U.S. ATTORNEY IN SAN DIEGO IS DISMISSED BY REAGAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404520021-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: April 6, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404520021-5
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NEW YORK TIMES
6 APRIL 1932
U.S. Attorney in San Diego Is Dismissed by Reagan
By EDWARD T. POUND
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WASHINGTON, April 5 - President
Reagan today dismissed William H.
Kennedy, the United States Attorney in
San Diego, for publicly confirming the
Identity of a key American Intelligence
source who is the subject of a Federal
grand jury iar tigatlo n.
Mr. Key's dismissal was an-
nounced tonight by a Justice Depart.
ment spokesman.
The President acted after Mr. Ken-
nedy, who is Si years old, refused to step
down despite requests from the Justice
Department Last week, Attorney Gen.
eral William French Smith recom.
mended that Mr. Reagan dismiss Mr.
Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy, who began his term in
office last fail, serves, like all United
States Attorneys, at the pleasure of the
President.
Mr. Kennedy angeredhis superiors in
the Justice Department when he told
The San Diego Union last month that
the Central Intelligence Agency had
played a role In blocking prosecution of
the intelligence source, Miguel Nasser
Haro, In a major criminal case. Mr.
Nasser is the former chief of Mexico's
national police, the Directorate of Fed-
eralsecurity.
The Union quoted Mr. Kennedy as
saying that since November, the Jus.
tice Department had been withholding
approval to indict Mr. Nassar In an $8
million case Involving automobile theft
because the Intelligence agency had ad-
v1sed Its the department that Mr. Nasser
was important source In Mex-
Ico and Central America."
Tonight, Arthur P. Brill, deputy
spokesman for the Attorney General,
issued a statement that said that Mr.
Kennedy had been advised by E. Pen-
dleton James, director of White House.
peracernel, that be bad been dismissed.
The Justice Department statement
said that Mr. Kennedy was being re-
moved because he had "made improper
comments about a pending criminal
case."
In a written statement tonight, Mr.
Kernmedysaid: "A statement attributed"
to me in The San Diego Union article,
dated March 23, 1982, was an acctrate
confirmation. There 1 nothing more to
add or apologize for." Mr. Kennedy said
that be made a decision not to resign but
rras informed today by Mr. James and
Associate Attorney General Rudolph W.
Giuliani that "the President has signed
mr diamlasal papers."
He said the order was effective at 5
P.M. today and "I will comply with the
President's orders."
CommentsMgb)y PrejvdiciaP
The statement said, moreover, that
Mr. Kennedy's press comments "were
highly prejudicial to the interests of the
United States."
Mr. district any, who was an assistant
before becoming Diego F deerraall
prosecutor In the area, was appointed
United States Attorney last Nov. 7 by i
the Federal District Court in San Diego I
to fill a vacancy.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404520021-5