COMPROMISE OF COVER FACILITY IN CURRENT USE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00497325
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-01299
• Publication Date: July 3, 1972

Approved for Release: 2020/08/14 C00497325
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, SB
Chief, FE
Chief, EUR
Chief, CCS
Chief, NO CAD
SUBJECT : Compromise of Cover Facility
in Current Use
1. We have recently received information that Philip F.
Agee, a disaffected former staff officer who now is in contact
with the Cuban DGI, has made reference to the Robert M. Mullen
Company as providing cover for CIA and has identified
as an Agency employee under Mullen cover in
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Z. Due to the background of this case, we have been proceed-
ing on the assumption that names mentioned by Agee are known to
the DGI and may appear in publications. Our research in the present
instance has been given an added sense of urgency because of the in-
volvement of the Robert M. Mullen Company in the "Watergate 5" case.
3. The Mullen company has given cover to
all of whom are still Agency employees. These are:
CIA officers, #
(b)(1 )
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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4.� Based on our research, we do not believe the Mullen Com-
pany could withstand even a cursory investigation by counterintelli-
gence or press representatives. It is a domestic company which has
no foreign subsidiaries other than the ones in
(b)(
(b)(
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
1) -
3)
used by CIA for cover. Many of the Mullen officers also have
(b)(1)
connections
with CIA, as follows:
a. Robert M. Mullen, Chairman, was introduced to
(b)(3)
_
(b)(1)
�
(b)(3)
Mullen was instrumental in the formation of the
Cuban Freedom Committee at the request of Richard Bissell,
then DDP, but managed to keep his public identification with
it at a minimal level. Mullen was the original owner of-the
Intercontinental Research Company, Inc.,
(b)(1)
Mullen's name was
(b)(3)
not surfaced at the time. Mullen had some connection with
the Christian Form,
b. Howard Hunt, vice-president, had known Mullen
from World War II days when both worked at the Department
of Commerce. O'Malley of our retirement staff went to
Mullen to get an outline of qualifications for a public rela-
tions man, so he could recommend Hunt to General Foods;
the result of the conversations was that Mullen hired his old
friend Hunt himself, in April 1970.
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SECa-tElibis..NSITI V E
c. Robert F. Bennett, executive vice-president and
designated president, is the son of Senator Wallace Bennett
of Utah. Bennett is witting of the current CIA employee's
covered by the company and is probably witting of those
previously under cover.
d. Elizabeth Colclough vice-president and se
treasurer, was witting of Agency employees
since she was to be sent to
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
to help on the business aspects of company work
in 1965 which the Agency men were too busy to handle.
Cover records do not show whether she actually went, but
(b)(1)
she was informed of the cover situation.
(b)(3)
e. Amanda Abernathy, formerly Mullen's secretary
(b)(1)
and confidant, was cleared and witting. Mullen was able to
(b)(3)
get her a job in government, ostensibly to enable her to
qualify for Civil Service retirement, but actually to ease her
out of the company since she was on the verse of becoming
She was undoubtedly witfina nf
1. Earl Mindermann was president in 1971, but now is
being replaced by Bennett. He was never cleared and pre-
sumably was not witting.
6. In view of the flap potential inherent in the Agency's con-
tact with Mullen, it is recommended that addressees delegate a senior
representative to meet and devise a common approach to the Mullen
problem.
Theodore Ga
shShaaccklkieegy
Chief
Western Hemisphere Division
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2020/08/14 C00497325