Pressure mounts for Biden to exonerate Ethel Rosenberg amid new evidence

In the United States, the case of Ethel Rosenberg, executed in 1953 alongside her husband Julius for espionage, has recently gained renewed scrutiny. Evidence has emerged suggesting Ethel was aware of Julius's activities but did not actively participate in spying. This new perspective comes from a declassified memo by a Cold War-era codebreaker, which described Ethel as a 'party member' and a 'devoted wife' who did not engage in espionage. Historians and advocates for Ethel claim this exonerates her from the accusations that led to her execution. The memo's release adds fuel to ongoing efforts by her sons to clear her name, as they maintain she was wrongfully convicted. Calls for a presidential exoneration are intensifying, as public sentiment surrounding her trial and execution continues to shift. Critics of her execution argue that it was a 'morally repugnant miscarriage of justice.' Despite the emerging evidence, some historians still contend Ethel was involved enough in her husband's activities to warrant scrutiny. They assert that, regardless of her direct involvement, Ethel played a role in the Soviet espionage operations alongside Julius. The ongoing debate around her legacy highlights the complexities of the historical narrative surrounding espionage in Cold War America.