Monthly Gathering—November 2004
Accused of Espionage
For David Tenenbaum, an Orthodox Jew, life has not been the same since his world was turned upside down in February 1997. That’s when he was suspended from his job at the Army’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) headquarters in Warren, and the FBI reported to the media that he was suspected of being a spy for Israel. Some of those involved in the investigation characterized Tenenbaum as another Jonathan Pollard, a Navy analyst now serving a life term for giving classified material to Israel in the 1980s. He was interrogated at length by the FBI and Army intelligence, polygraphed, placed (along with his wife) under 24-hour surveillance and his home was searched. Items collected in the FBI’s search of Tenenbaum’s home included a drawing by one of his children of some Hebrew letters which the FBI suspected to be a coded message.
After 17 months of investigation, the FBI officially closed the case. The U.S. Attorney’s office declined to prosecute, stating: “There is no question that if evidence existed which would prove this case, then these agents would have found it.”
Tenenbaum returned to work at TACOM and his security clearance was eventually restored. Yet despite having never been charged, his colleagues shun him on both a personal and professional level, still fearing guilt by association and/or believing him to be a traitor.
What did Tenenbaum actually do to merit such intense scrutiny? Was the investigation primarily motivated by prejudice? Join us on Saturday, November 20 to learn more about this fascinating case from attorney Mayer Morganroth and David Tenenbaum himself. Morganroth is no stranger to high profile cases having represented, among others, Dr. Jack Kervorkian, John DeLorean, Mayor Coleman Young and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Page last updated: Sunday, February 15, 2009