104-10326-10027 AGENCY RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES AGENCY FILE NUMBER : _ AGENCY ORIGINATOR FROM : : WITHHELD TO TITLE DATE PAGES SUBJECTS DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTIONS CURRENT STATUS DATE OF LAST REVIEW : COMMENTS JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM _ AGENCY INFORMATION CIA 104-10326-10027 JEK PROJECT FILES DOCUMENT INFORMATION CIA DIRECTOR’ WITHHELD 06/30/1997 2 : ARRB RELEASE PAPER SECRET 1A 1B RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC 02/03/99 ‘ JFK~M-11 : FI 1999.02.03.14:12:41:293120 :.CIA CORRESPONDENCE RE ARRB. CORRECTED TO 2 PAGES VICE 4. - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS , HY 54559 Docld: 32403876 Page 1
os SECRET MHFNO: 97-8380127 SENSIND: PAGE 001 TOT: 3020552 JUN 97 3020552 DIRECTOR 408414 FROM: LIMITED DISSEM CHIEF/OCC INFO LA/CAG SLUGS: WNINTEL * 2. IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PRESIDENT<JFK ASSASSINATION> RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992, HQS REQUESTS STATION, ASSISTANCE IN DELIVERING THE INFORMATION BELOW ASAP TO I : 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 . HY 54559 Docld: 32403876 Page 2
SECRET MHFNO: 97-8380127 SENSIND: BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THESE CONCERNS WOULD BE RAISED FROM THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, PLEASE ADVISE THE OFFICER WHO DELIVERED THIS LETTER TO YOU. 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 RECORDS.) IF THE BOARD ORDERS THE RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, ITS RULING CAN BE REVERSED ONLY BY THE PRESIDENT. SINCERELY 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 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 SECRET HW 54559 Docld: 32403676 Page 3
SECRET MHFNO: 9$7-8380127 SENSIND: INTEREST, OR *(5) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD REVEAL A SECURITY OR PROTECTIVE PROCEDURE CURRENTLY UTLIZED, 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 OQUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST. TEAR 3. BECAUSE OF THE TIME CRITICAL NATURE OF THIS REQUIREMENT, REQUEST ‘THAT YOU ASK IDEN FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND REQUEST THAT RESPONSE BE CABLED BACK TO HEADQUARTERS VIA IMMEDIATE PRECEDENCE. 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. 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 SYTEMS SO IT CAN BE BASILY 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 AND COMPELLING REASONS. } EB. WHAT DO I DO NEXT? IF RELEASE OF YOUR NAME IS NOT A PROBLEM, PLEASE ADVISE. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME RELEASED, YOU NEED TO ADVISE US OF THAT FACT AND EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHY RLEASE 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 SECRET HW 54559 Docld:32403876 Page 4
SECRET MHFNO: 97-8380127 SENSIND: PAGE: 4 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. egies ROM : C7 GECO STAFF 4.0.1.> END OF MESSAGE SECRET SECRET HW 54559 Docld: 324033876 Page 5