</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 EK 97-3-3499 WILLIAM M. THOMAS, CALIFORNIA, EK 77-3/4/99 SAM GEJEONSON, CONNECTICUT CHAIRMAN EK 7-11/11/1/11 SEM GENUENSON, M.C. SEM GEJERSON, CONECTECTOR SEM J. M. MARYLAND, MICHIGAN ROBERT W. NEV. OHIO STEVEN M. MAYLAND, JOHNNY M. HAYLAND, KENTUCKY, MOBIRICK, MCHIGAN JOHNSON, OHIO JOHANN M. MACA, FLORIDA Congress of the United States STACY CARLON, JOHN M. MCA, Florida STEVENT M. NAYLAND House of Representatives STACY C. CARLTON, STEVAN M. DAVID MORRITTY STAFF DIRECTOR COMMITTEE ON HOUSE OVERVIEW (Rf ER97-3249) 1309 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING (222) 225-8231 (222] 225-8921 Washington, DC 2015-0197 October 21, 1997 The Honorable George J. Tenet Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C ., 20505 Dear Director: By letter dated August 29, 1997 (copy attached), the Committee on House Oversight requested that you provide to the Committee, in writing by September 15, 1997, any specific concerns or objections to the CIA may have regarding a proposal to provide access to House records relating to the murder of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. On September 15. 1997, the Committee was contacted, by phone, by CIA staff who indicated that a written response would be submitted to the Committee as as possible. However, as of this date, the committee has received no such response. If the Committee does not receive a written reply by close of business on Monday, October 27, 1997, we will be forced to make a decision on this matter without the benefit of input by the CIA. Please contact Dan Crowley, General Counsel to the Committee, at 202/225-2821, if you have any questions. Best regards, Bill Thomas Bill Thomas Chairman WMT/d/fcc Enclosure B-205

Summary  
The text contains two letters dated August 29, 1997, and October 21, 1997, exchanged between Bill Thomas, Chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, and George J. Tenet, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The first letter outlines the Committee’s request for the CIA to provide concerns or objections regarding a proposal to grant access to House records related to the murder of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The CIA had not submitted a written response by the deadline of September 15, 1997, prompting the Committee to consider proceeding without CIA input. The second letter details a separate request from Andrew N. Hall, attorney for James Earl Ray (the alleged assassin of MLK), seeking access to House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) files held at the National Archives. The Director of the Center for Legislative Archives noted that some CIA documents within these records require prior review before public release. The CIA director proposed allowing Mr. Ray’s attorney limited access for his defense without public disclosure, a suggestion the Committee is evaluating.  

Key People  
- Bill Thomas: Chairman of the Committee on House Oversight  
- George J. Tenet: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Andrew N. Hall: Attorney for James Earl Ray  
- James Earl Ray: Alleged assassin of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.  
- Dan Crowley: General Counsel to the Committee on House Oversight  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C.: Headquarters of the CIA and National Archives  
- Longworth House Office Building: Location of the Committee on House Oversight  

Key Events  
- Request by the Committee on House Oversight for CIA input on access to MLK assassination records  
- Proposal by the CIA director to allow limited access to HSCA files for James Earl Ray’s attorney without public disclosure  
- Deadline for CIA response to the Committee’s request (September 15, 1997)  

Key Organizations  
- Committee on House Oversight: U.S. Congress committee overseeing legislative processes  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA): Investigative body examining assassination cases  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): U.S. intelligence agency involved in reviewing classified records  
- Center for Legislative Archives: Federal agency managing congressional records and archives

MLK Declassified Files

07167612_letter_from_house_oversig.pdf

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