LETTER TO JAMES T. LYNN FROM W. E. COLBY RE YOU REQUESTED THAT WE PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT ON THE STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE AGENCY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT PROVIDING CRIMINAL SANCTIONS FOR U

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01481976
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: April 1, 1975

Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01481976
_CENTRAL INTELLIGE�.NCE. AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20595 ,
APR 1973
The Honorable James T. Lynn
Director, Office of Management
.and.Eudge.t
Washington, D. C. 20303
Dear Jim:
Execttavt4 Resialr�
In your letter of 30 January 1975 to me, you requested that we provide a
written report on the status of discussions between the Agency and the Department
of Justice on proposed amendments to the National Security Act providing c--inairal.
sanctions for unauthorized disclosure of intelligence sources and methods. I -
submitted to ONIB a legislative package on this subject by letter dated 14 January
1974.
gip- Since that time my staff and the staff of the Department of Justice have
attempted to resolve' the various issues that arose concerting the wording of
that legislation. There have also been considerable cliScussion.s concerning �
the appropriateness of submitting such legislation to the Congress. For your
information ,I am enclosing copies of two of my letters to the Attorney General, -
� dated 24 April 1974 and 17 September 1974, which reflect most of the issues.
_Since the 17 September 1974 letter, the Department of Justice has withdrawn
its objections to the propo-Sal for statutory injunction authority and we have
also modified, in a manner we believe appropriate and responsive to its objections,
the in camera court review aspects of the legislation. The Department has also
withdrawn, as inappropriate, its objection to submission of this legislation inso-
far as the. objection is based on its opinion that in the present atmosphere the
legislation will arouse �stiff opposition; I am not now aware that the Departmert
of justice has significant objections to the recommendation that other departments
and agencies engaging in intelligence activities May designate protected infor-
mation, I am 'enclosing also the current version of the legislation which has 17,,en
_provided to. the Department of Justice for comment, .1t reflects many exCealent
suggeStioris from the Department. and from elsewhere'.
have continued to negotiate with the Deoartment of Justice, but their
lt.s.tter of 25 ?:arch �1975 (i..�:nclos-tn3.) in response to our �rnest recent sugnestions �
ene,no,Ato,
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