Francesco/who-killed-jfk huggingface dataset:
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 98]
July 10, 1978TO:G. Robert BlakeyChief Counsel and DirectorHouse Select Committee on AssassinationsFROM:Robert Morrison, Director of SecurityWilliam H. Cross, Assistant Director of SecurityRE:The tampering with Kennedy Autopsy photos locatedin Safe #102095 in the Reading Room of Room 3381of the Committee Offices.About 4:05 P.M. Friday June 23, 1978, Mark Flanagan uponreturning some autopsy material to the Security Room along withLance Svendsen of the Security Staff upon opening safe #102095noted that several Kennedy autopsy photos were loose on top ofthe Kennedy Autopsy photo books. The photos removed from thebooks were numbered 39E1, 39E2, 40E and 41E. This was two pagesconsisting of 4 photos. 39E1 and 39E2 along with the cellophanecover had been ripped from the book, and the cellophane enclosurewas torn at binder holes. One photo, 39E2 was out of the cellophaneenclosure and lying loose. A quick check by Flanagan and Svendsenrevealed the photos were from Book Five, Part One of the KennedyAutopsy photos. An immediate check of all the photo books wasbegun to ascertain if any other photos were missing. This checkby Flanagan and Svendsen showed no other photos to be missingor tampered with. Book Five, Part One had not been signed outsince September of 1977 according to the check out log.Both Flanagan and Svendsen stated they would have noticed thephotos when the safe was opened at 10 A.M. Friday June 23, 1978if they had been lying where they were when discovered. Theyboth feel there was no way this could have been done accidently.Someone had to enter the safe, and do this. The safe was unlocked,but shut.Approximately 5 P.M. Friday, June 23, 1978 at the requestof Committee Investigator John Moriarty, three members of theMetropolitan Police Identification section responded to Room3381 for the purpose of attempting to get latent prints. Pvt.Pat McGinnis, Sgt Blake and Detective Pvt McGinnis wasable to lift 13 separate cards of latent prints from the interiorof the safe, and from the Kennedy Autopsy photo book that wastampered with. These men left at approximately 8:35 PM FridayJune 23, 1978. Investigator John Moriarty, William H. Crossor Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey were present at all timesduring the lifting of the prints. The lifted prints were turnedover to Investigator John Moriarty, and remained in his possession.The persons who were in this office alone on Friday June23, 1978 were Edwin Lopez, Dan Hardway and Mitch Mars of theCommittee Staff, and Regis Blahut of the CIA.On Monday June 26, 1978 the 13 cards of prints lifted byPvt McGinnis were turned over to Director of Security RobertMorrison by Investigator John Moriarty and locked in safe #45471in Room 3381 of Committee Office.On June 27, 1978, and June 29, 1978 requests were made tothe FBI for certain Committee Staff member fingerprint cards.NW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 99
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 99]
The first request for cards was filled, and received the latter part of the week of June 25, 1978. The second request was filled and received on July 5, 1978. Investigator John Moriarty had contacted a Pvt Colon Alford of the Metropolitan Police Identification section, and requested he try to make comparisons of known and latent prints. During the week of June 26, 1978 Pvt. Alford spent one hour in Committee spaces checking staff members prints against those lifted. On July 5, 1978 at the request of Pvt Alford, and with the consent of Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey the 13 cards of lifted prints and all staff member print cards from the FBI were turned over to Pvt Alford which he receipted for, so he could take them away from Committee spaces to enable him to spend more time studying them. During the week of July 2, 1978. Pvt Alford was able to obtain the fingerprints of Regis Blahut, an employee of the CentralIntelligence Agency. On Friday July 7, 1978 at approximately 2:30 P.M. Pvt Alford phoned William H. Cross of Security Staff and stated he had made a tentative identification of Blahuts prints on the inside of the safe door, and on one of the photos in Book Five, Part One of the Kennedy Autopsy photos. On Monday July 10, 1978 at 2:30 P.M. Pvt Alford responded to the Committee offices and in the presence of Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey, Robert Morrison, and William H. Cross returned all fingerprint cards, and the 13 cards of lifted prints. These were returned to safe #45471 in Room 3381. Pvt Alford stated he had identified a certain number of points in several prints, and in his opinion they were those of Regis Blahut. These prints were matched with those on the inside of the safe door, and on the back of photo 39E2 which had been ripped from Book Five, Part One of the Kennedy Autopsy photos, and the photo which had been removed from the cellophane cover. After returning all materials Pvt Alford departed Committee Spaces at 2:55 P.M. Monday July 10, 1978.Robert MorrisonDirector of SecurityWilliam H. CrossAssistant Director of SecurityNW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 100
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 100]
OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORTDATEJuly 11 TIME1978I. Identifying Information:Name Regis Blahut TelephoneAddressType of Contact: TelephoneX PersonII. Summary of Contact:On two occasions on this date Gary Cornwell and I spoke with Regis Blahut of the CIA. We first spoke to him at approximately 11AM in Gary Cornwell's office. We spoke with him a second time at approximately 2PM at which time we recorded his statement pertaining to a breach of security at the HSCA. The recorded statement fully covers the substance of the first conversation with two exceptions:1) In the first conversation Regis originally told us that he looked through an autopsy photo book after receiving permission to do so. Later, during that same conversation, when asked from whom he received permission to look through the autopsy photo book he denied having said he received permission to look through the book and stated that he at no time received permission to look through the autopsy photo book. Both Gary and I distinctly recall him telling us at the outset of the conversation that he looked through the book only after receving permission to do so.2) In the first conversation Regis told us that he was alone in the security room when he saw the book on the window sill and decided to look through it. However, when asked during the taped recorded conversation whether he was alone when he looked through the autopsy book he then stated that there were people present in the room when he looked through the autopsy book but that he cannot recall who they were. Once again, both Gary and I clearly recall him telling us when we first spoke with him that no one was present when he looked through the photo book.III. Recommended Porrow-up*****any**at the outset of the recorded conversation. Regis told us that he had spoken to his superior and neither he nor they had any objections to the conversation being recorded.Signature:Form #5
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 101]
July 10, 1978TO: G. Robert BlakeyChief Counsel and DirectorHouse Select Committee on AssassinationsFROM: Robert Morrison, Director of SecurityWilliam H. Cross, Assistant Director of SecurityRE: The tampering with Kennedy Autopsy photos locatedin Safe #102095 in the Reading Room of Room 3381of the Committee Offices.About 4:05 P.M. Friday June 23, 1978, Mark Flanagan upon returning some autopsy material to the Security Room along with Lance Svendsen of the Security Staff upon opening safe #102095 noted that several Kennedy autopsy photos were loose on top of the Kennedy Autopsy photo books. The photos removed from the books were numbered 39E1, 39E2, 40E and 41E. This was two pages consisting of 4 photos. 39El and 39E2 along with the cellophane cover had been ripped from the book, and the cellophane enclosure was torn at binder holes. One photo, 39E2 was out of the cellophane enclosure and lying loose. A quick check by Flanagan and Svendsen revealed the photos were from Book Five, Part One of the Kennedy Autopsy photos. An immediate check of all the photo books was begun to ascertain if any other photos were missing. This check by Flanagan and Svendsen showed no other photos to be missing or tampered with. Book Five, Part One had not been signed out since September of 1977 according to the check out log.Both Flanagan and Svendsen stated they would have noticed the photos when the safe was opened at 10 A.M. Friday June 23, 1978 if they had been lying where they were when discovered. They both feel there was no way this could have been done accidently. Someone had to enter the safe, and do this. The safe was unlocked, but shut.Approximately 5 P.M. Friday, June 23, 1978 at the request of Committee Investigator John Moriarty, three members of the Metropolitan Police Identification section responded to Room 3381 for the purpose of attempting to get latent prints. Pvt. Pat McGinnis, Sgt Blake and Detective Pvt McGinnis was able to lift 13 separate cards of latent prints from the interior of the safe, and from the Kennedy Autopsy photo book that was tampered with. These men left at approximately 8:35 PM Friday June 23, 1978. Investigator John Moriarty, William H. Cross or Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey were present at all times during the lifting of the prints. The lifted prints were turned over to Investigator John Moriarty, and remained in his possession.The persons who were in this office alone on Friday June 23, 1978 were Edwin Lopez, Dan Hardway and Mitch Mars of the Committee Staff, and Regis Blahut of the CIA.On Monday June 26, 1978 the 13 cards of prints lifted by Pvt McGinnis were turned over to Director of Security Robert Morrison by Investigator John Moriarty and locked in safe #45471 in Room 3381 of Committee Office.On June 27, 1978, and June 29, 1978 requests were made to the FBI for certain Committee Staff member fingerprint cards.
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 102]
The first request for cards was filled, and received the latter part of the week of June 25, 1978. The second request was filled and received on July 5, 1978. Investigator John Moriarty had contacted a Pvt Colon Alford of the Metropolitan Police Identification section, and requested he try to make comparisons of known and latent prints. During the week of June 26, 1978 Pvt. Alford spent one hour in Committee spaces checking staff members prints against those lifted. On July 5, 1978 at the request of Pvt Alford, and with the consent of Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey the 13 cards of lifted prints and all staff member print cards from the FBI were turned over to Pvt Alford which he receipted for, so he could take them away from Committee spacés to enable him to spend more time studying them. During the week of July 2, 1978. Pvt Alford was able to obtain the fingerprints of Regis Blahut, an employee of the CentralIntelligence Agency. On Friday July 7, 1978 at approximately 2:30 P.M. Pvt Alford phoned William H. Cross of Security Staff and stated he had made a tentative identification of Blahuts prints on the inside of the safe door, and on one of the photos in Book Five, Part One of the Kennedy Autopsy photos. On Monday July 10, 1978 at 2:30 P.M. Pvt Alford responded to the Committee offices and in the presence of Chief Counsel G. Robert Blakey, Robert Morrison, and William H. Cross returned all fingerprint cards, and the 13 cards of lifted prints. These were returned to safe #45471 in Room 3381. Pvt Alford stated he had identified a certain number of points in several prints, and in his opinion they were those of Regis Blahut. These prints were matched with those on the inside of the safe door, and on the back of photo 39E2 which had been ripped from Book Five, Part One of the Kennedy Autopsy photos, and the photo which had been removed from the cellophane cover. After returning all materials Pvt Alford departed Committee Spaces at 2:55 P.M. Monday July 10, 1978.![signature of Robert Morrison]Robert MorrisonDirector of Security![signature of William H. Cross]William H. CrossAssistant Director of SecurityNW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 103
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 103]
Friday 26 MayΡ.Μ.1:00 et R. MORRISON1:15 date to say1:30 He was seen1:45 Bldg A Few2:00 FCR AS I WAS2:15 ip to Airport2:30 "C BHSINESS.2:45 A he would3:00 les to me Ata3:15 I in formed3:30 hat the should3:45 cial I.D Now4:00 I he would be4:15 Not push him4:30 I the situation4:45 as instructe 15:005:155:305:457:307:458:008:158:308:458:00 Α.Μ.8:158:308:459:009:159:309:4510:0010:1510:3010:4511:0011:1511:3011:4512:0012:1512:3012:45SaTo: Robert C. MorrisonFrom: William WebbRe: Access to Autopsy PhotographsAt 3:50pm on 5/27/78 Ida Dox, the medical illustrator, requested permission to view the Kennedy autopsy photographs along with the Medical Pannel. After trying to contact Blakey and Mathews without success, I, William Webb, authorized Oliver Champion to allow the pannel and Mrs. Dox access.NW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 104
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 104]
# KENNEDYOUTSIDE CONTACT REPORTDATE July 14 TIME 11AM1978I. Identifying Information:Name Regis BlahutAddressTelephoneType of Contact: TelephoneX PersonII. Summary of Contact:On this date Gary Cornwell and myself spoke with RegisBlahut in Gary's office. Mr. Blahut stated the following:1) He lied to us in our conversation of July 13 when hestated that on the second occasion he looked through theblack looselead binder, he put it back on the window sillafter reading it. He told us that the truth was that whilehe was looking through the book it dropped on the floor. Hestated that when it dropped on the floor some of the pagescame out of the book. He became frightened that someonewould enter the room at this time so he opened the blacksafe which contained the autopsy books and placed the blacklooseleaf binder and the pages which had fallen out, into thetop part of the safe. Prior to him opening it to put in thebook, the safe door had been completely closed (i.e. notajar), although it was not locked. He said he opened it bypressing down on the handle and pulling the door open. Hestated that he did not recall whether the top part of the safeIII. Recommended Follow-up (if any):overSignature:Form 5
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 105]
had a shelf or a drawer in it. He also stated that at this time he did not observe any of the photos to be out of the plastic sheeting which ordinarily held them in the black binder. Mr. Blahut denied however that he opened the safe at any time other than when he put the book inside.2) He stated to us that the first time he had looked through the book --the time when Jim Conzelman took it out of the safe-- he slid one of the photos partly out of the plastic to look at it. To the best of his recollection this photo was either a photo of the brain or a photo of the bust of Kennedy. He stated this was the only time that he had observed any of the photos to be out of their plastic sheeting.3.) He stated that he did not wish to allow us to make a tape recording of this statement.![signature]NW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 106
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 106]
# OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORTDATE 7/17/78 TIME 8:00 A.M.I. Identifying Information:Name Admiral Stansfield Turner TelephoneAddress Central Intelligence AgencyType of Contact: TelephoneXX PersonII. Summary of Contact:Bob Blakey and I met with DCI Turner, DDCI Carlucci and Fred Hitz of the Office of Legislative Counsel at 8:00 A.M. in Turner's office. Blakey initially noted that he had come at Chairman Stokes' request to discuss with Turner a recent security violation which had been discovered by the Committee.Blakey began by describing to Turner the nature of the Kennedy autopsy pictures, the restrictions under which the Committee has acquired and possessed them, the security precautions (separate safe, limited access, and log record) utilized to safeguard them, and the possible motives that might exist for someone unlawfully removing them from the Committee.Blakey next described the circumstances and details of the Committee's discovery, made on 6/23/78, that the autopsyIII. Recommended Follow-up (if any):
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 107]
Admiral Stansfield Turner OCR.Page twophotos had been tampered with, and the investigation whichthe staff thereafter conducted, including the identificationof all of those persons who had access to the security spacewhere they were located, the fingerprinting process andresults, and ultimately the questioning of Regis Blahut,the CIA employee who was in the security space on that date.Finally, Blakey recalled to Turner his (Turner's)statement made to Blakey and Cornwell on February 4, 1978,to the effect that if the Committee found any improprietyor wrongdoing on the part of any CIA employee, he wouldpersonally look into and get to the bottom of it. Blakeystated that the Chairman had been told of Turner's commenton February 4, 1978, and now requested that Turner conducta further investigation of the Blahut matter. Blakey statedthat the Committee felt such an investigation was necessaryfor the following reasons:1.  The Committee had spoken to Blahut on three    occasions (July 11, 13 and 14) about his knowledge    of the tampering with the autopsy photos, on two    of which, by Blahut's own subsequent admissions,    he had lied about significant details, and on    the last of which, by independent evidence, Blahut    had also lied;2.  Blahut's actions were deliberate, as evidencedNW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 108
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 108]
Admiral Stansfield Turner OCR                                                 Page threeby the fact that Blahut had opened the Committee'ssafe in which the photos were stored, and on thefirst two interviews with the Committee, he liedabout having done so;3. There is only one possible innocent motive for   Blahut's handling and viewing of the autopsy photos,   that being personal curiosity, and the evidence   unequivocally shows that personal curiosity was not   the motive (a page was ripped out, a photo was re-   moved from the plastic sheeting, the log shows that   the photo book in question had not been removed from   the safe by the Committee staff since September, 1977,   and Blahut's story about his handling of, and access   to that photo book on June 23, 1978 is patently un-   believable); and most significantly,4. Prior to *at least* two of the three occasions   on which Blahut was interviewed by the Committee   staff, he spoke to his superiors at the Agency, and   after each of those conversations he told lies to   the Committee about his involvement.Turner said that he had already looked into the matter,and handed us a report which had been written. Turner sug-gested that Blakey and Cornwell go read the report (not takea copy with them from the building), and also look at Blahut'sNW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 109
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 109]
Admiral Stansfield Turner OCR                                                                                Page fourpersonnel file, and then let the Agency know what else he(Blakey) suggested they should do.Upon inspection, the report reflected the following:(a.) The Agency interviewed Blahut on Friday evening,July 14, and polygraphed him three times for roughlytwo hours each time on Saturday, July 15;(b.) Blahut's supervisors had been spoken to, anddenied any involvement;(c.) Blahut admitted lying to the Committee;(d.) Blahut basically told the same story to thepolygraph expert (Felippo) he had finally told theCommittee on the morning of July 14, except thaton July 15 he admitted that he was never givenpermission by any Committee staff member to viewthe Kennedy autopsy pictures;(e.) Blahut persisted in his story (but lied indoing so, according to the polygraph) that he hadopened the Committee safe only once, and that wasto put a photo book into the safe, and also (again,untruthfully) stated that he had only viewed theautopsy books on two occasions.(f.) Blahut has been assigned to a CIA operationcode named MHCHILD since April, 1977. *Office of Security Chief Gambino, and Carlucci's as-sistant, Hav Smith, met with Blakey and Cornwell after they*Polgraph showed no deception on1) didn't copy2) entered nothing else3) didn't talk to media4) not "sent on mission"NW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 110]
Admiral Stansfield Turner OCRPage fivehad reviewed the investigative report provided by Turner. Blakey requested that he be permitted to see Blahut's security file. Gambino refused, but offered the personnel file instead.The personnel file reflected that Blahut had consistently received excellent ratings from his superiors, that he showed leadership qualities in his work, and that he had been commended for consistently reporting to his superiors what he had observed and done during his assignments, and alerting them to any problems he encountered.*Finally, Smith and Gambino asked Blakey what he felt the Agency should do now. Blakey said that full interviews of all of Blahut's supervisors should be conducted, and written reports made. In addition, Blakey stated that new polygraphs should be taken, focusing primarily on the area that was essentially omitted on July 15, namely, the question of motive.Hav Smith asked whether the Committee was going to accept the Agency's investigation after it was completed; he said he wanted to know now, that he wanted a commitment. Smith said that he was 99 percent sure that the final report would show no involvement in the tampering on the part of the Agency. Gambino said, "We know we're clean." In reply, I asked how the Agency could be so sure at this early point that none of their employees except Blahut were involved, and I also commented that Smith was asking the Committee to "buy a pig in a poke" in suggesting that we should tell him now whether or not we would be satisfied with the Agency's investigation*The podepool repard indicaled Blahot said we accused him of beis e "CIA plat" It Also said we didn't went to tase him on the 3 of ocasion.NW 88326 Docld:32259709 Smith & mittee that each statement was untoop,
[180-10125-10172.pdf — page 111]
Admiral Stansfield Turner OCRPage sixbefore it was even conducted. Both Blakey and I stated that what we *could* now state was that we had come to the Agency with the suggestion that they investigate it, because we felt that from among the alternatives now available to the Committee, that alternative was the one with the best chance of success. Finally Blakey also noted that his hope was that after the Agency's investigation was complete, copies of the reports could be placed in the Agency's and the Committee's files, and that would be the end of it.The meeting was terminated with the general understanding that Blakey's suggestions would be followed, and the Agency would let us know when they had their reports complete.NW 88326 Docld:32269709 Page 112