OS - BRIEFING NOTES PROGRESS OF KRONTHAL CASE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06619104
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2020
• Case Number: F-2013-01784
• Publication Date: June 9, 1989

Approved for Release: 2020/01/03 C06619104
SECRET
9 June 1989
Briefing Notes
Progress of Kronthal Case
Activities Since 5 June Briefing
FBI files searched, no new information.
Dept of State, Diplomatic Security -- no record of 1951
HA investigation; files believed destroyed
Briefed SAC & A/SAC/WFO on case
Harlan Westrell interview -- Information gained
Paul Gaynor's case
Soviet MO then to blackmail cooptees, Blackmail
potential carefully examined in
Subject committed suicide because his HA would be
seen as vulnerability, ruining his career
Subject's name on McCarthy's list of subversive
Agency employees also a contributing factor
Subject's suicide was a "great shock" to Agency,
Dulles and Helms
Subject supposedly used an "L-pill," an OSS
suicide pill to kill self
Possible cases containing some information:
interview; no info on case, referred to
Ethel Mendoza, Paul Gaynor's secretary
DC Metropolitan Police Archives -- Report destroyed
administratively
UDAC (Ed Sayle) unnamed informant claims defector Otto John,
debriefed by Corson, Justin O'Donnell, gave information on
Kronthal
O'Donnell file reviewed, no connection with
Corson or Otto John indicated
Corson's service record does not indicate any
period of �service with the Agency
Otto John Security file reviewed, no connections
Otto John's 201 file was reviewed making an interesting
connection with Wolfgang (Edward) Hoefer (Hoffer), a CI
Command officer who committed suicide under remarkably similar
circumstances to that of Kronthal. Theory: Over 35 years
"institutional memory" may have faded, skewing the line
between Hoefer and Kronthal.
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2020/01/03 C06619104
Approved for Release: 2020/01/03 C06619104
SECRET
SUBJECT: Kronthal Briefing Notes
Memorandum forthcoming comparing Hoefer/Kronthal cases. No other
connection found between John, Kronthal, Corson, and O'Connell.
SE Vault consulted. No holdings under
"suspected moles in the Agency" or "Otto John debriefings" or
"Kronthal"
Planned Activities
Interviews:
ex-Agency, found K's body -- 13 Jun 89
Richard Helms -- C/Ops, friend of K, recipient of one of
of K's suicide notes, knowledge of Corson as aide to DCI
Dulles -- planned
Robert Gambino, ex-D/OS on knowledge of David S. Sullivan's
list of suspected "mole" candidates, supposedly given to
Gambino on Sullivan's separation from Agency -- planned
Ethel Mendoza, ex-SRS, C/SRS Gaynor's secretary, re
Kronthal investigation -- planned
Lawrence Hartnette, ex-DC Police, investigated Kronthal
death -- planned
Bruce Solie, ex-SRS, re Kronthal case, info provided to
Corson/Trento -- tenative
Sam Papich, ex-FBI liaison w/Agency re Kronthal case --
tenative
Information to be reviewed/gathered
OMS reports on Kronthal has requested from
Hoefer 201 file, to be reviewed
Security/201 Files Reviewed to Date
39 Security and 201 files reviewed on aspects of this case
to date
Interim Final Report
SAD plans an interim report to be completed NLT 16 June 1989
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SECRET
Approved for Release: 2020/01/03 C06619104