Francesco/who-killed-jfk huggingface dataset:
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 97]
mbh 2Phone (Area 202) 544-6000961 A Well, the membership varied. As I said, we were2 principally interested in the leadership of the organizations.3 Once the organization was established and the leadership took4 over, then they would take care of enlisting the, I guess,5 getting membership from the Cuban exile community to join.6 Q What were their functions, the fronts?7 A Well, it was to bring some unity out of this chaotic8 thing of the splinter groups and get -- as I said, it was a9 political organization in exile.10 Q Did they conduct any operations?11 A No, not that I know of.12 Q Just like a political party?13 A Like a political party.14 Q How many of these fronts were there?15 A There were several of them. I really don't remember16 the names of them. The FRD was one. The Revolutionary17 Democratic Front. I guess that was probably the biggest one.18 And there were some others.19 Q The RDF?20 A FRD.21 Q I see.22 A Front Revolutionary Democratic. It is the23 Democratic Revolutionary Front.24 Q All right. Are these groups still in existence?25 A I would think not. I really don't know.SECRETPhotocopy fromGerald Ford LibraryNW 50955 DocId:32275518 Page 98WARD & PAUL410 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 98]
Q Is there a CIA station in Puerto Rico?A No. There was but there isn't any more. There hasn't been one there for years.Q When was it disbanded?A I think the station was established around 1958 and -- perhaps it was established before that. I think it went out of existence in 1958.Q Do you know why it went out of existence?A No, I don't. I don't have any idea.Q Do you know what function it was performing?A (Nods in negative.)Q You mentioned earlier that Bernard Barker worked in the Cuban community for the CIA?A He worked with these fronts, too.Q Was he performing any intelligence function in the community?A Intelligence functions. Well --Q Was he collecting information?A Sure. If he got information that he thought was worthwhile he would pass it on.Q Now, would he have been considered one of the three or 500 persons employed or assigned to the Miami Station?A Yes. He was a contract employee.Q And were intelligence requirements levied on such contract employees?
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 99]
A Normally, the requirements are pretty standard, or they were at that time. But here again, you always have ad hoc type things that pop up from time to time, and have to be surfaced.Q Some of these contract employees were, then, in the business of ccilecting intelligence information in the Cuban communities in Miami.A Right.Q Now, I think we finished with the AMOTS but can you think of any other functions performed by the AMOTS that we have not discussed in the course of the afternoon?A Ilo, not really. No.Ω I think you previously described them for me as the eyes and ears into the Cuban community.A Right.Q And they actually had a physical facility in Miami which was their headquarters, did they not?A Exactly.2 And there was a CIA Case Officer who managed to super-vise that facility.A Yes.2 Now, what has happened to the AMOTS?A The AMOTS were gradually phased down and will go out of existence -- che AMOTS are out of existence, aren't they? Isn't it the AMDUKES or these are the radio people.
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 100]
Q And the AMDUKES are the AMOTS?A The AMDUKES are AMOTS but they are radio people.Q They are the ones that conducted the intercept for NSA?A Yes. The only reason we use two different names is that in each of these things in those days we had to have a project which had to be renewed every year to get the funding.Q So AMDUKE and AMOT --A Synonymous.Q -- are cryptonyms?A Yes.Q Do the initials stand for anything other than --A No. Just pick them out. If you want to encrypt somebody you just call downstairs and they give you a crypt. You don't have anything to do with it. The AM happened at that particular time to be the Cuban diograph.Q Now, turning to the Miami Station's involvement for assistance to the Secret Service in connection with the political conventions in 1968 and 1972, would you briefly describe for me the nature of the assistance provided by the Agency to the Secret Service?A At the request of the Secret Service we conducted name traces on individuals whom the Secret Service wanted traced. These includedthe employees of all hotels in Miami![photo of a stamp indicating the document is secret]
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 101]
Beach where any convention activities were to take place, employees of catering services, limosine service, employees in -- what do they call it, the Civic Center in Miami. It is a big auditorium down there. I forget what they call it. Foreign news people and media, television, radio people.Q Were these people on whom name traces were requested all foreign nationals?A All foreign nationals.Q Was there any check made to determine whether any of them were American citizens?A We levied on the Secret Service as a requirement that they have identified these people by nationality before we would run a name trace. Inadvertently, at one time they did submit a list, a rather long list of American citizens which we promptly sent back to them and told them we could not trace.Q And this practice was followed both in 1968 and 1972?A That is right.Q And where were these names traced?A They were traced back here and also in Miami. The Miami Station did their name check and we did our name check here. In the case of Cubans, probably the Miami Station had more information on the Cubans than we would have back here.Q But the names were traced through Agency files?
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 102]
1011 A Through Agency files.2 Q Was Secret Service receiving cooperation from FBI on this as well?4 A Oh, yes.5 Q And in effect, they were getting an all-Agency name check --7 A Right.8 Q -- on people who might pose a security threat --9 A Yes.10 Q -- to a candidate?11 A Well, they were just trying to determine who might be a security threat..12 Q That is right. Potential threat.14 A Yes.15 Q For what political parties -- strike that.16 In 1968 was this service provided for both political conventions?18 A Both political conventions.19 Q Were they both held in Miami that year?20 A No. I guess it was in 1972 they were both held there. I think it was just the Democratic in 1968.22 Q These requests did come from the Secret Service rather than --24 A From the Secret Service and it was -- the Director of the Secret Service came to the DCI and asked him forPhotocopy from Gerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 103]
102support.Q Do you still maintain the records with respect tothat tracing activity?A I have all the names that have been traced.Q And they are on little cards down in your files?A Yes.Q Why have those records been maintained? Is thereany reason those records have been maintained?A Well, because we were told to maintain them whenthe Watergate thing broke.Q I see.A And since then nobody will destroy anything.Q OK. Are you aware of any picketing at variousplaces in the country that has been conducted by Cubangroups?A I was not aware of it until I was told of it.I still don't know whether this was a spontaneous action onthe part of these people or whether they were instructed todo it. I tried to run that down and I have been unable to.Q At what locations has it been reported that picketswere located?A Airline offices in New York, Miami. I think anotherplace. I forget where it was.Q Have you in fact been able to verify that thesepersons were Cubans?SECRETPhotocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 104]
1 A Well, it is a matter of record in the AMOT history2 that this indeed did take place. Now, what I have been trying3 to determine is whether the On-Site Case Officer authorized4 this, which I fully doubt.5 Q Who was the On-Site Case Officer?.6 A At that time it was a fellow by the name of Tony7 Sforza.8 Q Is he still alive?9 A Yes, he is down in Miami. But I just do not know10 whether this was a unilateral action on the part of the11 AMOTS against the countries that were then trading with12 Cuba, notably Spain and Great Britain and France.13 Q Other than this incident which we -- strike that.14 What kind of an investigation have you conducted?15 A I have talked to people, which is really all you16 can do. There is no other way you can do it.17 Q You have been unable to determine who, if anyone,18 authorized this activity? Have you been able to identify19 any of the persons who participated in the picketing?20 A No.21 Q With what frequency did this activity occur?22 A I don't have any idea. I only know of one instance.23 Q This was in New York City?24 A New York City and Miami.25 Q Do you know of any organized political activity that
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 105]
1 the AMOTS engaged in?2 A To my knowledge, they didn't engage in any.3 Q Any political activity.4 Do you know of any other activities that they have5 conducted within this country, they or any of their members6 have conducted within this country that we have not already7 discussed this afternoon?8 A No.9 Q Any political activities? Any operations?10 A No. Not really. Of course, we have used certain11 select individuals to what we call hand-hold defectors, Cuban12 defectors. In other words, live with them until they are13 resettled and this type of thing. And this is another activity14 they engaged in. But other than that, I can't think of any-15 thing else.16 Q Do you know of any criminal activities that have17 been attribited to --18 A I have heard of some allegations which have never19 been proven.20 Q What are the allegations?21 A The allegations concern break-ins and surveillances22 and this type of thing.23 Q Have those allegations been made with any fre-24 quency?25 A Well, I forget who it was. It was during the
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 106]
1 Watergate trial. Some of these allegations that came outand I think they were carried in the Anderson column but wemade file checks and this type of thing. One particular4 activity was supposed to have been carried out in Rockefeller5 Center in New York and is turns out it was taken out of6 context. It was a training mission and -- training exercise.7 These guys were being trained in surveillance in New Yorkand they were simply asked to go into a branch of the Manhatta-- Chase Manhattan and to come back out and then they were10 supposed to diagram the layout of the bank. And this to some11 of them meant casing the bank when in fact it was just a12 memory exercise.13 ? With what frequency were those kinds of training14 exercises conducted?15 A Well, whenever there was an -- whenever it was felt16 that these people, selected individuals, were to be trained17 in trade craft.18 ? And did their trade craft training include such19 things as surveillance?20 A Sure.21 ? And break-ins?22 A No. Not break-ins. Nor surreptitious entry. As I23 said, in the case of this particular thing, it was misinter-24 preted as casing the bank. These exercises were given -- they25 could have walked into your office, your outer office and
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 107]
bh 12 1061 said -- the instructor could have said two hours later tell2 me what is in that outer office? What is the layout of it?3 This is just for observation.4 Q You stated earlier none of those allegations have5 been proven. Have any of them been proved to your6 satisfaction?7 A No. Ithink we disproved them to my satisfaction.8 Q I take it you do not believe they took place other9 than the training exercise?10 A Oh, no. No. I don't believe they did.11 Q Do you know of any instances where members of that12 group have broken in, made any other type of illegal entry13 in this country?14 A No.15 Q Have you ever been present at any discussions of16 the legality or illegality of maintaining stations like the17 Miami Station within this country?18 A Legality? No.19 Q How about the propriety?20 A Well, to my knowledge, that really never came up.21 No one to my knowledge, has ever questioned the legality or22 the propriety of having the Station.23 Q There have been some allegations in the press and24 elsewhere about possible misuse of Cuban exiles, members of25 that community, by the CIA. Are you aware of those?![photo of the SECRET mark and Photocopy from Gerald Ford Library]
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 108]
1A No.2Q We received some correspondence and I have seen some3articles that suggest that the Cuban community is sort of4a resource that is occasionally tapped by the CIA for various5operations in this country.6A You mean this country?7Q Yes. Picketing was one example. There were also some8other examples of unusual activities. Do you have any knowledge9of use by the CIA of Cuban nationals or exiles for any type10of operation within this country?11A No.12Q Do you know whether or not the Agency has provided13any financial support for Cuban businessmen in this country?14A No. Not to my knowledge.15Q Other than the maintenance of cover?16A No.17Q Establishment of businesses?18A No.19Q No?20A No.21Q In the course of our discussions today we discussed22the: AMOTS, the AMDUKES, various political front groups,23revolutionary front groups. Are there any other emigre,24Cuban emigre groups in the Miami area which have been supported25by the Agency, either financially or otherwise?
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 109]
1 A Not to my knowledge.2 Ω Are you familiar with the appendix that was attached to Mr. Colby?s statement?4 A Yes.5 Ω Did you have some role in drafting that?6 A You mean the Miami Station thing?7 2 Appendix J, entitled, "The Miami Station".8 A Yes.9 2 You wrote it?10 A Yes.11 2 It has a familiar ring about it. There are references to indigenous organizations, emigre organizations. Are13 there any others other than the ones we have been discussing?14 A Not to my knowledge. There are, you know, if you want, to call it an organization, we did, you know, subsidize the hell out of Juanita Castro.16 2 Yes, I am familiar with that.17 A You are familiar with all that and that is by the board now, too.19 Ω She was doing --20 A Propaganda.21 Ω -- propaganda broadcasts.23 A Yes.24 2 Do you have any personal knowledge of what kind of intelligence-gathering activities are conducted in the Miami
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 110]
1091 area now by the Miami Station?2 A There are no domestic activities at all in the3 Miami Station. All Cuban activities have been moved back4 here to Headquarters. The Miami Station now is completely5 and solely involved in the intelligence in the Caribbean.6 Q Does the Miami Station -- I beg your pardon --7 does the Headquarters component that now handles the Cuban8 situation in Miami run any agents in the Cuban community?9 A No. Well, let me explain that to you. We do have10 a career agent who has been with us for a good many years11 in Miami and we do use him to contact relatives of Cubans12 who are still in Cuba. I mean, relatives who are in the U.S.13 who have relatives in Cuba.14 Now, this is done principally with the idea of a15 recruitment target, determine weaknesses or strengths, this16 type of thing. Ile does contact these people all over the17 United States. If we come across an individual that looks like18 he might be recruitable, or perhaps we could even double him,19 we will, after we make our preliminary assessment, and we20 find out where relatives and these types of people are, we21 will ask this career agent or instruct him to go contact22 these people, be it New York, New Jersey, Chicago, or what-23 ever.24 Q So you use Cuban, now citizens or aliens in this25 country, as access agents.Photocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 111]
1 A Right.2 Q Just like foreign associates would do.3 A Exactly.4 Q Are there any more people like Bernard Barker who5 are contract employees of the Agency who still work in the6 Miami-Cuban community?7 A No. None.8 Q That entire apparatus has been --9 A Has been dismantled.10 Q -- dismantled. What is the current size of the11 Miami Station?12 A I really don't know but it runs between 11 and 14,13 as far as I know. I think it will be 11 by the next fiscal14 year.15 MR. MANFREDI: Off the record.16 (Discussion off the record.)17 MR.MANFREDI: Let's go back on the record.18 BY MR. MANFREDI:19 Q There are presently no Cuban Ops being conducted out20 of Miami?21 A No. All Cuban Ops. are being conducted out of22 Headquarters.23 Q And even from the Headquarters location there are24 no paramilitary operations?25 A No.> [Figure] Photocopy from Gerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 112]
SECRETQ No covert -- well, there is some propaganda activitybeing conducted still?A On a very small scale, and the covert action facilitythat we had, the radio, taped program, is being terminatedby 30 June. So for all practical purposes, it is terminatednow.Q The Miami Station is under official cover.A Yes.Q And it has been decreased to how many people?A Between 11 and 14.Q And it has absolutely no responsibilities withrespect to Cuba?A Absolutely none.Q And its responsibilities are entirely directed toother Latin American countries?A To Caribbean countries.Q Caribbean countries. And I trust that there areother Agency stations in the Caribbean?A Yes.Q Well, I have no further questions, Mr. Sturbitts.If you have anything you would like to add you are welcometo do so.A No, I have nothing.Q I want to thank you on behalf of myself and theCommission for your cooperation.SECRETPhotocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10215.pdf — page 113]
SECRETWARD & PAULPhone (Area 202) 544-60001 A Sure.2 Q I am sorry we had to take so much of your time.3 A That is all right.4 Q Thank you again.5 (Whereupon, at 3:35 o'clock p.m., the taking of thedeposition was concluded.)410 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003NW 50955 DocId:32275518 Page 114SECRETPhotocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 0]
# 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992## JFK Assassination System Identification Form**Date:** 8/31/201## Agency Information**AGENCY:** ROCKCOM**RECORD NUMBER:** 178-10002-10279**RECORD SERIES :** ASSASSINATION FILES**AGENCY FILE NUMBER:** A-I(J) CORRESPONDENCE--ASSASSINATIONS## Document Information**ORIGINATOR:** ROCKEFELLER COMMISSION**FROM:****TO:****TITLE:** DEPOSITION OF WILLIAM STURBITTS**DATE:** 04/16/1975**PAGES:** 4**SUBJECTS:**ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIESCIASTURBITTS, WILLIAMFITZGERALD, DESMONDKENNEDY, ROBERTCUBAN EXILES**DOCUMENT TYPE:** DEPOSITION**CLASSIFICATION:** Secret**RESTRICTIONS:** 1A; IB; IC**CURRENT STATUS:** Redact**DATE OF LAST REVIEW:** 02/13/2001**OPENING CRITERIA :****COMMENTS:** Selected pages from deposition. Full document is number 1781000210091.v9.1NW 50955 DocId: 32275454 Page 1
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 1]
SECRETCONTENTSDeposition of Examination by CounselFor the CommissionWilliam C. Sturbitts 2(AFTERNOON SESSION Page 58)William C. Sturbitts (Resumed) 58178-10002-10091178-10002-10215178-10002-10279Photocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 2]
SECRETPRESIDENT'S COMMISSIONON CIA ACTIVITIESLangley, VirginiaWednesday, April 16, 1975Deposition of WILLIAM C. STURBITTS, called for examination by Counsel for the Commission on CIA Activities, the witness being duly sworn by Thomas C. Hogan, a Notary Public in and for the State of Virginia, in the offices of the Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Virginia, at 9:50 o'clock a.m., on Wednesday, April 16, 1975, the proceedings being taken down in stenotype by Ruth G. McClenning, and transcribed under her direction.APPEARANCES:On behalf of the Commission:GEORGE MANFREDI, ESQ.,ROBERT B. OLSEN, ESQ.Photocopy fromGerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 3]
## SECRETPROCEEDINGSThereupon,WILLIAM C. STURBITTS,called as a witness by Counsel for the Commission on CIAActivities, and having been first duly sworn by the NotaryPublic, was examined and testified as follows:EXAMINATION BY COUNSEL FOR THE COMMISSIONBY MR. MANFREDI:Q Mr. Sturbitts, will you state your full name for therecord?A William C. Sturbitts.Q Mr. Sturbitts, do you recall when we spoke someweeks ago you signed a document entitled, "Advice andWaiver"?A Right.Q You understand that document is still in effect?A Sure.Q Mr. Sturbitts, by whom are you currently employed?A You mean the Agency or --Q That is right.A Central Intelligence Agency.Q And what is your current position with the Agency?A I am a Special Assistant, Latin America, forEconomic Intelligence Collection and Operations.Q And would you briefly review for me the history of
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 4]
SECKET1 your employment with the Agency?2 A When I first came in I was in the IntelligenceDirectorate for approximately ten years and I was put on specialdetail, special indefinite detail, in the Deputy Director, Plans,5 which is now the Directorate of Operations.6 Q What year were you put on that detail?7 A I guess it was 1964, January, I believe.8 Q And what did that detail involve?9 A Cuban operations, economic warfare.10 Q And how long were you on that detail?11 A I was in the Cuban operations for nine years.12 Q Between 1964 and 1973?13 A (Nods in affirmative.)14 Q And in 1973 did you assume your current position?15 A Yes, January.16 Q Now, while you were on special detail -- to the DOD?17 A Yes.18 Q Were you stationed in Washington?19 A Yes.20 Q And did you commute with some frequency to Miami?21 A Yes.22 Q Were your activities in Miami in any way connected23 with the operations of the Miami Station?24 A In some way. My responsibilities were worldwide.25 I took temporary duty predominantly in Europe, and then Miami.
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 5]
# SECRET1 Most of my operations were run out of Europe.2 Q Run out of --3 A Europe. Some were run out of Miami but the big ones4 were run out of Europe.5 Q Well, in the course of your activities with respect6 to Cuba did you have occasion to become familiar with the7 operations of the Miami base?8 A Yes.9 Q And the situation in the Cuban community in Miami?10 A Yes, sir.11 Q During the nine years you were with DDO's Cuban12 operations, who was -- who were the chiefs of the Miami13 Station?14 A I think in 1963 Ted Shackley was the Chief and he15 was followed by -- I can't think of his name. I should know16 it. Well, I will come back to that.17 Then, the next Chief of Station was Paul Henze.18 Q What years was he Chief?19 A I think Paul was there about a year and a half. He20 left in 1968 when we reduced the size of the Station. Let's21 say Henze was there from 1966 to 1968. And then Jake Esterline.22 He was Chief of Station from 1968 to 1973.23 Q Now, what was the formal title of the group to which24 you were assigned for the 9-year period?25 A Well, when I first came in it was known as the# SECRETPhotocopy from Gerald Ford Library
[178-10002-10279.pdf — page 6]
SECRET51 Special Activities Staff. It was headed by Desmond Fitzgerald.2 And then, I believe after that it became the Cuban Operations3 Group.4 Q Now, was this a special group within the DDO or was5 it attached to one of the area divisions?6 A No. Following the Bay of Pigs, they created a thing7 called Task Force W which was headed by Bill Harvey. And8 that -- when Harvey left, he went to Chief of Station, Rome,.9 and Fitzgerald took over, it became Special Activities Staff.10 It wasn't attached to anything except -- it reported to the11 Deputy Director, Plans.12 Q And that was Mr. Karamessines?13 A Yes. Well, it was Helms at that time back when it14 was first created. Helms was DDP at that time.15 Q And Task Force W was created immediately after the16 Bay of Pigs?17 A Well, not immediately. I think sometime around --18 in the Bay of Pigs was in April. I think this was created in19 September, something like that, 1961.20 Q And that subsequently became the Special Activities21 Staff?22 A Special Activities Staff and consequently became the23 Cuban Operations Group. As the Cuban Operations Group it went24 back into the Western Hemisphere Division.25 Q And what was the date of that reorganization?