NBC NEWS CASE IN 'INACTIVE' FILE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100120042-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: July 23, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/03: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100120042-2
LEAPPEjRED
ONPAaE4L9.
WASHINGTON POST
23 July 1986
ililking Points
NBC News Case
In `Inactive' File
Justice Department investi-
gations generally remain in "ac-
tive" status until charges are
brought or a case is officially
closed. But sources say a polit-
ical hot potato handed over by
CIA Director William J. Casey
appears to have been buried
deep in, an "inactive" file drawer
at Justice, where the case re-
mains open but in bureaucratic
limbo.
The matter, referred by
Casey for possible prosecution
two months ago; involves an
NBC News story on the trial of
convicted spy Ronald W. Pelton.
The report by correspondent
James Polk, aired on the "To-
day" show, reprised a report by
Polk last November that Pelton
apparently gave away one of the
National Security Agency's
most sensitive secrets, "be-
lieved to be a top-secret eaves-
dropping program by American
submarines inside Soviet har-
bors."
Casey said the report may
have violated a law against pub-
lishing classified information
about U.S. intelligence activi-
ties. Casey's referral came two
weeks after he suggested that
The Washington Post, The New
York Times, The Washington
Times, Time and Newsweek
might be prosecuted under the
espionage law for publishing
sensitive information.
But there is little enthusiasm
at the Justice Department for
seeking charges against NBC.
One official said the strategy is
to "let it lie for awhile ...
We're going to stall as long as
possible." The department does
not want to formally drop the
case now, sources said, to avoid
angering Casey and generating
more publicity on the dispute.
The department's official re-
sponse: No comment.
WILLIAM J. CASEY
... referred NBC case to Justice
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/03: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100120042-2