CIA DISMISSAL IS UPHELD BY U.S. APPEALS COURT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400380003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 24, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

MAR 2. 4 1962
W `r' ii I 6ed - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-0
STATINTL
CIA Dismissal Is Upheld by U. S. Appeals Court
CPYRGHT
Sweeping powers of the Cen-
tral Intelligence Agency to
fire its employes were upheld
yesterday by the United States
Court of Appeals.
The Court sustained the fir-
ing of John Torpats, 64, an
intelligence officer and "con-
tact specialist" who was dis-
missed in 1958 when he re-
fused to resign.
Torpats, the first CIA em-
ploye ever to take a discharge
case as far as a Federal court
of appeals, held a GS-14 posi-
tion before receiving an un-
satisfactory fitness report,
Court papers showed.
Torpats, of 5034 N. 36th st.,
Arlington, charged that a "con-
spiracy" among jealous supe-
riors brought about his dis-
missal. According to his affi-
davit filed in District Court
,
his superiors found Torpats
showed "poor judgment," "in-
ability to handle agents" and
general "lack of professional
competence."
In a brief opinion, the Court
cited the 1947 National. Secu-
rity Act giving the CIA Direc-
tor "broad discretion to ter
minate employes in the inter,
est of the United States."
Such a discharge, the Cou
added, "is to be distinguished
from the so-called 'security
discharge" in which an em
ploye may be branded a risk
"There is no bar of any kin
to employment by other agen
cies of government" the Courl
added.
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400380003-0