LETTER TO CHARLES A. BOWSHER FROM PETER W. RODINO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R000100090026-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: January 29, 1985
• Content Type: LETTER

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ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional) Joseph MENGELE
.
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
OLL 85-0003/1
LD/OLL 7B24 HQS
DATE
21 February 1985
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
1. AC/LD/OLL
2
. C/HL/LD/OLL
3 DD / OLL
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4
. D/OLL
1 F
EB 1985
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13.
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FORM 61 0 USE PREVIOUS
1_79 EDITIONS
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
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OLL 85-0003/1
21 February 1985
NOTE FOR: D/OLL
DD/OLL
C/LD/OLL A\
C/HL/LD/OLL
STAT
John Tipton, GAO investigator handling the Nazi war
criminals investigation at the request of Chairman Rodino of
House Judiciary, is to be given a set of the sanitized docu-
ments that were prepared for Senator A. D'Amato regarding the
Joseph Mengele case. I explained to John that I could not
release them to him before they were given to Senator
D'Amato. John agreed to this arrangement.
John called again this morning and I advised the
documents were in process of being sent to Senator D'Amato
and that I would arrange a package of same to be delivered to
his office for transmittal to Judiciary. (OGC agrees we
should stay within the channel already established--CIA to
GAO to Judiciary--and not provide them directly to Judiciary,
which could bring on additional requests from them to us.
John said he had been asked this morning by Peter Regis,
Legislative Assistant on Judiciary Subcommittee on
Immigration, Refugees & International Law, whether Senator
D'Amato had seen the unsanitized versions of the documents on
Mengele and whether the Subcommittee staffers could review
the unsanitized material. (Senator D'Amato has seen the
unsantized material, but I did not say this to John.)
I explained to John that I would need to check on this
and get back to him. (John, of course, is to be allowed to
see the unsanitized versions here at the Agency. He has seen
all unsanitized material on Nazi war criminals in our files,
in line with the instructions from former DDO John Stein--who
wanted to prevent any further questions on this entire
subject.)
Since CIA does not have an official request from House
Judiciary, should I ask for an official letter from the
Committee or advise John that we prefer to stay with our
normal procedures?
STAT
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V.5. *oust of Itpramte(b
tommittu on the 1aDidarr
089WRO..,1st 20515
etu~pw sMPW
January 29, 1985
Honorable Charles A. Bowsher
Comptroller General
General Accounting Office
441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20348
Dear Mr. Bowsher:
I refer to my most recent letter of February 17, 1983, on t
the G.A.O. on-going investigation which I initiated regarding
alleged Executive Branch involvement with Nazi war criminals
in the United States.
Recent news accounts indicate that Dr. Josef Mengel-e, a
notorious wanted Nazi war criminal presently at large, may have
been in the custody of United States intelligence personnel in
Austria following World War U. Also, there are some reports
that there may have been some U.S.-Canadian contact with regard
to the issuance of a Canadian visa.
I, therefore, request that your staff presently engaged in
this investigation enlarge its scope in order to include within
it any possible United States government involvement in the case
of.Dr. Josef Mengele.
In making this request, I do not wish to delay the present
.investigation and report, which I understand is nearing comple-
tion. Instead, I would hope that you could make a preliminary
general assessment to determine whether there is'sufficient
cause to proceed with amore detailed inquiry.
I thank you.
Sincerely,
PETER W. RODINO
",Member of Congress
PWR:prl
s -
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NOTE FOR: D/OLL
DD/OLL
VIA: C/LD/OLL
C/HL/LD/OLL
OLL 85-0003/1
21 February 1985
John Tipton, GAO investigator handling the Nazi war
criminals investigation at the request of Chairman Rodino of
House Judiciary, is to be given a set of the sanitized docu-
ments that were prepared for Senator A. D'Amato regarding the
Joseph Mengele case. I explained to John that I could not
release them to him before they were given to Senator
D'Amato. John agreed to this arrangement.
John called again this morning and I advised the
documents were in process of being sent to Senator.D'Amato
and that I would arrange a package of same to be delivered to
his office for transmittal to Judiciary. (OGC agrees we
should stay within the channel already established--CIA to
GAO to Judiciary--and not provide them directly to Judiciary,
which could bring on additional requests from them to us.
John said he had been asked this morning by Peter Regis,
Legislative Assistant on Judiciary Subcommittee on
Immigration, Refugees & International Law, whether Senator
D'Amato had seen the unsanitized versions of-the documents on
Mengele and whether the Subcommittee staffers could review
the unsanitized material. (Senator D'Amato has seen the
unsantized material, but I did not say this to John.)
I explained to John that I would need to check on this
and get back to him. (John, of course, is to be allowed to
see the unsanitized versions here at the Agency. He has seen
all unsanitized material on Nazi war criminals in our files,
in line with the instructions from former DDO John Stein--who
wanted to prevent any further questions on this entire
subject.)
Since CIA does not have an official request from House
Judiciary, should I ask for an official letter from the
Committee or advise John that we prefer to stay with our
normal procedures?
STAT
STAT
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6.16. *oust of stpratnctattbcs
Committee on the YnDicfarr
2os15
January 29, 1985
Honorable Charles A. Bowsher
Comptroller General
General Accounting Office
441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20548
Dear Mr. Bowsher:
I refer to my most recent letter of February 17, 1983, on
the G.A.O. on-going investigation which I initiated regarding
alleged Executive Branch involvement with Nazi war criminals
in the United States.
Recent news accounts indicate that Dr. Josef Mengel-e, a
notorious wanted Nazi war criminal presently at large, may have
been in the custody of United States intelligence personnel in
Austria following World War II. Also, there are some reports
that there may have been some U.S.-Canadian contact with regard
to the issuance of a Canadian visa.
I, therefore; request that your staff presently engaged in
this investigation enlarge its_ scope in order to include within
it any possible United States government involvement in the case
of Dr. Josef Mengele.
In making this request, I donot wish to delay the present
investigation and report, which I understand is nearing comple-
tion. Instead, I would hope that you could make a preliminary
general assessment to determine whether there is'sufficient
cause to proceed with amore detailed inquiry.
I thank you.
. Sihcerely,
, j /
1; _,;
PETER W. RODINO
'Member' of Congress
PWR:prl
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OLL 85-0546
19 February 1985
SUBJECT: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice,
Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 19 February 1985,
on Nazi War Criminal Josef Mengele
1. The Hearing opened at 10:12 a.m. in Room 124 Dirksen
Senate Office Building with Chairman Arlen Specter (R., PA)
presiding. The only other Member of the Subcommittee present
throughout the Hearing was Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D., OH).
Senator Alan Cranston (D., CA) came in to the Hearing rather
late; sat behind the witness table; and left after about ten
minutes. He returned later on, this time sitting next to
Senator Metzenbaum.
2. Senator Specter opened the Hearing by stating that
the object of the Hearing was to look at the role of the
United States Army and United States Government in
determining whether Josef Mengele was in United States
custody following World War II. Senator Metzenbaum then
added the Subcommittee wanted to know what our government
did, and what it has not done, regarding such Nazis,
particularly Mengele, and whether officials are giving it the
importance it requires. "Mengele should be brought to
justice before he leaves this earth." He claimed there has
been some effort to shield the facts from the people and this
Hearing could help us prod our own government to give it the
study it should be given.
3. Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato (R., NY) was the first
witness. He read from his prepared statement (copy attached),
in which he said that he had met with CIA General Counsel
Stanley Sporkin and was pleased with the cooperation he had
received. He said that he revealed on the David Brinkley
show this past Sunday that he has information that indicates
Mengele's last known location was Portugal and wants the
United States Government to contact the Portuguese officials
and ask them to search for Mengele. (Press release handed
out at the hearing mentioned that the Senator requested Army,
CIA, and National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane to order
an intensive search of post-war intelligence information...
and the Senator hopes that this information will determine
how Mengele escaped and open new leads that will help find
Mengele.
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4. After reading his prepared statement, Senator D'Amato
said that he is awaiting release of seven documents, but that
he could not mention his source since it would breach a
confidence. He also mentioned the use of Volman as an alias,
that there was some involvement by Mengele in the area of
drug activity emanating from Paraguay and that perhaps
Mengele became involved for money to pay source that gave him
protection. Senator D'Amatowent on to say that it was
because of the publicity being given this matter that another
man came to his attention--whom he spoke with this morning--a
Richard Schwarz. He stated forcefully that there is no doubt
that Mengele is alive and that a concerted effort should be
made to bring him to justice. Canada should be checked out
and everything should be done to isolate Mengele. When the
Senator said the investigation would be meaningless unless it
was brought to the attention of the public, that the
investigation should be "in camera", Senator Specter asked
whether it should be held "in camera" or in front of the
camera (alluding to Senator D'Amato's numerous references to
the need for publicity). Then Senator Specter asked anyone
who had any knowledge of Mengele to write directly to him.
5. Senator D'Amato continued his testimony and made
additional cryptic references to information he could not
release until he gets confirmation; but stated that Mengele
received Christmas cards and letters in Portugal from
Paraguay--his source is reliable. He mentioned a Joseph
Meneke who sought entry into Canada and indeed was in
Canada. Senator Metzenbaum asked why he could not have the
information, did it come from Army? Senator D'Amato again
said he could not reveal his source, but the information
would be forthcoming in three or four days--that this
particular agency was using all deliberate speed to release
the documents.
6. Senator Metzenbaum then asked Senator D'Amato why
Mengele was involved in drugs (under alias Enrique Volman).
Senator Specter responded it was to support his (Mengele's)
ability to stay at large. Senator D'Amato said involvement
in drugs was in 1972 and again 1979. In 1979 the Drug
Enforcement Agency became interested in Mengele. Senator
D'Amato said Army documents indicated Mengele in Canada in
1962; that Mengele had wife, children, and liked dogs. He
also learned Mengele had undergone plastic surgery. He went
on to say he would have more details when he obtains release
of the documents. Continuing in this vein, Senator Specter
asked why Senator D'Amato could not give information from the
documents without saying from where and how many, at least
describe them to get better insight on Mengele's movements,
access to Paraguayans, and fact of the drug involvement.
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(Senator D'Amato mentioned a Becker and Morelli but the
undersigned is not sure of details surrounding reasons for
naming them.) Senator D'Amato went on to say Army was first
disinclined to give out any documents, but now they are
cooperating. and Army has disclosed all but one.
7. The second witness was Lt. General William E. Odom,
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, accompanied by
Mrs. Susan J. Crawford, General Counsel, United States Army.
General Odom read from his prepared statement and was
interrupted a number of times to respond to specific items he
mentioned. He described three documents denied under FOIA as
being from a foreign government (The Netherlands) which gave
permission for their release; one more document from an
unnamed foreign government which the Army is seeking
permission to release. Following the reading of his prepared
statement, General Odom answered numerous questions, many
hostile. Senator D'Amato, who had remained at the witness
table, said that the seven documents he is awaiting from the
particular agency will be available at the end of the week.
(Following several interruptions by Senator D'Amato, Senator
Specter said at this rate the testimony could continue
tomorrow, unless Senator D'Amato allowed them to proceed.)
8. Senator Specter chastised General Odom several times
on the laxity of Army's investigation following the discovery
of the 1947 documents (particularly one in its files from a
Ben Gorby), that could have provided more knowledge into the
whereabouts of Mengele and again when Ben Gorby's current
address in Israel became known to Army. He asked if any
effort at all had been made to talk to Gorby. General Odom
responded that to the best of his knowledge Army was not
investigating. (Senator Metzenbaum interrupted to ask what
Army's responsibility is in this area if Justice Department
does not do it. Both Senators were dismayed by General
Odom's claim that Army has thousands of FOIA requests and at
some point had run into the issue of allocated resources, and
could not give priority attention to Mengele. A somewhat
heated exchange took place. Senator Specter ended the
exchange by commenting that General Odom is not a private,
not a corporal, not a lieutenant, but a three-star general
who doesn't need to wait for someone to tell him what to do.
He should have someone on his staff find out who the
Commanding Officer was at the time of Mengele's detention; he
should have someone talk to Gorby.
9. Senator D'Amato then took issue with General Odom's
comments, enlightening him on how to conduct an investiga-
tion. Senator Specter added that nothing should take
priority over this investigation. Senator Metzenbaum came on
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to say to General Odom: "Either you are very laid-back or
you are passing the buck. First you told us the Office of
Special Investigations (OSI) is doing something; we will do
something if Department of Justice asks us to; we are in
intelligence, it is someone else's responsibility; we will go
further if my superiors tell us." He continued that he felt
let down that this is the Office of Intelligence of the United
States Army.
10. Senator Metzenbaum then asked if OSI has refused to
send witnesses saying they owed the Subcommittee information.
Senator Specter answered that he felt they should appear,
and--in an unkind remark--said they should ask General Odom
if he knew the whereabouts of OSI. At this point, General
Odom departed the hearing room.
11. Senator Specter then read into the record a letter
from Senator Carl H. Levin (D., MO) who had wanted to appear
and who asked that the letter be read. The letter stated
that Senator Levin had brought up the matter with Director
William J. Casey on January 5, 1985 when he asked if CIA knew
the whereabouts of Dr. Mengele; would CIA help find him; and
asked CIA put on public record what they did know about him
and whether all the information was being used fully.
12. The next two witnesses, Messrs. Mark Berkowitz,
President of "Candles", and Ernest Michel, Executive Vice
President, United Jewish Appeal Federation, both described
their contacts with Dr. Mengele during their incarceration at
Auschwitz. Mr. Berkowitz' testimony especially was heart-
rending in his description of what happened to his mother,
twin sister, and himself during the 1942-1945 period.
13. Following their testimony, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean,
Simon Wiesenthal Center, and also a survivor of Auschwitz,
provided the Subcommittee with a description of efforts by
the Center to locate Josef Mengele. At the conclusion of
Rabbi Hier's testimony, questions and answers were taken, and
then Senator Specter said that OSI is now empowered to look
into the Mengele case--to all parts of the United States
Government--seeking to locate Mengele. (Several persons were
talking at the same time, so I'm not sure who asked the
question and who provided the response.) Question: What
investigating team is going to be in charge of the search?
Answer: "The CIA! Unless the President tells the DCI to
push Josef Mengele way up to the top...(we) need agents in
the field in places where Mengele was reported sighted,
actively pursuing them (the leads)...."
14. Mr. Allan Ryan, formerly with Department of Justice's
Office of Special Investigations, testified next. He did not
read his complete statement, at the request of Senator
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Specter, but gisted the main points (since Senator Specter
referred to the time). Mr. Ryan did defend the fact that OSI
did not appear and said he himself had not appeared before
another Committee hearing when he headed the OSI's Nazi war
criminals investigation. Mr. Ryan responded to questions and
said that he saw no reason why the search was the sole
responsibility of the United States Government--it should
include all of the allied governments after the war, not only
the United States. Senator Specter agreed and said that he
expects to communicate with the foreign governments,
especially Paraguay, following the hearings.
15. Senator Metzenbaum queried whether Mr. Ryan believed
Mengele is still alive, did he believe he would be captured,
especially if he is under cover. Mr. Ryan said he believed
Mengele is alive and hopes efforts will succeed to capture
him, but that he could evade discovery.
16. The hearing adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Liaison Division
Office of Legislative Liaison
Distribution:
.'Original - OLL Record w/att
1 - OLL Chrono w/o att
1 - OGC w/att
1 - DDO/IMS/RO (L. Dube) w att
1 - D/OLL w/o att
- w/o att
LD/OLL: (25 February 1985)
Retyped:gg (6 March 1985)
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VLVUL 1
Central Intelligence Agency 0 L L C D Ina b
X ,e, C 849
n' u4 lx
12 FEB 1985
The Honorable Carl M. Levin
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Levin:
I wanted to get back to you in response to the question
you raised about Josef Mengele at my briefing of the Senate
Armed Services Committee on 5 February.
I expect you know that the Department of Justice has
just ordered a full-scale investigation into the Mengele
case. You can be assured that I appreciate the seriousness
of the issue, and that the Central Intelligence Agency will
cooperate to the full extent possible in the investigation.
Presently we are assisting the Department's Office of
Special Investigations in its review of all existing
government documents concerning Mengele.
Meanwhile, our officers in South America are very much
aware of the deep interest in the. whereabouts of Mengele and
will keep me apprised of any new-developments. Should
anything new come to light here or abroad, I will make
certain that it is placed in the appropriate hands.
Sincerely,
/S/ W96l3iA T1 j. -
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
ALL PORTIONS CLASSIFIED SECRET
SECRET,
OCf
EXEC
REG
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SECRET
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - EXDIR
1 - ER
1 - D/OLL
1 - DD/OLL
1 - 0GC
1 - DO/EPS
1 - OLL Record
1 - OLL Chrono
2 - Liaison Chrono
OLL/LD (8 Feb 85)
SECRET
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ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
Charles A. Briggs
OLL 85-0430
Director, Office of Legislative
DATE
1985
Liaison
8 FEB
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
DATE
building)
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1.
EXDIR
Attached for your signature is
2.
a letter to Sen. Levin in response
to his question about Josef
Mengele at your briefing of the
3
Senate Armed Services Committee
1 1 FE1
3 1985
7
I-1
on 5 February. This letter has
DDCI
V
been coordinated with OGC and
DO/EPS.
4.
DCI
2
I ~
FE
B 198
Charles A
Bri
s
.
gg
6.
D/OLL
12F
B1985
x
~
0l~!
8.
._ _ __
12 FE
1985
9
.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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1-79 EDITIONS
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