OTEPKA GETS LETTER WITH U.S. CHARGES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040131-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 131
• Publication Date: September 27, 1963
• Content Type: NSPR

BAIJJ O.RE SUN SEP 2 7 1963
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-R
CPYRGHT
CPYRGHT
FOIAb3b
CPYRGHT
OTEPKA GETS
LETTER WIT
"Desk Searched"
"Mr. Otepka's burn-basket was'
ansacked, his desk searched and
Jic himself subjected to extensive
of with Communists but with
utiful security off eel's who are
u.s:CkRGES
Quids in 'traditional fash-
Defenders ' old :American Liberty, j
a Dallas-based organization. Hei
said the charges against Otepka
"reflect the direction in which
our nation is moving today in then
face, , ! of growing Soviet:
poveor,.... For being reasonably'
cooperative with this sacred arml
of Cotlgress, he (Otepka) is now.
Disclosure Of ,Secret
Information, To. Seri-
ate Reported
Washington, Sept. 26 (ir
epa~, ae ",..sai . today a
letter of charges, of a nature that
could lead to his discharge in 36
days. has been-given tp Quo' F.
Oteiika, chief of the division of
evaluations in -'the 4,epai tinent's
Office of Security.
A State Department spokes-
Iman said the 48-year-old security,
investigator was given ten days,
ending October 3, in which to an-
swer the charges
.
Heard Report
Richard I. Phillips, State De
partment press officer, refused
Ito specify, the_ charges. But in
Dallas, Robert'. Morris, former
r -rnal security, subcommittee,
Otepka was accused of disclos-
I
secret i fo
the Sn11_
at on t
mg
o
rm
late.
Morris said the essence of ti
charges is that Otepka "collabor
fated" with the pr sent chief
1G.Sourwine.
travesty of justice."
I "If Mr. Otepka collaborate
with Sourwine, he collaborate
with the United States Senate it
self," Morris 'said, "This shoal
not be considered a crinme.'.'
Morris said the charge
;brought against Otepka "includ
giving `confidential' and 'for of
,chief-counsel. $otti: of these class
1 himself... .
is dismissal from service--
Asked about this report, the
State Department. spokesman said'
that4t is-a standing practice. Of
government- agencies not to re-
veal ..any~.adniinistrative charges.
h
t
which ntay ltpve been broug
against an employee.
a native of Illinois,
Otepka
,
and a Navy veteran during World;
war IT has served as chief of the;
security evaluations office for;
personnel for ten years. The jobl
pays $16,OO{) a year.-.
1
Earlier this year, Otepkx and
Cher State Department security]
officers appeared before the Seu-1congressioneI investigators to be
ate subcommittee on Internal Se-,a breach of the right of executive
curity in connection with an; privilege that amounts to insub-
investigation the subcommittee ordination.
held on the case of William A. The right of executive privilege
Wieland, a career diplomat. has been affirmed by the Supreme
Wieland was ' a State Depart- Court, the President and the ex-
ment desk officer on Cuban af- ecutive branch of Government.
fairs at the time of Fidel Castro's Under this a Federal agency can
rise to power. withhold certainintprination from
.Iii those days, the ,generally the Congress if it feels that the
:veld view in the department was disclosure of such information
that Castro was not a Comma- would hamper the executive from
nist. carrying out his duties
Special Projects In refusing to make ;minis the
Phillips said Otepka remains charges against Ote ka, the State
chief of the division of evaluation Department said this is consid-
in the Office of Security. but since ered a personal action between
June 27 he has been detailed to an employer and an ert loyee.l
two special projects. These are The employee has a right not 'to'
updating of the office of Security be tried in public by press re
handbook and 'preparation of lease unless he chooses to ma-c
guidelines for the security evalua- public the charges against him.
tion of personnel. himself, the department said.
State Department officials said It was emphasized that no ,one
that there is no question, of a con- in the State Department.liaUThs-f
flirt existing between the, State closed the charges against Ofep"ka.
Department and congressional Otepka can appeal any decision,
committees in testimony given in for his ouster to the State be-'t
response to committee questions. partment's deputy director of per-
There were indications, how- sonnel, Harvey R. Wellman. As
ever, that the department con- a veteran, he can also appeal'di-
sidered the volunteering of tin- redly to the Civil Service Coin-'
liorized information , to mission,
pproved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000 0040131-0