CARTER FAVORS MINIMIZING PENALTIES FOR LEAKING DATA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100080039-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: March 10, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/04/17: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100080039-4
ARTICLC: APPf;,-REQ THE BALT1P10RE SUN
ONFAGF- `7 10 March 1977
Washingtnri=President' Carter said,
??? ~~_~,+~_ laces Erie --most difficult conflict between '
the, use of'any'criminai penalties" for dis openness and frankness and the man-
closure of classified information and tore datory requirements for confidentiality in*.
ly instead on limiting the number of peo.. `.:the collection of crucial intelligence infor-
mation." who have access to it: oration."
Mr. Carter' made the comment at a-na He pledged to do his utmost to assure
tionally. televised news conference several "'that every action of the intelligence com-
hours before?he was driven to the tightly' munity in the future will be legal and pro-
guarded headquarters of the Central Intel-. per," and said that,. when mistakes are
ligence A
enc
in
b
L
'
g
y
near
y
angley, Va., for.
: made, "I want to know about it immedi-.
the swearing-in of its new director, Adm ' ately."
Stansfield'Tiirrier.: "Concealment 'of. mistakes and subse
Admiral^Turner,, a classmate of Mr... ; quent revealment will be a devastatingly
Carter at the U.S. Naval Academy in An serious blow" to the nation's. intelligence
napolis, had said during his Senate confir operations, he added.:.,
oration hearings he would "certainly be The President said his [Admiral
very. amenable to developing criminal -
T
'
r
...
urner
s) own integ
ity is the surest guar-
legislation to halt security leaks. -< ' antee that no future abuses will embar-
However,, at a breakfast meeting with rass us," and said that the admiral, who
reporters ~esterday, he moved to bring his wore civilian clothes at the ceremony,.:.
own' positaon?into . line with-that of the "will. be my closest possible associate in
,President, by_.* declaring- "we really .don't:: the future." . , -
k n o w - w h a t kind of law to use' in guar f s ' '
a The ceremony. was attended by three.
anteeingsecrecY. ; .:t::::','
past CIA directors, George Bush, James
""The objctive"is simply to give us an R. Schlesinger and Richard M. Helms. Mr-'
atmosphere in which we can hold secret Helms is the subject of a grand jury inves-
-what is secret;!. he said ?'tigation looking into whether he lied to a
Mr. far ter, has spoken -out- several -= ?' congressional committee about the CIA's
;times against the dangers. of release' of role in the overthrow of the government of
classified&material and has urged a sharp-'-]'- Chile.,
reduction in the number of U.S.'officials ` .' ion
... Mr. Carter was questioned at the' news:-
and congressmen who have access to it conference on whether, he'has been asked
My own.hope, he -told his-news con-
for some classified CIA documents that
ference, "wppld be that we could prevent reportedly bear on the case.
the disclosuEe? of intelligence or informa= Robert J .-Lipshutz, _the White"House
ton that might be damaging to- odr nation- counsel said last week the matter is be=
al security,rather than trying to control"', fore his office. However, Mr.: Carter said .
that problerp y the imposition of legal or :-the case "has not come to.my attention , ei--
iminaFpenalties, j ,a ther officially or even, indirectly.
%
::'?" At Central. Intelligence Agency head He said that ? the Justice Department
.;.quarters, yhere he- spokei to several will have "the exclusive right" to decide
hundred employees after Admiral Turner.,.:." whether to proceed. with any case against
was sworn-in. by Supreme"Court Justice Mr. Helms, 'and' that the release of any
Byron RJ(tite,: the President once more - _ , documents that affect national 'security
warned against concealrnentof mistake
? "
s.
wit! be my own judgment,.in this or other,
.
He,said..tihat the CIA, though."perhaps , ,,cases."
Washington Bureau of The Sun