LETTER: THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE HAS FORWARDED TO ME YOUR LETTER FOR RESPONSE.
Originator: CIA
From: MICHAEL J. O'NEIL. GENERAL COUNSEL
To: DAVID G. MARWELL. EXEC. DIR. ARRB
Document date: 12/09/1996
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505

General Counsel

9 December 1996

David G. Marwell

Executive Director

Assassination Records Review Board

600 E Street N.W., 2nd Floor

Washington D.C. 20530

Dear Mr. Marwell:

The Director of Central Intelligence has forwarded to

me your 2? November 1996 letter for response. I commend the

efforts of the Review Board and its staff in reviewing and

releasing hundreds of thousands of United States Government

documents for greater public understanding about the

assassination of President Kennedy. I also confirm the

Central Intelligence Agency's cormitment to continue working

closely with the Review Board in carrying out its statutory

authorities.

With regard to the requests made in your letter, I

understand the Review Board's desire to demonstiate to the

public that it has carried out its duties thoroughly and

diligently.. You have requested that CIA appoint an Agency

Compliance Official to be responsible for ensuring CIA's

compliance with its obligations under the JFK Act. The DCI

has full confidence in Mr. John Pereira as Chief

of the

Historical Review Group (HRG) and has determined that Mr.

Pereira will continue to act as the CIA official responsible

for ensuring full

compliance with the JFK Act and will

remain the Agency's focal point with the Review Board.

You have also requested that CIA provide an Initial

Statement of Compliance.

Mr. Pereira and Mr. Barry

Harrelson, the senior review officer for HRG, as well as the

rest of the HRG staff, have always been available to you

without restriction.

The Review Board and your staff have

been provided access to any relevant documents or

information you have requested.

As you know, the Review

Board was fully informed as to

the steps CIA

took to

designate Agency records as part of the President Kennedy

collection. HRG has also arranged for multiple briefings by

senior CIA officials from a wide variety of CIA components

so that the Review Board can better understand the

information it is reviewing. Given the current effective

additional

assurances of this Agency'g

compliance with the

JFK Act, I suggest that you contact Messrs. Pereira and

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David G. Marwell

Harrelson directly. As usual, they will provide you with

the specific information you need as quickly as possible to

continue to record CIA's compliance with the JFK Act.

As to your request for a complete description of the

steps CIA has taken to respond to specific requests, I

understand that there are several outstanding requests. HRG

has assured me that these requests have been discussed with

your staff and responses will be provided to you as quickly

as possible.

Given the number and breadth of the requests

that are being made by the Review Board and the limited

such requests, I

requests for information or documents. With the Review

Board's priorities established in this way, the Agency can

inmediately work on those requests that are most important

to the Review Board.

Of course, as CIA responds to these

requests, HRG will provide any information the Review Board

needs as

to how the searches were conducted. I believe that

this method will best meet the needs of the Review Board and

will allocate CIA's limited resources in the most efficient

manner possible.

Finally, as to your requests to interview CIA officials

responsible for this Agency's compliance with the JFK Act,

Mr. Pereira has always been available to the Review Board

for informal discussions as well as for giving sworn

testimony including depositions. CIA has never objected to

the Review Board deposing or interviewing informally any of

its current or former employees and has,

in fact,

You will also recall that, on

6 August 1996, Messrs. Pereira and Harrelson gave sworn

testimony at an open hearing of the Review Board.

I trust that this responds to the concerns raised in

your letter.

if. you should have any questions

regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact

Linda C. Cipriant, an attorney in the Office of General

Counsel, at (703) 874-3124.

With every good wish, I am

Sincerely yours,

J. O'Neil

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David G. Marweil

DCI/OGC/LD/LCCipriani/76124

(2 Dec

96)

OGC-96-53203

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