Earlier today, Stewart David Nozette was arrested on charges of attempted espionage. He was accused of attempting to pass on classified information to an FBI agent posing as a Mossad agent.
Can you guess which party Nozette was making his political contributions to?
From the AP:
WASHINGTON – A scientist who worked for the Defense Department, a White House space council and other agencies was arrested Monday on charges of attempting to pass along classified information to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer.
Stewart David Nozette, 52, of Chevy Chase, Md., was charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to communicate, deliver and transmit classified information, the Justice Department said. The complaint does not allege that the government of Israel or anyone acting on its behalf violated U.S. law.
I did a quick check on campaignmoney.com and found the following donations. See if you can spot the common thread:
In 2004:
Nozette, Steward Dr.
CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815
$1,000 MCCAIN 2000 INC - REPUBLICAN
$250 KOLBE 2000 - REPUBLICAN
$250 SNOWE FOR SENATE - REPUBLICAN
$1,000 GORDON SMITH FOR US SENATE 2002 INC - REPUBLICAN
$650 WHITMAN FOR US SENATE - REPUBLICAN
$500 SNOWE FOR SENATE - REPUBLICAN
$500 SNOWE FOR SENATE - REPUBLICAN
$1,000 WHITMAN FOR US SENATE - REPUBLICAN
$500 CHRISTOPHER COX CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
In 2006:
Nozette, Stewart
CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815
$500 CHRISTOPHER COX CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
$2,000 BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC - REPUBLICAN
In 2008:
NOZETTE, STEWART D
CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815
$1,000 CITIZENS FOR COCHRAN - REPUBLICAN
It makes no sense at all to me how the Republicans managed to attain the image of being the more patriotic of the two parties when things like this happen all the time. I'd describe them as being more jingoistic, but they would probably think that was a compliment. I'm sure that at his trial, Nozette will claim that since Israel is an ally of the United States, it shouldn't count as treason. I wonder whether it ever occurred to him that a spy of one of our enemies just might be clever enough to claim to be an agent of Israel. Probably not.
It's not entirely clear where Stewart David Nozette's loyalties lay - either with the Republican Party, or with the almighty dollar. Possibly both. But they certainly weren't with the United States of America.