</s>File #: 682-116898 Serial Scope: 231 THRELL 2385 236 THReLL 1ST NR 237 1ST NR 283, 239 1STNR 283,239 2241,242 2244,245 8447 8449, 1ST NC.249 - 253 THReL 254 255 THReUL 260 262 THReEL 265 NW 88614 Docd: 3289606 Page 1

Summary  
The document details FBI investigations into Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and Stanley Levison during the 1960s, including telephone surveillance of King’s residence and SCLC headquarters. Surveillance was discontinued after King’s assassination due to lack of authorization for his new location. The FBI investigated potential communist ties within SCLC but found no direct evidence of King’s Communist Party (CP) affiliation, though he was connected to individuals with CP links. The testimony includes discussions about FBI protocols for surreptitious entries, COINTELPRO references, and interactions with local law enforcement. Separate documents reference FBI-CIA disputes over information sharing, particularly regarding the disappearance of Thomas Rhea and Thomas Riha, highlighting tensions between U.S. intelligence agencies during the Cold War. Other materials include Senate Select Committee (SSC) inquiries into FBI operations, COINTELPRO, and counterintelligence activities targeting groups like the Black Panther Party (BPP), including their militant tactics, organizational structure, and ideological programs.  

Key People  
- Alan G. Sentinella: Retired FBI Special Agent who testified about surveillance of MLK, SCLC, and Levison.  
- Richard Hamilton: Bureau agent who assumed cases after Sentinella’s departure.  
- Charles Harding: Former supervisor with knowledge of surveillance changes.  
- Stanley Levison: SCLC associate linked to King.  
- Martin Luther King Jr.: Subject of FBI investigations for potential communist influence.  
- Thomas Rhea: Associate Professor at the University of Colorado whose disappearance was investigated by the FBI and CIA.  
- Thomas Riha: Czech-born professor who disappeared in 1969; subject of FBI and CIA inquiries into his ties to Soviet intelligence.  
- Galya Tannenbaum: Suspected for forging checks on Riha’s account and alleged involvement in his disappearance.  
- James McKevitt: Denver District Attorney who led investigation into Riha’s case.  
- Dr. Joseph Smiley: University president linked to Riha’s case; contacted by CIA but denied having information.  
- Huey Newton: Founder of the Black Panther Party (BPP); jailed for voluntary manslaughter after killing Officer Frederick Frey.  
- Bobby Seale: Chairman of the BPP; later imprisoned for alleged murder of a fellow Panther.  
- Leroy Eldridge Cleaver: Minister of Information and co-founder of the BPP’s International Section in Algiers.  
- Emory Douglas: Minister of Culture, known for creating revolutionary art for *The Black Panther* newspaper.  
- J. Edgar Hoover: Former FBI Director; referenced in discussions about classified files and surveillance protocols.  
- Richard Helms: CIA Director who instructed termination of direct FBI-CIA liaison.  
- Leon P. Schoen: Liaison Officer for FBI-CIA coordination.  

Key Locations  
- Atlanta, Georgia: Where Sentinella worked and conducted investigations on MLK and SCLC.  
- Carol Arms Hotel, Room 607: Location of the Senate Select Committee hearing.  
- Denver, Colorado: Home to Thomas Rhea and later Thomas Riha; site of FBI-CIA inquiries.  
- San Francisco, California: Site of COINTELPRO operations against the BPP.  
- Oakland, California: Birthplace of the BPP and location of key events including Newton’s trial.  
- Sacramento, California: Site of the 1967 legislature invasion by Panthers.  
- Algiers, Algeria: Location of the BPP’s International Section.  
- White House: Subject of Senate Select Committee inquiries into electronic surveillance.  
- FBI Headquarters: Central location for internal communications and document reviews.  

Key Events  
- Surveillance of MLK’s residence and SCLC headquarters discontinued after his assassination due to lack of authorization.  
- FBI investigations into potential communist ties within the BPP, including their militant tactics and reliance on private donations.  
- Disappearance of Thomas Rhea and Thomas Riha, leading to FBI-CIA disputes over information sharing and surveillance protocols.  
- Senate Select Committee (SSC) inquiries into FBI operations, COINTELPRO, and counterintelligence activities targeting civil rights groups.  
- 1967 legislature invasion by Panthers protesting gun control laws; fatal shooting of Officer Frederick Frey and subsequent trial of Huey Newton.  
- Establishment of the BPP’s International Section in Algiers with ties to global revolutionary movements.  
- FBI monograph on the BPP shared with Senate Select Committee staff, including status reports and field office inspections.  
- Legal disputes over IRS employee interviews regarding 1964 Democratic National Convention activities.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted surveillance on MLK, SCLC, BPP, and other groups; involved in COINTELPRO operations.  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Engaged in disputes with FBI over information sharing; monitored U.S. intelligence activities.  
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities: Requested documents on FBI operations, COINTELPRO, and counterintelligence efforts.  
- Black Panther Party (BPP): Focused on armed resistance, community programs, and international revolutionary outreach.  
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Involved in intelligence gathering through its IGRS system and interactions with Capitol Police.  
- House Select Committee on Intelligence Activities: Addressed procedures for classified information access and investigative practices.  
- Capitol Police Department: Conducted security checks for Senate committee members; interacted with IRS during internal reviews.

Summary  
The documents detail procedural discussions and coordination efforts between federal agencies and congressional committees regarding security clearance procedures, interview protocols, and handling of sensitive materials during investigative activities. Key interactions occurred between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities, House Select Committee on Intelligence Activities, and supporting legal and administrative personnel. Drafting memoranda to standardize information sharing and witness testimony procedures was a central focus, with emphasis on maintaining confidentiality and compliance with legislative oversight mandates.  

Key People  
- Mr. Callahan: Involved in coordinating procedural procedures  
- Mr. Adams: Served as legal counsel or administrative contact  
- Senator Church: Chair of the Senate Committee on Intelligence Activities  
- Congressman Nedzi: Chair of the House Committee on Intelligence Activities  
- Mr. Miller, Mr. Mintz, Mr. Wilderder: Staff members or legal representatives associated with committees  
- Stanley Rawson Sloan: Former CIA employee with documented clearance-related issues  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C.: Central location for committee offices and interagency interactions  

Key Events  
- Development of standardized interview protocols and information-sharing guidelines by the Office of Legal Analysis  
- Coordination between FBI, CIA, and congressional committees to ensure compliance with legislative oversight requirements  
- Management of sensitive materials during witness interviews and testimony preparation  
- Discussions on administrative procedures for handling classified or restricted information  

Key Organizations  
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities: Oversaw investigative processes and procedural guidelines  
- House Select Committee on Intelligence Activities: Parallel legislative body engaged in similar coordination efforts  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Provided intelligence and operational support  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Involved in clearance procedures and information sharing  
- Office of Legal Analysis: Formulated interview protocols and compliance frameworks

JFK Declassified Files

124-10273-10014_multirif.pdf

Document Summary

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