◆ SpookStack

high-level interference could have “spilled the beans," but naturally each would realize that attention would be immediately focused upon hin - and each would undergo microscopic scrutiny. Further, if either leaked Abscam, he would have chosen one reporter and been that reporter's today's "Deep Throat," but that is not how the Abscam leak occurred. Thus, both Mr. Welch and Mr. Puccio are eliminated. My next thought was who else was on the distribution list for this closely held data. Suddenly, I realized that the White House had to know. It would be unthinkable for Mr. Civiletti not to inform President Carter since so many distinguished Members of Capitol Hill were involved, particularly seven Democrats. The Nature of the Leak Let's examine the nature of the leak. Normally, the type of dis- closure with which I was associated was that of someone in Government providing Columnist Jack Anderson, George Wilson of The Washington Post, Neil Sheehan or William Beecher, then of The New York Times, or some other well-known reporter classified data. This was always a “one-on-one” situation. The reporter wouldn't tell and, if the leaker kept quiet, he could only be convicted on circumstantial evidence at best. The Abscam leak could better be described as an "explosion." Although Tony Marro of Newsday gets credit for being first in print on February 3rd, he was being raced to the wire by The Washington Post and The New York Times. Yet, at 6:30 P.M. on February 2nd, NBC News released sketchy details of the Abscam case and on February 3rd was already enroute to set up its television cameras on the FBI Abscam House in Washington, DC. The Abscam “explosion” is reminiscent to me of the Nixon White House days when that administration was trying to get SALT I approved and released ‘shotgun" leaks to promote the cause to a half dozen news | reporters. The Abscam "explosién" was too well orchestrated to have been done by any one person not having free access to many media repre- sentatives. Yes, the White House Press Secretary would have the capability of orchestrating such a leak. It, of course, is not beyond the mentality of Press Secretary Jody Powell. After all, he once tried to embarrass Senator Percy by inadvertently leaking "on the record" to a reporter who identified him as the source. Mr. Powell's purpose allegedly was to disrupt the Bert Lance inquiry being conducted then. Do I think Jody Powell leaked the Abscam to the media? My answer is “yes."" Was it his idea? My answer is "No." I've heard the White House has denied any involvement. We must remember Mr. Civiletti is the Attorney General because the White House nominated him; therefore, it would be unthinkable to me to believe that when seven Democrats are caught in a criminal-type trap that Mr. Civiletti or au aide would not advise the President - particularly in an election year.