</s>104-1031-10011-1 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 SP.28.1989 3:23PM A NO.279 P.2 SECRET The Special Investigations Group of the CI Staff (CI/SIG) CI/SIG (the Special Investigation Group) did not exist prior to the establishment of the Ci Staff in early 1955. Its major functions as described in CSI No. 70-1 of March 1955 are much more modest than the functions described to it in a write-up by the Staff in Early 1973. The 1955 description of its functions is as follows: "Special Investigation Unit "Major Functions: "Performs the CI investigation and analysis of any "Performs the CIA security leak in the Glandestine Services organization, whether in headquarters in (Ci) and the CIA) are responsible for the investigation of existing operations and (2) the cover of personnel. in performing this function whether the CIA maintains the close working in the following operation, the CIA has been working primarily concerned and (3) the case from being in rather than an operational security stand- point. By 1979 the description of tasks which had been assigned to CI/SIg or which they had absorbed during the course of events over a period of nearly two decades provides a much broader range of functions and responsibilities. They are listed as follows: "CI/Special Investigations Group Conducts research into the long-range validity of CIA operations in terms of known or potential hostile capabilities, including penetration, and of Agency security. 1/2. Carries out coordination with the Office of Security in such: Maintains and uses sensitive counterintelligence holding, including certain Commit and defector materials, to match these against operational and personality data and the security elements and other departments and agencies of coordinates and cooperates with counterintelligence and security elements of other departmentsand agencies of the security department, and other departmentals and action against the public relations, public affairs abroad for the recruitment against American officials (American targets Program) SECRET 144

The document outlines CIA Counterintelligence Staff (CI Staff) operations during the 1950s–1970s, emphasizing their evolving roles in counterintelligence, operational security, and intelligence gathering. It details the "mail-opening program," which intercepted and analyzed correspondence between the USSR and U.S. citizens, with operations based in New York City and Panama City. The CI Staff’s structure faced criticism in a 1959 survey, prompting reorganization under director William E. Kalaris to enhance efficiency and security. HONETOL cases, secret investigations into CIA employees suspected of Soviet infiltration, are referenced, alongside the handling of sensitive materials, including files on JFK’s assassination. Autopsy photographs of Robert F. Kennedy were discovered in CI Staff files but later destroyed. A 1975 memorandum describes challenges in retrieving intercepted mail from a U.S. citizen in the Canal Zone, highlighting coordination with federal agencies like the FBI and Postal Service. The text also notes internal restructuring efforts, including reviews of classified materials and the consolidation or destruction of redundant records such as Golitsyn file material.  

Key People  
- John F. Kennedy (President of the United States)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (Brother of JFK; subject of assassination-related files)  
- James Jesus Angleton (CIA counterintelligence chief, associated with HONETOL cases)  
- William E. Kalaris (CI Staff director who oversaw restructuring efforts)  
- Richard A. McCoy (Staff member with access to sensitive files)  
- Golitsyn (Alleged Soviet spy; referenced in HONETOL investigations)  
- Lyman Kirkpatrick (Inspector General of the CIA, noted concerns about CI Staff operations)  
- Julian Fox (CIA lawyer who reviewed HONETOL files)  
- Richard Kovich (CIA staff officer affected by HONETOL review)  
- Goltayn, Nosenko, Deryabin (defectors associated with the Angleton Staff)  
- Peter Deryabin (retired KGB defector linked to CI Staff)  

Key Locations  
- New York City (Operations hub for mail interception and staff activities)  
- Panama City (Linked to intercepted correspondence from the USSR)  
- Canal Zone (Site of intercepted mail delivery)  
- CIA headquarters (Location of sensitive files and vaults)  
- Arlington Staff vaults (Storage for sensitive records)  
- Vienna (Location of Goltayn's defection in 1954)  

Key Events  
- Establishment and evolution of the CI Staff’s functions (1955–1970s)  
- Mail interception program targeting Soviet communications with U.S. citizens  
- HONETOL investigations into CIA employees suspected of Soviet ties  
- Discovery and destruction of JFK assassination-related files, including Robert Kennedy autopsy photos  
- 1975 handling of intercepted mail from the USSR, involving coordination with the Postal Service  
- Internal restructuring of CI Staff under Kalaris, including review of classified materials  
- Review and destruction of HONETOL files (1975–1976)  
- Consolidation of Golitsyn file material (March–September 1976)  
- Establishment of guidelines for counterintelligence record retention  
- Retirement of Peter Deryabin (January 1981)  
- FOIA requests related to Lee Harvey Oswald and the Rosenberg case  

Key Organizations  
- CIA Counterintelligence Staff (CI Staff)  
- Office of Security (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Rockefeller Commission (1975)  
- Church Committee (Investigated CIA activities)  
- National Security Agency (NSA)  
- U.S. Postal Service  
- CIA Directorate of Operations (DO)  
- Double Agent Branch  
- Area Operations Branch  
- Counteroperation Branch  
- Federal court review of Rosenberg case (linked to VENONA project)

JFK Declassified Files

104-10301-10011.pdf

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