CIA'S SECRECY OATH SPARKS SUIT OVER PRIOR CENSORSHIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400260095-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2004
• Sequence Number: 95
• Publication Date: December 23, 1978
• Content Type: NSPR

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Approved For R e se M M3 TAJ-V- Article appeared 23 December 1978
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on page B-8
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Former Agent's Book at Stake
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A s. -necrecy., Oa ar
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w_ n: r. , ASeaoiatad $te~ r r
book were
' No other-details of the
A former''CIA`agent filed suit yes-s. given, but the suit indicates some
ter`daycIaiming the. agency's secrecy,, .portions of it maybe- critical' of the
oath amounts to prior?censorship and agency since. it- will:attempt to assess
violates the 'constiutional, rights. of ? the CIA's failure:-to; understand'
eedom,a?speech~art3p~ess. ' t }1t * Asian communist novements..Y?1 y
` Ralph W; McGehee,. a CIA em ,-The case is taue heard before U .S.
?,
rp /i ee f% ri ?I95~ '*I9' ,claimed 1 j .District Judge June L.-Green.-
=the..U ;; District'Courtsuit,. that,-'the' < :earlier this year,.a federal court m
AIexandria;.;Va4;"fbund.'that another
ClA secrecy :.oa..,-,prevents. him: from 't(ri-ting about--unclassified nforms :,former CIA agent;; Frank W:, Snepp
tzoizbegaihering,dire an agent: ; III, had violated the: CIA secrecy
code.:Snepp..wasardered to- forfeit all.
M The'suit s~c,cGeliee is+rie n profits from his- book, "Decent Inter-i
cormpletfait= of ai book?`ozt' ''~isian ''.val"'and clear-future ? material'
communism, but is afraid' ot'submit with-:the CIA in advance of publica-
tingLxt? for publication: because-"oft,, tson
possible Iegal action, by'the goverrW ne
meat n. 4 t r - pp s conviction has been':ap-
~'';~* ++pealed Figs book deals with the CIA's
;
The CIA ~~ontends that under th activities during the f naltdays before
.
contract ned.. by to agents at fhe h'Amerr#an`e'vacuation of Vietnam ~.
time~of,employment ny.writings by `?~`foiriing .McGehee in suit are~
formen-agents: rripst be reviewed by `Public Affairs-. Press Inc.; = whic
Mih
the:agency:-ii:?,they;contain informs