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Judge Holds Presidential Historian's Release

BALTIMORE (AP)-- A federal judge says he will allow a presidential historian charged in an alleged plot to steal valuable documents to return to his New York apartment, but the release is on hold while prosecutors appeal the decision.

Prosecutor James Warwick argued Thursday against the release of Barry Landau, saying he has tried to hinder the investigation from jail and may destroy more documents. Landau and an assistant are charged with conspiring to take documents from the Maryland Historical Society and other archives. Landau pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Warwick says Landau tried to get another person to take the blame, offering to pay for a psychiatric defense. He says items left in Landau's apartment after a July search disappeared before a second search Tuesday.

A judge will hear the appeal Friday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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