Espionage: One That Got Away

Arrested in New York City last October was a Russian U.N. employee named Igor Melekh. Together with one Willie Hirsch, a German-born alien, Melekh was charged with conspiring to obtain, for transmittal to Russia, information about U.S. military installations in and near Chicago. If convicted, Melekh and Hirsch faced sentences of up to 25 years in prison.

Apparently the Russians considered Melekh exceedingly important. His counsel was expensive Edward Bennett Williams, the U.S.'s most famous criminal trial lawyer. Sometime defender of Senator Joseph McCarthy, Teamster Boss James Hoffa and Gambling Chieftain Frank...

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