</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 Executive Registry 22.10/18/1 OGC 76-5403 4 October 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR : Associate Deputy Director for Administration Attm: Chief, Security Analysis Group, OS Director of Personnel Associate Deputy Director of Science and Technology Associate Deptuty Director for Operations Attm : ISS/IP/EIS D/DC/Intelligence Community D/D/CI/For National Intelligence Officers Legislative Counsel Inspector General Inspecter General Executive Secretary FROM Richard H. Landsdale Associate General Counsel SUBJECT : Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1. At the Attorney General's direction, a task force was established in May 1976 by the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Justice Department to review the activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in relation to the late Rev. Marvin Luther King. Jr ., Jr .; the assassination and the Bureau's investigation of that murder. 2. Pursuant to the Attorney general's directive, Justice is can- vassing those investigative agencies or the Government which might have been contacted by the FBI to secure or deliver information for intell- genice, for investigative assistance (before or after the assassination). or for any form of counterintelligence action in relation to Dr. King. 3. It is requested that a check is made of your records to detemmine the extent and nature of any contacts with CIA by the FBI is regard to the Rev. Martin Luther King ., Sr .- 68 4. Doj has expressed some urgency in responding to their request. Therefore, please advise this Office of the results of your search at your earliest convenience, but no later than close of business, 21 October 1976. Richard N. Pandell Richard H ., Landsdale

Summary:  
A memorandum dated 4 October 1976 outlines a directive from the Attorney General to the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility to establish a task force reviewing the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) activities concerning Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., including his assassination and related investigations. The task force was formed in May 1976. The memorandum requests an assessment of contacts between the FBI and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) regarding Dr. King, specifically seeking information on any interactions for intelligence, investigative assistance, or counterintelligence purposes. The Justice Department emphasized urgency in responding to this request, requiring a reply by close of business on 21 October 1976.  

Key People:  
- Richard H. Landsdale (Associate General Counsel)  
- Richard N. Pandell (Recipient of the memorandum)  
- Attorney General (Directing the task force)  

Key Locations:  
- Washington, D.C. (implied as the location of federal agencies)  

Key Events:  
- Establishment of a Justice Department task force in May 1976 to review FBI activities related to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and investigation.  
- Request for an assessment of FBI-CIA contacts regarding Dr. King, including intelligence and counterintelligence actions.  
- Deadline set for response by 21 October 1976.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Office of Professional Responsibility (Justice Department)  
- Justice Department  
- Attorney General’s office

MLK Declassified Files

02700796_rev_martin_luther_king.pdf

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