Court Agrees to Release of Most Rosenberg Grand Jury Materials, Orders Government to Determine Status of Additional Witnesses
With regard to several living witnesses that objected to release of their testimony, including David Greenglass, Ethel Rosenberg’s brother, Judge Hellerstein said he would deny the petition for release and allow these materials to remain secret. Finally, he suggested that grand jury materials from the related proceeding against Abraham Brothman and Miriam Moskowitz should be released, but said he will wait to rule until the government determines whether the witnesses are dead or consent to release.
In a brief filed last week, petitioners argued that David Greenglass’ testimony should be released, despite the fact that Greenglass did not consent, because he has waived his privacy interest by discussing the case with numerous historians and journalists and has admitted to giving false testimony about the role of Ethel Rosenberg in the alleged spy ring.
“Greenglass has already by his own words said things that portray him in an unfavorable way, and has spoken completely about every aspect of his testimony and about the case,” according to historian and co-author of The Rosenberg File, Ronald Radosh. One of the petitioners in the case, Sam Roberts, New York Times reporter and author of The Brother: The Untold Story of the Rosenberg Case, explained: “In the Rosenberg case, the continuing historical significance and the knowing unanswered questions trump any half-century old claim of privacy. This is especially true regarding the testimony of Greenglass, who still lives under an assumed name—unknown to his friends and neighbors—and was willing to speak about the case without reservation for pay [for my book].”
The petitioners’ brief and supporting declarations also presented evidence that several of the witnesses that the government could not locate—including Perry Alexander Seay, William Perl, and Michael Sidorovich—have passed away and therefore their testimony should be released. Petitioners further challenged the government’s assertion that the material from the Brothman-Moskowitz grand jury should not be released, arguing that prosecution “is especially significant to understanding the Rosenberg-Sobell case because of the interlocking nature of the two prosecutions” and because of the critical testimony of two high-profile witnesses, Harry Gold and Elizabeth Bentley, who did not appear before the Rosenberg grand jury but whose testimony was important in both trials.
“For historians, the Rosenberg grand jury records represent the last piece in the puzzle of what FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called ‘the case of the Century,’” explained the Archive’s Director, Tom Blanton. “The government’s concessions establish a strong precedent that even in traditionally secret areas of government activity, like a grand jury, the public still has an interest and the records still belong to the public."
“The hearing before the Honorable Judge Alvin Hellerstein was an important event to those who care about our nation's history,” stated attorney David Vladeck. “Here, where the government does not oppose release and where the historical interest in the records is undeniable, we are gratified that Judge Hellerstein has agreed to allow the public to learn what happened behind the closed doors of the Rosenberg grand jury room, so we can finally come to terms with this important chapter of Cold War history."
Petitioners' brief is supported by declarations from University of Prince Edward Island Professor Bruce Craig, Temple University Professor Allen M. Hornblum, Professor Ronald Radosh, New York Times reporter and historian Sam Roberts, historian Steven Usdin, and Archive staff counsel Kristin Adair. The petitioners are represented by David Vladeck of the Institute for Public Representation at the Georgetown University Law Center, and Debra L. Raskin, at Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard in New York. Mr. Vladeck argued for petitioners today. Judge Hellerstein has scheduled a follow-up hearing for August 26.
Related Links
NYT: U.S. Judge Upholds Secrecy of Rosenberg Testimony