THE CIA AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY HAVE WARNED REPORTERS NOT TO SPECULATE ON WHAT SECRETS WERE COMPROMISED BY ACCUSED SOVIET SPY RONALD PELTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660018-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: May 29, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660018-4
STAT
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
29 May 1986
WASHINGTON (UPI) The CIA and the National Security Agency have
warned reporters not to speculate on what secrets were compromised by
accused Soviet spy Ronald Pelton or go beyond details released by the
prosecution at his current espionage trial.<
11 Those reporting on the trial should be cautioned against
speculation and reporting details beyond the information actually released
at trial,'' the unusual statement said. ''Such speculations and additional
facts are not authorized disclosures and may cause substantial harm to the
national security. ''<
Qc The statement released Wednesday signed by CIA Director William
Casey and NSA head Gen. William Odom did not say what, if any, action might
be taken against journalists who violate the notice. But both intelligence
chiefs have already warned that the government is considering prosecuting
news organizations that violate a 1950 law on unauthorized disclosures
concerning intelligence communications.<
white House spokesman Edward Djerejian said the Casey-Odom
statement was approved Wednesday by national security adviser John
Poindexter, and Djerejian added: ' We are in full agreement with the thrust
of that statement. ''<
The Washington Post Thursday quoted Benjamin Bradlee, its executive
-editor, in commenting on the CIA-NSA statement, as saying the newspaper
will continue ''balancing the national security and the national interest''
in its reporting.<
But,'' Bradlee added, ''how the press covers this trial is a
matter for the press to decide, not the government.''<
The Casey-Odom statement said the decision to reveal state secrets
at Pelton's trial in Baltimore was made after considering the demands of
trial and the potential harm that release of this selected data may cause
the national security.''<
Casey already has asked the Justice Department to consider
prosecuting NBC News under the 1950 law and has warned several other major
news organizations against publishing classified information.<
News reports have revealed that Pelton, a former NSA employee,
discussed with the Soviets an intelligence plan called ''Ivy Bells, '' which
NBC and others have said is part of a $1 billion submarine reconnaissance
operation involving Soviet harbors and other installations.<
So far, the government has discussed in open court a previously
undisclosed U.S. capability to intercept ''command and control''
communications from the highest level in the Soviet Union.''<
The government has said it debated whether to prosecute Pelton for
fear of revealing intelligence secrets but decided to go ahead because of
the recent flurry of spy cases.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660018-4