NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00890R000700020002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 3, 1981
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP84B0089OR000700020002-9
NSA review
completed
SECRET
The Honorable William French Smith
The Attorney General
Department of Justice
Washington, DC
Serial:
N0375
63
3 April
1981? /6S-tO
).3
4
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
(U) In August 1979, Mr. V. James Bamford, an author
purportedly writing a history of the ational Security Agency
(NSA), revealed to an NSA employee his possession of a document
released to him under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the
Department of Justice. The document is a series of reports
.concerning Department of Justice inquiries into CIA and NSA
-related electronic surveillance activities.
(S~ The release of this -document was not coordinated 25X3
with NSA even though the information contained in the document had
:originally been furnished by NSA. We understand the reason for
this may have been a presumption that the data actually released
-to Mr. Bamford had previously been made available to the public by
the Church Committee (Senate Select Committee to Study Govern-
mental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities).
Unfortunately, in fact, much of the information in the report had
-.not previously been made public, and there are more than 30 items
of currently classified information contained in the document
released to Mr. Bamford.
(U) On 20 August 1979, my predecessor, Admiral Inman, sent a
letter to Attorney General Civiletti (Attachment A) noting our
;.concern over this unilateral release. No response was ever
received to that letter despite a number of inquiries to the
Justice Department. staff. Recent events now require that I--again
.bring-: this matter to the attention .of the -Attorney General.
Cdr.-.?
CE 9'r :? ? . . -
17
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Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP84B0089OR000700020002-9
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE V6
v k::
FORT GEORGE G. MEAD E, MARYLAND 20753
 Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP84B0089OR000700020002-9
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(U) In view of the serious consequences which may derive
from the FOIA disclosure made by Department of Justice, I respect-
fully request that Mr. Bamford be contacted immediately by
Department of Justice officials to retrieve the document released
to him under the FOIA, and any copies he may have made, and to
ascertain whether he has disclosed the information to third
...parties. I also request that he be briefed that portions of the
information remain classified and that his retention or disclosure
of such information could result in his prosecution under
.18 U.S.C. ??793 or 798.
.(U)". I also request that the Department of Justice
investigate the circumstances of this release and the internal
Department of Justice procedures for handling SIGINT material,
--especially in the context of FOIA requests. I am prepared to
:assist you in any way possible in that investigation and .1 would
appreciate being informed of the results. If you desire any
.additional information in this regard, please call me or the
Agency General Counsel,, Daniel C. Schwartz (688-6705). .
Sincerely,
LINCOLN D. FAURER '
ieutenant General, USAF
irector, NSA/Chief, CSS
_Encls:
a/s
CopyFurnished:
Secretary of Defense
_~~Director of Central Intelligence
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Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP84B0089OR000700020002-9