Vince Foster, NSA

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# OG001

       Allegations Regarding Vince Foster, the NSA, and
                Banking Transactions Spying, Part I

                       by J. Orlin Grabbe

      On April 17, 1995, James R. Norman, Senior Editor at Forbes
      Magazine, sent the following letter to Michael D. McCurry,
      "Forbes Magazine is preparing an article for immediate publication.
       We would like to offer the White House an opportunity to comment
       on the following assertions.

      "1.) That Vincent W. Foster, while White House Deputy Counsel,
       maintained a Swiss bank account.

      "2.) That funds were paid into that account by a foreign
       government, specifically the State of Israel.

      "3.) That shortly before his death and coincident with the
       onset of severe and acute depression, Vincent Foster learned
       he was under investigation by the CIA for espionage.

      "4.) That this information was made available to him by
       Hillary Rodham Clinton.

      "5.) That while he was White House Deputy Counsel and for
       many years prior, Vincent Foster had been a behind-the-
       scenes control person on behalf of the National Security
       Agency for Systematics, a bank data processing company
       integrally involved in a highly secret intelligence effort
       to monitor world bank transactions.

      "6.) That Systematics was also involved in "laundering" funds
       from covert operations, including drug and arms sales related
       to activities in and around Mena, Ark.

      "7.) That through Systematics' relationship with E-Systems,
       Vincent Foster may have had access to highly sensitive code,
       encryption and data security information of strategic
       importance.

      "8.) That both prior to and after his death, documents relating
       to Systematics were removed from Vincent Foster's office in
       the White House.

      "9.) That the meeting at the Cardozo (Landau) estate on the
       eastern shore of Maryland on the weekend before Vincent
       Foster's death was attended by, among others, George
       Stephanopolous.

      "10.) That Hillary Rodham Clinton was also a beneficiary of
       funds from Foster's Swiss account.

      "Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this matter.
       Please fax your written response before end-of-business
       Tuesday, April 18, to Forbes at 212-620-2417.  If you have
       questions, please call me at 212-620-2215.

      "Respectfully yours,

      "James R. Norman, Senior Editor"

      The White House did not respond until April 25, 1995.  However,
      on April 20, 1995, a copy of this letter was leaked by White
      House counsel to Mark H. Tuohey III, an assistant to Kenneth
      Starr, a prosecutor leading an "independent" investigation of
      events related to Whitewater.

      Why was the letter forward to a Starr assistant?

      Did the White House have reason to believe that the death
      of Vincent Foster was related to Whitewater?

      Was the letter forwarded to Mark Tuohey so that he could
      investigate and comment on the allegations in the letter?
      Or was the letter leaked to Mark Tuohey by the White House
      because Tuohey is the White House point man for spin control
      with respect to any evidence "uncovered" by the investigation?

      On April 25, 1995, Michael D. McCurry replied as follows:

      "Dear Mr. Norman

      "This letter responds to your April 17, 1995 request.

      "The allegations contained in your request are outrageous.
      Publication of these false allegations will discredit
      *Forbes*, maliciously tarnish the reputation of Vincent
      Foster, and cause great pain to Mr. Foster's wife and family.

      "Should *Forbes* insist on publishing these baseless
      allegations, we insist that the Editor of *Forbes* have a pre-
      publication meeting with Jane Sherburne of the White House
      Counsel's Office and the personal representative of the
      President and First Lady, David E. Kendall of Williams &
      Connolly.  Ms. Sherburne can be reached at (202) 456-5116
      and Mr. Kendall's number is (202) 434-5145.

      "Sincerely,

      "Michael D. McCurry
      "Press Secretary"

      "cc:  Mr. James W. Michaels
            Editor, *Forbes*

            Mr. Lawrence Minard
            Managing Editor, *Forbes*

            Mr. William Baldwin
            Executive Editor, *Forbes* "

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