</s>104-10147-10141 2018 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 5 August 1978 OLC/July. HSCA Summary Points on HSCA Hearings (C# 17-2338/2) 1. The ESCA has scheduled hearings on the assassination of President Kennedy for weekdays, 6 - 29 September. Preliminary hearings on this assassination of Martin. Luther King are to be 14 - 18 August and November. 2. Areas of apparent emphasis appear to be CIA coverage in Mexico City, and issues arising from the questions 11:14 of Noseenko's bona fidos. On the Nosekeno matter, CIA's treatment of Nosenko is also under scrutiny. 3. The Mexico City story is essentially, in terms of Agency coverage, one of sources-and-methods. Aspects of the Nosenko story also involve sensitive matters. 4. Recent handling of restricted Agency material (press release), without checking with the Agency, may indicate lack of concern about sensitive matters, 5. HSCa has failed, despite repeated requests, to discuss with the Agency how to handle sensitive matters in public hearings. 6. Agency employees called to testify may be faced with the dilemma of violating their secrecy oath or risk- ing a contempt citation. 7. The matter tends, to become political, in addition to whatever legal questions there are. 21570 APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 CA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM

Summary:  
The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) scheduled public hearings for August 14–18 and November 9, 10, 13–17, 20–29 regarding the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The HSCA also planned hearings for President John F. Kennedy’s assassination from September 6–29. CIA involvement in Mexico City surveillance operations related to Soviet and Cuban activities was highlighted, including telephone and photographic coverage of diplomatic installations. Yuri Nosenko, a KGB defector who provided information on Lee Harvey Oswald, was scrutinized for his credibility and treatment during CIA custody. The HSCA’s inquiry into Nosenko’s defection shifted focus from his bona fides to how he was handled by the Agency. Concerns were raised about handling sensitive operational details in public hearings, with potential risks of violating secrecy oaths or facing contempt citations. The CIA emphasized the need for executive sessions to discuss classified information and warned witnesses against disclosing such data during public proceedings.  

Key People:  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Yuri Nosenko (KGB defector)  
- Lee Harvey Oswald (assassin of JFK, subject of investigation)  
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of assassination inquiry)  

Key Locations:  
- Mexico City (Soviet/Cuban diplomatic surveillance operations)  
- Washington D.C. (CIA headquarters and HSCA proceedings)  

Key Events:  
- Scheduled HSCA hearings for MLK’s assassination (August 14–18, November 9–29)  
- CIA surveillance of Soviet and Cuban installations in Mexico City  
- Interrogation and custody of Yuri Nosenko by CIA  
- HSCA inquiry into Nosenko’s credibility and treatment  
- Legal and operational concerns over handling classified information during public hearings  

Key Organizations:  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Department of Central Intelligence (DCI)  
- Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC)

MLK Declassified Files

00548817_summary_points_on_hsca_he_104-10147-10141.pdf

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