◆ SpookStack

we ha ed, and of course we share in CIA’s request to this extent, that there be a criminal penalty attached to misuse of information and leaking it or making it available outside of an egency. This is another issue before Congress. . Senator Hupp.eston. There is slao an instance that the committee has evidence of, where the Bureau at least proposed taking informa- tion gained from the Internal Revenue Service and drafting a letter, a fraudulent letter, over a forged signature of a civil rights leader, mailing it to the contributors of that organization indicating that there was some tax problem and hoping to discourage further contribu- tions. Did this in fact happen, to your knowledge! Mr. Apass. I am not familiar with that case. I can easily say it would not be proper. Senator HuppiesTon. But you don’t know whether it happened or whether the act was carried out ! Mr. Apama. I do not know. a Senator Huppreston. Mr. Adams, getting on to another subject, one of the techniques used very frequently by the Bureau in its attempt to discredit individuals was to utilize the press. It was cus- tomary to send anonymous letters on many occasions to editors, broad- casterz, commentators, and columnists around the country containing information, or suggesting information, about an individual that the Bureau wanted to discredit in some way. There is also some evidence that the Burean utilized within the press itself, on a regular contact basis, certain columnists or broadcasters for the purpose of disseminat- ing information that the FBI wanted to get out about individuals. How extensively was this utilized? Mr. Apams. I don’t believe it was very extensive. In fact, I think there were probably very few incidents where untrue information was put out, That is my recollection. On disseminating public source information there were a number of instances of that which is still proper to date under our guidelines. I just don’t know of many in- stances where untrue information was used, and I do not know of too many instances overall where that was done. Senator Huppteston. Do you know of any instances—how many actual! journalists or practitioners were regular disseminators of FB information ! Mr. Apams. I don't know of any today that are, in that regard. I know there have been situations where it happened and peopie still do. They come to us and say, we would like to do an article on orga- nized crime. Can you be of assistance? And if we can be of assistance within the guidelines established by the Attorney General, we do assist. We have a pull and a tug over privacy acta and freedom of information and also the need to know, but we try to satisfy. Senator Huppteston. Do you know of any at the present time or in the who have been pai by the FBI for their services? Mr. Apans. Not personally. I don’t know of any. Senator Hrpoteston. Not personally? Do you know of any evidence that indicates that! Mr. Avams. That’s what I mean. I don’t have any evidence that indicates that. at. ~~ 8 L ile improper! , and I think that agent was separated from the rolls. But as | tte Cie od ti a et eke Le ee aie bet ened Po Loe, et Pee i Oe tee ee toe Tee, 2. oer eer Se ih eT a ic i ti act ko Soe, De rca Se ke Oe Doe