Her Red Scare nightmare lives on!
A Manhattan Federal Court judge shot down 98-year-old Miriam Moskowitz’s effort to have her McCarthy-era conviction vacated Thursday, saying the newly discovered evidence in her case didn’t undermine her original trial.
“The error, if any, is not fundamental. There’s no showing it would have changed the result,” Judge Alvin Hellerstein said, dashing the New Jersey woman’s dream of finally clearing her name.
After the ruling, the feisty Moskowitz steadfastly proclaimed her innocence.
“Too bad. My 98-year-old life goes on,” said Moskowitz, who lives in Washington Township.
“I am disappointed because it reflects really not so much on me, but on the prejudice of the McCarthy-era.”
Moskowitz was convicted in 1950 of obstruction of justice tied to a plot to leak atomic secrets to the commies.
She has always insisted she didn’t know anything about the atomic espionage between her boss and lover at the time, Abraham Brothman, and his associate, Harry Gold.
In 2008, Moskowitz uncovered unsealed grand jury minutes that she said called into question the credibility of Gold, the only person to testify against her.
But Judge Alvin Hellerstein didn’t buy it, and noted that vacating a conviction can only occur in extraordinary circumstances.
After his ruling, the judge wished Moskowitz well.
“It’s a pleasure to have you in this court. As the saying goes, may you live until 120,” he said.
Moskowitz, who has been followed by an independent documentary crew for over a year, seemed to enjoy the attention.
“Note that my grand-nephew took the trouble to come in!” she told reporters.
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