LAWYER TRIES TO TIE CIA TO MY LAI RAID

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000300070003-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 23, 1970
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2003/03/25 : CIA-RDP72-00337R000300070003-6
ATLANTA, GA.
CONSTITUTION
hi - 203,790
Acts of briltnli,ty by soldiers
and agents of the U.S. govern
nient have become policy in the
war in Southeast Asia, said Rau-
lerson.
He said many agents of the
U.S. government have commit
~
ted acts similar to those of
which Smith is accused but the
others have never been brought.
to court.
Smith and Torres are among
Three inen the defense con-
tends are Central Intelligence
,Agency officials must answer
questions about. the murder of
civili .ns at My Lai, a military
-judge rules at 1"t. McPherson
Tuesday.
Charles yy'eltner, Atlanta de-
fense attorney for Sgt. Esquiel
Torres, asked the judge to let
him subpeona the three men. He
said he intends "to show that it
was a function of the CIA to set
the whole stage for My Lai."
Wcltner will defend Torres at
a trial . tentatively set for the
f Third Army headquarters here
Feb. 15.
Dunng q'ucsdaymorning's
By DIANE STFPP
the 22-y e a r -o 1 d Drownsville,
Tex , soldier from murder to as-
sault IIe is still charged with to CIA activities as James t ..1958.
the murders of at least three Vi-IM ay, Capt. Clarence J. Dawkins
and Robert Ramsdell. He said
etnamese. they were in charge of CIA oper-
In a similar hearing here I ations in the My Lai area for
Tuesday afternoon Pvt. Gerald 1 Operation Phoenix = the code
A. Smith, 22 of Chicago, charged ; name for an operation}.which he
with murder and indecent as-
sault at My Lai was ordered to
face court-martial Jan. 25.
,,With the developments of
today, the whole story of My Lai
will unfold," Torres' attorney
said.
Weltner and Army prosecu-
hearhig, nted access duced one of~lthe c harges again t.hes classifialso ed Volume I of the Tuesday against him clurinb the
g proceedings.
Attorneys for Pvt. Smith lost al
-bid tempt, ltol prove that the U.S.
government was guilty tile
same misconduct for which it
was prosecuting Smith-
Capt. Robert K. Raulerson,
defense attorney, said Smith
was "arbitrarily singled out to
get the government . and the
Army off the hook," .
Peers Report which previously .nine soldiers charged with nanr-,
had been closed to them. der, rape and assault dunirg a
lie identified the "Rey Peo- sweep by U.S? forces through
plc" he will subpoena in regard the hamlet of My Lai in March.
charged included "kidnapings
and assassinations" of civilian.
Viet Colic' sympathizers.
Weltner had lots a bid to sub-
poena 21 other men, including
CIA Director Richard ilelms
and Defense Secretary Melvin
Laird.
Torres pleaded innocent to the
Approved For Release 2003/03/25 : CIA-RDP72-00337R000300070003-6