Demjanjuk Trial Might Be OK With U.S.

The United States would probably not object if Israel brought new charges against John Demjanjuk, acquitted of being Nazi death camp guard “Ivan the Terrible,” a Clinton Administration source said Monday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that both the State and Justice departments had previously agreed to waive the conditions that sent Demjanjuk to Israel to be tried only on charges that he was the infamous guard at Treblinka.

His comments came just days after the State Department said that an unauthorized letter from a low-level official had been sent to Israeli Atty. Gen. Yosef Harish saying the United States wanted Demjanjuk released immediately because he had been acquitted on the “Ivan” charges.

The letter was sent a day before Harish decided not to bring further charges against the 73-year-old retired Cleveland auto worker. An appeal against that decision is now before the Israeli Supreme Court, which has said it will rule on it Wednesday.

In overturning Demjanjuk’s conviction, the court cited evidence that came to light after he was found guilty. It pointed to another man as being “Ivan.”

Meanwhile, Demjanjuk’s family and a U.S. congressman met with U.S. Embassy officials in Tel Aviv on Monday after visiting Demjanjuk in his cell.

But there was no indication that they would succeed in securing a temporary visa for Demjanjuk so he can return to the United States if the Supreme Court releases him.

“We are here to see what, if anything, I can do to get John Demjanjuk back into the United States,” Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. (D-Ohio) said.