(EST PUB DATE) LIAISON SERVICE AND AGENT REACTIONS TO RECENT PUBLICITY ON THE AGENCY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01481991
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: January 1, 1974

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Liaison Service and Agent Reactions to Recent Publicity on the Agency
a. A long-time high ranking agent with unique access to intelligence
information refused continued contact and collaboration because of fear
of exposure of CIA material in the U.S.
b. Another agent, who had been a strong operational performer,
quit for the same reasons.
c. One key agent expressed serious concern that U.S. Government
and Agency influence would be weakened by the investigations and press
leaks.
d. In an important country, a liaison contact told our representative
that recent publicity on the CIA had aroused considerable suspicion of
the Agency among his government and police circles.
e. We believe that recent publicity has affected operational climates
It is likely that more local security services may begin putting
pressure on the Agency. Restrictions implemented by a large country in
January appear to have placed serious limitations on our stations' cap-
abilities.
a. A recently recruited agent refused to sign a secrecy agreement;
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while he said he trusted his present case officer, he wondered what
guarantee could be offered him that the next handler would not be
another Agee.
b. Another agent recently refused to carry out an operational
task, claiming he feared exposure similar to that of the "Angleton
Affair"; as a result, the operation aborted and he was terminated.
c. A key agent expressed concern for his security as a result
of publicity.
d.
who has provided solid .
information for years had shown a recent lack of candor in his reporting.
e. There is evidence that a recently recruited agent who had
agreed to cooperation may decide to break off contact.
f. A trusted agent voiced deep concern, and pleaded with his
case officer to destroy all traces of his true name in Agency files;
while his fears were assuaged somewhat and he continued to be highly
productive, further handling problems affecting his performance are
expected.
g. A highly sensitive agent refused to continue to cooperate.
h.
commented adversely on. press
disclosures as directly affecting him.
I. A major service expressed serious concern that leaks from
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the U.S. investigations of CIA might cause damage to the liaison
relationship.
a. A principal friendly liaison service has been very sensitive
to press items, particularly the wide local press coverage which
has been influenced by U.S. items. Proposed joint operations have
been turned down as a result. In turn, the host service is having
domestic problems which are in large part an outgrowth of CIA
difficulties. Two other services remarked on their concern thaz
material passed to the Agency might become public knowledge as the
result of the investigations and possible leaks; the services made
a
clear that they expected the Agency to protect such information. We
note a curtailment of the passage of certain service materials on
"security" grounds.
b. A key service apparently is considering local passage of
intelligence in oral form only because of general distrust of our
security.
c. A major service admitted that Agency publicity had resulted
in some second thoughts that the Agency might use their service's
information on a world trouble spot since such information might be
leaked to the press during the current investigations of the Agency.
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d. A vital liaison tie, due to re cent publicity, has instituted
much tighter controls and limits on the passage of important intelligence.
At least six agents of considerable value have quit as a result
of the recent spate of publicity and several development contacts have
at least temporarily been lost. Additionally, a nUmber of useful
agents continue to cooperate only with reservations and misgivings,
causing handling and intelligence production problems. Almost all
services in contact with CIA have expressed some degree of concern
on this matter.
In certain areas, the near hysterical suspicion of CIA's real
or imagined activities in all realms, fanned by constant publicity,
has caused internal political problems as well.
Three valuable agents in diverse geographic areas expressed
� concern over disclosures as did several liaison services.
a.
has commented that recent press items concerning the forthcoming
publication of the Agee book had caused him to rethink "in more
realistic terms" his relationship with CIA. The agent voiced his concern
that the Agency might not be able to protect his security. He remains
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in contact with us, but is still not entirely reconciled
to maintaining a covert relationship.
b. Commenting on the wide press coverage of recent
investigations of CIA activities, an asset expressed "grave
concerns" about the effect these investigations could have
on his personal security. He was specifically worried about
the possibility that the investigations would result in
subpoenas of information concerning foreign intelligence
sources.
c. A third asset,
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
commented that
the current investigations of
CIA made him very nervous.
(b)(3)
A vital asset, whose information over the years has
been invaluable, expressed serious concern over the future
ability of CIA, and the USG to protect vital information
affecting the security of agents. He feels that the
continuing and expanding public revelations in the United
States could result in the precipitous end of his service,
and, while he will continue to cooperate, it will be only
with growing reservation.
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In our counterintelligence program holdings, there were files
on four members of Congress
Of course, the Agency has other files on members of Congress or
former members of Congress, some of whom were employed by
the Agency, some of whom had an official relationship with the
Agency or were used as references by persons applying for positions
the Agency-1) In addition of course, our Office of Legislative
Counsel maintains working files on its liaison contacts with members
of Congress and their offices.
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