Published July 7, 2010

On our Cold War-era spy radar this morning, The New York Times reports a possible plea deal with the alleged Russian spies:

The proposed resolution could allow all the defendants to plead guilty to fewer charges or charges carrying lesser penalties or even time served, and it could result in deportations or agreements that allow them to return to Russia.

The newsroom has calls out to the usual suspects. The attorney for Donald Heathfield, the accused secret agent from Cambridge, won’t talk to us on the record at this point.

Update: WBUR’s Monica Brady-Myerov is attending a pre-trial hearing in Boston federal court at 11.

Update from NPR’s Dina Temple-Raston that I couldn’t say on the record earlier:

U.S. and Russian diplomats negotiated how the group might be swapped for prisoners being held in Russia. Five suspects in the case were hastily ordered to New York.