State Department Meddles in Court Case to Help Foreign Power Against American Treasure Hunters

Discovery News has more information about Wikileaks cables detailing the assistance the US State Department secretly provided to the Spanish Government in litigation with Odyssey Marine, a US based treasure hunting concern. See
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/black-swan-bounty-deal-revealed-in-wikileaks-cables.html#mkcpgn=rssnws

As PhDiva notes on her blog, this story provides more information than previously reported.

Hopefully, Congress or the courts will investigate whether the State Department violated any laws. The archaeological allies of the State Department in the cultural property debate have made no bones about their opposition to Odyssey's treasure hunting. One wonders to what extent they helped influence the State Department to assist Spain in the case secretly.