John Demjanjuk - Revision history

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	[[File:John Demjanjuk 3.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|200px\|Demjanjuk (centre) being wrongly sentenced to death on 25 April 1988 in Jerusalem.]]		[[File:John Demjanjuk 3.png\|thumb\|200px\|Demjanjuk (centre) being wrongly sentenced to death on 25 April 1988 in Jerusalem.]]
	'''John Demjanjuk''' (born '''Ivan Demjanjuk''' in [[Ukraine]]; 3 April 1920 – 17 March 2012) was a retired auto worker who had emigrated to the [[United States]] in 1951. He was later accused of being a [[Holocaust]] perpetrator and became for many decades involved in a long series of legal proceedings, and was at one point even sentenced to death for alleged crimes he had not committed.		'''John Demjanjuk''' (born '''Ivan Demjanjuk''' in [[Ukraine]]; 3 April 1920 – 17 March 2012) was a retired auto worker who had emigrated to the [[United States]] in 1951. He was later accused of being a [[Holocaust]] perpetrator and became for many decades involved in a long series of legal proceedings, and was at one point even sentenced to death for alleged crimes he had not committed.

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	[[File:John Demjanjuk 3.png\|thumb\|200px\|Demjanjuk (centre) being wrongly sentenced to death on 25 April 1988 in Jerusalem.]]		[[File:John Demjanjuk 3.png\|thumb\|200px\|Demjanjuk (centre) being wrongly sentenced to death on 25 April 1988 in Jerusalem.]]
	'''John Demjanjuk''' (born '''Ivan Demjanjuk''' in [[Ukraine]]; 3 April 1920 – 17 March 2012) was a retired auto worker who had emigrated to the [[United States]] in 1951. He was later accused of being a [[~~Holocaust~~]] perpetrator and became for many decades involved in a long series of legal proceedings, and was at one point even sentenced to death for alleged crimes he had not committed.		'''John Demjanjuk''' (born '''Ivan Demjanjuk''' in [[Ukraine]]; 3 April 1920 – 17 March 2012) was a retired auto worker who had emigrated to the [[United States]] in 1951. He was later accused of being a [[Holohoax]] perpetrator and became for many decades involved in a long series of legal proceedings, and was at one point even sentenced to death for alleged crimes he had not committed.

	== “Ivan the Terrible” accusations ==		== “Ivan the Terrible” accusations ==
	Critics of the allegations against Demjanjuk have argued that the story originally originated as a Soviet fabrication. The [[Soviet Union]] (together with pro-Soviet individuals in the United States) tried to discredit Ukrainian nationalism by methods such as repeated false allegations of participation by Ukrainians in "fascist" war crimes. In 1975, a pro-Soviet journalist handed over a list to the US authorities that contained 70 names of alleged National Socialist collaborators of Ukrainian origin, among which also appeared the name of John Demjanjuk. The accusation included a witness statement according to which Demjanjuk had served as a guard at several concentration camps as well as a facsimile of an identity card, which allegedly proved Demjanjuk as being a guard at several camps. An investigation started. Witnesses appeared in Israel, who claimed to recognize Demjanjuk as “Ivan the Terrible”, a guard at [[Treblinka]].<ref name=HH15/>		Critics of the allegations against Demjanjuk have argued that the story originally originated as a Soviet fabrication. The [[Soviet Union]] (together with pro-Soviet individuals in the United States) tried to discredit Ukrainian nationalism by methods such as repeated false allegations of participation by Ukrainians in "fascist" war crimes. In 1975, a pro-Soviet journalist handed over a list to the US authorities that contained 70 names of alleged National Socialist collaborators of Ukrainian origin, among which also appeared the name of John Demjanjuk. The accusation included a witness statement according to which Demjanjuk had served as a guard at several concentration camps as well as a facsimile of an identity card, which allegedly proved Demjanjuk as being a guard at several camps. An investigation started. Witnesses appeared in Israel, who claimed to recognize Demjanjuk as “Ivan the Terrible”, a guard at [[Treblinka]].<ref name=HH15/>

	Demjanjuk was deprived of his U.S. citizenship in 1984 due to alleged false information he gave in his immigration papers, mainly on the basis of the alleged identity card, and he was extradited to Israel in 1986, despite Israel not having any formal right to demand such an extradition.<ref name=HH15>~~Holocaust~~ Handbooks, Volume 15: Germar Rudolf: Lectures on the ~~Holocaust—Controversial~~ Issues Cross Examined 2nd, revised and corrected edition. http://holocausthandbooks.com/index.php?page_id=15.</ref>		Demjanjuk was deprived of his U.S. citizenship in 1984 due to alleged false information he gave in his immigration papers, mainly on the basis of the alleged identity card, and he was extradited to Israel in 1986, despite Israel not having any formal right to demand such an extradition.<ref name=HH15>Holohoax Handbooks, Volume 15: Germar Rudolf: Lectures on the Holohoax—Controversial Issues Cross Examined 2nd, revised and corrected edition. http://holocausthandbooks.com/index.php?page_id=15.</ref>

	Several investigations stated that the alleged identity card is a forgery that used an old photo of Demjanjuk from the year 1947, taken from the immigration documents in the USA and then retouched for the identity card. However, several agencies and authorities in Israel, Germany, and the United States tried to conceal this by using various methods, including trying to persuade a series of witnesses to testify in support of the authenticity.<ref name=HH15/>		Several investigations stated that the alleged identity card is a forgery that used an old photo of Demjanjuk from the year 1947, taken from the immigration documents in the USA and then retouched for the identity card. However, several agencies and authorities in Israel, Germany, and the United States tried to conceal this by using various methods, including trying to persuade a series of witnesses to testify in support of the authenticity.<ref name=HH15/>
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	"''The fate of the courageous defense lawyers during the show trial staged against Ivan Demjanjuk emphasizes the risks these jurists accept when defending what the public perceives as “devils”: just days before the start of Demjanjuk’s appeal trial, his first lawyer Dov Eitan fell – or was made to fall – to his death from the 20th floor of a high rise in Jerusalem. Only two days later Demjanjuk’s second lawyer Yoram Sheftel was attacked during Eitan’s funeral: someone threw acid into his face which almost made him blind (Sheftel 1994, pp. 243-263). It is therefore not surprising that most defense lawyers are not very eager to defend such clients effectively, if at all.''"<ref name=HH15/>		"''The fate of the courageous defense lawyers during the show trial staged against Ivan Demjanjuk emphasizes the risks these jurists accept when defending what the public perceives as “devils”: just days before the start of Demjanjuk’s appeal trial, his first lawyer Dov Eitan fell – or was made to fall – to his death from the 20th floor of a high rise in Jerusalem. Only two days later Demjanjuk’s second lawyer Yoram Sheftel was attacked during Eitan’s funeral: someone threw acid into his face which almost made him blind (Sheftel 1994, pp. 243-263). It is therefore not surprising that most defense lawyers are not very eager to defend such clients effectively, if at all.''"<ref name=HH15/>

	The US [[Office of Special Investigations]] (OSI), a "Nazi-hunting" agency, was involved in the various accusations against Demjanjuk. The organization has been stated to have a personnel "''which reads like a Who’s Who of jewish ~~Holocaust~~ fanatics''" and to cooperate closely with similar organizations in other countries, Israel, and the [[ADL]].<ref name=HH15/>		The US [[Office of Special Investigations]] (OSI), a "Nazi-hunting" agency, was involved in the various accusations against Demjanjuk. The organization has been stated to have a personnel "''which reads like a Who’s Who of jewish Holohoax fanatics''" and to cooperate closely with similar organizations in other countries, Israel, and the [[ADL]].<ref name=HH15/>

	The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Chief Judge 1989-1996 had this to say about the OSI's handling of the Demjanjuk case: "''Today we know that they — the OSI, the prosecution in the case and the State Department — lied through their teeth. Even then they knew without a doubt that Demjanjuk was not Ivan the Terrible, but they hid the information from us. I am sorry that I did not have the information at the time. If I did, we would never have ruled in favor of his extradition to Israel.''" Merritt stated that what happened in his courtroom was: "''nothing short of a witch hunt. In retrospect, it reminds me of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts 300 years ago. The prosecution, counseled by the OSI, presented documents and witnesses whose testimony was based on emotions and hysteria, but not hard evidence. To my regret, we believed them. This instance is a prime example of how justice can be distorted.''"<ref>Melman, Yossi. News article dated November 14, 1997. "Who Lied About Demjanjuk?," Ha'aretz Israeli News,</ref>		The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Chief Judge 1989-1996 had this to say about the OSI's handling of the Demjanjuk case: "''Today we know that they — the OSI, the prosecution in the case and the State Department — lied through their teeth. Even then they knew without a doubt that Demjanjuk was not Ivan the Terrible, but they hid the information from us. I am sorry that I did not have the information at the time. If I did, we would never have ruled in favor of his extradition to Israel.''" Merritt stated that what happened in his courtroom was: "''nothing short of a witch hunt. In retrospect, it reminds me of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts 300 years ago. The prosecution, counseled by the OSI, presented documents and witnesses whose testimony was based on emotions and hysteria, but not hard evidence. To my regret, we believed them. This instance is a prime example of how justice can be distorted.''"<ref>Melman, Yossi. News article dated November 14, 1997. "Who Lied About Demjanjuk?," Ha'aretz Israeli News,</ref>
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	== Later accusations ==		== Later accusations ==
	"''In 1993, as the case against Demjanjuk was falling apart, an Israeli prosecutor close to the case acknowledged a political motive for continuing the campaign. "So the important thing now is at least to prove that Demjanjuk was part of the Nazi extermination machine… otherwise… we will be making a great contribution to the new world-wide movement of those who deny the ~~Holocaust~~ took place."''"<ref>Injustice, Double Standards, and Ulterior Agendas http://codoh.com/library/document/376/</ref>		"''In 1993, as the case against Demjanjuk was falling apart, an Israeli prosecutor close to the case acknowledged a political motive for continuing the campaign. "So the important thing now is at least to prove that Demjanjuk was part of the Nazi extermination machine… otherwise… we will be making a great contribution to the new world-wide movement of those who deny the Holohoax took place."''"<ref>Injustice, Double Standards, and Ulterior Agendas http://codoh.com/library/document/376/</ref>

	In 2004, Demjanjuk's citizenship was revoked again and he was extradited in 2009 to Germany, now to instead face trial for alleged crimes at [[Sobibor]], with the alleged identity card again being used as evidence.<ref name=HH15/>		In 2004, Demjanjuk's citizenship was revoked again and he was extradited in 2009 to Germany, now to instead face trial for alleged crimes at [[Sobibor]], with the alleged identity card again being used as evidence.<ref name=HH15/>
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	{{quote\|''German federal authorities conceal knowledge about forged evidence […] Our paper has already […] reported about an expert report by historian Dieter Lehner […], in which this “document” is exposed as a complete forgery. One example: the identity card photo comes from the files of the U.S. immigration authorities and was first taken in 1947 (!) […] In the meantime, it has turned out that federal authorities are also […] entangled in the affair. For it is clear that for the past five years, the highest political authorities have seen to it that the truth […] did not reach the public. […] When the expert report of the Crimes Bureau reportedly became well known, the Bonn Office of the Chancellor be- came involved in the matter. Representatives of the Demjanjuk defense were given the runaround. The existence of the BKA expert report was concealed from them. Although the Chancellor’s office knew the report by Lehner and the BKA, a false trail was laid: not the identity card was said to have been examined by the BKA, but only the photo.[…] Yet even this statement is false. […] The Federal Crimes Bureau was compelled to publicly keep silent. A BKA Department Chief made a file memo: “Professional scruples obviously had to be subordinated to political aspects.''”\|''Munchner Merkur'', 26 March 1992.<ref name=HH15/>}}		{{quote\|''German federal authorities conceal knowledge about forged evidence […] Our paper has already […] reported about an expert report by historian Dieter Lehner […], in which this “document” is exposed as a complete forgery. One example: the identity card photo comes from the files of the U.S. immigration authorities and was first taken in 1947 (!) […] In the meantime, it has turned out that federal authorities are also […] entangled in the affair. For it is clear that for the past five years, the highest political authorities have seen to it that the truth […] did not reach the public. […] When the expert report of the Crimes Bureau reportedly became well known, the Bonn Office of the Chancellor be- came involved in the matter. Representatives of the Demjanjuk defense were given the runaround. The existence of the BKA expert report was concealed from them. Although the Chancellor’s office knew the report by Lehner and the BKA, a false trail was laid: not the identity card was said to have been examined by the BKA, but only the photo.[…] Yet even this statement is false. […] The Federal Crimes Bureau was compelled to publicly keep silent. A BKA Department Chief made a file memo: “Professional scruples obviously had to be subordinated to political aspects.''”\|''Munchner Merkur'', 26 March 1992.<ref name=HH15/>}}

	{{quote\|''The Demjanjuk Case is, after all, not different from other similar trials which ended in sentences of death or incarceration, since the type and content of the witness testimonies, including internal and external contradictions and technical impossibilities, had not, of course, made their first appearance at the Demjanjuk proceedings, as we will discover later. It was only that during this trial they were successfully challenged for the first time. But if it was determined that all witnesses gave false testimony, which led to a misjudgment, then would not complaints have to be lodged against the false witnesses? And would not other trials, in which the same witnesses appeared or in which testimonies of similar questionable content were given – be it in Israel, in Germany, or in Poland – have to be reopened and retried? But nothing of the sort occurred. The cloak of silence was simply spread over this embarrassing matter.''\|''Lectures on the ~~Holocaust—Controversial~~ Issues Cross Examined''.<ref name=HH15/>}}		{{quote\|''The Demjanjuk Case is, after all, not different from other similar trials which ended in sentences of death or incarceration, since the type and content of the witness testimonies, including internal and external contradictions and technical impossibilities, had not, of course, made their first appearance at the Demjanjuk proceedings, as we will discover later. It was only that during this trial they were successfully challenged for the first time. But if it was determined that all witnesses gave false testimony, which led to a misjudgment, then would not complaints have to be lodged against the false witnesses? And would not other trials, in which the same witnesses appeared or in which testimonies of similar questionable content were given – be it in Israel, in Germany, or in Poland – have to be reopened and retried? But nothing of the sort occurred. The cloak of silence was simply spread over this embarrassing matter.''\|''Lectures on the Holohoax—Controversial Issues Cross Examined''.<ref name=HH15/>}}

	== See also ==		== See also ==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*[http://holocausthandbooks.com/index.php?page_id=15 Lectures on the ~~Holocaust—Controversial~~ Issues Cross Examined] - section 2.12. Ivan the Wrong Guy		*[http://holocausthandbooks.com/index.php?page_id=15 Lectures on the Holohoax—Controversial Issues Cross Examined] - section 2.12. Ivan the Wrong Guy
	* [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/europe/john-demjanjuk-nazi-guard-dies-at-91.html John Demjanjuk, 91 dies, from ''The New York Times'']		* [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/world/europe/john-demjanjuk-nazi-guard-dies-at-91.html John Demjanjuk, 91 dies, from ''The New York Times'']

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	One example is [[Eliahu Rosenberg]], who swore that John Demjanjuk was the one and the same as “Ivan the Terrible” – only for it to be found out that he had previously testified that “Ivan” had been killed during a prisoner uprising.<ref>Eliahu Rosenberg's 1947 deposition on Treblinka http://codoh.com/library/document/649/</ref>		One example is [[Eliahu Rosenberg]], who swore that John Demjanjuk was the one and the same as “Ivan the Terrible” – only for it to be found out that he had previously testified that “Ivan” had been killed during a prisoner uprising.<ref>Eliahu Rosenberg's 1947 deposition on Treblinka http://codoh.com/library/document/649/</ref>

	It has been argued that one reason for the trial was that Israel (as occurred during the [[Eichmann]] trial) needed to gain worldwide shock and outrage over the suffering of the ~~Jewish~~ people, in part to deflect attention from the situation of the Palestinians in the occupied territories and the Gaza Strip. However, the trial instead turned into a public relations disaster as a widespread movement protested the treatment of Demjanjuk.<ref name=HH15/>		It has been argued that one reason for the trial was that Israel (as occurred during the [[Eichmann]] trial) needed to gain worldwide shock and outrage over the suffering of the jewish people, in part to deflect attention from the situation of the Palestinians in the occupied territories and the Gaza Strip. However, the trial instead turned into a public relations disaster as a widespread movement protested the treatment of Demjanjuk.<ref name=HH15/>

	In 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court overturned the decision and Demjanjuk returned to the United States.		In 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court overturned the decision and Demjanjuk returned to the United States.
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	"''The fate of the courageous defense lawyers during the show trial staged against Ivan Demjanjuk emphasizes the risks these jurists accept when defending what the public perceives as “devils”: just days before the start of Demjanjuk’s appeal trial, his first lawyer Dov Eitan fell – or was made to fall – to his death from the 20th floor of a high rise in Jerusalem. Only two days later Demjanjuk’s second lawyer Yoram Sheftel was attacked during Eitan’s funeral: someone threw acid into his face which almost made him blind (Sheftel 1994, pp. 243-263). It is therefore not surprising that most defense lawyers are not very eager to defend such clients effectively, if at all.''"<ref name=HH15/>		"''The fate of the courageous defense lawyers during the show trial staged against Ivan Demjanjuk emphasizes the risks these jurists accept when defending what the public perceives as “devils”: just days before the start of Demjanjuk’s appeal trial, his first lawyer Dov Eitan fell – or was made to fall – to his death from the 20th floor of a high rise in Jerusalem. Only two days later Demjanjuk’s second lawyer Yoram Sheftel was attacked during Eitan’s funeral: someone threw acid into his face which almost made him blind (Sheftel 1994, pp. 243-263). It is therefore not surprising that most defense lawyers are not very eager to defend such clients effectively, if at all.''"<ref name=HH15/>

	The US [[Office of Special Investigations]] (OSI), a "Nazi-hunting" agency, was involved in the various accusations against Demjanjuk. The organization has been stated to have a personnel "''which reads like a Who’s Who of ~~Jewish~~ Holocaust fanatics''" and to cooperate closely with similar organizations in other countries, Israel, and the [[ADL]].<ref name=HH15/>		The US [[Office of Special Investigations]] (OSI), a "Nazi-hunting" agency, was involved in the various accusations against Demjanjuk. The organization has been stated to have a personnel "''which reads like a Who’s Who of jewish Holocaust fanatics''" and to cooperate closely with similar organizations in other countries, Israel, and the [[ADL]].<ref name=HH15/>

	The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Chief Judge 1989-1996 had this to say about the OSI's handling of the Demjanjuk case: "''Today we know that they — the OSI, the prosecution in the case and the State Department — lied through their teeth. Even then they knew without a doubt that Demjanjuk was not Ivan the Terrible, but they hid the information from us. I am sorry that I did not have the information at the time. If I did, we would never have ruled in favor of his extradition to Israel.''" Merritt stated that what happened in his courtroom was: "''nothing short of a witch hunt. In retrospect, it reminds me of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts 300 years ago. The prosecution, counseled by the OSI, presented documents and witnesses whose testimony was based on emotions and hysteria, but not hard evidence. To my regret, we believed them. This instance is a prime example of how justice can be distorted.''"<ref>Melman, Yossi. News article dated November 14, 1997. "Who Lied About Demjanjuk?," Ha'aretz Israeli News,</ref>		The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Chief Judge 1989-1996 had this to say about the OSI's handling of the Demjanjuk case: "''Today we know that they — the OSI, the prosecution in the case and the State Department — lied through their teeth. Even then they knew without a doubt that Demjanjuk was not Ivan the Terrible, but they hid the information from us. I am sorry that I did not have the information at the time. If I did, we would never have ruled in favor of his extradition to Israel.''" Merritt stated that what happened in his courtroom was: "''nothing short of a witch hunt. In retrospect, it reminds me of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts 300 years ago. The prosecution, counseled by the OSI, presented documents and witnesses whose testimony was based on emotions and hysteria, but not hard evidence. To my regret, we believed them. This instance is a prime example of how justice can be distorted.''"<ref>Melman, Yossi. News article dated November 14, 1997. "Who Lied About Demjanjuk?," Ha'aretz Israeli News,</ref>

	Another criticism: "''After spending five years on Israel’s death row, he was eventually exonerated when it emerged that the American Justice department had ‘fraudulently withheld evidence…to curry favour with ~~Jewish~~ organizations.’[29] The judges concluded that the Office for Special Investigation (a section of the Justice department especially set up to investigate Nazi war criminals) and the prosecutors had ‘acted with reckless disregard for the truth.’[30] A Treblinka Nazi identity card, supposedly his, was, quite simply, a forgery.''"<ref>Freedom, Democracy and ‘The Conquering of Evil’ http://codoh.com/library/document/1900/</ref>		Another criticism: "''After spending five years on Israel’s death row, he was eventually exonerated when it emerged that the American Justice department had ‘fraudulently withheld evidence…to curry favour with jewish organizations.’[29] The judges concluded that the Office for Special Investigation (a section of the Justice department especially set up to investigate Nazi war criminals) and the prosecutors had ‘acted with reckless disregard for the truth.’[30] A Treblinka Nazi identity card, supposedly his, was, quite simply, a forgery.''"<ref>Freedom, Democracy and ‘The Conquering of Evil’ http://codoh.com/library/document/1900/</ref>

	== Alleged persecution of Congressman James Traficant for supporting Demjanjuk ==		== Alleged persecution of Congressman James Traficant for supporting Demjanjuk ==
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	A 2010 Esquire magazine article written and researched by Scott Raab questioned the whole idea of Demjanjuk's trial, crime, and punishment, pointing out many of the absurdities of this particular case, stating specifically "''Worse, Demjanjuk is essentially on trial not for anything he did, but simply for being at Sobibor. No specific criminal acts need be alleged, much less proved. Page through transcripts of previous Nazi trials and you'll find a rigorous focus on particulars, because that is what should be required to convict a defendant. No one in any such trial ever was convicted simply on the basis of being present at the scene.''"<ref>"John Demjanjuk: The Last Nazi". Esquire, 11 August 2010. http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a6567/john-demjanjuk-1109/</ref>		A 2010 Esquire magazine article written and researched by Scott Raab questioned the whole idea of Demjanjuk's trial, crime, and punishment, pointing out many of the absurdities of this particular case, stating specifically "''Worse, Demjanjuk is essentially on trial not for anything he did, but simply for being at Sobibor. No specific criminal acts need be alleged, much less proved. Page through transcripts of previous Nazi trials and you'll find a rigorous focus on particulars, because that is what should be required to convict a defendant. No one in any such trial ever was convicted simply on the basis of being present at the scene.''"<ref>"John Demjanjuk: The Last Nazi". Esquire, 11 August 2010. http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a6567/john-demjanjuk-1109/</ref>

	On 12 May 2011, aged 91, Demjanjuk was convicted as an accessory to the murder of 27,900 ~~Jews~~ and sentenced to five years in prison. He appealed but died on 17 March 2012 before he could be tried, making him legally innocent under German law.		On 12 May 2011, aged 91, Demjanjuk was convicted as an accessory to the murder of 27,900 jews and sentenced to five years in prison. He appealed but died on 17 March 2012 before he could be tried, making him legally innocent under German law.

	On 12 April 2011, a 1985 FBI report that had been marked secret for the previous 25 years was declassified and found by reporters of the Associated Press News Media in the National Archives. It brought to light a judgement that the ID card that had been provided by a Soviet source to the US was "''quite likely fabricated''" evidence.<ref>“AP Exclusive: FBI thought Demjanjuk evidence faked,” Associated Press, 12 April 2011</ref>		On 12 April 2011, a 1985 FBI report that had been marked secret for the previous 25 years was declassified and found by reporters of the Associated Press News Media in the National Archives. It brought to light a judgement that the ID card that had been provided by a Soviet source to the US was "''quite likely fabricated''" evidence.<ref>“AP Exclusive: FBI thought Demjanjuk evidence faked,” Associated Press, 12 April 2011</ref>