LETTER TO HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM WILLIAM V. ROTH, JR.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00148R000400820029-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2007
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: May 13, 1981
• Content Type: LETTER

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Office e-f Legislative ounse A (a 1
ACTION COORDINATION . INFO
FP RITZ
.CL THORPE
AE GOLDIN
COMMENTS :
ROUTE TO: (DESIGNATE ACTION OFFICER)
LIAISON DIVISION
LEGISLATION DIVISION
COMMUNITY & LEG. LIAISON OFFICE
MANAGEMENT SUPPORT STAFF
SUSPENSE DATE:
RECEIVED IN OLC: 1-9
11 Feb 81
Form # 00000
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 Approved For Release 2007/06/29: CIA-RDP84BOO148R0004008200292 TEE: ~~_ eueU
WILLIA,.I V, ROTH. J.
TJFJ ST,.VENS. ALASKA
CHARLES MC C. MATHIAS. JR., MD.
JOHN C. DANFORTH. MO.
WILLIAM O. COHEN. MAINE
DAVID DURENBERGER. MINN.
MACK MATTINGLY. GA.
WARREN D. RUDMAN. N.H.
THOMAS F. EAGLETON. MO.
HENRY M. JACKSON. WASH.
LAWTON CHILES. FLA.
SAM NUNN. GA.
JOHN GLENN. OHIO
JIM SASSER. TENN.
DAVID PRYOR. ARK.
CARL LEVIN. MICH.
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wnrcrcuv n, n~~+mnn, n.n., v,a.c a.nw,rcmnn
CHARLES H. PERCY. ILL. SAM NUNN. GA.
CHARLES MC C. MATHIAS. JR.. MD. HENRY M. JACKSON. WASH.
JOHN C. DANFORTH. MO. LAWTON CHILES. FLA.
WILLIAM S. COHEN, MAINE JOHN GLEN". OHIO
ON INVESTIGATIONS
WASHINGTON. D.C..20510
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS -
SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE
May 13, 1981
The Honorable William J. Casey'
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
0505 -
Washington, D. C.--- 20505--
JIM SASSER. TENN.
JIM
S. CASE WEILAND
CHIEF C-UNSEL
MICHAEL C. EOERHAROT
DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL
MARTY STEINBERG
CHIEF COUNSEL TO THE MINORITY
Dear Mr. Casey:
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
is attempting to determine how extensive and significant are
the transfers of U. S. technological, industrial and commercial
information to the Soviet bloc. Many of these transfers, even
those obtained by clandestine means, are not illegal under our
espionage laws or other federal statutes.
The need to modernize the Federal Espionage statute
to include industrial., technological or economical espionage
was cited .in .197-6 by former Attorney General.Edward Levi.' In
a March 23 letter to the Senate.Judiciary Committee, he said:.
"The phrase 'clandestine intelligence activities,
.sabotage, or terrorist activities' is meant to
.encompass those type of activities by a foreign
power or its agent that the Federal government
must be capable of discovering, particularly when
they occur within the United States. While the
most common activities that would come within the
scope of this.. phrase would constitute violations
of the Federal criminal law, there is a certain
limited . area. that. would not. For example, the
clandestine collection of.information by an agent
of a foreign power..concerning. .mportant..industrial
processes essential to the national security, e.g.
computer technology, would not in most cases
violate any Federal statute. (Underscoring supplied.)
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The Honorable William J. Casey
May._13, ' 1981 "..
Page 2
During the current reassessment of government policies.
toward the Soviets, it is now appropriate to reevaluate our
counterintelligence program.against Soviet Bloc agents. There-..
fore, the minority--staff of the Subcommittee, at the direction
of Senator Sam Nunn, the ranking minority member, has initiated
a preliminary inquiry into this problem.
During this preliminary inquiry, the minority staff-of
the Subcommittee will also be looking into the effectiveness of
our foreign counterintelligence capability to intercept clan-
destine transfers or attempted transfers of classified data to
the Soviets which are illegal under our laws. In addition, the
Subcommittee will look into our existing export controls of
dual-use technologies and goods to the Soviet Bloc administered.
by the Commerce and State Departments.
On February 20, 1980, Under Secretary of Defense William
Perry testified before this Subcommittee that the Soviets have
a "large, systematic, well-organized and effective" operation to
acquire illegally our technology. Dr. Perry said Soviet clandes-
tine activity has been "extensive" and involves the theft of
classified as well as controlled dual-use. technologies and goods.
Since the Central Intelligence Agency has primary
responsibility for foreign counterintelligence programs, this
Subcommittee's inquiry will be greatly enhanced by your-cooper-.
ation and assistance. The purpose of this letter is to seek
your support in this investigation.
Accordingly, it would be most helpful if, at your
earliest convenience, you would have-your Office of. Legislative
Counsel contact Mr. L. J. Duffy, consultant to the minority of
the?Subcommittee, - in order.that arrangements .for an. exchange of.
information and briefings by appropriate CIA officials can be-
made.
Sincerely,
Sam Nunn .
Ranking Minority, Member
William V. Roth, Jr.
Chairman
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