SpyTalk

Fiorentino did have a relationship with Pellicano's family, according to this and other sources. 

But it was innocent: The actress had met Pellicano's wife when she (Fiorentino) was doing a documentary on autism, which one of Pellicano's children suffers from. 

That was it, the source said. In any event, Rossini "wouldn't do a favor for Pellicano - are you kidding?"

Not that it excuses Rossini's behavior, but it's a far less sinister mistake than what's been alleged.    

In any event, he was forced to resign last Friday, Nov. 28, after 17 years and four months as a special agent.  

But a longtime Washington author and investigator who is working on a book about the Pellicano case says that Fiorentino's relationship with the famed Hollywood wiretapper is closer than suggested.

Dan Moldea, an organized crime specialist who has written books on subjects ranging from Jimmy Hoffa to Vince Foster, and who uncovered Republican sexual dalliances for Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, met Fiorentino last summer. 

He was introduced to her by James Bamford, a friend of his who had invited Fiorentino and Rossini to stay at his Georgetown home during a Washington visit.

At the time, Moldea had been trying without success to get an interview with Pellicano.

(Disclosure: I have been friends with Moldea and Bamford for years. Bamford who declined to comment for this story,) 

Fiorentino indicated to Moldea that she was on close terms with the jailed wiretapper, he said.

Eventually, she not only volunteered to help him get an interview, he said, she seemed to be "vetting" him for Pellicano.

"Pellicano would call her from prison," Moldea recalled in an interview today.

"She told me, 'I talked to Pellicano. Pellicano is pi--ed off at you because you refused to testify against Anita at his trial,'" Moldea said, referring to Anita Busch, a former Los Angeles Times reporter who had accused Pellicano of making death threats against her.

Moldea and Busch had had a falling out while collaborating on a book about the case. 

"That's how I learned Pellicano was upset with me - from Linda," Moldea said.

But how did the FBI learn about Rossini's computer snooping? 

According to account in Del Quenton Wilber's story in The Washington Post, the feds grew suspicious when Pellicano's attorneys asked for an FBI document that the prosecution had not turned over to the defense, as required by law.

The FBI investigated the access record on the Pellicano files, which, they say led to Rossini. 
  
Once a crime solver, Rossini first tried to lie about his unauthorized computer access - a felony -- but was quickly broken down, a source said.

In exchange for copping to the keystrokes, he faces a hearing Monday on five misdemeanor counts for each illegal computer search. 

No one is being prosecuted for withholding files from the defense. No one at CIA has been disciplined for withholding files from the FBI.