REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES OF ((DELETION)) WITNESS ON BEHALF OF U.S. GOVERNMENT.
Originator: CIA
From: COHEN, EDMUND
To: C/SE/SS
Document date: 01/19/1977
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10107-10017

2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

RETURN TO CIA

Background Use Only

• Do Not Reproduce

OGC 77-0428

19 January 1977

MEMORANDUM FOR:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

REFERENCES:

C/SE/SS

Edmund Cohen

Assistant General Counsel

Reimbursement of Travel Expenses of (homas I. Briggs)

Witness on Behalf of U.S. Government

A. Memo for Record, Same Subj. 03

B. Memo for C/SF Div. fm JIBriggs) Subj:

Appearance as Witness on Behalf of U.S.

Government

1. In accordance with instructions contained in reference A, Thomas

L. Briggs)traveled to Miami for a pre-trial conference in the case of U.S. v.

Hemming, et al., No. 76-371-CR-CA (S.D.Fla.) Reference B seeks reimburse-

ment for this trip.

2. The undersigned spoke with Mr. Jim Williams, Budget Section;

rus earteent Administration (128-4266), about obtaining reimbursement

stravel expenses. Mr. Williams was informed that insofai

23 Brissa testimony related to his official duties as a DEA employee, DEA

should absorb the costs. Mr. Williams agreed and indicated that Mr.

(Briggs) should call him to arrange reimbursement.

03

Edmund Cohen

OGC: EC: bm (21 January 1977)

Distribution:

Original - Addressee

1 - TRAVEL

1 - EC Signer

1 - Chrono

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.'.

OGC 77-0427

19 January 1977

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

FROM:

SUBJECT:

Edmund Cohen

Assistant General Counsel

(Thomas L. Briggs -- Involvement as Witness in

Gerald Patrick Hemming Case

In the late afternoon on 7 January 1977, Mr. Thomas I. Briggs)

informed the undersigned that he was being asked to attend a pre-trial

conference on 10 January in Miami, Florida, and expected to be a witness

for the Government in the case against Gerald Patrick Hemming. Mr.

03 (Briggs stated that he had been under cover while employed by the Agency

from 1969 to 1974. He had then transferred to DEA where he became involved

with Mr. Hemming. Mr. Briggs was now back with the Agency and expected

to be put under cover very shortly. Both for cover considerations and

because he felt the Hemming case had a great deal of "flap" potential,

rivaling the Werbell case, he desired OGC to intercede for him to keep him

from having to testify.

2. Mr. Briggs noted that Hemming was a "walk-in", who was referred

to his boss at DEA, Mr. Conein, by Mr. Werbell and that Conein, in turn,

had sent Hemming to him to be interviewed. Subsequently, Mr. Hemming

had "set up" Mr. Conein by first telling him that a brother wished to work

with DEA and requesting permission to give Mr. Conein a resume, and later

by publicly meeting Conein and handing him a manila envelope ostensibly

containing the promised resume. In fact, the envelope contained a report

with phony cryptonyms representing Hemming as an agent of Conein's.

Hemming's report detailed a variety of alleged official activities ando

mentioned his prior contacts with Conein and with Briggs. Briggs) indicated

that Hemming would undoubtedly try to beat the narcotics charges pending

against him in Miami by claiming to be a DEA or CIA agent? Briggs

testimony that he was a DEA employee when he met him but was a CIA

employee both before and after would help cloud the issue. In addition,

such exposure could affect Briggs) current usefulness to the Agency.

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3. The undersigned checked with Mr. Robert Blandford, CCS, and

learned that Briggs cover had been removed when he left the Agency, thus

hi wei cover went /os, opened that a delier pre as not

existed which would impede Briggs testimony.

4. The undersigned then spoke with Ms. Karen Atkinson, Assistant

U.S. Attorney in Miami (305) 350-5461, to inform her of Mr 3 Briggs) current

status.

Ms. Atkinson appreciated the potential problems, but concluded that

Mr. Briggs)would be a necessary witness for the trial which was scheduled

to begin on ll January. The question of travel expenses was also broached.

Ms. Atkinson stated that she did not have an expense fund to pay the travel

expenses of Government witnesses and that the usual practice was for the

employer Agency to pay the expenses of an employee testifying on behalf of

the Government about his official actions. The instant case was somewhat

unusual because CIA would be paying for Mi. (Briggs to, in effect, testify

about his DEA experiences, but she opined that this was a matter best

resolved in

Washington.

u3 5. In view of the limited time available, the undersigned informed Mr.

Briggs branch chief, (Hope Mason of the above and suggested that travel

orders be cut for Mr. Briggs) trip to Miami.

6. On il January, following his return from Miami, Mr. (Briggs)

informed the undersigned that Hemming's motion that his trial be severed

from that of his various co-conspirators had been granted and, therefore,

his testimony had not been required. Ms. Atkinson had informed him that

should Hemming raise as a defense the allegation that he was a DEA agent,

03 Briggs)would be called as a rebuttal witness. Ms. Atkinson also noted

that Hemming was alleging that DEA was representing him at the behest

of CIA because in the past he had "crossed" CIA.

Edmund oh

Edmund Cohen

CC:

Mr. Robert Morris, EAB

Mr. Robert Blandford, CCS

OGC: EC: bm (21 January 1977)

Distribution:

Original - TRAVEL:

1 - EC Signer

1 - Chrono

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• CONTROL NO.

REQUEST FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE

77-0172

REQUESTER

DATE OF REQUEST

OFFICE

(Thomas & Briggs

1/1176

TELEPHONE

ROOM NO. AND BUILDING

DDO/SE

1556

STATEMENT OF REQUEST

Requated gridance

on coust upavance in Miami

related to his duties utile with DEA

REQUESTER'S DEADLINE DATE

ASSIGN TO:

COMMENTS/REMARKS

GENERAL LAW

REQUEST INFORMATION IS

TOPS. AND MET.

SECRET

X CONFIDENTIAL

FOIA/PRIVACY ACT

UNCLASSIFIED

PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTS

LANTER ASSIGN ohem

FORM 3861

REQUEST TAKEN BY

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