LETTER TO JESSE HELMS FROM JOHN L. HELGERSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: February 18, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00605R000500090014-8
DO?
?
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Panama/Noriega/Members of Congress
INSPLCIOR LNERAI.
ff agq/ I
FROM:
EXTENSION
Na
OCA-88-2603
Senate Division
88
Office of Congressional Affairs
DATE
I Mar
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
REalVED
FORWARDED
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1. Director of Congressional
Affairs
7D 43 HQS
2 MA
19
1 Director of Public Affairs
Office 7D 00 HQS
4.
Inspector General (14
6E 08 HQS
MAR 1986
?41(!)
-7B 04 HQS
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
STAT
STAT
ie F to-el-n(1
,1:v3. At.154; (5 ve ee50.70,--ii 5e
Draft letters to Senator Helms
and SSCI Staff Director Holmes
attached for your review.
These letters are interim
replies pending completion of
various investigations.
FORM 61 0 USE PREVIOUS
G.G. Government Printing Office: 1985-494-834/49156
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
Central Intelligence Agency
INSPECTOR 'GENERAL
Washington. D. C.20505
The Honorable Jesse Helms
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Helms:
DRAFT
The Director has asked me to respond to your letter
concerning testimony that this Agency has furnished information
to Panamanian officials about Members of Congress and their
staffs.
4/11AM''''st;LA'N
OurXinvestigation of these allegations indicates that they
are not correct. However, because of the gravity of the
charges the Director has asked all NFIB Agencies to review
their holdings to be absolutely certain that none of them has
provided information described in your letter or discussed
the Foreign Relations Committee hearings. ,441i,
We will provide you with the information from our
investigation as soon as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
John L. Helgerson
Director of Congressional Affairs
6\F WA)(
44A4A kiJil.(A/? e4tA
tAAA.,40 tAiti
51'
ks\sLootJA-,A?AL )
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
4-t>C1
Declassified in Part
- Amara
.,,"14: left
Jr-A.2410Am
Aotslftwinftowoomm
? vourropHo Doom elmilicTiCur
Jowl mum msGSADOOSITTS
PAUL WNW supWall
more sANFoN). NO EANOUNA
'NOCK ADAMS. WASHINGTON
NAME P. MOTIONAG NEw TONI
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M0000100050006-0014-8
-------
assE I. NOM EASIGNIA c n, . ? V /V 11.0
WHAM EL LusAA INIELANA
*MKTL. NASSESAUM, ILANSAS
MAW SCISCWINTE. MINNESOTA
LEANT PINEVILEN. SOUTH DAKOTA
:====s- Untod *atm *nate
DANIEL .I. WANE. WASHINGTON -
MITCH fleCONIMEL minx=
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Owns B. OWNETIANSON. MECUM
JANES N. woo. INIKWITY STAIC MECO*
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-8225
February 17, 1988
The Honorable William Webster
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Director Webster:
As you know, the Committee on Foreign Relations received
very significant sworn testimony last week that indicated
that the CIA and the National Security Council have
maintained, and/or furnished to certain Panamanian officials,
information on certain Members of Congress and their staffs.
Since you are charged with responsibility for all agencies
under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, I am
writing to you to address these issues.
Inasmuch as Mr. Jose Blandon has appeared at the request
of U.S. law enforcement agencies as a witness in major
criminal procedures, his credibility appears to be high.
Additionally, I have received similar reports coming from
sources in other countries which parallel the sworn testimony
with regard to the CIA furnishing similar information on
other Senators.
I have no fear of correct information maintained on me;
nonetheless, it is improper and illegal for the CIA to
maintain such files. This is especially so inasmuch as the
CIA has access to background check files, which include much
uncorroborated data, for all security clearances.
Should a situation ever develop in which information,
particularly unevaluated information, is transferred to
another government, thereby interfering with the
constitutional responsibility of Members of Congress and
their staffs, it calls into question the integrity of our
intelligence security institutions.
For these reasons, I submit the following questions,
answers to which I hope can be provided in unclassified
form. In answering these questions, please do not rely on
files alone, since the information allegedly passed may have
been passed back channel, without files being maintained. It
is imperative that an internal investigation be conducted and
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
k . . ?
?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
?
all employees in contact with Panamanian government or
military officials be questioned.
Has any employee, contract employee, or agent of the CIA
-- or any other entity associated with it, including other
agencies under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended
-- ever maintained information -- including biographies,
reports of activities, summaries of political philosophy, or
other information -- on Members of Congress or their staffs?
If so, which persons, when, and under what circumstances?
Has any employee, contract employee, or agent of the CIA
-- or any other entity associated with it, including other
agencies under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended
-- ever furnished verbal or written information officially or
unofficially on Members of Congress or their staffs to any
official of a foreign government, and specifically to the
government of Panama or the Panama Defense Forces under
General Manuel Noriega? If so, which persons, when, and
under what circumstances? (Interestingly, I understand that
after the CIA publicly denied Blandon's testimony, an inquiry
was made to CIA field offices and to NFIB agencies querying
whether the denial was accurate. Please include a copy of
this message and all responses.)
Because of your previous association with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, I would also ask the following
questions, also to be answered in unclassified form to the
maximum extent possible.
Did the FBI ever turn over to the CIA or other
intelligence agencies any information on Members of Congress
or their staffs?
Has the FBI ever initiated wiretaps or surveillance on
me or members of my staff, with or without warrant? If so,
when, for what reasons, and under what legal authority?
Sincerely,
JESSE HELMS
HELMS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
R
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Denied
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/20: CIA-RDP90M00005R000500090014-8
25X1