FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CRM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1998                                                                                      (202) 514-2008

                                                                                                                                            TDD (202) 514-1888










DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STATEMENT


ON JOHN DEMJANJUK RULING





   U.S. District Judge Paul R. Matia today issued a decision in
Cleveland vacating the denaturalization decision rendered against
John Demjanjuk in 1981.  




	Judge Matia's written opinion stressed that the court "is
not considering the substance of this case: whether the defendant
was a guard at Trawniki [camp] or whether he did anything else
that would have disqualified him as a candidate for United States
citizenship."  

	

	The court stressed that the decision "involves the procedure
in this case."  It found that the government should have
disclosed certain evidence to Demjanjuk's counsel 18 years ago.




	However, the court ruled the Government is free to file a
new denaturalization case against Demjanjuk if it wishes.  That
possibility is currently under review by the Department.







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98-077