GORDON NOVEL V. LOUISIANA EXPO, INC. ET AL., CIVIL ACTION NO. C 77-578-A, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, ATLANTA DIVISION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06816156
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2019
• Case Number: F-2013-00862
• Publication Date: May 12, 1977

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12 May 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
FROM : Wm. George Jameson
Office of General Counsel
SUBJECT : Gordon Novel v. Louisiana Expo, Inc. et al., Civil
Action No. C 77-578-A, United States District Court for
the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division
On Friday, 6 May 1977, I received a call from Department of Justice
attorney (Ms.) Brook Hedge, who informed me that the U.S. Attorney
would move for an extension of time in Mr. Osborn's behalf in this
litigation, and that there did not appear to be any reason for Justice not
to provide Mr. Osborn with appropriate representation.
Wm. Geor. eson
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Distribution:
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LITIGATION-CRIMINAL - Novel, Gordon
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CF- ii' ICLL.( T
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
OGC 7772811 �
2 May 1977
. William T. Arnold, Esq.
Civil Division
� Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
D,A.-..ar. Mr . Arnold:
Enclosed, as you requested in our conversation of 27 April 1977, �
are the complaint served upon Mr. Howard J. Osborn, a former Director
- of Security of this Agency., and a letter dated 21 April 1917 from
Mr. Osborn's attorney requesting that the Department of Justice provide
Mr. Osborn counsel and representation in an action brought by Gordon
� Novel. We recommend that such representation be provided. .
Mr. Osborn has told me that he has no knowledge about any of
Novel's .allegations and that he does not know any of the individuals .
� named in the complaint. A search of appropriate files in this Agency
has failed to surface any information to the contrary. Furthermore,
the complaint alleges that Mr. Osborn acted, both individually and in
his official capacity, to deny plaintiff his constitutional rights during
a time period from November 1975 to March 1976. However, Mr. Osborn
retired from the Agency on 31 December 1974. -
While there is no indication. that Mr. Osborn has been connected
at any time with these allegations or persons, one of the named defendants
is a .current CIA employee named Peter Houck. The allegations reg,arclin.g
him also appear to be unfounded. Thus far he has not been served by
plaintiff. .Mr. Osborn stated that he. has never had any contact with that
employee.
While I am having Agency files searched for possible additional.
information regarding these allegations, I believe it fair to conclude
that these allegations regarding Mr. Osborn are entirely unfounded.
Mr. Novel in the past has claimed, among other things, that he both has
been and has not been a CIA operative and that he expected to be named
Director of Central Intelligence. He contacted the CIA Domestic Contacts
Division, an overt Agency component, on 31 October 1975 in order to
propose CIA sponsorship of one of his commercial ventures. Mr. Houck,
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an overt employee of that component, informed him that his proposal was
rejected, but Novel insisted on meeting directly with those CIA officials
. who expressed disinterest, and threatened to contact the Director to the
detriment of their careers. On 9 February 1976 Mr. Novel was advised that
he was wasting our time and that he should not contact this Agency.
That month Mr. Novel was arrested by agents of the U.S. 1,..lchohol,
Tobacco and Firearms Bureau in New Orleans for conspiracy to detonate
incendiary devices in a downtown New Orleans building during Mardi Gras.
After a three-day trial, the jury could not reach a verdict on Novel.. "
Mr. Houck provided testimony regarding his contacts with Novel. It
should be noted that, while the present complaint alleges a CIA conspiracy
to convict Novel in New Orleans, there was no effort at that time to blame
Novel's arrest and prosecution on CIA.. Prior to commencement of a second
trial, Mr. Novel fled to Georgia, where he turned himself over to Georgia
authorities after a fugitive warrant in Louisana was issued for his arrest
on the conspiracy charge. He remains free on a $25,000 bond issued by a
Cobb county judge.
� In view of these facts, we recommend that Mr. Osborn's request be
granted.- As a prominent former official of this Agency, Mr. Osborn's -
name has been. in the public domain to a great extent over the past few -
.� years. In particular, he has been called to provide testimonial assistance.
� to the Church Committee.. We may only speculate as to how Mr. Novel
learned of his name; however, it seems clear that the allegations concerning
�� Mr. Osborn are vexatious.
I have related to Mr. Debelius your comment that it may be necessary
for him to file a motion for an extension of time. While he intends to
contact Mr. Novel's attorney in this regard, he.urges that Justice make
relevant motions in Mr. Osborn's behalf. Since I have worked with Mr.
Debelius on another occasion, I would be happy to contact him in your
behalf. �
If you have any questions Or commentS,-Please..do riot hesitate to
contact me. I assume that at some time in the future we shall need your .
assistance regarding Mr....Houck as well,..ancl I shall provide any additional
information that may come to my attention..
Enclosure
Sincerely,
/.2
/01-
Wm. Geor6iTaiieson
I I/
Office of GLnet'ar Counsel .
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1 - OGC Subj: LITIGATION-CRIMINAL - Novel, Gordon
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