AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY: FBI . RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10192-10011 RECORD_ SERIES: WMFO AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 89-DL-43-3 DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SAC, WMFO TO: DIRECTOR, FBI. TITLE: DATE: 01/21/1992 PAGES: 5 SUBJECT: SEE FBI 62-109060-8288 DOCUMENT. TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Docla: 327177745 Page 1 ORIGINAL Secret CLASSIFICATION: REVIEW DATE: 09/24/1997 STATUS Redact | RESTRICTIONS: JFK Act 6 (1)(B) COMMENTS: INC A/T, INSERT NEW CLASSIFICATION: UPDATE DATE: — 02/12/2001
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE =. 11-14-9017 L a - : a “a we , a, Fid=36 (Rev. 8=39=85) FBI TRANSMIT VIA; PRECEDENCE: CLASSIFICATION: (] Teletype CL] Immediate CL] TOP SECRET Facsimile LJ Priority L] SECRET AIRTEL LJ Routine [1] CONFIDENTIAL — L] UNCLASEFTO CC) UNCLAS SEG TO : DIRECTOR, FBI (ATTN: VIOLENT CRIMES SECTION, CID) Date 1/21/92 FROM : SAC, Washington Field Office (DL 89A~-43) (RUC} eect : ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, DALLAS, TEXAS : g3 11/22/63 KFO (00: DALLAS) Re WMFO telcalls to Violent CyYimes Unit, FBIHQ, 1/17/92 and FBI, Dallas, 1/21/92. Enclosed for FBIHQ, Dallas and New York are two copies each of a self-explanatory insert documenting information from a high level New York source concerning captioned matter. For information of FBIHQ and Dallas, New York FCI source oviding the attached information is a former WMFO [Top Echeloff@ource. This source has provided reliable and very sensitive high level information [in both criminal and FCI matters for many years. S) For clarification, attached information is being provided by WMFO as WMFO SA WILLIAM M. mackey [Es the original source case agent who now is a designated an alternate source contact agent SA MACKEY is responsible for disseminating any criminal information developed by source regarding criminal. activities outside the New York Metropolitan area 3) 2-Bureau (Enc. 2} -2-Dallas (Enc. 2) vs 2-New York (Attn: SA Dave Cavanaugh, Squad. I- 6) 2-WMFO (Enc. 2) | WMM/wmm (y- 77 - aa centages CONTALNED 1 Lb be Sture fr ; cAgSEPERD EXCEPT? fe Ayn THERWS LSB.6 Lab SECRET Approved: Transmitted ' Docld: 32177748 Page 2?
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 2107 Hote}. DATE: 11-14-2017 ot N* “ 7 . oo , ‘ DL 89A-43 | a PAGE TWO 7 ce a | wave, # New York is being provided information copies for inclusion in source file only. oe The attached is provided for whatever action deemed appropriate. Leads are being left to the discretion of Dallas. Since no leads are outstanding, WMFO is placing this matter in RUC status. ADMINISTRATIVE: urce providing the attached information is RNY [7856-0a, (9) £8) WARNING: INFORMATION FROM ny (7856-oaf Is HIGHLY SINGULAR IN NATURE AND DISCLOSURES COULD REVEAL SOURCE’S IDENTITY. SOURCE IS A HIGH LEVE NFORMANT [(CRITICAL TO MAJOR FCI AND CRIMINAL IHVESTICATIONS HOSE IDENTITY, IF REVEALED, WILL POSITIVELY LEAD TO PHYSICAL DANGER TO SOURCE AND SOURCE’S FAMILY. WARNING: DISSEMINATIC OF THIS INFORMATION to {UNITED states C3 jVLA CHANNELS THAT WOULD_BRING INFORMATION TO THE ATTENTION OFYNR EMPLOYEE JESSE CLEAR s CREATE SECURITY PROBLEMS FOR SOURCE. WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION: INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO ANY OTHER AGENCY WITHOUT PRIOR BUREAU APPROVAL. WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION: INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY (USIA) u\ Docld: 32177748 Page 3
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 19927 (44 USC 2107 Hote). : 11-14-2017 ‘+ Docld:32177748 Page 4 Sige © DPE). DATE . * é ALL INFORMA? HEREIN 1S un WCLAS WHERE SHOWN: OTHERWISE,. ,: andi" rN < ° 8 e . ! ~ G % llowing information:was telephonically provided yay | [7856- roe Special Agent WILLIAM M. MACKEY, Federal Bureau ey oa mostiga lon (FBI), Washington Metropolitan Field Office on 1/16-17/92: Source learned Tampa, Florida, attorney FRANK RAGANO (phonetic) would be appearing on the ABC News show "PRIME TIME LIVE" on 1/16/92 claiming to have information that former TEAMSTERS President JIMMY HOFFA instructed La Cosa Nostra (LCN) bosses to kill President JOHN F. KENNEDY in 1963. Based upon source's past relationship with both HOFFA and RAGANO, source categorized RAGANO's claims as "lies". Source advised source's relationship with HOFFA began in the late 1950s while HOFFA was a Vice President of the TEAMSTERS. Source's relationship with HOFFA lasted until HOFFA's disappearance. Source_described the relationship between source and HOFFA as "close" {noting that source was one of HOFFA's few associates who could meet with or call HOFFA at any time without an appointment. Source stated HOFFA offered source a position as one of HOFFA'S trusted assistants which source respectfully decl ined|(5) In regard to RAGANO, [source recalled attending only three or four meetings with HOFFA ad others in the early 1960s which were also attended by RAGAN Although source has not had contact with RAGANO for many years, source recalled RAGANO (like most people attempting to contact HOFFA) was required to make an appointment to see HOFFA in the early 1960s. Source was not aware if RAGANO'S status with HOFFA changed in later years Source identified attorneys close to HOFFA as EDDIE SHAFITZ (phonetic), a partner of the late EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS in Washington, D.C. and an attorney (name not recalled) who was a close associate of the BUFFALINO LCN family. Souyce did not consider RAGANO an attorney "close" to HOFFA, a) Source advised HOFFA was very close to LCN boss SANTOS TRAFFICANTE and other LCN members. Source said HOFFA was capable of ordering a contract "hit". Source advised HOFFA was always "doing favors" for high level LCN members and, if HOFFA requested a contract "hit", the "hit" probably would have been done by the LCN for free. ZON CONTAINED SIFIED EXCEPT ee DEC" NSeIy es (fog) os £6, sto teey ‘ ’ G | Sb
Released under the John F.: Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-7017 . fo ; . 5 ! Rs Source advised HOFFA was not stupid and would not have _ made a request for a contract "hit" in the manner described by -RAGANO. Source advised HOFFA never trusted "shyster" attorneys -and certainly would not have trusted an attorney to pass ona request to kill the President of the United States. Source believed that if HOFFA.wanted to order a contract "hit" on _’anyone, HOFFA would have distanced himself from the "hit". Source believed HOFFA would have made the request of a very close trusted associate who then would pass the request on through many yes other layers of trusted associates without mentioning the origin _ -of-the request or HOFFA's name. , a Source described HOFFA as being "very paranoid" about being. under constant FBI physical and technical surveillance. . If HOFFA attended a meeting where illegal activities were a discussed and notes were taken by HOFFA, he (HOFFA) would tear u the notes and flush them down the toilet: before leaving the meeting. Source noted HOFFA took this action because he feared being. stopped and searched by the FBI as he departed meetings. Source recalled HOFFA frequently had his telephones and offices swept for wire taps by an LCN associate (name not. _ recalled). This associate was later the victim of an LCN "hit" in Chicago. Source advised HOFFA was so paranoid that at one time HOFFA feared the FBI had "bugged" his toilet. ' Source never had any discussions with HOFFA about killing either President JOHN F. KENNEDY or Attorney General ROBERT F. KENNEDY. Source did recall disparaging remarks made by HOFFA about the KENNEDY family while both PRESIDENT KENNEDY and ROBERT F. KENNEDY were alive. Source advised that while HOFFA "disliked" JOHN F. KENNEDY, HOFFA did not "hate" him. Source said HOFFA "hated" ROBERT F. KENNEDY. HOFFA's hatred for ROBERT F. KENNEDY resulted from problems ROBERT F. KENNEDY caused HOFFA while KENNEDY was assigned to the Senate Rackets Committee and _ after KENNEDY became U.S. Attorney General. On several . . occasions, HOFFA made statements hoping that someone would either "heat up" or "blow away" ROBERT F. KENNEDY. After PRESIDENT ... KENNEDY's assassination; HOFFA told source "JACK (KENNEDY) was - -°. not a bad guy but he allowed BOBBY (KENNEDY) to run his life". Source recalled that immediately following PRESIDENT KENNEDY's assassination on November 22, 1963, the TEAMSTERS offices in Washington, D.C., were closed and the American flag was ordered to fly at half-staff by order of HAROLD GIBBONS, _HOFFA'S Executive Assistant. in Washington. Because of this action, HOFFA fired GIBBONS and replaced GIBBONS with ROY FITZSIMMONS. | S Docld:32177746 Page 5
Released under the John F. Kemnedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote}. DATE: 11-14-2017 ey wf se \ . . - source identiriea’ ‘JOSEPH CoNNO (phonetic) as a current TEAMSTERS official in New York City. Source described CONNO as one of HOFFA's close assistants in the 1960s who may have knowledge of HOFFA's activities prior to the assassination of PRESIDENT KENNEDY. Based upon source's relationships with past LCN bosses, source commented that if RAGANO's claims about an LCN contract against PRESIDENT KENNEDY were true, RAGANO would have been killed by the LCN years ago. Based on RAGANO's claims that HOFFA, through RAGANO, requested TRAFFICANTE to arrange for the murder Of PRESIDENT KENNEDY, RAGANO should have been killed shortly after PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S assassination. This would have been done to prevent RAGANO from identifying either HOFFA or TRAFFICANTE as orchestrating the "hit". ADMINISTRATIVE: ) WARNING: INFORMATION FROM NY Gesc-osfts HIGHLY SINGULAR IN NATURE AND DISCLOSURES COULD REVEAL SOURCE'S IDENTITY. SOURCE IS A HIGH LEVEL INFORMANT (CRITICAL TO MAJOR FCI AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS,Q)WHOSE IDENTITY, IF REVEALED, WILL POSITIVELY LEAD TO PHYSICAL DANGER TO SOURCE AND SOURCE'S FAMILY WARNING: DISSEMIN OF THIS INFORMATION to{unrrEp STATES DEPARTMENT OF STA A CHANNELS THAT WOYLD BRING INFORMATION TO THE ATTENTION oF (ENR EMPLOYEE JESSE CLEAR]JMAY CREATE SECURITY PROBLEMS FOR SOURCE 5 WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION: INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO ANY OTHER AGENCY WITHOUT PRIOR BUREAU APPROVAL. WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION: INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD (iy BE PROVIDED TO THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY (USIA) Docla: 327177745 Page 6