Pubdate: Tue, 14 Aug 2001
Source: Connecticut Post (CT)
Copyright: 2001sMediaNews Group, Inc
Contact:  http://www.ctpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574

THE RIGHT THING

After three months in a Russian jail following trumped-up charges of 
espionage and drug possession, American Fulbright scholar John E. Tobin Jr. 
is home in Ridgefield.

At least part of the credit for that result rests with Connecticut 5th 
District Rep. James Maloney, who has been a tireless advocate for the young 
man's release.

Tobin was arrested in Russia in January on marijuana possession charges and 
was convicted in April. Initially he was sentenced to 37 months in jail, 
but a higher court modified that sentence to one year.

Maloney, whose district includes Ridgefield, used the weight of his office 
to publicize Tobin's situation and make it an issue at the upper echelon of 
American government.

Maloney's efforts helped bring the Tobin case to the attention of Secretary 
of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, President 
Bush and, ultimately, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It could be said, of course, that Maloney was doing nothing more than what 
congressmen are elected to do: represent the best interests of their 
constituents.

The unfortunate fact is that members of Congress pursue that goal with 
varying degrees of enthusiasm and success.

It could also be said that Maloney took interest in this high-profile case 
because it could help him politically.

That, of course, would be unfair. Politicians certainly look for victories 
that will help them in their re-election bids. That is the nature of the 
business. Maloney, though, jumped into this case very early on when the 
likelihood of victory certainly could not have been taken for granted.

In the case of John Tobin, Maloney simply did the right thing.
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