U.S. Indicts 2 in Case Of Divulged Secrets

The indictment alleges that, beginning in April 1999, Rosen and, later, Weissman sought to influence people in the United States government, including Franklin, with whom they first met in February 2003, and used those contacts to gather sensitive and classified information.

In announcing the charges in Alexandria, U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said that while "Washington is a town in which the flow of information is virtually nonstop," there is a clear distinction in the law that "separates classified information from everything else."

"Today's charges are about crossing that line," McNulty said. "Those entrusted with safeguarding our nation's secrets must remain faithful to that trust. Those not authorized to receive classified information must resist the temptation to acquire it, no matter what their motivation might be."

The motivation of Rosen and Weissman McNulty said, was simply to "advance their foreign policy agendas and personal careers."

McNulty said prosecutors had no immediate plans to charge anyone else in the case but said the investigation was continuing. In addition to unidentified U.S. and foreign government officials, the indictment refers to an unknown number of journalists who were in contact with Rosen and, in some cases, allegedly received classified information. Sources familiar with the case have said that one of the reporters in contact with Rosen and Weissman was Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post.

Rosen faces up to 20 years in prison and Weissman faces up to 10 years; both are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 16. Franklin, who pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges, faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted on all counts, officials said.

Staff writer Jeffrey H. Birnbaum contributed to this report.