LETTER TO LEE H. HAMILTON FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01116R000300300018-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 28, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS
ARE ATTACHED:
(Please do not remove)
SUJBECT:
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T
STA
STAT
(JUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Hamilton Letter on Allegations of CIA Harassa ent'of U.S. church
and legal aid groups.
FROM: EXTENSION NO.
David D. Gries OCA/86-0553
Director, Office of Tonal DATE
Affairs
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
buildin
)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
g
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after eoch comment.)
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
DDO
To 5 and 7:
2.
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Per our recent discussion, I
3.
have prepared the attached
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response to Hamilton along
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the lines you suggested.
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David rtes
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79M A I U EDITIONSV~ GPO : 1983 0 -
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Central Intelligence Agency
'""q
28 FEB
OCA/86-0553
The Honorable Lee H. Hamilton
Chairman
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 2C515
Dear Nr. Chairman:
I have your letter of 7 February 1926, that seeks my response
"in writing" to concerns expressed to you by some unidentified
individuals that the Central Intelligence Agency may be involved
in harassment of certain U.S. church and legal aid groups
assisting Central American immigrants.
Frankly, Mr. Chairman, I am deeply disappointed and
personally offended at being asked to dignify such patently
spurious concerns with a written response. As your letter
acknowledges, Agency officials have repeatedly and categorically
assured your staff that we have not done, and would never do,
any such thing. I am mystified and saddened that these
assurances were apparently not enough for you, particularly when
taken together with your own close familiarity over the years
with our people and our activities.
In any event, since it is evidently the only way that you
feel this matter can be put finally to rest, let me state as
clearly and explicitly as I can that this Agency has not engaced
in the kinds of activities you have outlined, nor would we
support or condone in any way, shape or form any activities that
violate the constitutional or other legal protections afforded
any United States citizens and organizations.
Sincerely,
William.: J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
ROUTING SLIP
ACT 16N
INFO
DATE
INITIAL
1
DcI
X
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DDCI
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EXDIR
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D/ICS
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DDI
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DDS&T
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D/PERS
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SUSPENSE 12 Feb 86
Date
To #13: Please prepare appropriate response.
Executive Secretory
10 Feb 86
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. ..n u+uu.nn. v-,..... Room H-405. U.S. CAPITOL
LOUIS STOKES. OHIO 1202) 226-4121
DAVE MCCURDY, OKLAHOMA
ANTHONY C. BEILENSON, CALIFORNIA
ROBERT W. KASTENMEIIER. WISCONSIN
DAN DANIEL. , VIRGINIA U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ROBERT A. ROE. NEW JERSEY
GEORGE E. BROWN. JR., CALIFORNIA PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE
MATTHEW F. MCHUGH, NEW YORK
BERNARD J. DWYER. NEW JERSEY ON INTELLIGENCE Executive Rc:gis'ry
BOB STUMP. ARIZONA
ANDY IRELAND. FLORIDA
HENRY J. HYDE. ILLINOIS
DICK CHENEY. WYOMING
BOB LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA
BOB McEWEN, OHIO
THOMAS K. LATIMER. STAFF DIRECTOR
MICHAEL J. O'NEIL CHIEF COUNSEL
STEVEN K. BERRY. ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 G
86" 0533X
February 7, 1986
Honorable William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
Recent newspaper articles have carried stories about churches and legal
aid groups which are assisting Central American immigrants being the targets
of break-ins.
A number of people have contacted me about the possibility that the CIA is
engaged in harassing those church groups.
The staff of the Committee has been assured by the CIA's Office of
Congressional Affairs that such concerns are totally unfounded.
I would appreciate receiving in writing your response to such concerns.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
With best wishes, I am
Lee H. Hamilton
Chairman
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