LETTER TO HONORABLE FRANK CHURCH FROM EDWARD H. LEVI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000500110002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2009
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: May 30, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

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MMAY301975
Honorable Frank Church, Chairman
United States Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence Activities
Washington, D. C. 20510
It is my understanding that the continuing efforts of
staff members of the Executive and Legislative Branches to
prepare standard guidelines for witness interview procedures
are continuing this week. While that process continues, the
Department of Justice is, of course, continuing to cooperate
in an ad hoc and responsive manner. In order to ensure our
attention to these cooperative efforts, I have designated
K. William O'Connor as Special Counsel for Intelligence
Coordination and as such he will be the principle liaison
officer of DOJ in this effort. I understand that your Chief
Counsel and members of his staff are now dealing with
Mr. O'Connor in the execution of their responsibilities.
In the meantime, in an effort to expedite the coopera-
tive provision of appropriate information to SSC, it would be
most helpful if the Committee Staff would ensure that the
Department of Justice is advised, in advance of Committee
Staff contact with FBI employees and former employees, of*the
name of the witness and the scope of the prospective interview.
This would facilitate the interview process, since it would
make it possible to ensure that appropriate instructions are
issued to the witness under 28 CFR 16.22, and would permit
early decision upon the release of any applicable secrecy
agreements.
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In the same vein, I should lake to invite your attention
to some procedural matters surrounding recent witness presenta-
tion before the Committee. It appears, from reports which I
have received, that two former FBI agents who recently appeared,
did not receive copies of the Committee's Rules of Procedures
until immediately before appearance before the Committee; and
that the scope of their proposed testimony was defined with
somewhat less than optimum precision for pre-clearance. Some
procedural problems are almost inevitable, especially in the
early staves of hearin s. I know that you share my interest
in assuring that full ,procedural due process is unequivocally
provided to all witnesses who testify before the Committee or
are interviewed by Committee Staff. In calling this matter to
your attention I seek your support in restricting such problems
to a minimum and prospectively avoiding others of like kind.
Sincerely,
Edward. Levi
Attorney General
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 Approved For Release 2009/01/30: CIA-RDP77M00144R000500110002-6
Approved For Release 2009/01/30: CIA-RDP77M00144R000500110002-6