history professor at Shepherd University and also a defense analyst at the pentagon.

He's facing charges once again for allegedly sharing top secret documents on the war in Iraq with pro-Israeli officials.

Lawrence Franklin is a well-respected professor here at Shepherd University but school officials said they don't know when they'll see his face in classroom again, after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

"He's very well-regarded by the students what will happen now likely is given his attention will be on his forthcoming trial, I doubt that he will be teaching here this fall," said Mark Stearn from Shepherd University.

Franklin is accused of telling two top pro-Israeli officials information concerning the war in Iraq over lunch in 2003.

He was let out of jail on a $100,000 bond but now, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia is charging him with knowingly and unlawfully possessing classified government documents in his Kearneysville home.

Franklin did have permission to have the 83 documents just not in West Virginia. Many of the documents found contained information on Al-Quaeda.

"You're not guilty until you're convicted, that's clearly an important concern in this country as it should be our hope is that as a result of this, he will be cleared," said Mark Stearn.

Franklin is pleading not guilty to those charges. If he is found guilty he could face up to 10 years behind bars.

Franklin has already surrendered his guns and passport.