Framed by.. led me to think that the rest of the sentence should be passive. The only option that fits the bill is 'C'.

A. Awkward construction
B. Awkward construction
D. Whose exoneration? not parallel
E. 'Having been' emphasizes completion of an action- redundant in this case.

[email protected] wrote:Framed by traitorous colleagues, Alfred Dreyfus was imprisoned for twelve years before there was exoneration and his freedom.

(A) there was exoneration and his freedom
(B) he was to be exonerated with freedom
(C) being exonerated and freed
(D) exoneration and his freedom
(E) being freed, having been exonerated



OA is "C". but how???

Think in this manner... "He was framed by....and he had to spend xxxx before he was what??"...

A - Does not make sense since its starts with "there was"
B - This is more of a prediction and does not match the tense.
C - Only option that agrees with the body of the sentence.
D - Incorrect since it means he spend 12 years beetween being exonerated and freed(Compeltely wrong).
E - Wordy.

I hope this helps.