There's a cute thing that happens when ever a Star Wars movie comes out these days, particularity so when a movie features a plant to steal the plans to the Death Star.
It's about at this point someone will make a reference to 'Bothans' stealing the plans.
Another person will quip that they didn't see any Bothans in the movie and the internet will lose its collective shit and remind the poster that the Bothan's steal the plans in Return of the Jedi.
Case in point from a calm Pablo Hidalgo:
Except they didn't.
The Bothans do not steal any Death Star plans in Jedi (or events prior). Sometimes it seems only Pablo knows this!
What's happening is a bit of a fake memory event for some people.
Just like Captain Kirk, never actually said "Beam me up, Scotty" in the original Star Trek television series or how Vader never said in Empire "Luke, I am your father*"Mon Mothma never said that the Bothan's stole the Death Star plans.
Just like Captain Kirk, never actually said "Beam me up, Scotty" in the original Star Trek television series or how Vader never said in Empire "Luke, I am your father*"Mon Mothma never said that the Bothan's stole the Death Star plans.
What she said was this:
"The Emperor's made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come.
The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pin point the exact location of the Emperor's new Battle Station.
The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pin point the exact location of the Emperor's new Battle Station.
We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Army spread through out the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us it is relatively unprotected.
But most importantly of all, we've learnt that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of his Death Star.
But most importantly of all, we've learnt that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of his Death Star.
Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar please."
So having read the full quote, it should be clear that the Bothan's did not steal any Death Star plans, for any Star Wars movie, ever.
* Vader says, "No, I'm your father!"
* Vader says, "No, I'm your father!"