http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=ira+einhorn+specter&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS343&aq=f&aqi=&oq=
http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200404080822.asp
Einhorn was a celebrated leftist and is credited with helping found Earth Day. He also had strong ties to Philadelphia elites — a group of people Specter was cultivating for his prospective Senate campaign when he agreed to become Einhorn’s lawyer.
At an arraignment, the government demanded a $100,000 bail for Einhorn. Before Judge William Marutani, Specter called this “excessively excessive” and insisted on a reduced figure. Marutani wondered if Einhorn might “split for parts unknown.” He mentioned Norway as a possible destination. “I have to disagree with your last statement,” replied Specter. “Anybody is as likely to go to Norway as anybody else.” Through the future senator’s efforts, Einhorn’s bail was dropped to $40,000. The accused man only had to put out ten percent of it in cash to secure his release.
As things turned out, Specter was proven correct: Einhorn didn’t flee for Norway. He went to Sweden instead, slipping out of the United States shortly before his murder trial was scheduled to begin. Einhorn remained a fugitive until 1997, when police found him living in France under a phony name with his Swedish wife. He was eventually extradited to the United States. In 2002, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Nevertheless, thanks to Specter, Einhorn enjoyed 20 years of freedom he wasn’t entitled to. I remember the extradition case and the role it played in furthering poor relations between the U.S. and France, but I was unaware of Specter’s earlier involvement. So thank you for the excellent synopsis of the case and explaining Specter’s role. I don’t know why this case isn’t mentioned in discussions about Specter. Perhaps people will start raising the issue once the general election campaign is underway.