104-10079-10073 5 79KM 1970 MEMORANDUM FOR: Legislative Counsel ATTENTION: Douglas T. Cummins FROM: Robert A. Barteaux Chief, Information Processing Group THROUGH: SA/DO/O THROUCH: SUBJECT: Dr. Martin Luther King and Mr. James Earl Ray (U) A. House Select Committee on Assassinations' REFERENCES: Letter (OLC) (77-4958) dated 11 November 1977, Same Subject B. SA/DO /O Letter dated 25 November 1977 , Same Subject 1. (5) (5)" An intensive search of the files and indices of this Directorate has surfaced the attached CIA. information concerning Mr. James Earl Ray There will be a separate memorandum concerning Dr. Martin Butler King. 2. (S) (S)" (5") The FBI and Department of State have information concerning James EarlRay. 3. (U)" James Earl ray was the Subject of OGC requests 76-5403 dated 14 October 1976 76-6616 dated 23 November 1976 and FOIA request 7-832 dated 27 July 1976. 4. ( S) Please be advised that the attached DDO documents and the information mentioned above are for the internal use of your office only. Further use of this information outside this agency is not authorized without prior clearances from the SA/Do/O/O. WARNING NOTICE SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED SECRET DIMPEDT CL. BY.0/0/9 #11645

Summary  
This document is a memorandum dated 1978 concerning Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and James Earl Ray, referencing investigations related to the assassination of Dr. King. It notes that an intensive search of CIA files revealed information on James Earl Ray, with separate details about Dr. King to be provided in another memorandum. The FBI and Department of State also have information on Ray. The document references OGC requests (76-5403, 76-6616) and a FOIA request (7-832) from 1976. It mentions delays in the memorandum’s release, communicated via telephone to Maurice A. Sovereign of SA/DO/O on December 15, 1977. The text includes warnings about sensitive intelligence sources and methods, with restricted distribution to specific agencies and offices.  

Key People  
- Robert A. Barteaux (sender)  
- Douglas T. Cummins (recipient)  
- Maurice A. Sovereign (SA/DO/O)  
- J. Edwards (C/IP/HIS)  
- R. Baumann (C/IPG)  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C. (implied via agency references)  

Key Events  
- OGC requests for James Earl Ray (October 14, 1976; November 23, 1976)  
- FOIA request for James Earl Ray (July 27, 1976)  
- Delay in memorandum release communicated via telephone on December 15, 1977  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of State  
- SA/DO/O/O (Special Assistant to the Deputy Attorney General for Operations)  
- Office of Legal Counsel (OLC)  
- U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations

MLK Declassified Files

00548299_memo_dr_martin_luther_kin_104-10079-10073.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search