</s>104-1030-10088 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 APR 15 '97 04:55PM USGSOVERNMENT SECRET P.2/14 Central Intelligence Agency Washington, DC 2000s 15 April 1997 MEMORANDUM FOR: David G. Marwell David G. Marvell Executive Director Assassination Records Review Board SUBJECT: CIA Employees SUBJECT: (We request that this memorandum be returned to CIA once the Review Board has completed its deliberations on the issues discussed below.) 1. (U) 1. [U) Issues. The purpose of this memo is to relate CIA's concerns to the Review board regarding the release of the true names of CIA employees that appear in this JFK Collection and to present a proposal on how this problem might be addressed. I. Actual Background 2. (W) To date, approximately 600 true names Of CIA employees have been identified in the JFK Collection, some of these employees identified in this JFK story, and CIA will continue to work with the Review Boards to release as many of these names as possible. Many names, however, as appear on these names are possible. appear to add nothing to the historic JFK Collection and 3. (C) Under guidelines adopted by the ReviewBoard on or about 20 March 1996, all names of CIA employees are presumably released unless any CIA provides specific evidence to the Review Band that harm to the national security or to the agency that has been been involved in the investigation or these guidelines were adopted, it has become increasingly clear that the number of names of issue, and, in most cases, their tenure connection to the JFK story. make this approach unworkable with regard to both CIA's obligation to CL BY: CL REASON: 2224130 1.5(C) CL REASON: X1 DECL ON: DRV FROM: 1. 5(C). DRV FROM: HUM 4-82 SECRET

Summary  
This document contains a memorandum from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to the Assassination Records Review Board regarding the release of CIA employee names associated with the JFK assassination investigation. The memo outlines CIA's concerns about disclosing true names of employees in the JFK Collection, citing national security risks and operational sensitivities. It references legal frameworks such as the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA), the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, and Executive Order 125958 to justify withholding names. The CIA proposes using substitutions for employee identities rather than releasing true names, emphasizing that most individuals in the Collection had minimal involvement in the JFK story. A letter from Thomas J. Flores, a retired CIA officer, is included, expressing opposition to his name's release due to personal safety risks in Venezuela and potential threats to U.S.-Venezuela relations. The letter also mentions his role as Chief of Station (COS) in Bolivia during the assassination and concerns about compromising operational methods if his identity were disclosed.  

Key People  
- **Thomas J. Flores**: Retired CIA officer, former Chief of Station (COS) in Venezuela and Bolivia; opposes release of his name due to safety risks.  
- **Michael J. O'Neill**: Acting General Counsel for the CIA, involved in discussions with the Review Board.  
- **David G. Marwell/Marvell**: Executive Director of the Assassination Records Review Board.  

Key Locations  
- **Venezuela** (Caracas): Flores resides here; concerns about Communist and radical groups.  
- **Bolivia**: Flores served as COS during the JFK assassination.  
- **Cuba, Colombia, FARC/ELN**: Mentioned in context of regional security threats.  

Key Events  
- **Release of CIA employee names** from the JFK Collection: CIA seeks to limit disclosure due to national security and operational risks.  
- **Legal debates over declassification**: References to CIPA, Intelligence Identities Protection Act, and Executive Order 125958.  
- **Flores' opposition to name release**: Letter highlights personal safety concerns and potential diplomatic repercussions.  
- **Operational cover risks**: Discussion of how exposing CIA identities could compromise current and historical operations.  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Central to the discussion on protecting employee identities.  
- **Assassination Records Review Board**: Oversight body reviewing declassification requests.  
- **Department of State**: Mentioned in context of cover operations and diplomatic relations.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10330-10083.pdf

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