'HUMILIATED' BY THE CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-01208R000100230096-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 96
• Publication Date: May 12, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100230096-3
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WumiliateX by the CIA?
Brooklyn--The three plaintiffs seeking damages because
the Central Intelligence Agency opened their mail testified
yesterday in federal court that they were frightened and dis
illusioned and, in one case, humiliated, when they learned
federal agents had read their letters.
Mary R. MacMillen, 26, a Cambridge, Mass., job place-
ment counselor, said a personal letter she sent to a Russian
dissident was opened by CIA agents in 1973 just before the
20-year U.B. program of surveillance of mail to and from the
Soviet Union was ended. Ms. MacMillen testified that after
she leaned, in a CIA response to her Freedom of Informa
tion Act request, that her letter had been opened, 'I felt em-,'
barrassed and humiliated. It was the most personal letter I'
had ever written."
The two other plaintiffs, Amheest College sociology pro-
fessor Norman Birnbaum and Minneapolis advertising ex-
ecutive Leonard Avery also described their letters, which
were opened by the CIA. Government lawyers suggested only
a nominal award of $1. The plaintiffs lawyers have asked
for $20,000 or more for each complaint. -Aric Press
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/22 : CIA-RDP90-01208R000100230096-3