Approved For Release 2005/08/16 Approved For Release 2005/08/16 CIA-RDP95300915R000500110010-4 e. 25x1 25x1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved, For?leas?e 10010-4 14. APR 1992 MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence .VIA: Executive Director General Counsel Deputy Director for Administration FROM: Director_oerecurity Jack AnderSon (C) June 1979, a former CIA analyst told CIA and FBI officials that a reporter working for Jack Anderson, Dale Van Atta, was carrying in a briefcase a large number of highly classified CIA documents. Van Atta had shown the documents to this individual in order to learn what some of the code words meant and to determine how valuable they were. The FBI and CIA were also told that one of the National Intelligence Daily (NID) reports still had copy number 18 on its cover. All the other documents had the copy number removed. The Office of Security traced the document and copy numberl who left the National Security Council Staff in?1976. (51m 9 was then interviewed by the FBI and polygraphed. initially admitted very little, but when he was con? fronted with his suspicious responses to some questions, he admitted removing from the National Security Council (NSC) an unknown number of classified CIA and DefenSe Intelligence Agency (DIA) documents and storing them in his residence.' stated that he took the material home in order to assist in the preparation of a book. (3) . 3. Upon further questioning, 'denied providing any classified information to Jack Anderson. He hinted that he and his wife had experienced some marital difficulties in the fall of 1976 and that it was possible his wife, in a fit of anger, had given the documents to The Washington Post. The FBI then intern viewed land asked if she would take a polygraph examination. She reportedly refused and indicated she intended to retain legal counsel. One FBI agent currently working on unauthorized disclosure matters recalls that the FBI believed it had a very strong case but that the_ Department of Justice refused to allow the FBI to continue the case. (S) . 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25x1 ApproVed For 5300915R0005oo1 10010-4 .9 . . . os STAT STAT- 25X1 Approved FoileaSe . 4. .Based on the classified information Anderson has-used in his daily column in The Washington Post, his television commen- taries on "Good Morning America," and his radio shows, the Office of Security estimates Anderson has approximately 400 classified documents. This total consists of approximately 200?300 copies of the National Intelligence numerous DIA Summaries, Appraisals, and Weekly Summaries; Several National Intelligence Estimates; and at least 20 Nationalentelligence Bulletins. In addition to the CIA and DIA information, Anderson also has many- National Security Decision Memoranda from the period 1969-1976 as_' well as State Department cables and Bureau of Intelligence and Research reports. In general, most of the classified documents in Anderson's possession are from the-time period April 1975- ?September 1976. As noted above, September 1976 is the date Anderson allegedly received the classified documents under discussion, 5.. Judging from the speed with which Anderson is able to include classified intelligence in his articles on current inter? national events, it appears likely he has the NIDs organized in an alphabetical country index. This facilitates the rapid preparation of his column for the 970 newspapers that carry his syndicated column each day. Based on this older classified_ Ainformation, Anderson has repeatedly told his readers that he has a direct line into CIA at the highest levels. (S) I 6. Beginning in July 1979, CIA General to the Department of Justice (DOJ) at a 1V1 action, called a Writ of Replevin, be issued to Anderson which would force him to give back to the Federal Government classified government documents in his possession. Several months later Attorney General Civiletti turned down the CIA request for the replevin action. The issue remained dormant within the DOJ until the chan of administrations in January 1981. On 6 March asked the DOJ to review the replevin strategy. Mr. Mc ra and Mr. Williard agreed to review the matter, and CIA then supplied data which shOwed the number of documents believed to be in Anderson?s possession. On 11 February 1982, Messrs. McGrath, Williard, and Richards of the DOJ indicated they considered the replevin strategy to be the best means available to retrieve claSsified documents from Jack Anderson. General Counsel Stanley Sporkin suggested that before proceeding against Mr. Anderson, further investigation should be undertaken to trace the documents from the government to the media. If this could be done, then and only then would it be appropriate to involve Mr. Anderson in legal proceedings. The Assistant Attorney General then wrote to _the Agency referencing the General Counsel's misgivings about the advisability of initiating a lawsuit to recover the CIA docu? ments. He stated before a final decision were made, the 2 Approved For Release 10010?4' STAT l? Approved For lease 2005/08/16 CIA- RDP95I3009 000500110010 4 gnaw? . i922? 7' Department wished to know Mr. Casey' 3 views.' The General Couhsel? replied that the matter was being deferred at this time and that Justice would be advised if a decision is made to proceed. Approved For ReleaSeSECRET 1 0 Approved Foilease 2005/08/18: CIA- 25x1 Jack Andersen - (c155 Distribution Orig - Addressee I . . - . A ExD?r? '1 - ER - DDA OGC urlty mil-ll A STAT (6APR82) Retyped 13APR8Z) 1 Rev1sed 14APR82) 2.7"Approved Release . ?1 1;