LEVI CALLS COINTELPRO 'FOOLISH'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-01208R000100250013-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: May 10, 1975
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100250013-2
Levi C Ild
tpro
Cobael
~~' O~ll5~19
By Lawrence Meyer
Waiblnbton Post staff writer
Attorney General Edward
H. Levi said yesterday that
the counterintelligence pro-
gram the FBI operated from
1956 to 1971 was "foolish" anal
"outrageous."
Levi, holding his second
press conference since bacom-
ing Attorney General Feb. 7,
gave his first public character-
ization of the FBI's "Cointel-
pro" effort to harass and dis-
rupt left-and right-wing groups.
Levi's comments followed
the release by the Justice De-
partment last Friday of infor-
mation about five Cointeipro
programs, including one code-.
named "Operation Hoodwin","
in which FBI agents sent
anonymous letters to organ-
ized crime figures and Com-
munist Party officials in an at-
tempt to put them "in compe-
tition" with each other:
Directing his comments to
all 12 Cointelpro pr)grams
that have been made public,
including seven disclosed last
November. Levi said, "I think
all of them were foolish and
some were outrageous."
Later in the press confer-
ence, Levi said. "I think the;
were foolish because I think _
the sending of anonymous let-
ters, false letters, trying to get
the organized crime people an-
gry at the Communists doesn't
work very well, and therefore
it's foolish.
"I think it's outrageous be-
cause I think there's enough
'dishonesty and lack of candor
and incivility in our society as
it is and I don't think a gov-
ernment agency should add to
that."
Levi added that his relation-
ship with the FBI now is
"quite close" and one of
"confidence."
WASHINGTON POST
STAT.
Although he said he is "not issue a statement on the num-
completely satisfied" with the ber of warrantles's electronic
Dru
E
f
t
d
g
n
orcemen
A
minis.
tration, Levi denied rumors
that he..plans .to.abglish the
agency or move it out of the
Justice Department.
10 Pr1AY 1975'
surveillances being conducted
by government agencies.
Levi said that he had an un? '
derstanding with Central In-?.
He indicated, however, that f telligence Agency Director
he was reviewing the position William E. Colby that when
of John Bartels, the current the . CIA conducts an elec-
DEA director. Ironic surveillance of an
"I think it has to be realized! American abroad, it will not
that a new Attorney General, from rdone without authG neral.
from the Attorney General.
even though, he's been in of- Levi declined to say how fre-
five four months, and a newer I quently such surveillances are
deputy- attorney general quite
naturally are reviewing thel
positions of persons such as!
11Irr Bartels," Levi said.
Levi already has ordered an
Investigation of DEA, which j
has been in turmoil since its
creation two years ago, to re-
conducted, although in one re-
sponse he indicated the num-
ber is "miniscule."
The Attorney General indi-
cated he may cut back the op-
erations of some of the Justice
Department's 17 strike forces
-interagency teams of attor-
view the operation' of that neys and investigators that at-
agency. Bartels has been the tack organized crime in vari?
center of controversy for se- ous sections of the country.
eral months, facing opposition Strike forces, in my judg-
from from Conboth within eth and ment,work very well in some
gress, where the See areas. and not as well in oth-
ate Permanent Subcommittee ers." he said. "We should try
on Investigations has been) to find those areas where they
conducting an inquiry into do work well and others;
charges of DEA mismanage where they don't."
ment.
On another subject, Levi!
said he hopes "very soon" to
i Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100250013-2