</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 WILLIAM M. THOMAS, CALIFORNIA, ER 97-5249 SAN GILBERT, CONNECTICUT, CHAIRMAN SARAH GILBORNE, MARYLAND, MEMBER ROBERT M. O'HIRO STEVEN J. HOYER, MAYLAND, JOHNSON, M.C.A. MORRISON, MICHIGAN CAROLINA, MARTLAND, MI JOHNNY M. C. MORRILL, MCHIGAN CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES STEVENT J. CARLSON, JOHN M. MCA, FLORIDA House of Representatives STEVENS J. CARTON, MORRILLO, MI. MICHICHIAN COMMITTEE ON HOUSE OVERSIGHTS MORRISON STAFF DIRECTION 1390 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING (202) 225-2821 Washington, DC 2015-0157 August 29, 1997 The Honorable George J. Tenet Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C ., 20505 Dear Director: The Committee on House Oversight has received a request from Andrew N. Hall, an attorney for James Earl Ray, for access to the files accumulated by the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) regarding the murder of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. These House records are currently maintained at the National Archives. The Director of the Center for Legislative Archives has informed the Committee that included in the House materials may be certain CIA documents, which must be screened prior to the release of the public. Since such a process takes considerable time, the Director has proposed providing Mr. Ray's attorney access to HSCA records without the Director's request providing the information in the records to be used for Mr. Ray's defense, while not made the information on the records used by the Mr. attorney's request, while preserving the privacy and sensitivity of the words. The Committee is currently evaluating the Director's suggestion, and requests that you provide any concerns or objections to the CIA may have having regarding this proposal to the Committee as soon as possible. In order to assist the Committee, such concerns or objections, if you should be specific, in writing, and received by Monday, September 15, 1997. Please contact Dan Crowley, General Counsel to the Committee, at 202/225-8281, if you have any questions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Summary:  
The text describes a communication from the House Oversight Committee regarding a request for access to records from the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) related to the murder of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The request was made by Andrew N. Hall, attorney for James Earl Ray. The Committee notes that some CIA documents within the HSCA files may require screening before public release due to their sensitivity. The Director of the Center for Legislative Archives proposed allowing Mr. Ray's attorney access to HSCA records without disclosing the contents to the attorney for use in his defense, while preserving privacy and confidentiality. The Committee is evaluating this proposal and seeks input from the CIA on potential concerns or objections by September 15, 1997.  

Key People:  
- Andrew N. Hall (attorney for James Earl Ray)  
- George J. Tenet (Director of Central Intelligence Agency)  
- Dan Crowley (General Counsel to the Committee)  

Key Locations:  
- Washington, D.C.  
- National Archives  
- Longworth House Office Building  

Key Events:  
- Request for access to HSCA records by Andrew N. Hall  
- Discussion on releasing CIA documents from HSCA files  
- Evaluation of proposal to limit disclosure of record contents  
- Deadline for CIA objections (September 15, 1997)  

Key Organizations:  
- House Oversight Committee  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Center for Legislative Archives

MLK Declassified Files

07167611_letter_from_committee_on.pdf

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