MEETING WITH HSCA ON 1 MAY 1978.
Originator: CIA
From: GABRIELSON, RODGER/OLC
To: MEMO FOR THE RECORD
Document date: 05/01/1978
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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

SCUMCI

Mar 11 9 18 AM °78

OLC 78-1920

1 May 1978

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Meeting With House Select Committee on Assassinations

(HSCA) - 1 May 1978

1. (S) On I May 1978, a meeting was held with HSCA representatives

and FBI representatives. Present from the HSCA were: G. Robert Blakey,

Chief Counsel and Director; Bill Triplett, Gaten Fonzi, and Edwin Lopez.

Present from the FBI were: Danny Coulson, John Kaul and Jim Freeman.

Also present were Norbert Shepanek, O/SA/DO/O; Patrick Carpentier, of

OLC, and myself.

2. (S) Mr. Blakey called the meeting to discuss Bernardo de Torres,

who is purported to be a potential assassin and who was purported to be in

Dealey Plaza on 23 November 1963. De Torres was scheduled to appear

in executive session before the HSCA on 2 May 1978. Mr. Blakey opened

the meeting criticizing the FBI for not notifying him of their curent

operational interest in de Torres until 1 May even though de Torres had

been subpoenaed for the last 30 days. Mr. Coulson responded that the FBl began

an operational relationship with de Torres in January 1976, and he requested

that the HSCA (not divulge that relationship in its hearings. Prior to 1976,

Mr. Coulson, on behalf of the FBI, denied any interest in Bernardo

de Torres.

3. (S) Mr. Blakey then turned his attention to the Agency's response to

his written request for any and all files on de Torres. Mr. Shepanek

pointed out that although there had been an earlier difficulty in locating the

which was provided to HSCA researcher Edwin Lopez. Mr. Lopez took notes

upon these documents and submitted his notes for review at which time the

error became known. The third agency documents, FBI items, were forwarded

to Mr. Coulson on 28 April (Friday) for FBI review and possible release to

HSCA. Mr. Coulson acknowledged that he had these materials and hoped to

make them available to the Committee at FBI Headquarters immediately

following the meeting.

cys to: SA/CILM

O/EXO/CI

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4. (S) Mr. Blakey, in conclusion, sought a statement from (both the FBI

and the Agency regarding any relationships with de Torres. The FBI responsed

that they began an operational relationship in January 1976, continued to have

that relationship, and had no other relationship prior to January 1976.

Mr. Shepanek indicated that the Agency had a relationship with de Torres during

the days of Brigade 2506 and that we had no further relation with him.

Distribution:

1 - 0/SA/DO/O - Mr. Shepanek

2

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