</s>APPROVED FOR RELEASE 2025 UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 14176 OCA.Ceamle Central Intelligence Agency R.F.ER97-524947 Washington, D.C. 2005 ER97 - 514917 OCA 97-1805 28 October 1997 The Honorable Bill Thomas Chairman Committee on House Oversight House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: I have been asked to respond to your letters to the Director of Central Intelligence dated 29 August 1997 (which we received on 11 September 1997) and 21 October 1997, concerning a proposal by the Director of the Center for Legislative Archives (CIA) to on 11 Septembre 1997) an attorney for Legislative Archives (CIA). to by The Director of an Attorneys on Assessing James Earl Ray, give Andrew N. Hall, an attorney on Assassinating James Earl Rays, access to House Select Committee on Assessinating James Ray, materials concerning the Martin Luther King Jr. (HSCA) The Director of this CLA is indicated that certain Center's records relating to the King assassination that contain classified CIA information or CIA documents. As your letter suggests, CIA- approval would be a precedent to making that any other CIA- approval should be available to the public. Any other CIA- approval could be a precautionation to making CIA information available to appreciation would be available for the public, accordingly, as precondition would be required to make CIA Mr. Ray. Accordingly, as Mr. Hall to assist him to making CIA information availableto outlined more fully below, we must, Mr. Raymond, according to the CIA Director's proposal to show how much CIA material object to Mr. Hall. Director's proposals to show you such CIA materials. Mr.Hall would have to have any the proper security clearance to review any CIA Material. Without the required security clearance clearance, Mr./ Hall would not meet the President's security requirements for access to classified information prescribed Executive Order 12956. Please note that those contained in requirements apply regardless of the purposes motivating the request for access. B.205

Summary  
The letter outlines the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) response to a request by the Center for Legislative Archives (CLA) Director regarding access to classified CIA records related to the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination investigation. The CLA proposed allowing attorney Andrew N. Hall to review materials concerning James Earl Ray and the MLK assassination. The CIA declined, stating that access to classified information requires proper security clearance under Executive Order 12956. The agency emphasized that declassification or clearance must be completed before any materials could be made available. The CIA also noted that Mr. Hall would need to demonstrate eligibility for access to classified national security information, including providing background details such as social security number [SSN REDACTED].  

Key People  
- John H. Mosesan: Director of Congressional Affairs at the CIA  
- Bill Thomas: Chairman of the House Oversight Committee  
- Andrew N. Hall: Attorney associated with the Center for Legislative Archives (CLA)  
- James Earl Ray: Suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C.  

Key Events  
- Discussion of access to CIA records related to the MLK assassination investigation  
- Requirement for security clearance and declassification procedures  
- Reference to Executive Order 12956 governing classified information access  
- Mention of social security number [SSN REDACTED] in background verification  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Center for Legislative Archives (CLA)  
- House Oversight Committee

MLK Declassified Files

07167613_letter_from_cia_director.pdf

Document Summary

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