LETTER TO JAMES A. LEACH FROM JOHN H. MOSEMAN RE LETTERS TO HIM REQUESTING FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING BARRY SEAL AND ASSOCIATED MATTERS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: SEAL BARRY
• Keywords: MENA ARKANSAS
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001289665
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2009
• Case Number: F-2002-01499
• Publication Date: April 20, 1998

Central Intelligence Agency
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE DATE:
23-Sep-2009
Washington.D.C.20505
OCA 98-1195
20 April 1998
The Honorable James A. Leach
Chairman
Committee on Banking and
Financial Services
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) asked me to
reply to your April 2 and April 20, 1998 letters to him
requesting further information regarding Barry Seal and
associated matters.
The Inspector General (IG) has been working on those
portions of your request that involve information the IG
dealt with in preparing its previous report on these
matters. Also, the Office of Congressional Affairs is
working with the appropriate CIA components to respond to
those aspects of your request that involve further records
searches and additional information. Please understand that
given the breadth of your questions, we will be unable to
respond by the requested deadlines.
I regret any confusion that may have arisen during your
recent dealings with the IG, with respect to that Office's
role and the allocation of responsibility within CIA for
answering Congressional inquiries. By way of clarification,
this Office is the primary point of contact for responding
to requests by Congress for CIA data or other support.. I
also note in this regard that section 17(b)(2) of the CIA
Act places the IG under the general supervision of, and
states that the IG shall report directly. to, the DCI. For
these reasons, as the IG's letter suggests, directing new
requests for Agency information to the DCI or to this Office
is generally the most appropriate avenue for addressing such
requests.
 The Honorable James A. Leach
Finally, please be assured the DCI and I take seriously
all Congressional requests for information or other support.
The Agency will do its best to respond to your current
inquiry and to future requests or interests that you may
have.
If we may be of further assistance, please call me at
Sincerely,
John
H. Mos an
Director of Congressional Affairs