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The Attorney General to us for filing purposes, @ copy of the May 22, 1961, meno- : vandum is attached hereto for your Anformation. pn WB: , ee Ka You will pote that Solone} ‘Rawards ‘advi od he ‘personally contacted Robert Maheu during tho Fall of 1960 for the purpose of using Maheu as a “cutout” in contacts with Sam Giancana in « connection with CIA's olandestine efforts against Castro, | Colonel Edwards stated that Giancana's activities were completely . “backstoppsd" by Maheu, who would frequently report Giancana‘s actions and information to Edwards. Mo details or methods used by Maheu or Giancana in accomplishing theix missions were reported to hin, according to Edwards, as such involved “dirty business,” of which Colonel Edwards could not afford to have knowledge. Accordingly, he eaid he had no eK ledge of the above-mentioned wire tapping by Balletti. ¥urther with respect to this matter, * was anforned of the following on a highly confidential basis by former Attorney General Kennedy during a conference in my office on May 9, 1962: _ He indicated that a few days prior thereto he had been advised by CZA that Robert A. Maheu had been hired by CIA to approach Gam Giancana with a proposition of paying $150,000 to hire some gunmen to go into Cuba and kill Castro. He further stated CIA admitted having assisted Maheu in making the "bugging" installation in Las Yogas (referred to above) which uncovered this clandestine operation and for this reason CIA could not afford to have any action taken against Giancanaz or Mahkeu. Mr. Kennedy stated that upon learning CIA had not cleared its action in hiring Mahou and Giancana with the Department of Justice he issued orders that CIA should never again take such steps without first checking with the Departsent of Justice. Mr. Kennedy further advised that because of this matter it would be very difficult to initiate any prosecution against Gianoans,, as Giancana sould immediately bring out the fact the United States Government had approached him to arrange for the assassination of ren hea @e stated the sane was true concerning any action we might take mgaingt Maheu for any violation in which On duno 20, 1063, Mr. Willian Harvey, an ‘official of CIA, advised that be had held a meeting with John Roselli (referred to above as Mahcu's link with Giancana) for the purpose of closing out the entire mattor vith whioh Roselli had been ' Anvolved. Yn this connection, Harvey stated that CHA had ~