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.