WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (AFP) - US authorities are investigating whether a trusted Pentagon analyst passed sensitive White House policy documents on Iran to Israel, with the help of employees of a powerful pro-Israel lobby, CBS News reported Friday.
The network quoted Federal Bureau of Investigation officials as saying they believe they have solid evidence that the suspected mole supplied Israel with classified materials. The evidence was obtained through wiretaps, undercover surveillance and clandestine photography, CBS said.
CBS quoted sources as saying the suspected spy, described as a trusted analyst at the Pentagon, last year turned over a presidential directive on US policy toward Iran while it was, "in the draft phase when US policy-makers were still debating the policy."
This put the Israelis, according to one source, "inside the decision-making loop" so they could "try to influence the outcome."
Authorities have requested information about the two employees of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee -- a powerful pro-Israeli lobby in Washington -- implicated in the case, CBS reported.
AIPAC told CBS News it is cooperating with the government and has hired outside counsel. It denies any wrongdoing by the organization or any of its employees.
An Israeli spokesman told the network the allegations "are completely false and outrageous."