20000A
104-10326-10035
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
SECRET
MHFNO: 97-7145484
SENSIND:
SECRET
PAGE:
1
FRP:
STAFF
CONF: C/OCC
INFO: DC/OCC, LA/FIG, LA/FIGCC, LIMITED, MDSX,
OCDORECORD; ODPD, FILE, C/LA/RB5, DC/LA/RB5 (3/P)
97 7145484
ASP
PAGE 001
TOT: 052149Z MAR 97
DIRECTOR 256618
SECRET
| STAFF
TO:
PRIORITY SAN JOSE.
052149Z DIRECTOR 256618
FROM: LIMITED DISSEM CHIEF/OCC INFO LA/FIGCC
SLUGS:
WNINTEL
*
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STATION ASSISTANCE
REF: NONE.
TEXT:
1. ACTION REQUIRED: REQUEST STATION CONTACT FORMER EMPLOYEE
WHO RETIRED UNDER COVER AND RESIDES IN COSTA RICA
2.
IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PRESIDENT<JFK ASSASSINATION>
RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992, HQS REQUESTS STATION'S ASSISTANCE
IN DELIVERING THE INFORMATION BELOW TO IDEN.
LINE-
TEAR
4 MARCH 1997
DEAR COLLEAGUE:
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS IN DOCUMENTS THAT ARE
BEING REVIEWED FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC UNDER PUBLIC LAW 102-526
*OF 26 OCTOBER 1992, THE PRESIDENT<JOHN>F. <KENNEDY ASSASSINATION>
RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992. THIS MANDATES THE PUBLIC RELEASE
OF ALL INFORMATION IN THESE DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING YOUR NAME WHERE
IT APPEARS, UNLESS THE ORIGINATING AGENCY CAN PROVE BY CLEAR AND
CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO A PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED BOARD THAT ONE
OR MORE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS APPLY. EVEN THEN, THE RELEASE OF THE
INFORMATION MAY ONLY BE POSTPONED FOR NO MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
THOSE EXCEPTIONS AS THEY APPEAR IN THE ACT FOLLOW. THE ACT IS
VERY PRO-RELEASE AND REQUIRES A BALANCING OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
UNDER THE BOARD'S INTERPRETATION OF THE ACT, YOUR NAME CANNOT
BE REDACTED FROM THE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELEASED UNLESS WE CAN
PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT THIS RELEASE WOULD POSE A CREDIBLE THREAT TO
YOU PERSONALLY, YOUR FAMILY, OR ANY SENSITIVE ACTIVITY OR
PERSON(S) YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH IN THE PAST. IF YOU
SECRET
13-00000
MHFNO: 97-7145484
SECRET
SENSIND:
BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THESE CONCERNS WOULD BE RAISED FROM THE PUBLIC
RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, PLEASE CONTACT BETH MILLS AT (703) 356-0285
(OR 1-800-447-2211 OR VIA LETTER TO P.O. BOX 1626, WASHINGTON, D.C.
20013 YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE PERTINENT DETAILS SO THAT A
COMPELLING CASE CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD. (SEE FOLLOWING
GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OR RECORDS.) IF THE
BOARD ORDERS THE RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, ITS RULING CAN BE REVERSED
ONLY BY THE PRESIDENT. BECAUSE THE BOARD MUST COVER HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IT WILL BE
CONSIDERING DOCUMENTS AT AN ACCELERATING PACE AND WE CANNOT
PROJECT WHEN IT MAY REVIEW A DOCUMENT CONTAINING YOUR NAME.
THEREFORE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF APPROPRIATE.
SINCERELY,
(SIGNED BETH MILLS)
FOLLOWS ARE THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF
RECORDS:
*DISCLOSURE OF<ASSASSINATION>RECORDS OR PARTICULAR INFORMATION IN
*<ASSASSINATION>RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC MAY BE POSTPONED SUBJECT TO
THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS ACT IF THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING
EVIDENCE THAT--
(1) THE THREAT TO THE MILITARY DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE
OPERATIONS, OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
*POSED BY THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>IS OF SUCH
GRAVITY THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND SUCH PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE WOULD REVEAL--
(A) AN INTELLIGENCE AGENT WHOSE IDENTITY CURRENTLY REQUIRES
PROTECTION
(B) AN INTELLIGENCE SOURCE OR METHOD WHICH IS CURRENTLY
UTILIZED,
BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND WHICH HAS NOT BEEN
OFFICIALLY
DISCLOSED, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE
CONDUCT OF INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES; OR
(C) ANY OTHER MATTER CURRENTLY RELATING TO THE MILITARY
DEFENSE,
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF
THE
UNITED STATES, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRABLY
IMPAIR
THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.
(2) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
REVEAL THE NAME OR IDENTITY OF A LIVING PERSON WHO PROVIDED
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND WOULD POSE A
SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO THAT PERSON;
(3) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD COULD
REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CONSTITUTE AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF
SECRET
PAGE:
2
13-00000
MHFNO: 97-7145484
*
*
SECRET
SENSIND:
PERSONAL PRIVACY, AND THAT INVASION OF PRIVACY IS SO SUBSTANTIAL
THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST;
(4) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
COMPROMISE THE EXISTENCE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONFIDENTIALITY
CURRENTLY REQUIRING PROTECTION BETWEEN A GOVERNMENT AGENT AND A
COOPERATING INDIVIDUAL OR A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, AND PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SO HARMFUL THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC
INTEREST; OR
(5) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
REVEAL A SECURITY OR PROTECTIVE PROCEDURE CURRENTLY UTILIZED, OR
REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE UTILIZED, BY THE SECRET SERVICE OR
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS, AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SO HARMFUL THAT IT
OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
-TEAR
LINE-
3. IF STATION WANTS, YOU MAY OFFER IDEN THE POSSIBILITY OF
COMMUNICATING WITH HEADQUARTERS VIA CABLE TRAFFIC RATHER THAN BY
TELEPHONE OR LETTER. IN MANY CASES THE RESPONSE CONTAINS
SENSITIVE IF NOT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. ALL PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
OF THIS LETTER HAVE HAD CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS; FOLLOWING ARE
ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
*A. WHY IS MY NAME IN THE<JFK ASSASSINATION>RECORDS?
WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY BUT YOUR NAME MAY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN A
CABLE OR DOCUMENT, OR YOU MAY HAVE COORDINATED OR SIGNED A CABLE
*OR DOCUMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE<ASSASSINATION.>
B.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
IT MEANS YOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF ALL
*DOCUMENTS PERTINENT TO THE<ASSASSINATION.> THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN
RELEASED TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
(NARA) WITH THE NAME REMOVED AND IF WE DO NOT MAKE A COMPELLING
CASE THE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD WILL RELEASE NEW VERSIONS OF THE
DOCUMENTS WITH THE NAMES. THE FIRST REVIEW OF NAMES WILL BE THIS
SUMMER AND IT WILL CONTINUE AS DOCUMENTS ARE REVIEWED. ONCE THE
BOARD RULES THE DOCUMENTS IN QUESTION MUST BE RELEASED IN 30 DAYS.
C. WHAT EXACTLY DOES "RELEASE" MEAN?
IT MEANS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENT VIA
NARA. THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS WAITING FOR ACCESS TO
THE MATERIAL SO THAT THEY CAN RESEARCH THE VARIOUS CONSPIRACY
THEORIES. WE KNOW OF SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY PUT
THE INFORMATION IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS SO IT CAN BE EASILY SEARCHED.
D. WHAT IF I DON'T WANT MY NAME RELEASED?
YOU AND WE WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THE PRESIDENTIALLY APPOINTED
REVIEW BOARD THAT YOUR SITUATION MEETS THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN
THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS. (TO
BE ABSOLUTELY FRANK, THIS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO AND THE
VERY FEW CASES WHICH WE HAVE WON HAVE BEEN BASED ON VERY SPECIFIC
SECRET
PAGE:
3
13-00000
MHFNO:
97-7145484
AND COMPELLING REASONS.)
E. WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
SECRET
SENSIND:
IF RELEASE OF YOUR NAME IS NOT A PROBLEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME RELEASED, YOU NEED TO
ADVISE US OF THAT FACT AND EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHY RELEASE WOULD BE
HARMFUL TO YOU AND NATIONAL SECURITY. WE HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST
RELEASE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COVER MECHANISM WITHOUT SUCCESS TO
DATE,
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE EFFORT. THE BOARD HAS NOT BEEN AND
IS NOT LIKELY TO BECOME SYMPATHETIC TO A PRINCIPLE BASED
ARGUMENT.
F. IF MY NAME IS RELEASED, WHAT ABOUT MY COVER STATUS?
THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF YOUR TRUE NAME
AND THE AGENCY WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE
THE VIABILITY OF CONTINUED COVER PROTECTION.
FILE: "NONE CL BY: 2224018, CL REASON:
X1, DRV FROM: HUM 4-82.
CABLETYPE: GECO STAFF 4.0.1.>
RELNO: DORELS0100638758_
ORIG:
CHIEF/OCC (WILLMSC, 32357); AUTH:
END OF MESSAGE
1.5 (C), DECL ON
DC/OCC;
REL:
LA/FIGCC>
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE:
4