% . 4 q@ S8c LETT, 1045. ITEM i . rn) cy NS a ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE we BY ehtaaldy HW 55091 DBocld: 32989547 Page 3
1 ' 2 / » y . ~ > 4 a r ra ‘ 6/27/66 1 - Ee. Reddy Airtel . fiE@ (666 #9 a Beg: BAC, Atlanta (100-5715) (200-0008 FO Beams Mvector, FRE (106.48n724) ¢ice-icss7a) oe irae cle coe (A ghetet De Eich. re ALL INFOR CONTAINED pe Beekin Lowe Elna, de HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED 5a <- C DATS. [ool |s8. 11 £60 {ob (COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM) Beurairtel dated 6/23/66. Approval not granted at this time to conduct backsround investigation of Hernona Clayton with view toward possible use of inicrmation develoned to diseredit Martin Luther (sonny and/or the Southern Christian Leadership Conference SCLC). Should Clayton he dismissed from her position with the SCLC, you may resubmit sugrested counterintelligence action. EBR:sjs . (3) | HOTS: Zernona Clayton is “office hostess” at SCDC headquarters in Atlanta. She has engaged in promiscuous relations with... Qther officers of SCLO have recommended terminating Clayton's employment due to the poor financial concition of SCLC, Kine is epposing such action because of his personal relationship with by Atlenta that discreet backcround investigation of Clayton be conducted liocking toward possible use of information developed to discredit King and/or SCLC, not believed desirable at this time. could be given at that time to possible counterintelligence action. “ser wath . 2, " Phis ddcument is prepared in resp att “feyromyy zemmye ae are ey aaa a 4 PR pea outside vour Committee. Its ve iv V'mited to official proceedings by your Convmittee and the content may not be disclosed to unauthorized person- nel without the express approval of the FBI. ene om FTA a - a ‘HW 55091 DocId:32989547 Page 4 Martin luther “Eine cirw,. atid has also been reported to be a Lesbian. Clayton, aud aiso because King signed notes for Clayton in connectior with her purchase of an expensive residence in Atlanta. Suggestion onse to your request and is not for dissemt~ | “rent ORIGINAL FILED IN Should Clayton be dionissed from her gob with the SCLC, consideration Scameceataadain'h eiskPeaiac site an bdenc eateeeaie See ener eT an ener Pe arene seen ee nee ee at TaN ee elie ee to 43E 79 ¢-|7 FE A swede =. apna 1H net 28 =
pc RBs.. .. 4. COMTRUER OF SORE cot cee ope doe te meeting so far as terminating ZERNONA CLAYTON's services. AIRTEL AXEUAIL TO: DIRECTOR, FST FROM: SAC, ATLANTA kee) ba oo wavdeet& Lile 15085718 . Phe OO & on Pele Aiea {2 2g, i) 7 geno ee a ee bare ib) UEASSIF FC MATREN LUMP ERUG, gf. ATE: ofl AGG RY ILI bf ide 169? Atlanta Zile 100-5586 ; ; Bulile 100-165670 {COUSEER NPLLLIGZILCE POLGAM) - On 6/15/68 22129768 advised 2 meeting was held on 6/13/EG at SCLC headquarters concerned with the financial ‘Status of SCIC., This meetine was sttended by Reverend KING, Several SCLC officers os well as CLARENCE JONES, STANLEY LEVISON and HARRY WACHTEL, At this meeting the desirability of terminating the services of several SCLO employess was discussed. ARBOR the employees discussed in this regard was ZERNCNA CLAYTON (offies Hostess, wife of EDWARD T. CLAYIGN, former Director of Public Relations, SCLC}. Es decision was reached at this LZ GE IOY aR AOR TEE FOLATE SETI Bey, CORRE AEE OR HR RARER RACH a * During the discurtion Poverend KING neinted out be was not auxious to dispense with CLAY?ON's services heceuse in the past he had sirued certain notes (not speciftiad) gor her in a> Bureau {F353 . : (3— 100~-438794) ‘ ba pe. Cit 100-106879) - LOO = fO 66 SO 4m Atlanta - €l~ 160-5718) ” (le 100-8545) le 157+1199) (2ERNONA CLAYTON — ——— i TeeegeDaS @ " NOT RECORDED AGSrcb _— 100 JUN 28 Tye (8} ee eT This document is prepared im response to your request and is not for dissemi- nation outside your Commitee, Tis ue t* Emited to official proceedings by your Committee and the content may nut be disclosed to unauthorized person- nel without the express approval of the FBI. ; . . ; HW 55091 Docld:32989547 -Page 5 ae Z —
x ‘HW 55091 DocId:32989547, Page-6. 9.) * pt AT 106-5718 AT 100-5586 j connection with the purchase of an expensive residence in Atianta. EING said the CLAYTONs had fallen behind in their payments on these notes and as oa consequence, he was currently deducting from poets NA CLAYTON's SCLC salary in order to maintain paymonts these notes. He said he Zelt ZERNONA “CLAYTON should be tought a Iesson so far as her financial irresponsibility was concerned, but because of obvious porsonal reasons (financial) he was reluctant te remove ber from the SCLC payroll. eT in addition to gsointing out EING!s promiscuous escapades With CLAVIOI pr lone eerrospondence has“ Sise dndicatea”“nis recognition of. 1 of and. oe with CLAYTON | ae Re age eer tee _& -problen t0:;. hindand-to-StLe._ a ion weedy information from AT Bi-S has indieated some SCLC employees consider CLAYTON to be a lesbian. From time _ to time information from Atlanta's confidential seurces hag reflected EDWARD T. CLAYTON has accused his wife of having lesbian friends. Yt is also known that ZERRONA CLAYTON in the past has accompanied CORETTA S. KING, wife of Reverend KING, as 2a traveling companion. Information from highiy confidential scurces in the past has aiso established that CLAYTON, prior to coming to Atlanta, was involved in an embemzlement of funds from the Western Christian Leadership Conference. . ’ £ It is feit a knowledge of the backeround of ‘“. ZERNONA CLAYTON could reveal some facets of information which may conceivably lend themselves to action aimed at discrediting KING and/or SCLC. ae - Xt ig realized Atlanta pointed ont in airte!? dated 2/3/66 captioned MARTIN LUTHER KENG, UR., SH = C (COUNTER- INTELLIGENCE FROGHAN}), (page 2, paragraph 2}, that the + Peputation of ZERSNONA CLAYTON and the alcoholic problem of - her husband, EDWARD CLAYTON, preciuded use ef either 7 individual in a counterintelligence measure, This statement rey ea seg ee age mee EEO OR CON LENE MOAT OBL OTN EARN TINS ENE ERIN “ viele RRS neh) at Manette yews