</s>File #: 602-11/2395 Serial Scope: 151 THRELL 163 164 THREll 188 Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 190 THREUL 208 392 (44 USC 217) Note, Case#NW 2/26 Date: 2025 210 THREEL 219 280, 221 3/30 NR 821 THREELL 230 NW 88296 Docdl: 32989588 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail internal government communications and meetings related to congressional inquiries into intelligence activities, particularly focusing on FBI operations during the 1960s-1970s. Topics include responses to requests from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSC), House Judiciary Committee, and other entities regarding FBI jurisdiction, COINTELPRO programs, and surveillance of civil rights figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Stanley Levison. A retired FBI special agent, Alan G. Sentinella, is interviewed about surveillance activities in Atlanta involving the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), King’s residence, and electronic monitoring. The documents also reference coordination between federal agencies (CIA, NSA, FBI) on intelligence sharing, legal procedures for congressional inquiries, and the status of investigative reports. A 1975 memorandum outlines security clearances for Senate Select Committee staff, including social security numbers (SSNs), which are noted but not included in the summary. Additional content includes a request by the CIA for FBI photographs of individuals arrested in Dallas on November 22, 1963, related to the JFK assassination investigation.  

Key People  
- Alan G. Sentinella: Retired FBI Special Agent interviewed by SSC regarding surveillance activities.  
- K. William O'Connor (Deputy Attorney General): Authorized disclosure of COINTRO report and coordinated with FBI on legal matters.  
- Lester B. Siedel: SSC representative conducting interviews with FBI agents.  
- Stanley Levison: Subject of FBI investigation; associated with SCLC and King.  
- J. Edgar Hoover: Former FBI Director, referenced in documents about document removal from his residence.  
- Clyde Folsen: Deceased former Associate Director of FBI, whose death prompted removal of documents from Hoover’s home.  
- Morton Halperin: Requested FOIA access to 1948 CIA-FBI memorandum on cooperation.  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C.: FBI headquarters, Senate Select Committee offices, and legal counsel coordination.  
- Atlanta, GA: Site of FBI surveillance activities involving SCLC and Martin Luther King Jr.  
- Dallas, Texas: Site of JFK assassination and arrests of Howard Hunt, Frank Sturgis, and Thomas Arthur Valley.  
- Quantico, Virginia: Meeting location between FBI officials and committee members.  

Key Events  
- FBI surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta (1964), including electronic monitoring.  
- Coordination between CIA and FBI to obtain photographs of individuals arrested in Dallas on November 22, 1963.  
- Removal of documents from J. Edgar Hoover’s residence following the death of Clyde Folsen.  
- Senate Select Committee requests for information on FBI legal authorities, COINTELPRO operations, and interagency cooperation.  
- Security clearance verification for SSC staff, including social security numbers (SSNs).  
- FOIA request by Morton Halperin for a 1948 CIA-FBI memorandum on cooperation and liaison between agencies.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted surveillance operations, managed internal communications, and coordinated with congressional committees.  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Requested FBI photographs related to JFK assassination investigation and provided classified documents to Senate Select Committee.  
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities: Investigated FBI operations, requested legal authorities and procedural information, and verified staff clearances.  
- Department of Justice: Oversaw legal counsel coordination and handled requests for information on FBI jurisdiction.  
- National Security Council: Mentioned in context of interagency coordination between CIA and FBI.

Summary  
The documents detail internal FBI communications and legal inquiries related to intelligence operations, document handling, and congressional investigations during the 1970s. Key topics include allegations that FBI agents removed files from J. Edgar Hoover’s and Clyde Tolson’s residences following Tolson’s death in 1975, with requests by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities (SSC) to investigate these actions, their legal justification, and the nature of the materials involved. The FBI was directed to review its records, report findings on document removals, and ensure compliance with confidentiality directives under Attorney General Edward H. Levi’s oversight. Additionally, there are references to historical FBI records requested by congressional committees, including superseded sections from the FBI Manual of Instructions related to espionage, sabotage, and domestic intelligence operations. The FBI also coordinated responses to legislative inquiries, such as those regarding H.R. 214 (electronic surveillance legislation), while managing legal constraints on former agents sharing information with Congress.  

Key People  
- **Frank Church**: Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities, initiated inquiries into FBI file handling practices.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: Former FBI Director, whose residence was allegedly linked to document removals post-Tolson’s death.  
- **Clyde Tolson**: Late FBI Associate Director, deceased at the time of the allegations.  
- **Edward H. Levi**: Attorney General of the United States, recipient of legal inquiries regarding FBI actions.  
- **Mr. Mohr (John P. Mohr)**: Former Assistant to the FBI Director and administrator of Tolson’s estate, denied claims about agents removing files.  
- **D.W. Moore, Jr.**: FBI official involved in responding to allegations about document removals.  
- **Mark Gittenstein**: Staff member of the Senate Select Committee, requested access to FBI records.  
- **Mr. J.B. Adams**: Legal Counsel, compiled information for potential FBI testimony at legislative hearings.  
- **Charles Wilson**: Subcommittee Chairman overseeing H.R. 214 legislation.  
- **James Wilderider**: White House Counsel involved in legislative proceedings.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for the FBI, Department of Justice, and relevant federal agencies; site of congressional hearings and committee offices.  
- **Tolson’s Residence**: Alleged location where FBI agents allegedly removed documents following Tolson’s death.  
- **FBI Field Office (Washington Field Office)**: Subject of an inquiry regarding allegations of file handling.  

Key Events  
1. **Allegations of Document Removal**: Claims that FBI agents removed files from Hoover’s and Tolson’s residences after Tolson’s death in 1975, with some materials allegedly transported via truck.  
2. **Congressional Inquiries**: Requests by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities to investigate the legality and circumstances of file removals.  
3. **FBI Internal Review**: Directive for FBI divisions to canvass records and report findings on document removals, including whether copies or originals were taken.  
4. **Request for Historical Records**: Solicitation of superseded sections from the FBI’s Manual of Instructions, covering topics like espionage, sabotage, and domestic intelligence operations.  
5. **Legal Justification Questions**: Inquiries into the legal authority for the FBI to remove documents from Hoover’s home post-death, including whether such actions were justified as historical or personal.  
6. **Hearings on H.R. 214**: Legislative proceedings regarding electronic surveillance and mail interception, with the Department of Justice providing testimony.  
7. **Compilation of Information**: Efforts by Legal Counsel to gather data for FBI testimony at legislative hearings.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central entity in handling document removals and providing records to Congress.  
- **Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities**: Conducted reviews of FBI operations and requested access to classified materials.  
- **Legal Counsel Division, Department of Justice**: Coordinated responses to congressional inquiries and legal requests.  
- **Office of the Attorney General (U.S.)**: Oversaw legal considerations regarding FBI actions and document handling.  
- **Department of State**: Provided documentation on intelligence operations and inter-agency relationships.  
- **House Post Office and Civil Service Committee**: Oversaw hearings on H.R. 214 legislation.

JFK Declassified Files

124-10271-10299_multirif.pdf

Document Summary

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