</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 U.S. Department of Justice Jellette Crandle. Civil Rights Division A new one abled. A new ond abed. BFK:bbm I am one abed airine DJ 144-72-1991 Criminal Section P.O. Box 66018 Washington, D.C. 2035-6018 JUL 30 1999 Mr. Robert Caudle Chief, Litigation Division Office of General Counsel Central Intelligence Agency Washington, DC. 20505 Dear Mr. Caudie: Our letter of February 17, 1999, requested review of certain of your agency's files that might contain information relevant to our investigation of new allegations related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Also, we agreed to advise you regarding anything we might include in our public report that relates to information obtained from your agency. We appreciate your cooperation for Your office collected documentation of our request for information from your agency's files related to any member in Memphis and April activities of Marrell McCollough in March in April 1968; (2) the activities of any member of the Memphis Police federal asset from your period, (3) and (4) the activities of any national security and military intelligence resources in Memphis during that same time period. Mr. Massie reviewed the documents provided in response to this request in May 1999. Based on our review, we intend to include in the public reports that investigation and conclusion that the CIA has no records that any investigation in the United States Military Department or any federal agency or the United State Military was involved in anyway in the assassination of Dr. King. Please advise your views about our proposed public release of this conclusion. Sincerely! Barry F. Kowalski Special Litigation Counsel Criminal Sectio

Summary  
The document is a letter dated July 30, 1999, from Barry F. Kowalski, Special Litigation Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice, to Robert Caudle, Chief of the Litigation Division at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The letter references a prior request from February 17, 1999, for the CIA to review its files regarding information relevant to an investigation into new allegations about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The DOJ sought details on activities related to Marrell McCollough in Memphis during April 1968, federal assets linked to Memphis Police Department members, and national security/military intelligence resources in Memphis during that period. Mr. Massie reviewed the CIA’s response in May 1999. The DOJ concluded that the CIA has no records indicating involvement of U.S. military or federal agencies in Dr. King’s assassination. The letter requests the CIA’s feedback on the proposed public release of this conclusion.  

Key People  
- Barry F. Kowalski (Special Litigation Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice)  
- Robert Caudle (Chief, Litigation Division, Central Intelligence Agency)  
- Mr. Massie (individual who reviewed CIA documents in May 1999)  
- Marrell McCollough (individual referenced in the investigation)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (central location for activities under review)  
- Washington, D.C. (headquarters of U.S. Department of Justice and CIA)  

Key Events  
- Request by DOJ to CIA for files on Memphis-related activities linked to Dr. King’s assassination (April 1968)  
- Review of CIA documents by Mr. Massie in May 1999  
- DOJ’s conclusion that no U.S. military or federal agency involvement was found in the assassination  
- Proposed public release of this conclusion and request for CIA input  

Key Organizations  
- U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Memphis Police Department (referenced as a federal asset)

MLK Declassified Files

07167442_letter_from_doj_kowalksi.pdf

Document Summary

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