◆ SpookStack

. (en i ee i what can this committee do to insure that there is some kind of 2 test, that we either put in the inw or that the FBI applies, that pre- vents the White House from using police power in this way? Mr. Apams. I don’t think Congress can ever fill the responsibility of trying to draw up guidelines, even in conjunction with the executive branch, to guarantee that all abuses won't take place. The organization is made up of human beings, and these things occur. Certain corrective actions are self-initiated, such as this. The President, for instance, you know we had an incident a few years ago about investigating * news- man, where we were requested, and if I recall from our information, we thought he was being considered for an appointed position which would have been a logical basis. As facts turned out, that was not the purpose that the information was requested. To stem or stop abuses ike that, the President, the current administration, has issued instruc- tions that any requests for investigations under the specia] inquiry or White House investigation such as for appointment must clear through the office of his counsel, in other words, not let the lower line people come over and say we need this information or we need this Tequeet. They come through the office of Phil Buchen through an employee that is assigned to that office with responsibility. ow, we do still make certain name check requests for the White House, and those, too, have to clear through his office. So we do have that. Then we have the responsibility, if we get something which on its face appears political or improper, then our responsibility under that would be to go to the Attorney General and ask him to intercede by finding out is this a proper request on the Bureau. And I can assure u, that as Mr. Kelley has testified and has made it perfectly clear. © has not had any such improper requests and he would go right to the Attorney General if it was necessary. Otherwise he would reject 6 request, Senator Scrwerser. What steps are you taking td make sure that we catch some of these things in the present that maybe we either over- looked or did not catch or somehow got sidetracked in the past? Mr, Avama, We have been working with the Attorney General and his staff. It started even when Attorney General Saxbe was there, to look at all of our procedures, all of our investigative operations. Are they proper! Do they fit criteria? Do we have 4 legal basis for them? And we have guidelines, committees which have been established in the Department, that meet every day on questions of the overwhelming problem of collection and maintenance of information. What do we get? Why do we get it? What should we do with it? I feel there is a very active program going on in that regard, and I feel certain that it will continue to make sure that we are aware of everything and take appropriate action. Senator Scuwernen. [ wonder if you might share some of these with the staff so that we may have the advantage of taking « look at those, too. - Mr. Apams. I would have to secure the approval of the Attorney General on the guidelines. He did tell the House committee whic originally rnised the question on maintenance of information. that once we get something and they are nearing completion in the De- partment, that he does intend to take it up with Congress. So I am sure there would be no problem at that point in bringing it to this committee as well.