diff --git a/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md b/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md index b8fb9c93..b149c29a 100644 --- a/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md +++ b/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md @@ -1,3 +1,67 @@ +- 2026-10-15T1757 · [[The Finders]] +- 2026-10-15T1757 · [[National Bank of Oman]] +- 2026-10-15T1757 · [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] +- 2026-10-15T1757 · [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] +- 2026-10-15T1757 · [[John Di Giorgio]] +- 2026-10-15T1755 · [[Marion Pettie]] +- 2026-10-15T1755 · [[Ramon J. Martinez]] +- 2026-10-15T1755 · [[Future Enterprises]] +- 2026-10-15T1750 · [[Robert Booth Nichols]] +- 2026-10-15T1750 · [[Peter Videnieks]] +- 2026-10-15T1750 · [[Danny Casolaro]] +- 2026-10-15T1750 · [[Bill Turner]] +- 2026-10-15T1750 · [[Bill Hamilton]] +- 2026-10-15T1748 · [[Joseph Cuellar]] +- 2026-10-15T1747 · [[R.C. Horsch]] +- 2026-10-15T1747 · [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)]] +- 2026-10-15T1747 · [[Bandbox Theater]] +- 2026-10-15T1747 · [[The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig]] +- 2026-10-15T1747 · [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]] +- 2026-10-15T1746 · [[John Krol]] +- 2026-10-15T1746 · [[Art Carduner]] +- 2026-10-15T1746 · [[Black Mass (1975 film)]] +- 2026-10-15T1745 · [[Iran-Contra Affair]] +- 2026-10-15T1745 · [[Rockefeller Commission 1975]] +- 2026-10-15T1745 · [[Dick Cheney]] +- 2026-10-15T1744 · [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] +- 2026-10-15T1744 · [[Michael Riconosciuto]] +- 2026-10-15T1743 · [[Robert Barnes]] +- 2026-10-15T1743 · [[Peter Zokosky]] +- 2026-10-15T1743 · [[Jimmy Hughes]] +- 2026-10-15T1743 · [[Ben Kalka]] +- 2026-10-15T1742 · [[Khalfan al-Mazrui]] +- 2026-10-15T1741 · [[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]] +- 2026-10-15T1741 · [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan]] +- 2026-10-15T1700 · [[Karel Maasdam]] +- 2026-10-15T1659 · [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] +- 2026-10-15T1659 · [[Mellon Family]] +- 2026-10-15T1659 · [[Martin Gardner]] +- 2026-10-15T1659 · [[Arthur Koestler]] +- 2026-10-15T1658 · [[Synchronicity]] +- 2026-10-15T1657 · [[Martin Orne]] +- 2026-10-15T1657 · [[Project MKUltra]] +- 2026-10-15T1657 · [[Multiple Personality Disorder]] +- 2026-10-15T1657 · [[Hypnotism]] +- 2026-10-15T1657 · [[False Memory Syndrome]] +- 2026-10-15T1656 · [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]] +- 2026-10-15T1656 · [[Iron Gates]] +- 2026-10-15T1656 · [[Terrorgram Collective]] +- 2026-10-15T1656 · [[Martinet Press]] +- 2026-10-15T1656 · [[Order of Nine Angles]] +- 2026-10-15T1654 · [[Jean-Michel Nihoul]] +- 2026-10-15T1654 · [[Marc Dutroux]] +- 2026-10-15T1653 · [[Oakland County Child Killer]] +- 2026-10-15T1653 · [[John Wayne Gacy]] +- 2026-10-15T1653 · [[Serial Killer]] +- 2026-10-15T1652 · [[Rolodex Investigation]] +- 2026-10-15T1650 · [[Salvatore La Russa]] +- 2026-10-15T1650 · [[Georgina Spelvin]] +- 2026-10-15T1650 · [[Sam Lake]] +- 2026-10-15T1649 · [[Margaret Thatcher]] +- 2026-10-15T1649 · [[Syrian Embassy in London]] +- 2026-10-15T1648 · [[Robert Bigelow]] +- 2026-10-15T1648 · [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] +- 2026-10-15T1646 · [[Skinwalker Ranch]] - 2026-10-15T1518 · [[Charlie Sargent]] - 2026-10-15T1518 · [[Blood and Honour]] - 2026-10-15T1518 · [[William Bradford Reynolds]] @@ -5,7 +69,6 @@ - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Great St. James]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[DP World]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[David Myatt]] -- 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[National Commercial Bank]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Scott Weekly]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Pablo Escobar]] @@ -23,78 +86,15 @@ - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Ramon Milian Rodriguez]] - 2026-10-15T1516 · [[Gerrit-Jan Ulrich]] - 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Tempel ov Blood]] -- 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Order of Nine Angles]] - 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Atomwaffen Division]] - 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Joshua Caleb Sutter]] - 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Charles Manson]] - 2026-10-15T1349 · [[Kaleb Cole]] - 2026-10-15T1347 · [[Eugene Horsch]] -- 2026-10-15T1347 · [[R.C. Horsch]] - 2026-10-15T1347 · [[Siege]] - 2026-10-15T1345 · [[James Mason]] - 2026-10-15T1345 · [[Oscar Guerrero]] - 2026-10-15T1345 · [[Mordecai Vanunu]] - 2026-10-15T1345 · [[Cindy Hanin Bentov]] -- 2026-10-15T1344 · [[The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig]] -- 2026-10-15T1344 · [[Sam Lake]] - 2026-10-15T1344 · [[Thomas Olmstead]] -- 2026-10-15T1343 · [[Michael Riconosciuto]] - 2026-10-15T1342 · [[Martin Bacow]] -- 2026-10-15T1341 · [[John St. John]] -- 2026-10-15T1341 · [[Angelo Commito]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Olney House Investigation]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Philadelphia District Attorney's Office]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Raymond C. Hoersch]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Helen M. Hoersch]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Helen E. Hoersch]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Clara Hoersch]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Amy McHale]] -- 2026-10-15T1340 · [[Albert Hoersch]] -- 2026-10-15T1338 · [[Myroslawa Ferkuniak]] -- 2026-10-15T1338 · [[Peter Videnieks]] -- 2026-10-15T1338 · [[Danny Casolaro]] -- 2026-10-15T1337 · [[Joseph Cuellar]] -- 2026-10-15T1337 · [[Iron Gates]] -- 2026-10-15T1336 · [[Martinet Press]] -- 2026-10-15T1333 · [[Jillian Hoy]] -- 2026-10-15T1253 · [[Jay Stratton]] -- 2026-10-15T1253 · [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]] -- 2026-10-15T1253 · [[Regina Louf]] -- 2026-10-15T1252 · [[Operation Mongoose]] -- 2026-10-15T1252 · [[Webster Hubbell]] -- 2026-10-15T1252 · [[Lippo Group]] -- 2026-10-15T1250 · [[Skinwalker Ranch]] -- 2026-10-15T1250 · [[Serial Killer]] -- 2026-10-15T1249 · [[Mochtar Riady]] -- 2026-10-15T1249 · [[LippoBank]] -- 2026-10-15T1249 · [[John Huang]] -- 2026-10-15T1249 · [[James Riady]] -- 2026-10-15T1249 · [[Hong Kong Chinese Bank]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[Syrian Embassy in London]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[El Al]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[Nezar Hindawi]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[Rolodex Investigation]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[Netherlands]] -- 2026-10-15T1246 · [[Joris Demmink]] -- 2026-10-15T1244 · [[Wolfgang Pauli]] -- 2026-10-15T1244 · [[Synchronicity]] -- 2026-10-15T1244 · [[Robert A. McConnell]] -- 2026-10-15T1244 · [[Pauli Effect]] -- 2026-10-15T1243 · [[National Security Archive]] -- 2026-10-15T1243 · [[Harry Shlaudeman]] -- 2026-10-15T1243 · [[Pedro Espinoza]] -- 2026-10-15T1243 · [[Frank Teruggi]] -- 2026-10-15T1243 · [[Charles Horman]] -- 2026-10-15T1240 · [[Edward Lansdale]] -- 2026-10-15T1240 · [[William Harvey]] -- 2026-10-15T1239 · [[ZR RIFLE]] -- 2026-10-15T1151 · [[Ronald Pandolfi]] -- 2026-10-15T1150 · [[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] -- 2026-10-15T1150 · [[Central Intelligence Agency]] -- 2026-10-15T1149 · [[Philip Nordo]] -- 2026-10-15T1148 · [[Frank Vanore]] -- 2026-10-15T1148 · [[Red Army Faction]] -- 2026-10-15T1148 · [[Baader-Meinhof Group]] -- 2026-10-15T1148 · [[Ulrike Meinhof]] -- 2026-10-15T1148 · [[Vietnam War]] -- 2026-10-15T1146 · [[Gudrun Ensslin]] diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Art Carduner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Art Carduner.md index 11b0c7e9..1eab3c2a 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Art Carduner.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Art Carduner.md @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ relations: end: 1975 fn: 1 created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Art Carduner (about 1919 to December 4, 2009) was a [[Philadelphia]] bookseller, book reviewer and exhibitor of foreign and art films who owned the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] from 1966 to 1975. In February 1975, after the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] cancelled a midnight showing of *[[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]]* by Ray Hoersch, later [[R.C. Horsch]], following what the *Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], Carduner gave the film a midnight screening at the Bandbox.[^1][^2] @@ -27,10 +27,11 @@ Carduner grew up in [[New York City]] and came to Philadelphia in 1941. Before t ### Hoersch -The Bandbox's connection with Hoersch predates *Black Mass*. When the city's [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections|Department of Licenses and Inspections]] closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] in late 1969, the Bandbox ran the Vietnam documentary *[[In the Year of the Pig]]*, which Cinema 16 had under contract.[^3] On February 28, 1975, the *Inquirer* reported that *Black Mass* "will be shown at the Germantown Bandbox Theater this Saturday at midnight," according to "the Bandbox's Art Carduner, who gave the film a new home," as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Hoersch attending.[^2] +The Bandbox's connection with Hoersch predates *Black Mass*. When the city's [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections|Department of Licenses and Inspections]] closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] in late 1969, the Bandbox ran the Vietnam documentary *[[In the Year of the Pig]]*, which Cinema 16 had under contract.[^3] On February 28, 1975, the *Inquirer* reported that *Black Mass* "will be shown at the Germantown Bandbox Theater this Saturday at midnight," according to "the Bandbox's Art Carduner, who gave the film a new home," as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Hoersch attending.[^2] The *Inquirer*'s news story of the same date reported that the center-city house called the report of its booking "a mistake."[^4] ### Footnotes [^1]: Morrison, John F. "Art Carduner, a pioneer in exhibiting foreign films in Phila.," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* December 9, 2009. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20091209_Art_Carduner__a_pioneer_in_exhibiting_foreign_films_in_Phila_.html [^2]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ [^3]: *The Distant Drummer,* no. 65, December 25, 1969, p. 8, Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/473 +[^4]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md index 9f865221..d9648e0a 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md @@ -61,15 +61,21 @@ Casolaro had packed his notes, handwritten outlines, a 12-page Riconosciuto memo The Martinsburg police report on the death was obtained by the Australian researcher Peter Osborne through a Freedom of Information Act request filed in 2004, according to a *CovertAction Magazine* article by Jeremy Kuzmarov of October 16, 2024, which also stated that [[Christian Hansen]] and [[Zachary Treitz]], the producers of the Netflix series *American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders*, had received a copy in 2014.[^5] The article reported that the report includes a witness sketch of a man seen entering and leaving Casolaro's room on the day he was found dead, and that the man "bears strong resemblance to Major Joseph Cuellar."[^5] A Justice Department review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine records a different witness account: a guest in an adjoining room saw someone matching Casolaro's general description enter room 517 with a key at about 9:00 p.m. on August 9, 1991, carrying a brown paper bag, and did not see the man's face; the same text states that no one was seen entering or leaving the room on the morning of August 10.[^6] [[Joseph Cuellar]] had made contact with Casolaro weeks earlier at a local bar. Cuellar talked of his exploits in the Army special forces, and Casolaro asked him repeatedly to arrange a meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]], the DOJ contracting official central to the PROMIS case, to question him about Riconosciuto's March 1991 affidavit. The Justice Department's 1994 review of the Bua report recorded that Videnieks' wife works for Senator [[Robert Byrd]], and that Cuellar said a former fiancée had worked with her in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Cuellar called Videnieks, who refused.[^1][^7] -The 1994 Justice Department review of the Bua report addressed the allegation that Videnieks was involved in the death. The review found "no evidence whatsoever" of his involvement and recorded that Videnieks said he had been at a summer cottage in New York state from August 5 to August 11, 1991. His personnel records reflect leave in that period, and a credit card receipt shows a purchase at a bookstore in Oneonta, New York, on August 9. The review found no evidence linking Cuellar to the death, and recorded that Cuellar was in Washington, D.C., on August 10, 1991.[^8] +A March 14, 1994 letter from [[Charles R. Work]], counsel for Bill Hamilton and Nancy Hamilton of INSLAW, to [[John C. Dwyer]], written after a March 1, 1994 meeting attended by [[Steven E. Zipperstein]] and [[Scott A. Erskine]], states that Erskine had confirmed a statement that Martinsburg police took from a hotel maid. According to the letter, the maid saw a man leave Casolaro's room on the Saturday morning of the death, and the statement described him as a man in his 30s with "an excellent sun tan," wearing a tee-shirt, dark slacks and deck shoes. The letter asked whether this was the "dark-skinned man" whom press accounts described Casolaro waiting for in the hotel bar on the Thursday evening before his death.[^8] + +A later passage of a Justice Department copy of the review records William Turner's account, relayed by the Hamiltons, that Casolaro planned to meet in Martinsburg with Peter Videnieks, Cuellar, an unidentified person from Senator Robert Byrd's office, an unidentified IRS employee and the attorney [[Robert Altman]]. The same passage records a report by a caller to the [[Unsolved Mysteries]] hotline of seeing [[Clark Clifford]] and Altman driving in Martinsburg on the day of Casolaro's death in a late-model Chevrolet Caprice, and states: "We have no reason to believe either of these claims."[^9] + +[[Fox News]] reported in March 2024 that Martinsburg police granted a public records request by Hansen dated 2013, and that the police file contained statements from another woman in the hotel who said she saw a dark-haired man enter Casolaro's room on the evening of his death. Kuzmarov's October 2024 article gave 2014 as the year Hansen and Treitz received a copy of the report.[^10] + +The 1994 Justice Department review of the Bua report addressed the allegation that Videnieks was involved in the death. The review found "no evidence whatsoever" of his involvement and recorded that Videnieks said he had been at a summer cottage in New York state from August 5 to August 11, 1991. His personnel records reflect leave in that period, and a credit card receipt shows a purchase at a bookstore in Oneonta, New York, on August 9. The review found no evidence linking Cuellar to the death, and recorded that Cuellar was in Washington, D.C., on August 10, 1991.[^11] ### Congressional and Official Findings The [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]'s September 1992 report noted that Casolaro had "encountered dangerous individuals associated with organized crime and the world of covert intelligence operations" and recommended further investigation into the circumstances of his death. The committee found no evidence that DOJ had sought to influence the local West Virginia investigation.[^2] -The Bua Report, completed in March 1993, stated that "the physical evidence in Casolaro's hotel room strongly supports the conclusion of the local authorities that the death was a suicide," found no DOJ influence on the local investigation, and stated that "there was ample reason to believe Casolaro had a motive to commit suicide," noting that he had been unemployed for months, was dependent on family for support, faced a balloon mortgage, and had been told by a prospective publisher shortly before his death that it would not advance him money on his proposed book about the "Octopus."[^9] +The Bua Report, completed in March 1993, stated that "the physical evidence in Casolaro's hotel room strongly supports the conclusion of the local authorities that the death was a suicide," found no DOJ influence on the local investigation, and stated that "there was ample reason to believe Casolaro had a motive to commit suicide," noting that he had been unemployed for months, was dependent on family for support, faced a balloon mortgage, and had been told by a prospective publisher shortly before his death that it would not advance him money on his proposed book about the "Octopus."[^12] -The Bua report listed the tests it relied on: handwriting analysis confirming that Casolaro wrote the note found in the room; fingerprint analysis finding his prints and none other except a single print on an ash tray; hair and fiber analysis; an analysis of the bloodstains by Dr. Lee of the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory consistent with suicide; and an autopsy finding hemorrhage from the wrist wounds as the cause of death and no evidence that he was unconscious or debilitated when cut. It addressed criticisms that the room was not sealed, that notification of next of kin was delayed while the body was embalmed, and that Martinsburg authorities discounted suspicions about his "sources," stating that "no credible evidence suggested that any of Casolaro's 'sources' played any role in his death." The report also records that Michael Riconosciuto, in a lawsuit against Bua, alleged that one of the FBI agents assigned to the investigation had murdered Casolaro; the district court dismissed the suit as patently frivolous (*Riconosciuto v. Bua*, No. 92 C 6217, N.D. Ill.).[^10] +The Bua report listed the tests it relied on: handwriting analysis confirming that Casolaro wrote the note found in the room; fingerprint analysis finding his prints and none other except a single print on an ash tray; hair and fiber analysis; an analysis of the bloodstains by Dr. Lee of the Connecticut State Police Forensic Science Laboratory consistent with suicide; and an autopsy finding hemorrhage from the wrist wounds as the cause of death and no evidence that he was unconscious or debilitated when cut. It addressed criticisms that the room was not sealed, that notification of next of kin was delayed while the body was embalmed, and that Martinsburg authorities discounted suspicions about his "sources," stating that "no credible evidence suggested that any of Casolaro's 'sources' played any role in his death." The report also records that Michael Riconosciuto, in a lawsuit against Bua, alleged that one of the FBI agents assigned to the investigation had murdered Casolaro; the district court dismissed the suit as patently frivolous (*Riconosciuto v. Bua*, No. 92 C 6217, N.D. Ill.).[^13] FBI task force members assigned to examine Casolaro's death privately "questioned the conclusion of suicide" and recommended further investigation; expressing doubt about the ruling reportedly "risked one's career" within the Bureau as of December 1992. FBI documents related to Casolaro remain partially withheld from public release under national security exemptions, while the Bureau simultaneously claims the files are missing - a contradiction noted by MuckRock journalists who filed FOIA requests.[^1] @@ -81,9 +87,9 @@ Casolaro's investigation intersected with the drug-trafficking networks document ### The research files -Casolaro's research files, photographed by Christian Hansen at the Missouri State Historical Society and published on the Internet Archive, include a folder labelled "Promotional Material" of corporate and weapons literature, hand-numbered "BD|AI|PM-01" onward. Its items are a brochure for the Inter-Probe modular energy transfer catalyzer (PM-01), a printed page numbered 207 on fuel air munitions (PM-02), a [[Brunswick Corporation]] defense division cover sheet and drawing for the Rifleman's Assault Weapon for urban warfare dated October 1976 (PM-03), a sales sheet of the defense division of the Chilean firm [[Industrias Cardoen]] (PM-04) and a fax of the resumes of the associates of [[Counter Terrorism Consultants, Inc.]], whose fax counters run 141 P01 to 141 P12 (PM-05) and whose page headers carry the date June 20, 1990 and times from 16:53 to 17:01.[^11] In the order of the photographs the folder runs PM-04, PM-02, PM-03, PM-05, PM-01.[^11] The packet names [[Carter Cornick]], [[Eugene Propper]], [[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.|E. Lawrence Barcella]], [[Francis J. McNeil]], [[James B. Motley]] (a vice president of [[Wackenhut Advanced Technologies Corporation]]), [[Mayer Nudell]] and a former CIA counterterrorism chief whose entry carries no name.[^11] The files also contain a folder of 1980s newspaper and magazine material on [[Frank Terpil]] and [[Edwin Wilson]], folders of Wackenhut annual reports, correspondence, profiles and newsletters, and, in a folder of Department of Defense publications, a magazine article by David Corn on Barcella and the Pan Am 103 bombing.[^12] +Casolaro's research files, photographed by Christian Hansen at the Missouri State Historical Society and published on the Internet Archive, include a folder labelled "Promotional Material" of corporate and weapons literature, hand-numbered "BD|AI|PM-01" onward. Its items are a brochure for the Inter-Probe modular energy transfer catalyzer (PM-01), a printed page numbered 207 on fuel air munitions (PM-02), a [[Brunswick Corporation]] defense division cover sheet and drawing for the Rifleman's Assault Weapon for urban warfare dated October 1976 (PM-03), a sales sheet of the defense division of the Chilean firm [[Industrias Cardoen]] (PM-04) and a fax of the resumes of the associates of [[Counter Terrorism Consultants, Inc.]], whose fax counters run 141 P01 to 141 P12 (PM-05) and whose page headers carry the date June 20, 1990 and times from 16:53 to 17:01.[^14] In the order of the photographs the folder runs PM-04, PM-02, PM-03, PM-05, PM-01.[^14] The packet names [[Carter Cornick]], [[Eugene Propper]], [[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.|E. Lawrence Barcella]], [[Francis J. McNeil]], [[James B. Motley]] (a vice president of [[Wackenhut Advanced Technologies Corporation]]), [[Mayer Nudell]] and a former CIA counterterrorism chief whose entry carries no name.[^14] The files also contain a folder of 1980s newspaper and magazine material on [[Frank Terpil]] and [[Edwin Wilson]], folders of Wackenhut annual reports, correspondence, profiles and newsletters, and, in a folder of Department of Defense publications, a magazine article by David Corn on Barcella and the Pan Am 103 bombing.[^15] -The INSLAW folder of the research files includes a *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* report of February 19, 1991 that names Industrias Cardoen and its owner [[Carlos Cardoen]]. It states that [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], in an affidavit filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, said that Cardoen told him in January 1989 that Cardoen had brokered a deal between Earl Brian and an Iraqi military intelligence representative for the use of PROMIS, and that the sale was consummated in Santiago, Chile.[^13] Brian called the allegations "nonsense," according to the report.[^13] The report of Special Counsel [[Nicholas J. Bua]] dates the affidavit February 17, 1991.[^14] +The INSLAW folder of the research files includes a *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* report of February 19, 1991 that names Industrias Cardoen and its owner [[Carlos Cardoen]]. It states that [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], in an affidavit filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, said that Cardoen told him in January 1989 that Cardoen had brokered a deal between Earl Brian and an Iraqi military intelligence representative for the use of PROMIS, and that the sale was consummated in Santiago, Chile.[^16] Brian called the allegations "nonsense," according to the report.[^16] The report of Special Counsel [[Nicholas J. Bua]] dates the affidavit February 17, 1991.[^17] ### Bibliography @@ -96,12 +102,15 @@ The INSLAW folder of the research files includes a *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* rep [^3]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Chapter 6: "They were doing their patriotic duty." [^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, *Report of the United States Department of Justice on the Review of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua's Report on the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.*, September 27, 1994, p. 9 (Summary item 4) and pp. 107-168 (Section V), at pp. 137 (August 7, 1991 call, August 17, 1991 letter, later interview), 146 (September 1990 agent meeting; "part-time author"), 148 to 149 (December 1990 New York meetings) and 154 (his account of Casolaro's state of mind). https://archive.org/details/InslawPROMISBuaReport. [^5]: Kuzmarov, Jeremy. "Witness Sketch of Man Seen Entering and Leaving Journalist's Room on the Day He Was Found Dead Resembles Former CIA Agent." *CovertAction Magazine*, October 16, 2024. https://covertactionmagazine.com/2024/10/16/witness-sketch-of-man-seen-entering-and-leaving-journalists-room-on-the-day-he-was-found-dead-resembles-former-cia-agent/ -[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release pp. 69-70 (printed pp. 53-54), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release pp. 70-71 (printed pp. 54-55), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro [^7]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 161-162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^8]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 159-160, 162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 ("B. The Death of Joseph Daniel Casolaro"). -[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 and p. 69. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^11]: Danny Casolaro papers, folder "Promotional Material," Internet Archive items casolaro-notebooks (PromotionalMaterial.pdf) and PromotionalMaterial, https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. -[^12]: Danny Casolaro papers, folders "CIA Frank Terpil Renegades," "Wackenhut - Newsletters" and "DOD PUBLICATIONS," https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files (the Corn item is headed "SPECIAL EDITION - TERRORISM / Did It Blow Up Flight 103?"). -[^13]: *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*, February 19, 1991, "Stolen Software Scattered: Affidavits Allege Sales To Iraqis And Israelis," clipping in the INSLAW folder, https://archive.org/download/casolaro-notebooks/InslawIi_djvu.txt. -[^14]: Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General regarding the allegations of INSLAW, Inc. (March 1993), pp. 73-74. +[^8]: Letter from Charles R. Work, McDermott, Will & Emery, counsel for William and Nancy Hamilton, to John C. Dwyer, Assistant Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, March 14, 1994. https://archive.org/details/MaidWitnessCasolaroDeath +[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, Casolaro review passage on William Turner's account and the hotline report, DOCID 70098622, release p. 108. https://archive.org/details/DOJReportOnDanielJCasolaro +[^10]: Coulter, Christina. "'Octopus Murders' conspiracy puts spotlight on journalist's mysterious 'suicide'." *Fox News*, March 16, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/us/octopus-murders-conspiracy-puts-spotlight-journalists-mysterious-suicide.print +[^11]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 159-160, 162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 ("B. The Death of Joseph Daniel Casolaro"). +[^13]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 and p. 69. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^14]: Danny Casolaro papers, folder "Promotional Material," Internet Archive items casolaro-notebooks (PromotionalMaterial.pdf) and PromotionalMaterial, https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. +[^15]: Danny Casolaro papers, folders "CIA Frank Terpil Renegades," "Wackenhut - Newsletters" and "DOD PUBLICATIONS," https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files (the Corn item is headed "SPECIAL EDITION - TERRORISM / Did It Blow Up Flight 103?"). +[^16]: *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*, February 19, 1991, "Stolen Software Scattered: Affidavits Allege Sales To Iraqis And Israelis," clipping in the INSLAW folder, https://archive.org/download/casolaro-notebooks/InslawIi_djvu.txt. +[^17]: Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General regarding the allegations of INSLAW, Inc. (March 1993), pp. 73-74. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Cheney.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Cheney.md index 2506d1ff..a1260e62 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Cheney.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Cheney.md @@ -3,14 +3,22 @@ category: "Political Figure" aliases: - "Richard Cheney" - "Richard B. Cheney" + - "Richard Bruce Cheney" + - "Dick Cheney" tags: - Person - WhiteHouse - RockefellerCommission - IranContra - Halliburton + - KelloggBrownRoot + - ContinuityOfGovernment + - Plame + - Surveillance + - Detainees summary: "Ford's chief of staff who edited the Rockefeller Commission report in 1975, co-author of the Iran-Contra minority report, Secretary of Defense, Halliburton chief executive and Vice President from 2001 to 2009." born: 1941-01-30 +died: 2025-11-03 location: "Casper, Wyoming" relations: - type: employed_by @@ -19,6 +27,18 @@ relations: start: 1974 end: 1977 fn: 1 + - type: reported_to + with: "[[Donald Rumsfeld]]" + role: "deputy to Rumsfeld while Rumsfeld was White House chief of staff" + start: 1975 + end: 1975 + fn: 2 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Rockefeller Commission 1975]]" + role: "White House editor of the commission's draft report" + start: 1975-06 + end: 1975-06 + fn: 3 - type: head_of with: "[[Department of Defense]]" role: "Secretary of Defense" @@ -28,38 +48,143 @@ relations: - type: head_of with: "[[Halliburton]]" role: "chief executive" + start: 1995-10 end: 2000 - fn: 5 + fn: 15 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Iran-Contra Affair]]" + role: "House Republican on the investigating committees; signed the minority views" + start: 1987-11 + end: 1987-11 + fn: 9 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]]" + reverse: true + role: "2008 report on prewar public statements by Bush and Cheney" + start: 2008-06-05 + fn: 32 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Cheney v. United States District Court]]" + role: "petitioner, Vice President" + start: 2004-06-24 + fn: 27 + - type: spouse_of + with: "[[Lynne Cheney]]" + fn: 36 created: 2026-09-22 -updated: 2026-10-14 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- -Richard Bruce Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 30, 1941, and grew up in Casper, Wyoming. He was a congressional fellow in 1968, worked at the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Cost of Living Council, was deputy assistant to President [[Gerald R. Ford]] in 1974 and 1975 and his chief of staff from 1975 to 1977, represented Wyoming in the House from 1979 until March 17, 1989, was Secretary of Defense from 1989 to 1993, and was Vice President under [[George W. Bush]] from 2001 to 2009.[^1] +Richard Bruce Cheney was born in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]] on January 30, 1941, and grew up in [[Casper, Wyoming]]. He was a congressional fellow in 1968, worked at the [[Office of Economic Opportunity]] and the [[Cost of Living Council]], and was a vice president of the investment firm [[Bradley, Woods & Co.]] from 1973 to 1974. He was deputy assistant to President [[Gerald R. Ford]] in 1974 and 1975 and his chief of staff from 1975 to 1977. He represented Wyoming in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from January 3, 1979, until March 17, 1989, was [[Secretary of Defense]] from 1989 to 1993, was chief executive of [[Halliburton]] from 1995 to 2000, and was Vice President under [[George W. Bush]] from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009.[^1] ### The Rockefeller Commission Report -In June 1975, as deputy to the chief of staff, [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Cheney led the editing of the draft report of the [[Rockefeller Commission 1975|Rockefeller Commission]] on [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] activities in the [[United States]]. His handwritten comments survive. The section "Alleged Plans to Assassinate Certain Foreign Leaders," 86 pages long, was removed and replaced with a note that the commission had lacked time to finish the subject; language calling CIA activities "unlawful" was softened to "improper," except for the drug experiments, which were labeled "illegal"; and a recommendation that CIA employees be able to report improper activities was narrowed to orders "outside of established channels."[^2] +In June 1975, as deputy to the chief of staff, [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Cheney led the editing of the draft report of the [[Rockefeller Commission 1975|Rockefeller Commission]] on [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] activities in the [[United States]]. His handwritten comments survive. The [[National Security Archive]], which published the White House and commission files on February 29, 2016, reported "numerous edits to the report by then-deputy White House Chief of Staff Richard Cheney," and said that Cheney "led the way in 'editing' the Rockefeller report."[^2] The section "Alleged Plans to Assassinate Certain Foreign Leaders," 86 pages long, was removed and replaced with a note that the commission had lacked time to finish the subject; language calling CIA activities "unlawful" was softened to "improper," except for the drug experiments, which were labeled "illegal"; and a recommendation that CIA employees be able to report improper activities was narrowed to orders "outside of established channels."[^3] The archive's account of the same edit says it replaced the commission's language on unlawful activity with language about actions that merely exceeded the agencies' statutory authority, and that the Cheney-inspired edit added recommendations the panel had not voted.[^2] In the working copy of the report in the Ford Library file (Document 15), the chapter on mail openings keeps the conclusion that the CIA's domestic mail opening programs "were unlawful," strikes through a sentence stating that the mail-cover aspects of the projects "were not unlawful," and strikes "This was improper under the National Security Act," with handwriting added beneath it. The chapter on Operation CHAOS keeps "Some domestic activities of Operation CHAOS unlawfully exceeded the CIA's statutory authority" and strikes the sentence "These activities were improper."[^3] -### Iran-Contra +The archive reported that Cheney and White House Counsel [[Philip Buchen]], citing concerns raised by [[Henry Kissinger]], intervened to induce the commission's staff director, [[David W. Belin]], to cancel a press conference on the assassination findings.[^2] The June 5, 1975 commission section on CIA plots against foreign leaders, which covered plots against [[Fidel Castro]] and [[Rafael Trujillo]], was not released with the final report.[^3] Strategy papers for the report prepared in Cheney's office in June 1975 argued that giving the [[Church Committee]] the minutes and records of covert action groups "would be an unprecedented act."[^3] -As a House Republican on the Iran-Contra investigating committees, Cheney signed the minority report of November 1987, drafted principally by the committee staffer Michael Malbin. The report quoted Federalist No. 70, "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government," and stated that the Constitution protects the President's ability "to persuade U.S. citizens to engage voluntarily in otherwise legal activity to serve what they consider to be the national interest. That includes trying to persuade other countries to contribute their own funds for causes both countries support. To whatever extent the [[Boland Amendment|Boland Amendments]] tried to prohibit such activity, they were clearly unconstitutional."[^3] +### The Holystone Memoranda, May 1975 -On December 10, 1986, Cheney questioned [[Robert McFarlane]] before the [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Intelligence Committee]] about the Boland Amendment. McFarlane testified that in the summer of 1985 he "went to considerable length to determine whether" [[Oliver North]] had violated it, and that a document search "turned up two or three inches of paper, that reported on contacts that did occur between Colonel North and myself, indeed the President and Contra leaders." The committees wrote that in this testimony McFarlane withheld his concerns about the documents and asserted that they proved North had fully complied with the Boland Amendment.[^4] +On May 25, 1975, the [[New York Times]] published an article by [[Seymour Hersh]] on an American undersea intercept operation. Memoranda from the Cheney files show the White House response over the following week.[^4] On May 30, Donald Rumsfeld, then in [[Brussels]], cabled Cheney asking to be told when the secretary of defense had made his recommendation to the [[National Security Council]] on whether the operation should continue. Rumsfeld wrote that the FBI investigation of the disclosure should begin soon, unless starting it would adversely affect the operation, in which case he directed that it not be initiated.[^4] + +The same day, [[Robert McFarlane]] of the National Security Council staff sent Cheney a memorandum marked "Holystone" giving the Defense Department position. The Navy's tentative view was that planning for continuation should go forward, and the memorandum states that "to the extent that an investigation could generate publicity leading to a Soviet reaction, an investigation is considered a bad idea." It adds that [[James R. Schlesinger]] had concurred in the Navy's position.[^5] Cheney's memorandum to Rumsfeld the same day, summarizing the McFarlane report, recommends: "Based on the above, I recommend that no investigation be launched for the time being."[^6] + +A May 31, 1975 memorandum in the Cheney files records that [[Edward Levi]] had instructed the criminal division and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to prepare a proposal for an investigation. It states that "we should not have an FBI investigation if there is no intention to prosecute," and that "we believe the Hersh story of May 25 is based on papers filed with the court in the [[Victor Marchetti|Marchetti]] case."[^7] An undated memorandum from [[Rex E. Lee]] and [[John C. Keeney]] set out the steps needed for a possible prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 793 and 798 and for a contempt citation tied to the Marchetti protective order, and named an interview with Hersh as the initial step.[^8] + +### Iran-Contra Minority Views + +As a House Republican on the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] investigating committees, Cheney signed the minority views in the committees' report of November 1987 (H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216). The minority views were drafted principally by the committee staffer [[Michael J. Malbin]], whom the staff list names as minority editor and writer.[^9] They quoted [[Federalist No. 70]] on the executive: "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government."[^9] They argued that the Constitution protects the President's ability "to persuade U.S. citizens to engage voluntarily in otherwise legal activity to serve what they consider to be the national interest. That includes trying to persuade other countries to contribute their own funds for causes both countries support. To whatever extent the [[Boland Amendment|Boland Amendments]] tried to prohibit such activity, they were clearly unconstitutional."[^9] + +On December 10, 1986, Cheney questioned Robert McFarlane before the [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House Intelligence Committee]] about the Boland Amendment. McFarlane testified that in the summer of 1985 he "went to considerable length to determine whether" [[Oliver North]] had violated it, and that a document search "turned up two or three inches of paper, that reported on contacts that did occur between Colonel North and myself, indeed the President and Contra leaders." The majority report wrote that in this testimony McFarlane withheld his concerns about the documents and asserted that they proved North had fully complied with the Boland Amendment.[^10] + +### Secretary of Defense, 1989 to 1993 + +Cheney recalled in the [[Miller Center]] oral history of the [[George H. W. Bush]] presidency that "Panama was a great training experience for us as an administration. We had the opportunity to have an objective, have to use force, coordinate with the Congress, deal with the public, all of those things that come with using the force. It was really the first time we'd done it as an administration, and we learned from that." The invasion of [[Panama]] in December 1989 removed [[Manuel Noriega]]. [[Colin Powell]], then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in the same project: "Nobody even remembers the Panama war. You don't ever hear of it. But I viewed it as the template of how we should do things."[^11] + +In 1990 Cheney announced additional base closures and realignments. Public Law 101-510 provided for the [[Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission]] to meet in 1991, 1993 and 1995, and the commission's 1993 report discusses the 165 bases in the Secretary's list, which was submitted to the commission on March 12, 1993, after Cheney had left office.[^12] + +In February 1992 the Pentagon produced a draft [[Defense Planning Guidance]] for fiscal years 1994 to 1999, dated February 18, 1992. The New York Times published excerpts in March 1992. The National Security Archive's 2008 release of declassified drafts records that the draft aimed to "prevent the reemergence of a new rival," and that [[I. Lewis Libby]] sent Cheney cover memoranda on March 20 and March 26, 1992 with revised drafts. Colin Powell and [[Paul Wolfowitz]] approved the guidance in May 1992.[^13] PBS reported that the White House ordered Cheney to rewrite the document after the leak.[^14] The archive records that Cheney issued a revised version in January 1993 as the "Regional Defense Strategy."[^13] ### Halliburton -Cheney was chief executive of [[Halliburton]] in the late 1990s. [[Ray Hunt]] of [[Hunt Oil Company|Hunt Oil]] joined its board in 1998 and went at once onto its compensation committee, which that year gave Cheney a bonus of 1.1 million dollars and restricted stock worth 1.5 million on a salary of 1.18 million.[^5] As Vice President, he said on August 26, 2002, that the case of the Iraqi defector [[Hussein Kamel]] "should serve as a reminder to all that we often learned more as the result of defections than we learned from the inspection regime itself"; Kamel had told UN inspectors in August 1995 that Iraq's chemical, biological and missile stocks had been destroyed.[^6] +Cheney was chief executive of Halliburton from October 1995 to 2000. The company's FY1998 annual report, filed as an amendment, lists him as chief executive officer "since October 1995."[^15] The House biographical directory gives "chairman and chief executive office of the Halliburton Company 1993-2000" and, in the same entry, "senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute 1993-1995."[^1] [[Ray Hunt]] of [[Hunt Oil Company|Hunt Oil]] joined its board in 1998 (the 10-K/A lists a power of attorney he signed in October 1998 as a director) and went at once onto its compensation committee, which that year gave Cheney a bonus of 1.1 million dollars and restricted stock worth 1.5 million on a salary of 1.18 million.[^16] Halliburton, which acquired [[Dresser Industries]] in 1998, reported in the same filing that since 1976 approximately 190,000 claims had been filed against current and former Dresser divisions and subsidiaries alleging injury from inhaled asbestos fibers.[^15] + +On August 3, 2004, the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] announced enforcement actions against Halliburton, its former chief financial officer, Gary V. Morris, and its former controller, Robert C. Muchmore Jr., over the company's failure to disclose a 1998 change to its accounting practice. The commission said Halliburton's public statements about its 1998 and 1999 income were materially misleading. Halliburton agreed to a cease-and-desist order and to a $7.5 million penalty. The release stated that "the company's former Chief Executive Officer, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, provided sworn testimony and cooperated willingly and fully in the investigation."[^17] + +Halliburton's former subsidiary [[Kellogg, Brown & Root]] (KBR) pleaded guilty in February 2009 in federal court in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] to a five-count criminal information and agreed to pay $402 million in criminal fines. Halliburton and KBR jointly agreed to pay $177 million in forfeited profits to the SEC in a concurrent civil action, for a combined $579 million. The bribes were paid to officials of the [[Nigeria|Nigerian]] government from 1995 until 2004 to win contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on [[Bonny Island]], valued at more than $6 billion.[^18] The payments began in 1995, the year Cheney became chief executive, and continued until 2004. + +The Army's [[Logistics Civil Augmentation Program]] (LOGCAP) had been created in 1985; in 1992 its concept was changed to a single, centrally managed worldwide planning and services contract, and on August 3, 1992, during Cheney's tenure as Secretary of Defense, Brown and Root Services Corporation of Houston was awarded the contract competitively, a cost-plus-award-fee contract for one year with four option years. The [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] has administered it since 1992. Four companies competed, and a Commerce Business Daily notice drew 37 requests for the solicitation.[^19] + +On December 11, 2003, the [[Defense Contract Audit Agency]] issued a draft audit concluding that KBR had overcharged by up to $61 million for fuel imported into Iraq from Kuwait between May and September 2003 under the Restore Iraqi Oil contract; on January 15, 2004, the agency asked the Pentagon's inspector general to consider a formal investigation after finding "suspected irregularities."[^20] [[Bunnatine Greenhouse]], the Army Corps of Engineers' senior procurement executive, told the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on June 27, 2005 that "the abuse related to contracts awarded to KBR represents the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career." She testified that the Office of the Secretary of Defense controlled the award of the Restore Iraqi Oil contract, that she had written on the justification and approval document a caution against extending the noncompetitive effort beyond one year, that the commander of the Corps waived KBR's requirement to provide cost and pricing data about a week after the December 2003 audit without her approval, and that on October 6, 2004 she was notified that she would be removed from the Senior Executive Service and from her contracting post.[^21] + +### Continuity of Government + +In 2008 [[Jane Mayer]] wrote in [[The Dark Side (Mayer book)|The Dark Side]] that during the 1980s Cheney, then a Republican congressman from Wyoming, took part in one of the classified continuity-of-government programs of the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration. "Every year, usually during congressional recesses, Cheney would disappear in the dead of the night." Along with "some four or five dozen federal officials," Cheney "would pretend for several weeks to be chief of staff to a designated substitute 'president,' bivouacked in some remote location in the United States."[^22] + +Mayer wrote that a secret executive order signed by Reagan established "a means of re-creating the executive branch without informing Congress," and that Cheney "was evidently unperturbed by this oversight." She wrote that "Mann and others have suggested that these doomsday drills were a dress rehearsal for Cheney's calm, commanding performance on 9/11," citing [[James Mann]]'s account of the neoconservatives in [[The Vulcans]]. Her excerpt describes an eyewitness diary that recorded Cheney's conduct in the [[Presidential Emergency Operations Center]] on September 11, 2001.[^22] [[Andrew Cockburn]] wrote in his 2007 book on Donald Rumsfeld that Rumsfeld "loved these games" and that "[t]here were others who were frequent players in the exercises, notably Dick Cheney," quoting a former Pentagon official: "Cheney and the others often had other priorities. Rumsfeld always came."[^23] + +### Vice President, 2001 to 2009 + +On September 16, 2001, Cheney appeared on [[Meet the Press]] with [[Tim Russert]], broadcast from [[Camp David]]. The official White House transcript records: "We also have to work, though, sort of the dark side, if you will. We've got to spend time in the shadows in the intelligence world. A lot of what needs to be done here will have to be done quietly, without any discussion, using sources and methods that are available to our intelligence agencies, if we're going to be successful."[^24] + +The [[9/11 Commission]] records that the Secret Service ordered Cheney to the shelter beneath the White House after American Airlines Flight 77 turned south at 9:34 a.m., and that he entered the tunnel to the shelter at 9:37.[^25] The commission concluded that Cheney "arrived in the room shortly before 10:00, perhaps at 9:58." Cheney told the commission that he called the President to discuss the rules of engagement for a combat air patrol over Washington, and that the President "signed off" on the concept that pilots could shoot down a plane that would not divert. The report states that the President "emphasized to us that he had authorized the shootdown of hijacked aircraft."[^25] When a military aide reported an aircraft 80 miles out, between 10:10 and 10:15, the commission reports that the Vice President "authorized fighter aircraft to engage the inbound plane." Scooter Libby described the reaction as quick and decisive, "in about the time it takes a batter to decide to swing." White House deputy chief of staff [[Joshua Bolten]] suggested that Cheney confirm the order with the President, and the report logs the call at 10:18.[^25] + +On January 29, 2001, President Bush established the National Energy Policy Development Group with Cheney as chairman. The [[Government Accountability Office]] (then the General Accounting Office) demanded its records on July 18, 2001, reported to Congress on August 17, 2001 that the Vice President had persisted in refusing, and on February 22, 2002 sued for them, the first time it had used its statutory authority to sue an executive branch entity.[^26] [[Judicial Watch]] and the [[Sierra Club]] also sued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the case reached the Supreme Court as [[Cheney v. United States District Court]]. The group had issued its final report five months after its creation. On June 24, 2004, Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] delivered the opinion of the Court, which vacated the decision of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]] and remanded the case, reported at 334 F.3d 1096.[^27] + +On August 26, 2002, in a speech to the [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] convention in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], Cheney said that during the spring of 1995 inspectors were on the verge of declaring Iraq's chemical weapons and missile programs accounted for, "[t]hen Saddam's son-in-law suddenly defected and began sharing information," and that "[t]hat should serve as a reminder to all that we often learned more as the result of defections than we learned from the inspection regime itself."[^28] The son-in-law was [[Hussein Kamel]]. The record of his debriefing by [[Rolf Ekeus]] of [[UNSCOM]] and the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] on August 22, 1995 has Kamel saying: "All weapons - biological, chemical, missile, nuclear were destroyed."[^29] + +I. Lewis Libby, Cheney's chief of staff, was indicted on October 28, 2005, in the CIA leak investigation of the disclosure of the identity of [[Valerie Plame]], a CIA officer. At the press conference announcing the indictment, special counsel [[Patrick Fitzgerald]] said: "We make no allegation that the Vice President committed any criminal act."[^30] Libby was sentenced on June 22, 2007 to 30 months' imprisonment, two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. On July 2, 2007, President Bush commuted the prison term to expire immediately and left the supervised release and the rest of the sentence in effect.[^31] + +The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's report of June 5, 2008, on prewar public statements, found that "statements by the President and the Vice President indicating that [[Saddam Hussein]] was prepared to give weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups for attacks against the United States were contradicted by available intelligence information." It also found that statements "by President Bush and Vice President Cheney regarding the postwar situation in Iraq . . . did not reflect the concerns and uncertainties expressed in the intelligence products."[^32] + +The [[Senate Armed Services Committee]]'s inquiry into the treatment of detainees, dated November 20, 2008, records that the [[Office of Legal Counsel]]'s opinions of August 1, 2002 were issued "after consultation with senior Administration attorneys, including then White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and then-Counsel to the Vice President David Addington."[^33] + +The Inspectors General of the Justice, Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, [[NSA|National Security Agency]] and Office of the Director of National Intelligence reviewed the President's Surveillance Program under Title III of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Their unclassified report of July 10, 2009 states that "[c]ertain senior officials either declined or did not respond to our requests to be interviewed for this review, including Counsel to the Vice President David Addington."[^34] ### Allegations -[[Cathy O'Brien]], who describes herself as a survivor of [[Project Monarch]] mind control, named Cheney among officials she said abused her, in *Trance Formation of America* (1995, with Mark Phillips). Her claims about named officials are uncorroborated.[^7] +[[Cathy O'Brien]], who describes herself as a survivor of [[Project Monarch]] mind control, named Cheney among officials she said abused her, in *Trance Formation of America* (1995, with Mark Phillips). Her claims about named officials are uncorroborated.[^35] + +### Death + +Cheney died on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the age of 84, according to a statement from his family.[^36] The family wrote that "his beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed," and that "the former vice president died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease."[^37] George W. Bush called his death "a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends."[^36] ### Footnotes [^1]: U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art and Archives, "CHENEY, Richard Bruce." https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/10884 -[^2]: Prados, John, and Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, eds. "Gerald Ford White House Altered Rockefeller Commission Report in 1975; Removed Section on CIA Assassination Plots." National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 543, February 29, 2016, document 15. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report -[^3]: *Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair,* H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216, November 1987, minority report, minority views, ch. 1, p. 451, and ch. 2, p. 460. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/18221 -[^4]: Iran-Contra report, majority views, ch. 6, p. 132 and nn. 193-194 (McFarlane before the House Intelligence Committee, Dec. 10, 1986). https://archive.org/download/Iran-ContraReport/Report%20of%20the%20Congressional%20Committees%20Investigating%20the%20Iran-Contra%20Affair.pdf -[^5]: Halliburton Company, Schedule 14A proxy statement, 2004, Securities and Exchange Commission. -[^6]: Rangwala, Glen. "The interview with Hussein Kamel," February 2003, quoting the UNSCOM and IAEA note of the meeting of August 22, 1995; Barry, John. *Newsweek,* March 3, 2003. -[^7]: O'Brien, Cathy, and Mark Phillips. *Trance Formation of America.* 1995. +[^2]: Prados, John, and Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, eds. "Gerald Ford White House Altered Rockefeller Commission Report in 1975; Removed Section on CIA Assassination Plots." National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 543, February 29, 2016, narrative and introduction. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report +[^3]: Same briefing book, Document 15 (Richard Cheney, handwritten comments on draft Rockefeller Commission report, c. June 1975; Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Richard Cheney Files, Box 8, "Intelligence - Rockefeller Commission Report - Working Copy"), Document 18 (briefing book, c. June 4, 1975, Richard Cheney Files, Box 8, strategy for the Church Committee requests) and Document 19 (the Commission section "Summary of Facts: Investigation of CIA Involvement in Plans to Assassinate Foreign Leaders," June 5, 1975, Box 7). Same URL as note 2. Document 15 is the working copy of Part I of the report, "Intelligence - Rockefeller Commission Report - Working Copy," digitized from Box 8 of the Cheney Files, with the cover memorandum of June 4, 1975 from Rumsfeld, Buchen, Marsh and Hills to Henry Kissinger; the mail-opening conclusion is on page 34 of the digitized file and the Operation CHAOS conclusion on page 39. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2719476/Document-15.pdf +[^4]: Cable, Rumsfeld, Brussels, to Cheney, May 30, 1975, Richard B. Cheney Files, Box 6, folder "Intelligence - New York Times Articles by Seymour Hersh (2)," Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0005/7288231.pdf +[^5]: Memorandum, Bud McFarlane to Dick Cheney, "Holystone," May 30, 1975, Cheney Files, Box 6, same file as note 4. +[^6]: Memorandum, Cheney to Rumsfeld, May 30, 1975, Cheney Files, Box 6, same file as note 4. +[^7]: Memorandum, May 31, 1975, Cheney Files, Box 6, same file as note 4, pp. 1-3. +[^8]: Memorandum, Rex E. Lee and John C. Keeney to the Attorney General, "Recent Disclosure of Classified Information in New York Times Article," undated, Cheney Files, Box 6, same file as note 4, pp. 1-9. +[^9]: *Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair,* H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216, November 1987, minority views, ch. 1, p. 451, and ch. 2, p. 460; staff list, Minority Staff Editor/Writer Michael J. Malbin. https://archive.org/download/Iran-ContraReport/Report%20of%20the%20Congressional%20Committees%20Investigating%20the%20Iran-Contra%20Affair.pdf +[^10]: Iran-Contra report, majority views, ch. 6, p. 132 and n. 193 (McFarlane before the House Intelligence Committee, Dec. 10, 1986). Same URL as note 9. +[^11]: Miller Center, "Statecraft: The Bush 41 Team," "Proving ground: How the December 1989 invasion of Panama shaped the Bush 41 foreign policy team," quoting Richard Cheney and Colin Powell in the Miller Center's George H. W. Bush Oral History Project. https://millercenter.org/statecraftmovie/proving-ground +[^12]: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, Report to the President, July 1, 1993, ch. 3, p. 3-1 (1990 announcement; commission schedule under PL 101-510) and the discussion of the Secretary's March 12, 1993 submission. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D-PURL-LPS111641/pdf/GOVPUB-D-PURL-LPS111641.pdf +[^13]: National Security Archive, "Declassified Studies from Cheney Pentagon Show Push for U.S. Military Predominance and a Strategy to 'Prevent the Reemergence of a New Rival,'" February 26, 2008, Electronic Briefing Book on the Defense Planning Guidance, including Document 12 (April 16, 1992 draft), the March 20 and March 26, 1992 memoranda to Cheney, and the January 1993 "Regional Defense Strategy." https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/node/2607 +[^14]: PBS, FRONTLINE, "Iraq," 1992 theme page (excerpts of the 1992 Defense Planning Guidance and its leak). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/iraq/themes/1992.html +[^15]: Halliburton Company, Form 10-K/A for fiscal 1998, executive officer table (Richard B. Cheney, "Chief Executive Officer, since October 1995") and Dresser asbestos litigation discussion ("Since 1976, approximately 190,000 claims have been filed"). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000045012/000093066100000032/0000930661-00-000032.txt +[^16]: Halliburton Company, Schedule 14A proxy statement, 2004, Securities and Exchange Commission. +[^17]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Press Release 2004-104, "SEC Charges Halliburton and Two Former Officers for Failure to Disclose a 1998 Change in Accounting Practice," August 3, 2004. https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2004-104.htm +[^18]: PBS, FRONTLINE/World, "KBR Hit With Record Bribery Fine," February 2009, reporting the Justice Department announcement of February 11, 2009 and the plea, fine and forfeiture figures. https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/02/kbr-hit-with-record-bribery-fine.html +[^19]: U.S. General Accounting Office, *Contingency Operations: Opportunities to Improve the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program,* GAO/NSIAD-97-63, February 11, 1997. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-63/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-97-63.htm +[^20]: Strohm, Chris. "Pentagon auditors request Halliburton probe." *Government Executive,* January 15, 2004. https://govexec.com/defense/2004/01/pentagon-auditors-request-halliburton-probe/15746; Associated Press, "Halliburton: $61M Overcharge?" CBS News, December 12, 2003. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/halliburton-61m-overcharge/ +[^21]: Greenhouse, Bunnatine H. Statement, Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing, "An Oversight Hearing on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in U.S. Government Contracting in Iraq," June 27, 2005. http://dpc.senate.gov/hearings/hearing22/greenhouse.pdf (Wayback capture of July 8, 2008). +[^22]: Mayer, Jane. *The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals* (New York: Doubleday, 2008), excerpt published by NPR and WFAE, July 15, 2008, passages on the continuity-of-government exercise and the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. https://www.wfae.org/2008-07-15/excerpt-the-dark-side. +[^23]: Cockburn, Andrew. *Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy* (New York: Scribner, 2007), excerpt published as "When Rummy Tried to Nuke Russia," Salon, February 26, 2007. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/35849 +[^24]: Office of the Vice President, transcript, "The Vice President appears on Meet the Press with Tim Russert," September 16, 2001, George W. Bush White House archive. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/vicepresident/news-speeches/speeches/vp20010916.html +[^25]: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, *The 9/11 Commission Report* (2004), ch. 1, "We Have Some Planes," pp. 39-42, notes 209-221. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-911REPORT/pdf/GPO-911REPORT.pdf +[^26]: Congressional Research Service, *Walker v. Cheney: Statutory and Constitutional Issues Arising From the General Accounting Office's Suit Against the Vice President,* RL31397, May 1, 2002. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL31397.html +[^27]: *Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia,* 542 U.S. 367 (2004), No. 03-475, opinion of Justice Kennedy, decided June 24, 2004, on writ of certiorari to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 334 F.3d 1096, vacated and remanded. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-475.ZC.html +[^28]: Office of the Press Secretary, "Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention," remarks of the Vice President, August 26, 2002, White House archive (Wayback capture of August 27, 2002). http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/08/20020826.html +[^29]: UNSCOM/IAEA, "Interview with Hussein Kamal on 22 August 1995," p. 13, marked "UNSCOM/IAEA Sensitive." https://www.casi.org.uk/info/unscom950822.pdf; Rangwala, Glen. "The interview with Hussein Kamel," February 2003; Barry, John. *Newsweek,* March 3, 2003. +[^30]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Special Counsel, remarks of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, press conference on the indictment of I. Lewis Libby, October 28, 2005 (Exhibit E to the Government's filing of March 17, 2006). https://www.justice.gov/archive/osc/documents/2006_03_17_exhibits_e_g.pdf +[^31]: The White House, "Grant of Executive Clemency for Lewis Libby," Proclamation, July 2, 2007, reciting the judgment in *United States v. Libby,* Crim. No. 05-394 (RBW), imposed June 22, 2007. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070702-4.html +[^32]: U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, press release, "Senate Intelligence Committee Unveils Final Phase II Reports on Prewar Iraq Intelligence," June 5, 2008, summarizing the committee's report on whether public statements regarding Iraq were substantiated by intelligence. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/2008/06/05/press-senate-intelligence-committee-unveils-final-phase-ii-reports-prewar-iraq-intelligence/ +[^33]: U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, *Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody,* Committee Print, November 20, 2008, PDF pp. 17 and 29. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Detainee-Report-Final_April-22-2009.pdf +[^34]: Offices of the Inspectors General of the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, *Unclassified Report on the President's Surveillance Program,* July 10, 2009, preface (review required under Title III of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008). Also at: https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2009/psp-oigs_090710-01.htm +[^35]: O'Brien, Cathy, and Mark Phillips. *Trance Formation of America.* 1995. +[^36]: WLOS, "Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84," Tennessee Newspaper Network (TNND) report of the family statement and the statement by President George W. Bush, November 4, 2025. https://wlos.com/news/nation-world/former-vice-president-dick-cheney-dies-at-84-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-public-service-george-w-bush-wyoming-chief-of-staff-republican-conservative +[^37]: Green River Star, "Former VP Dick Cheney dies at 84," November 6, 2025 (family statement; death "on Monday, November 3"). https://www.greenriverstar.com/story/2025/11/06/news/former-vp-dick-cheney-dies-at-84/13300.html diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui.md index 3aa4b34c..0f5a07b5 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui.md @@ -1,56 +1,155 @@ --- aliases: - - Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui - Ghanim Faris Al Mazrui - Ghanim al-Mazrui + - Ghanim al Mazrui + - H.E.G.F. Mazrui category: "Business & Finance" tags: - Person - BCCI - - CIA - AbuDhabi -summary: "Secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and head of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department who sat on BCCI's board from 1981 and became its chairman." + - CIA + - PrivateDepartment +summary: "Secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and chairman of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department who sat on BCCI's board from 1981 and later became its chairman." relations: + - type: head_of + with: "[[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]]" + role: "secretary general" + start: 1976 + fn: 1 + - type: head_of + with: "[[Private Department of Sheikh Zayed]]" + role: "chairman or acting chairman" + start: 1982 + fn: 1 + - type: head_of + with: "[[Shareholders Working Group]]" + role: "chairman" + start: 1991 + fn: 1 - type: director_of with: "[[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]]" - role: "director from 1981, later chairman" + role: "Abu Dhabi Investment Authority representative on the board from 1981; later chairman" start: 1981 end: 1991 - fn: 6 + fn: 1 + - type: director_of + with: "[[Hong Kong Deposit and Guaranty Bank]]" + role: "director" + start: 1981 + end: 1983 + fn: 7 + - type: director_of + with: "[[Tetra Finance]]" + role: "director" + start: 1981 + end: 1983 + fn: 7 - type: employed_by with: "[[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan]]" - role: "financial adviser; chairman of the Private Department" + role: "financial adviser and manager; chairman of the Private Department" start: 1982 - fn: 6 + fn: 1 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- -Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui (given in some sources as Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui) was the head of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department and a [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] board member.[^1] He was also the director general of His Highness's Private Department and a longtime director of BCCI, effectively running [[Abu Dhabi]] alongside Sheikh Zayed.[^2] - -### Role in BCCI Operations - -Al-Mazrui's involvement with BCCI was significant, particularly in the bank's relationship with the Abu Dhabi government. He was a key figure in the discussions surrounding the restructuring of BCCI, especially after the bank faced financial difficulties.[^3] - -He was also connected to [[William J. Casey]], the former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] Director, through the [[Bank of Oman]], which was a major affiliate of BCCI and channeled funds for the [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] freedom fighters.[^4] - -Al-Mazrui's involvement in the BCCI scandal was a matter of public knowledge, and his actions were closely scrutinized during the investigations into the bank's illicit activities.[^5] +Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui was secretary general of the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] (ADIA) from 1976 and chairman or acting chairman of the Private Department of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] from 1982. He sat on the board of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] from 1981 as ADIA's representative and later became its chairman.[^1][^2] Beaty wrote that Sami Masri told him Mazrui was the director general of the Private Department, director of ADIA and a longtime BCCI director who "effectively ran [[Abu Dhabi]]" and was, next to Sheikh Zayed, "probably the most influential person in the United Arab Emirates."[^3] The [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|1992 Senate subcommittee report on BCCI]] gives his name as Ghanim Faris Al Mazrui, and [[Price Waterhouse]]'s reports rendered it as "H.E.G.F. Mazrui." ### Offices -The [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]] gives his name as Ghanim Faris Al Mazrui, rendered in [[Price Waterhouse]]'s reports as "H.E.G.F. Mazrui." It records that he had served Sheikh Zayed as financial adviser and manager "for more than fifteen years": as secretary general of the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] (ADIA) from 1976, as chairman or acting chairman of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department from 1982, and from July 1991 as chairman of a "Shareholders Working Group," described by Abu Dhabi as "an informal committee appointed to oversee and coordinate the Majority Shareholders' response to the closure of BCCI." From 1981 he sat on BCCI's board as ADIA's representative, ADIA then holding 10 percent of BCCI's shares, and he ultimately became its chairman. He replaced Abdullah Darweish as head of the ruling family's investments after Darweish's arrest on December 8, 1981. At the same time he joined the boards of two [[Hong Kong]] institutions, the Hong Kong Deposit and Guaranty Bank and Tetra Finance, together with Yassin Hassan, [[Kamal Adham]]'s original contact for the [[Financial General Bankshares]] takeover; both collapsed about two years later with losses to depositors of several hundred million dollars.[^6] +The Senate report says that Mazrui had "served Sheikh Zayed as a financial advisor and manager" for more than fifteen years as of late 1992.[^1] It lists his posts as secretary general of ADIA "from 1976 to the present," as "chairman or acting chairman" of the Private Department "from 1982 to the present," and, from July 1991, as chairman of a "[[Shareholders Working Group|Shareholders Working Group]]," which Abu Dhabi described as "an informal committee appointed to oversee and coordinate the Majority Shareholders' response to the closure of BCCI."[^1] The report describes the Private Department as the body that "handles the principal personal investments of the ruler of Abu Dhabi."[^1] -### What He Knew +### Darweish and the Private Department -Abu Dhabi's witness, Ahmed Al Sayegh, told Senator [[John Kerry]] that al-Mazrui "first learned of BCCI's problems, and its involvement in false or deceitful accounting practices, in April, 1990, from Price Waterhouse, along with other members of BCCI's board of directors." Price Waterhouse's report under section 41 of the [[Banking Act 1987]] stated:[^6] +[[Abdullah Darweish]] chaired the Private Department from 1977 to December 1981 and served as liaison to [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and BCCI. On December 8, 1981, Darweish was arrested and charged with defrauding the ruling family. The report says his role as chief financial adviser was replaced by Mazrui "as head of a committee," and that the investment funds moved "to the control of [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Sheikh Khalifa]]'s long-time aide, Al Mazrui, who replaced Darweish, and to BCCI."[^4] In the same period Sheikh Zayed directed ADIA to acquire a 10 percent stake in BCCI from [[ICIC]], BCCI's Cayman affiliate, which had bought back the shares of the departing [[Bank of America]], and placed the chairman of his private department on BCCI's board.[^4] -> The extent to which the major shareholders and in particular their board representative H.E.G.F. Mazrui was aware of the matters discussed in this report cannot be established. We are, however, informed that H.E.G.F. Mazrui and the government were briefed fully on all the problems in April, 1990, notwithstanding that they allowed the 1989 accounts to be finalised in discussions with ourselves and the Regulators without disclosing this information. +In 1982 Mazrui, as the "present chairman of the Department of Private Affairs of Sheikh Zayed," testified in civil litigation that Abedi "could even be viewed as an official of the Abu Dhabi government," because of his position on the committee overseeing the ruling family's wealth.[^5] -The auditors added that until October 1990 he had contended that loans later "proven to be totally fictitious" were recoverable. Price Waterhouse told the [[Bank of England]] that his own accounts at [[ICIC]] showed that he had received funds in 1986 and earlier from no-risk transactions in BCCI shares guaranteed against loss, which he confirmed in April 1990, and that he had confirmed a fictitious BCCI loan to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Sheikh Khalifa]]; he told the auditors that "his signature must have been forged," a contention they rejected. The Senate report concluded that "Al Mazrui has neither been fired, nor resigned," and remained in charge of Abu Dhabi's working group on BCCI.[^6] +A Federal Reserve enforcement release of July 29, 1991 reproduced BCCI's ownership tables for 1989, which list the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority among the shareholders. A note to the tables states that ADIA sold 1,273 shares acquired in the July 1989 rights offering to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan on July 18, 1989.[^6] + +### Board seats and the Hong Kong banks + +From 1981 Mazrui sat on BCCI's board in his capacity as secretary general of ADIA, which held 10 percent of the bank's shares.[^1] In the same year he joined the boards of two [[Hong Kong]] institutions, the [[Hong Kong Deposit and Guaranty Bank]] and [[Tetra Finance]], alongside [[Yassin Hassan]], who had been [[Kamal Adham]]'s original contact for the [[Financial General Bankshares]] takeover. Both banks collapsed about two years later, with losses to depositors of several hundred million dollars.[^7] + +The report's appendix lists the Hong Kong banks among matters requiring inquiry. It cites "several important BCCI figures, including Ghanim Al Mazrui, and a close associate of then [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director [[William J. Casey|William Casey]]," and asks "whether the two Hong Kong institutions were used for domestic or foreign intelligence operations."[^8] + +### Price Waterhouse and April 1990 + +Abu Dhabi's designated witness, [[Ahmed Al Sayegh]], told [[John Kerry]] that Mazrui "first learned of BCCI's problems, and its involvement in false or deceitful accounting practices, in April, 1990, from Price Waterhouse, along with other members of BCCI's board of directors."[^9] On April 25, 1990, Price Waterhouse wrote to the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Finance Department: "Your representative, HE G Al Mazrui, has confirmed to use that you are fully aware of the nature and magnitude of the uncertainties and prepared to provide the necessary financial support in the event that losses arise from realisation of these loans."[^10] + +Price Waterhouse's section 41 report to the [[Bank of England]] in June 1991 states that "the extent to which the major shareholders and in particular their board representative H.E.G.F. Mazrui was aware of the matters discussed in this report cannot be established." The same report says that Mazrui and the government were "briefed fully on all the problems in April, 1990," and that until October 1990 he had contended that loans later "proven to be totally fictitious" were recoverable.[^11] Price Waterhouse told the Bank of England that his accounts at ICIC showed receipts from no-risk transactions in BCCI shares in 1986 and earlier, and that he had confirmed a fictitious BCCI loan to the Crown Prince, Sheikh Khalifa. Mazrui told the auditors that "his signature must have been forged," a contention the auditors rejected.[^12] + +The report's executive summary says Mazrui "received unorthodox financial benefits from BCCI in no-risk stock deals," and that he "remains today in place at the apex of Abu Dhabi's committee designated to respond to BCCI's collapse."[^13] The chapter on Abu Dhabi says that Mazrui "has neither been fired, nor resigned," and that "more than two years later, Al Mazrui remains in place as the head of Abu Dhabi's working group to deal with BCCI-related problems."[^13] + +### The 1992 subcommittee hearing + +In the spring of 1992 the subcommittee asked that Mazrui appear as Abu Dhabi's representative on BCCI's board. Abu Dhabi instead produced Al Sayegh, whose written answers reached the subcommittee five weeks after his testimony through Abu Dhabi's lawyers at [[Patton, Boggs & Blow]]. The report describes Al Sayegh as a member of the steering committee "headed by Al Mazrui, responsible for handling Abu Dhabi's response to BCCI's closure."[^14] Asked whether Mazrui had received financial benefits from purchases of BCCI shares, Al Sayegh replied: "I am not privy to the details of Mr. Mazrui's own private affairs." The report notes that Mazrui had confessed to receiving these benefits, according to the Price Waterhouse section 41 report, to members of the ruling family in April 1990.[^15] + +### Restructuring and First American + +Beaty and Gwynne wrote that the Abu Dhabi leadership was most visibly angry at the seizure of BCCI on July 5, 1991, which coincided with a BCCI board meeting in Luxembourg on the reorganization and new capital from Sheikh Zayed, and that the deal "was to have been signed a mere ten days later." They name Zayed and "his chief lieutenant, the secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Ghanim al-Mazrui."[^16] The Senate report says that by the late spring of 1991 U.S. and U.K. regulators insisted on the removal of [[Zafar Iqbal]] as head of BCCI. Mazrui, who had worked closely with Iqbal for many years, "resisted, temporarily paralyzing the restructuring plan" that the regulators, Abu Dhabi and BCCI had agreed.[^17] + +The report says that the [[Federal Reserve]]'s need to secure the cooperation of Abu Dhabi's government and royal family arose from the Abu Dhabi shareholders "providing some $190 million to prop up [[First American Bank]] and prevent an embarrassing collapse."[^18] + +### Closure and the Bingham inquiry + +The Bank of England closed BCCI in July 1991 after receiving Price Waterhouse's report under section 41 of the [[Banking Act 1987]].[^19] Following the closure, the Chancellor and the Governor appointed Sir Thomas Bingham to inquire into the Bank's supervision. The Bank's annual report for 1992 to 1993 states that the [[Bingham Report|Bingham Report]] was published on October 22, 1992, that the inquiry "was held in private to avoid any prejudice to criminal proceedings," and that Bingham considered the July 1991 closure "an appropriate course of action in the circumstances, although it was not the only possible option."[^19] + +### Lawyers for Abu Dhabi + +[[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] had signed powers of attorney, spanning more than a decade, for Sheikh Zayed personally, for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, for at least one of Sheikh Zayed's sons, and for Abdullah Darweish as guardian of another son.[^20] The report says that from 1978 through 1990 Abu Dhabi's interests in Financial General Bankshares and in CCAH and First American were represented by Clifford, Altman and the firm of [[Clifford & Warnke]]. Abu Dhabi's other interests in the United States were represented by Patton, Boggs & Blow.[^21] + +### Access to Zayed + +Beaty wrote that no one saw Zayed without Mazrui's approval, and quoted a contact at the UAE embassy in Washington, Sandy Martin, saying "only Ghanim al-Mazrui can approve that." Word came from Abu Dhabi that Mazrui "was not prepared to talk to Time magazine at this time." Beaty wrote that the Manhattan prosecutor John Moscow thought whether Sheikh Zayed or Mazrui, "his number-one man," knew about the bank's criminal activity was "one of the keys." Beaty wrote that if Zayed was being kept in ignorance, it was as likely that Mazrui was withholding information.[^22] + +### The 1994 Abu Dhabi court + +On June 14, 1994, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced twelve former BCCI executives to a combined 56 years in prison. Agha Hasan Abedi received six years in absentia. [[Swaleh Naqvi]], who had been handed to U.S. officials in May, received, in the June report, "four sentences totaling 11 years for the nine counts he faced." Zafar Iqbal and Hasan Mahmood Kazmi received six years each. One defendant was acquitted. The court awarded the former majority shareholders civil damages of more than $9.13 billion on claims of $10.0342 billion. The suits were brought by the Private Department of the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] president, ADIA and the Abu Dhabi Finance Department, and the court awarded the Private Department $6.56 billion, ADIA $1.347 billion and the Finance Department $1.223 billion.[^23] A UPI report of October 20, 1994 gave Naqvi's June sentence from the Abu Dhabi court as 14 years.[^24] + +On January 10, 1994, [[Khalid bin Mahfouz]] issued a writ in London against ADIA and Mazrui, seeking recognition that they were liable to pay him up to $10.5 billion for any award made against him in the Touche Ross case.[^25] + +### Settlement with the liquidators + +In November 1994 the main creditors agreed to accept $1,800 million in compensation from Abu Dhabi.[^26] The [[Middle East Economic Digest]] reported that the majority shareholders were to pay "a fixed $1,800 million" in place of an earlier range of $1,200 million to $2,200 million that would have fallen as liquidation recoveries rose, and that a spokesman for the liquidator, [[Touche Ross]], said the creditors' committees had given the agreement "overwhelming support."[^27] An appeal by former BCCI employees delayed [[Luxembourg]]'s approval into 1995 and 1996.[^28] The Luxembourg court approved the plan on January 31, 1995, after the London and Cayman Islands courts.[^29] On May 14, 1996, after the deadline for appeals passed, Abu Dhabi paid $1.55 billion to the liquidators, with a further $250 million held in escrow.[^30] On December 10, 1996, creditors received their first repayments: $1,350 million from $2,650 million set aside. The same report stated that Abu Dhabi had paid $1,550 million under a settlement agreed with the liquidators, with $250 million still due. A spokesman for the liquidators, [[Deloitte & Touche]], gave those figures.[^31] + +### Namesakes + +[[Suhail al-Mazrouei]] resigned in November 1994 as secretary general of the [[Supreme Petroleum Council]] and general manager of the [[Abu Dhabi National Oil Company]]. [^32] Beaty wrote that Masri described [[Khalfan al-Mazrui]], head of the Karachi office of the Private Department, as "the brother, if he understood the complicated lineage being described, of Ghanim al-Mazrui."[^33] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. -[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 92. -[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. -[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 351. -[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 394. -[^6]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Stockholders." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^1]: Kerry, John, and Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate*. S. Prt. 102-140. December 1992. Chapter 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Shareholders," section "Ghanim Al Mazrui" and note 33. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, cast of characters. +[^3]: Beaty and Gwynne, *The Outlaw Bank* (1993), p. 68. +[^4]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, section "Darweish's Arrest and BCCI's Role in Abu Dhabi in 1980," including note 31 (indictment of Darweish by the Attorney General of Abu Dhabi, dated in the note December 8, 1991; the text dates the arrest December 8, 1981). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^5]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 10 (deposition, *Lasidi v. Financiera Avenida*, New York Supreme Court, County of New York, 1982), cited in the text of the "Darweish's Arrest" section. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^6]: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, press release, "formal enforcement proceeding against BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg) S.A.," July 29, 1991, with the attached BCCI shareholder tables for 1989 and note 1 to the rights-offering table. https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/files/19910729.pdf +[^7]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 34 (Price Waterhouse audit reports, 1983, Hong Kong Deposit and Guaranty and Tetra Finance (HK)). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^8]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), Appendix, item 16. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/24appendic.htm +[^9]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 35 (answers of Ahmed Al Sayegh to Questions 31 and 35 of Senator Kerry, July 8, 1992, reprinted in S. Hrg. 102-350 Pt. 5). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^10]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 39 (letter from Price Waterhouse, April 25, 1990, reprinted in S. Hrg. 102-350 Pt. 1 p. 481). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^11]: Price Waterhouse, Section 41 Report to the Bank of England, June 1991, as quoted in Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 36. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^12]: Price Waterhouse, Section 41 Report to the Bank of England, June 1991, as summarized in Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 37. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^13]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), executive summary, https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/01exec.htm; and ch. 14, section "Ghanim Al Mazrui" and "Abu Dhabi's Commitments in April-May, 1990." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^14]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, text following note 15 and note 16 (Al Sayegh's sworn answers, July 8, 1992, S. Hrg. 102-350 Pt. 5). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^15]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 81 (answer of Al Sayegh to Question 35, S. Hrg. 102-350 Pt. 5). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^16]: Beaty and Gwynne, *The Outlaw Bank* (1993), p. 99. +[^17]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, section "Zafar Iqbal" and note 52 (staff interview, August 26, 1992). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^18]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 12, "Federal Reserve" section. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/12reg.htm +[^19]: Bank of England, *Banking Act Report 1992-93*, p. 18, "The Bingham Report." https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/archive/banking-act-report/1992-1993.pdf +[^20]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, note 64 (documents on Clifford and Altman's representation of Abu Dhabi, 1978 through 1990, S. Hrg. 102-350 Pt. 4), and text on powers of attorney. https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^21]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair* (1992), ch. 14, section "Abu Dhabi's Lawyers and PR Firms." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^22]: Beaty and Gwynne, *The Outlaw Bank* (1993), pp. 71, 73, 74, 86. +[^23]: United Press International, "UAE jails and fines BCCI executives," Abu Dhabi, June 14, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/14/UAE-jails-and-fines-BCCI-executives/7650771566400/ +[^24]: United Press International, "Ex-BCCI chief faces jail in UAE," October 20, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/20/Ex-BCCI-chief-faces-jail-in-UAE/7767782625600/ +[^25]: *Middle East Economic Survey*, Vol. XXXVII No. 16, January 17, 1994, "Mahfouz Sues ADIA and Mr. Ghanim al-Mazrui." https://archives.mees.com/issues/905/articles/34036 +[^26]: *MEED*, "BCCI creditors agree to $1,800 million compensation pay-out from Abu Dhabi," November 4, 1994. https://www.meed.com/bcci-creditors-agree-to-1800-million-compensation-pay-out-from-abu-dhabi/ +[^27]: *MEED*, "BCCI settlement moves to a climax as liquidation package firms up," December 2, 1994. https://www.meed.com/bcci-settlement-moves-to-a-climax-as-liquidation-package-firms-up/ +[^28]: *MEED*, "BCCI creditors move closer to compensation," November 17, 1995. https://www.meed.com/bcci-creditors-move-closer-to-compensation/ +[^29]: *Middle East Economic Survey*, Vol. XXXVIII No. 19, February 6, 1995, "Luxembourg Court Approves BCCI Settlement; Settlement With Mahfouz/NCB Imminent." https://archives.mees.com/issues/856/articles/32613 +[^30]: *Middle East Economic Survey*, Vol. XXXIX No. 34, May 20, 1996, "Abu Dhabi Pays $1.55Bn To Liquidators Of BCCI." https://archives.mees.com/issues/806/articles/31172 +[^31]: *MEED*, "BCCI creditors finally get their first pay out," December 20, 1996. https://www.meed.com/bcci-creditors-finally-get-their-first-pay-out/ +[^32]: *Middle East Economic Survey* (MEES), Vol. XXXVIII No. 9, November 28, 1994, "Bin Yusuf Succeeds Mazrui In Top Abu Dhabi Posts At SPC and ADNOC." https://archives.mees.com/issues/846/articles/32300 +[^33]: Beaty and Gwynne, *The Outlaw Bank* (1993), p. 68 (Khalfan al-Mazrui). diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md index 977640c9..425ca638 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md @@ -3,12 +3,23 @@ category: "Victims & Witnesses" tags: - Person summary: "Former Austrian citizen and undercover informant working against Ben Kalka for the California DOJ, central to a massive methamphetamine reverse sting operation." +relations: + - type: investigated + with: "[[Ben Kalka]]" + start: 1989-10 + role: "informant against Kalka, per Seymour" + fn: 3 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[John Di Giorgio]] was a former Austrian citizen who was allegedly an undercover informant working against [[Ben Kalka]] for the [[California Attorney General's Office]]. His criminal indictment was filed under seal by the INS on October 26, 1989, and remained secret for nearly a decade. At a news conference on November 17, 1989, former [[California Attorney General's Office|California State Attorney General]] [[John Van de Kamp]] touted the case as the "biggest methamphetamine seizure in the world," displaying 1,022 pounds of methamphetamine and $1 million in cash.[^1] [[Pam MacLean]], a reporter for the *San Francisco Daily Journal*, spent thousands of dollars to get the Di Giorgio file unsealed. The unsealed documents revealed that the [[United States|U.S. government]] was looking for an alleged $13 million in laundered drug funds believed to be in [[Switzerland]], [[Germany]], and [[Israel]]. The methamphetamine precursors supplied to [[Ben Kalka]] were reportedly part of a "reverse sting" operation headed by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Robert Barnes]].[^1] +The federal case number on the sealed indictment is recorded in a federal docket index: No. 3:89-cr-00603 in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|Northern District of California]], filed October 26, 1989 and terminated June 17, 1993. The index lists the parties as the United States and Ben Kalka.[^2] Seymour cites the same number as the "Di Giorgio Extradition File, Case No. CR89-0603 VRW, U.S. verses Di Giorgio."[^3] + --- ### Footnotes -[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: United States v. Kalka, No. 3:89-cr-00603 (N.D. Cal.), docket record filed October 26, 1989, terminated June 17, 1993. CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/26558922/united-states-v-kalka/ +[^3]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 400. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Wayne Gacy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Wayne Gacy.md index 1e984b4a..b8a6513b 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Wayne Gacy.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Wayne Gacy.md @@ -18,19 +18,20 @@ Gacy established Painting Decorating Maintenance (PDM) as a legitimate business Gacy lured victims with job offers through PDM. Gacy used a handcuff trick to incapacitate victims before tying them to a wooden torture board. Gacy administered date rape drugs via hypodermic syringe and threatened electrocution. Gacy sexually assaulted victims and murdered them between January 1972 and December 1978. Gacy buried 29 bodies in the crawlspace under his home and dumped others in the Des Plaines River. Items seized from Gacy's home on December 13, 1978, included pederasty pornography, literature, chemist date rape drugs, a hypodermic syringe, a wooden board with wrist-sized rope loops, handcuffs, and driver's licenses of missing individuals. Gacy dressed as Pogo the Clown to lure victims. Gacy confessed to murders including [[Robert Piest]], [[John Butkovich]], and [[John Szyc]] during interrogation, describing killings in third person and claiming multiple personalities. A household inventory listed an 8mm movie camera, editing deck, film production equipment, confidential files on payoffs to city inspectors and politicians, personal income tax files, five bank accounts, checkbooks, credit cards, insurance, and a list of known homosexuals including politicians, sports figures, county and city employees.[^1] ### Accomplices and Victims -[[David Cram]], aged 20, and [[Michael Rossi]] lived with Gacy and worked for PDM. Cram and Rossi testified at the 1980 trial that they dug trenches in the crawl space at Gacy's direction.[^3] Gacy named Cram and Rossi as accomplices who buried bodies after claiming involvement in syndicate slayings. [[Phillip Paske]] worked for PDM in September 1978 with payslips dated September 12, 19, and 25. Gacy stated Paske was introduced via David Cram and procured boys for sex and movies. Paske, Cram, and Rossi held keys to Gacy's house during Gacy's out-of-town trips. Victims included 15-year-old Robert Piest, who disappeared on December 11, 1978, after meeting Gacy about employment at a pharmacy. John Szyc, a 1975 Maine West High School graduate, went missing in January 1977; Gacy gave Szyc's car to Rossi, and Szyc's high school ring inscribed J.A.S. was found in Gacy's home. John Butkovich went missing in 1975; Gacy's ex-wife [[Carole Hoff]] identified him. [[John Mowery]], 19, moved into an apartment with Rossi days before his disappearance; Rossi told Mowery's friends about a location storing dead bodies. All identified victims were male youths aged 14 to 21, with 28 named out of 33 total. Gacy's travel documents and PDM financial records show absences during some disappearances. [[Jeff Rignall]] survived being chloroformed and raped by Gacy in early 1978 at the [[Norwood Park]] home; at least one other person was present during the assault.[^1] +[[David Cram]], aged 20, and [[Michael Rossi]] lived with Gacy and worked for PDM. Cram and Rossi testified at the 1980 trial that they dug trenches in the crawl space at Gacy's direction; Rossi testified that he helped dig trenches and supervised newer employees who were directed to dig them.[^2] Gacy named Cram and Rossi as accomplices who buried bodies after claiming involvement in syndicate slayings. [[Phillip Paske]] worked for PDM in September 1978 with payslips dated September 12, 19, and 25. Gacy stated Paske was introduced via David Cram and procured boys for sex and movies. Paske, Cram, and Rossi held keys to Gacy's house during Gacy's out-of-town trips. Victims included 15-year-old Robert Piest, who disappeared on December 11, 1978, after meeting Gacy about employment at a pharmacy. John Szyc, a 1975 Maine West High School graduate, went missing in January 1977; Gacy gave Szyc's car to Rossi, and Szyc's high school ring inscribed J.A.S. was found in Gacy's home. John Butkovich went missing in 1975; Gacy's ex-wife [[Carole Hoff]] identified him. [[John Mowery]], 19, moved into an apartment with Rossi days before his disappearance; Rossi told Mowery's friends about a location storing dead bodies. All identified victims were male youths aged 14 to 21, with 28 named out of 33 total. Gacy's travel documents and PDM financial records show absences during some disappearances. [[Jeff Rignall]] survived being chloroformed and raped by Gacy in early 1978 at the [[Norwood Park]] home; at least one other person was present during the assault.[^1] ### Investigation and Trial -The investigation started after Robert Piest's disappearance on December 11, 1978. Pharmacy owner [[Phil Torf]] and coworker [[Kim Byers]] identified Gacy as the contractor Piest met. Des Plaines Police Captain [[Joseph Kozenczak]] pulled Gacy's 1968 assault record and executed a search warrant on December 13 at Gacy's home, seizing incriminating items including John Szyc's ring. Cram reported on December 16 Gacy's syndicate claims, dead persons' driver's licenses in the garage, and Gacy entering the crawlspace post-search. In that interview Cram said Gacy told him he did work for a syndicate and had set people up before, and that Gacy kept about three wallets in the garage, containing identification that included a driver's license, which Gacy said belonged to people who were deceased.[^4] Rossi confirmed on December 17 receiving Szyc's car from Gacy and the licenses. Kozenczak spoke with ex-wife Carole Hoff on December 17 about Butkovich, making Gacy prime suspect in three disappearances. A second search warrant on December 21, based on a photo processing receipt from Piest's pocket found in Gacy's trash and Detective [[Robert Schultz]] smelling decomposition on December 19 surveillance, revealed a flooded crawlspace; once drained, it yielded the first of 29 bodies. Gacy was arrested on December 21 at a gas station and stated upon arrival "Who else do we have in the police station. There are others involved." During interrogation, Gacy named Cram and Rossi and confessed to some murders. The trial began in February 1980, resulting in conviction in March 1980 for 33 murders and a death sentence. Prosecutor [[Terry Sullivan]] published "The Killer Clown" in 1983. In 1979, police investigated three potential accomplices including Rossi for involvement or knowledge of assaults and murders. Court files listed Phillip Paske as a possible witness for prosecution and defense. A 1987 [[Chicago Tribune]] article noted the [[Chicago Ripper Crew]] leader, suspected of killing 17 women in 1981-1982, did construction work for Gacy and criticized his body disposal.[^1] +The investigation started after Robert Piest's disappearance on December 11, 1978. Pharmacy owner [[Phil Torf]] and coworker [[Kim Byers]] identified Gacy as the contractor Piest met. Des Plaines Police Captain [[Joseph Kozenczak]] pulled Gacy's 1968 assault record and executed a search warrant on December 13 at Gacy's home, seizing incriminating items including John Szyc's ring. Cram reported on December 16 Gacy's syndicate claims, dead persons' driver's licenses in the garage, and Gacy entering the crawlspace post-search. In that interview Cram said Gacy told him he did work for a syndicate and had set people up before, and that Gacy kept about three wallets in the garage, containing identification that included a driver's license, which Gacy said belonged to people who were deceased.[^3] Rossi confirmed on December 17 receiving Szyc's car from Gacy and the licenses. Kozenczak spoke with ex-wife Carole Hoff on December 17 about Butkovich, making Gacy prime suspect in three disappearances. A second search warrant on December 21, based on a photo processing receipt from Piest's pocket found in Gacy's trash and Detective [[Robert Schultz]] smelling decomposition on December 19 surveillance, revealed a flooded crawlspace; once drained, it yielded the first of 29 bodies. Gacy was arrested on December 21 at a gas station and stated upon arrival "Who else do we have in the police station. There are others involved." During interrogation, Gacy named Cram and Rossi and confessed to some murders. The trial began in February 1980, resulting in conviction in March 1980. The jury convicted Gacy on 33 counts of murder, and the jury, finding no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude death, sentenced him to death on 12 murders committed after Illinois's death penalty statute took effect, with natural life terms on the other murder counts, including the 21 committed before the statute.[^2] The [[Illinois Supreme Court]] affirmed the judgment on June 6, 1984.[^2] In the appeal the court recorded that Gacy admitted in the course of the investigation to killing approximately thirty people, and that 29 bodies were recovered from the crawl space under his home.[^2] Prosecutor [[Terry Sullivan]] published "The Killer Clown" in 1983. In 1979, police investigated three potential accomplices including Rossi for involvement or knowledge of assaults and murders. Court files listed Phillip Paske as a possible witness for prosecution and defense. A 1987 [[Chicago Tribune]] article noted the [[Chicago Ripper Crew]] leader, suspected of killing 17 women in 1981-1982, did construction work for Gacy and criticized his body disposal.[^1] ### Connections to Networks -Gacy connected to John David Norman through Phillip Paske, Norman's accomplice in the [[Delta Project]] and [[Odyssey Network]]. Gacy claimed in 1992 interviews that Paske and Norman made snuff films with young boys, pimping and selling them, though Gacy was evasive about meeting Norman and suggested learning of him via news on Paske's jail newsletter. Paske, released on probation in 1976 after assisting Norman from Cook County Jail, lived with Norman in a Chicago, Illinois, basement apartment on W.[^2] Wrightwood Avenue in May 1977, twenty minutes from Gacy's home, where they produced pornography until a June 1978 raid, after which Paske joined PDM in September 1978. Gacy's 1994 pre-execution recording stated twelve keys were distributed to his house, with Rossi, Cram, Paske, and Norman involved, and archives confirmed Paske's employment and Gacy's absences aligning with victim disappearances during Norman's free periods in Chicago. Similarities to [[Dean Corll]]'s crimes include handcuff tricks and torture boards, 28 to 33 male youth victims aged 13 to 21, burying most under properties, teenage accomplices claiming syndicate ties, and connections to Norman's network - Corll via investigation suspicions, Gacy via confirmed Paske employment.[^1] +Gacy connected to John David Norman through Phillip Paske, Norman's accomplice in the [[Delta Project]] and [[Odyssey Network]]. Gacy claimed in 1992 interviews that Paske and Norman made snuff films with young boys, pimping and selling them, though Gacy was evasive about meeting Norman and suggested learning of him via news on Paske's jail newsletter. Paske, released on probation in 1976 after assisting Norman from Cook County Jail, lived with Norman in a Chicago, Illinois, basement apartment on W.[^4] Wrightwood Avenue in May 1977, twenty minutes from Gacy's home, where they produced pornography until a June 1978 raid, after which Paske joined PDM in September 1978. Gacy's 1994 pre-execution recording stated twelve keys were distributed to his house, with Rossi, Cram, Paske, and Norman involved, and archives confirmed Paske's employment and Gacy's absences aligning with victim disappearances during Norman's free periods in Chicago. Similarities to [[Dean Corll]]'s crimes include handcuff tricks and torture boards, 28 to 33 male youth victims aged 13 to 21, burying most under properties, teenage accomplices claiming syndicate ties, and connections to Norman's network - Corll via investigation suspicions, Gacy via confirmed Paske employment.[^1] ### Execution Gacy exhausted appeals up to the Supreme Court by 1992. Gacy claimed accomplices Cram, Rossi, Paske, and Norman in TV interviews to seek reexamination and delay execution, stating Paske procured boys and all had house keys during his travels. In April 1994, a $1.99-per-minute reverse-charge phone line played Gacy's recording proclaiming innocence and implicating employees with keys, including Rossi, Cram, Paske, and Norman. Gacy was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.[^1] ### Footnotes + [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. -[^2]: *Chicago Tribune,* May 1977, reprinted in U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime. *Sexual Exploitation of Children,* hearings, 95th Congress, 1st session, Serial No. 12, 1977, which describes Paske, 25, as "a convicted murderer and thief" on probation "since last July" (that is, July 1976) and carrying on the Delta Project in Norman's absence; it gives no January 1976 parole. https://archive.org/details/micro_IA41153502_0041 -[^3]: *People v. Gacy*, 103 Ill. 2d 1 (1984), Illinois Supreme Court, No. 53212, June 6, 1984, testimony summaries of David Cram and Michael Rossi. https://static.case.law/ill-2d/103/cases/0001-01.json -[^4]: Des Plaines Police Department, John Wayne Gacy investigation file, part 5 of 6, interview of David Cram, December 16, 1978, terminated at 1712 hours. https://archive.org/details/Gacy_DesPlainesPD +[^2]: *People v. Gacy*, 103 Ill. 2d 1 (1984), Illinois Supreme Court, No. 53212, June 6, 1984, judgment affirmed; verdict and sentences; the court's recital of the testimony of David Cram and Michael Rossi. https://static.case.law/ill-2d/103/cases/0001-01.json +[^3]: Des Plaines Police Department, John Wayne Gacy investigation file, part 5 of 6, interview of David Cram, December 16, 1978, terminated at 1712 hours. https://archive.org/details/Gacy_DesPlainesPD +[^4]: *Chicago Tribune,* May 1977, reprinted in U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime. *Sexual Exploitation of Children,* hearings, 95th Congress, 1st session, Serial No. 12, 1977, which describes Paske, 25, as "a convicted murderer and thief" on probation "since last July" (that is, July 1976) and carrying on the Delta Project in Norman's absence; it gives no January 1976 parole. https://archive.org/details/micro_IA41153502_0041 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md index c76275e3..aa8a0a29 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md @@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ aliases: - Joseph Cuellar - Joe Cuellar + - Joseph A. Cuellar - Joseph Cuéllar + - Joe Cuéllar category: "Military" tags: - Person @@ -11,92 +13,147 @@ tags: - CasolaroDeath - ArmyReserve - DesertStorm -summary: "Army Reserve major who met Danny Casolaro in a bar in May 1991 and was asked to arrange a meeting with Peter Videnieks, and whom a 2024 article compared to a police witness sketch." + - SouthernCommand + - MartinsburgPoliceFile +summary: "Army Reserve major who met Danny Casolaro in a bar in May 1991, was asked to arrange a meeting with Peter Videnieks, and was compared to a Martinsburg witness sketch in a 2024 article." updated: 2026-10-15 relations: - type: member_of with: "[[U.S. Army]]" role: "Army Reserve major" start: 1991 - fn: 3 + fn: 4 - type: member_of with: "[[United States Southern Command]]" - role: "in-processing after Operation Desert Storm, per the 1994 review" + role: "in-processing after Operation Desert Storm, per the 1994 review; office with the command in Arlington, February 1994" start: 1991-08 - fn: 1 + fn: 7 + - type: member_of + with: "[[Inter-American Defense Board]]" + role: "Army Reserve major, adviser to the United States delegation, Council of Delegates" + start: 1994-11 + fn: 30 - type: participant_in with: "[[PROMIS Software Scandal]]" role: "contact of Casolaro during the INSLAW inquiry, interviewed by the 1994 review" start: 1991-05 - fn: 3 + fn: 1 --- -[[Joseph Cuellar]] is an Army Reserve major who met [[Danny Casolaro]] in May 1991, during the last months of Casolaro's work on the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and on what Casolaro called [[The Octopus]]. Casolaro later asked him to arrange a meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]]. The [[Department of Justice]]'s 1994 review found no evidence that Cuellar was involved in Casolaro's death; a 2024 article by Jeremy Kuzmarov compared a Martinsburg police witness sketch to him.[^1][^2] +[[Joseph Cuellar]] is an [[U.S. Army|Army]] Reserve major who met [[Danny Casolaro]] in May 1991, during the last months of Casolaro's work on the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and on what Casolaro called [[The Octopus]]. Casolaro later asked him to arrange a meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]]. The [[Department of Justice]]'s 1994 review found no evidence that Cuellar was involved in Casolaro's death; a 2024 article by [[Jeremy Kuzmarov]] in [[CovertAction Magazine]] compared a [[Martinsburg]] police witness sketch to him.[^1][^2] The filmmakers of [[American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders]], a 2024 [[Netflix]] docuseries made by [[Christian Hansen]] and [[Zachary Treitz]], suggested that he may have been the second man in the room.[^3] ### Meeting at the bar -According to the Justice Department's 1994 review of the report of [[Nicholas J. Bua]], Cuellar and Casolaro met in May 1991 at "The Sign of the Whale" bar in Arlington, Virginia. Cuellar had gone there expecting to meet friends who were celebrating his return from [[Operation Desert Storm]]. Casolaro was already seated at the bar, waiting for a friend, and struck up a conversation with him. Cuellar talked of his exploits in the Army special forces, and, according to Cuellar, Casolaro became fascinated. The two men talked on the telephone several times and saw each other at least twice more. Cuellar also began dating the woman Casolaro had been waiting to meet.[^3] +According to the Justice Department's 1994 review of the report of [[Nicholas J. Bua]], Cuellar and Casolaro met in May 1991 at "The Sign of the Whale" bar in [[Arlington, Virginia]]. Cuellar had gone there expecting to meet friends who were celebrating his return from [[Operation Desert Storm]]. Casolaro was already seated at the bar, waiting for a friend, and struck up a conversation with him. Cuellar talked of his exploits in the Army special forces, and, according to Cuellar, Casolaro became fascinated. The two men talked on the telephone several times and saw each other at least twice more. Cuellar also began dating the woman Casolaro had been waiting to meet.[^4] -A Justice Department review of the Casolaro matter, ordered on November 1, 1993 and carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven E. Zipperstein with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Scott A. Erskine, gives the same account. Its text describes Cuellar as "an Army Reserve Major named Joseph Cuellar, who is attached to the United States Southern Command."[^4] +The review's own text describes Cuellar as "an Army Reserve Major named Joseph Cuellar, who is attached to the United States Southern Command." The review was ordered on November 1, 1993, and carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorney [[Steven E. Zipperstein]] with FBI Supervisory Special Agent [[Scott A. Erskine]], who gives the same account of the bar meeting.[^5] The review's appendix of persons interviewed lists Major Joseph Cuellar.[^6] -Other accounts place the first contact differently. [[Cheri Seymour]] wrote that Cuellar approached Casolaro in a pub during the week before his death, claimed to be a Special Forces operative, and offered to arrange a rendezvous with Videnieks, and that Casolaro confided to friends that he was unnerved by the encounter.[^5] Seymour also wrote that sources suggested Cuellar had been a major in an [[Army Intelligence Agency|Army intelligence]] unit and later went to work for a company that was a cutout for the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. She wrote that an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent reported Cuellar spoke Arabic fluently and had spent time in [[Iraq]].[^5] +A [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] memorandum dated February 2, 1994, summarizes an interview with Cuellar the previous day at his office with the [[United States Southern Command]] in Arlington, Virginia. In that account, Casolaro and his companion introduced themselves to Cuellar and Casolaro began asking about his military work. When Cuellar said that he had served in the Special Forces and conducted special operations in military intelligence, Casolaro became infatuated with his knowledge of special operations, and the conversation continued until Cuellar's friends arrived.[^7] Cuellar told the agent that Casolaro called him on a number of occasions and that he agreed to meet Casolaro again at a restaurant in [[Alexandria, Virginia]]. He said he declined to give details of military operations because he could not discuss classified information. The memorandum records that Casolaro questioned him about the elements of government involved in "dirty operations" and likened the government to the film JFK. Cuellar said he cautioned Casolaro that former Special Forces members often embellished their accounts.[^7][^8] -Jeremy Kuzmarov wrote in [[CovertAction Magazine]] in October 2024 that in the days before Casolaro's death Cuellar "happened to bump into Casolaro near his home in Fairfax, Virginia, and gave him his business card," and that Cuellar at the time "had been contracted to investigate the theft of INSLAW's software."[^2] +In December 1993 a woman who had been with Casolaro recontacted investigators to add a detail: Cuellar had told them both that he was at the bar at the request of friends for a welcome-home luncheon, and the bartender passed him an envelope from those friends.[^9] -[[Kenn Thomas]] and [[Jim Keith]] wrote that the Hamiltons, whose firm was [[INSLAW]], believed that in the last days of Casolaro's life he was being tailed by a man named Joseph Cuellar, an Army special services officer and friend of Videnieks.[^6] In the same chapter they described a restaurant encounter in which a friend of Videnieks claimed Special Forces service and earlier work for a company connected to INSLAW, and was so forthcoming that he alarmed Casolaro's companions. They did not name that man.[^6] +### Other accounts of the first contact -Thomas and Keith also reported that [[Sarah McClendon]]'s notes recorded complaints by the Hamiltons that [[Webster Hubbell]] and the FBI investigator Erskine planned to release a report without interviewing important Casolaro associates or looking into incidents that included a threat against Casolaro made by a friend of Videnieks, Cuellar, who apparently was also trailing the writer.[^7] +[[Cheri Seymour]] wrote in a condensed version of The Last Circle, provided to an investigative committee in October 1996, that during the week before Casolaro's death a man named Joseph Cuellar approached him in a pub where he was having a beer, that Cuellar claimed to be a Special Forces operative and said he could arrange a rendezvous between Videnieks and Casolaro, and that Casolaro confided to friends that he was unnerved by what she called this supposedly chance meeting. Seymour wrote that Cuellar's connection to Videnieks allegedly came through Videnieks's wife, [[Barbara Videnieks]], who was the executive assistant to Senator [[Robert Byrd]], that Byrd played a major role in the effort to move some CIA administrative offices to Charlestown, 20 miles from Martinsburg, and that Casolaro met Cuellar at other times that week.[^10] In the 2010 book edition she wrote that sources suggested Cuellar had been a major in an [[Army Intelligence Agency|Army intelligence]] unit and later went to work for a company that was a cutout for the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]], and that an FBI agent reported Cuellar spoke Arabic fluently and had spent time in [[Iraq]].[^11] + +Senator Byrd named his chief of staff on the Senate floor on March 20, 1991, in remarks thanking the staff who had worked on the two supplemental appropriations bills that included the Desert Shield and Desert Storm funding: "my chief of staff, Barbara Videnieks."[^12] + +A memorandum submitted to the Justice Department on February 14, 1994 by INSLAW's lawyers and principals, including [[Elliot Richardson]], [[Bill Hamilton]] and Nancy Hamilton, as an addendum to INSLAW's 1993 rebuttal of the Bua report, stated that Casolaro had gone to Martinsburg for a final meeting with sources whom he described to an associate as a relative of Barbara Videnieks plus one other person from Byrd's office. It stated that Casolaro told [[Bill Turner]] that the Friday evening meeting in Martinsburg had been arranged by Cuellar, whom it described, according to Turner, as a U.S. Army Special Forces covert intelligence officer, and that Cuellar had a "purportedly chance encounter" with Casolaro in a pub near Casolaro's home less than one month before his death, in which Cuellar described himself as one of Videnieks's closest friends, offered to broker a meeting, and said that Videnieks had agreed to meet.[^13] + +Jeremy Kuzmarov wrote in CovertAction Magazine in October 2024 that in the days before Casolaro's death Cuellar "happened to bump into Casolaro near his home in Fairfax, Virginia, and gave him his business card," and that Cuellar at the time "had been contracted to investigate the theft of INSLAW's software."[^2] + +[[Kenn Thomas]] and [[Jim Keith]] wrote that the Hamiltons, whose firm was [[INSLAW]], believed that in the last days of Casolaro's life he was being tailed by a man named Joseph Cuellar, an Army special services officer and friend of Videnieks.[^14] In the same chapter they described a restaurant encounter in which a friend of Videnieks claimed Special Forces service and earlier work for a company connected to INSLAW, and was so forthcoming that he alarmed Casolaro's companions. They did not name that man.[^14] + +Thomas and Keith also reported that [[Sarah McClendon]]'s notes recorded complaints by the Hamiltons that [[Webster Hubbell]] and the FBI investigator Erskine planned to release a report without interviewing important Casolaro associates or looking into incidents that included a threat against Casolaro made by a friend of Videnieks, Cuellar, who apparently was also trailing the writer.[^15] + +[[Whitney Webb]] wrote in One Nation Under Blackmail that the person who had arranged Casolaro's final meeting before his death was a U.S. military intelligence officer named Joseph Cuellar, who before Casolaro's death had promised to arrange a meeting between Casolaro and Videnieks.[^16] ### Videnieks -In one conversation, Casolaro asked about the people in the Octopus story, and Cuellar said he knew Videnieks. Cuellar explained that a former fiancée had worked with Videnieks's wife in the Capitol Hill office of Senator [[Robert Byrd]]. Both men told the reviewers that "their relationship was social," that they had double-dated with their partners several times, and that they saw less of each other after Cuellar broke up with his fiancée.[^8] The Zipperstein and Erskine text states: "As best as we can tell, there was nothing sinister about the fact that Cuellar knew Videnieks; it was, at most, a coincidence."[^4] +In one conversation, Casolaro asked about the people in the Octopus story, and Cuellar said he knew Videnieks. Cuellar explained that a former fiancée had worked with Videnieks's wife in the Capitol Hill office of Senator Byrd. Both men told the reviewers that "their relationship was social," that they had double-dated with their partners several times, and that they saw less of each other after Cuellar broke up with his fiancée.[^4] The Zipperstein and Erskine text states: "As best as we can tell, there was nothing sinister about the fact that Cuellar knew Videnieks; it was, at most, a coincidence."[^5] -Casolaro then asked Cuellar repeatedly to arrange a meeting with Videnieks, so that he could ask about the allegation in the March 1991 affidavit of [[Michael Riconosciuto]] that Videnieks had threatened him. Cuellar called Videnieks, who refused.[^9] The Zipperstein and Erskine text records that Casolaro's notes reflect a telephone call he made to Videnieks on June 13, 1991. In that call Videnieks refused to talk and referred him to his lawyer, [[Charles Ruff]].[^10] +Casolaro then asked Cuellar repeatedly to arrange a meeting with Videnieks, so that he could ask about the allegation in the March 1991 affidavit of [[Michael Riconosciuto]] that Videnieks had threatened him. Cuellar called Videnieks, who refused.[^1] The Zipperstein and Erskine text records that Casolaro's notes reflect a telephone call he made to Videnieks on June 13, 1991. In that call Videnieks refused to talk and referred him to his lawyer, [[Charles Ruff]].[^17] + +In the February 1994 interview, Cuellar said that Casolaro was persistent, that the woman he was dating at the time also telephoned him to press the request, and that he then contacted Videnieks and told him of Casolaro's interest. Videnieks, Cuellar said, indicated that he might meet Casolaro but was "done with that and there was no need to go into it anymore."[^8] + +A work list of further steps in the same Justice Department file, which described itself as overinclusive, names Cuellar as item 16, "Joe Cuellar (source)," and Videnieks as item 17, "Peter Videnieks (possible source)," represented by counsel.[^18] + +According to an FBI memorandum summarizing a telephone interview with [[Robert Booth Nichols]] on January 11, 1994, when Casolaro drove him to [[Dulles International Airport]] in the summer of 1991, Casolaro was on the telephone there with Cuellar, trying to have Cuellar introduce him to Videnieks. Nichols also told agents that Casolaro had described his first meeting with Cuellar as strange because Cuellar had initiated the conversation at a bar in Northern Virginia.[^19] ### Casolaro's last weeks -Cuellar told the reviewers that Casolaro confided in him near the end of his life. Casolaro, Cuellar said, had become so absorbed in the Octopus story that he had lost his perspective and could not arrange the material into a cohesive story, and he was in financial distress and close to losing his house.[^11] +Cuellar told the reviewers that Casolaro confided in him near the end of his life. Casolaro, Cuellar said, had become so absorbed in the Octopus story that he had lost his perspective and could not arrange the material into a cohesive story, and he was in financial distress and close to losing his house.[^20] In the February 1994 interview Cuellar added that Casolaro's publisher was extremely upset with him, that Casolaro felt pressure to produce a book from his investigation, and that Cuellar had cautioned him against accepting what people involved in Special Operations told him.[^21] -A woman who was briefly involved with Cuellar after the bar meeting told the reviewers that, after Casolaro's death and as their relationship deteriorated, Cuellar made a veiled threat. She said he told her she was asking too many questions about Casolaro, that she had two children, and that she would not be doing them a favor if she wound up like Casolaro or another journalist who had been killed in Guatemala. Cuellar denied making those statements.[^12] +A woman who was briefly involved with Cuellar after the bar meeting told the reviewers that, after Casolaro's death and as their relationship deteriorated, Cuellar made a veiled threat. She said he told her she was asking too many questions about Casolaro, that she had two children, and that she would not be doing them a favor if she wound up like Casolaro or another journalist who had been killed in [[Guatemala]]. Cuellar denied making those statements.[^1] INSLAW's February 1994 addendum quoted the warning as having been given to the woman who had been with Casolaro at the first meeting, in words or substance: "What Danny Casolaro was investigating is a business," and "Anyone who asks too many questions will end up dead."[^13] ### Findings on August 10, 1991 -Casolaro's body was found in room 517 of the Sheraton Inn in Martinsburg, [[West Virginia]], on August 10, 1991. Local authorities ruled the death a suicide in 1991 and again on January 25, 1992, after over 1,000 man-hours of investigation. The House Judiciary Committee's 1992 report recorded that it had not included the death in its formal INSLAW investigation and that the controversy over the death continued in the press.[^13] The March 1993 report of the Special Counsel, Bua, stated that Casolaro's death "was fully and fairly investigated" and that the local conclusion of suicide "was amply supported by the facts."[^14] +Casolaro's body was found in room 517 of the [[Sheraton Inn]] in Martinsburg, [[West Virginia]], on August 10, 1991. Local authorities ruled the death a suicide in 1991 and again on January 25, 1992, after over 1,000 man-hours of investigation. The [[House Judiciary Committee]]'s 1992 report recorded that it had not included the death in its formal INSLAW investigation and that the controversy over the death continued in the press.[^22] The March 1993 report of the Special Counsel, Bua, stated that Casolaro's death "was fully and fairly investigated" and that the local conclusion of suicide "was amply supported by the facts."[^23] -The 1994 review wrote that several people had suggested Cuellar was somehow involved in Casolaro's death. "We found no evidence supporting that hypothesis." The review stated that on August 10, 1991, Cuellar was in Washington, D.C., working on his "Outprocessing" from Desert Storm and his "in-processing" into the Southern Command, and that several witnesses had verified that he was in Washington that day.[^1] The review also said that it was unaware of any evidence linking Videnieks to the death.[^15] +The 1994 review wrote that several people had suggested Cuellar was somehow involved in Casolaro's death. "We found no evidence supporting that hypothesis." The review stated that on August 10, 1991, Cuellar was in [[Washington, D.C.]], working on his "Outprocessing" from Desert Storm and his "in-processing" into the Southern Command, and that several witnesses had verified that he was in Washington that day.[^1] The review also said that it was unaware of any evidence linking Videnieks to the death.[^24] -[[Bill Hamilton]], president of INSLAW, stated that he had received an affidavit from [[Bill Turner]] on "highly classified computer printouts on off-shore accounts that he claimed Casolaro intended to use the night he died in a planned meeting with Peter Videnieks and Joseph Cuellar and others."[^5] +The February 1994 FBI memorandum records Cuellar's own account of those weeks. He told the agent that three or four weeks before Casolaro's death he left for [[Panama]], learned of the death in a telephone call from the woman he had been dating, and returned from Panama to attend the funeral. He put the number of his meetings with Casolaro at three or four in all.[^8][^21] -### Martinsburg police file and witness sketch +Bill Hamilton, president of INSLAW, stated that he had received an affidavit from Turner on "highly classified computer printouts on off-shore accounts that he claimed Casolaro intended to use the night he died in a planned meeting with Peter Videnieks and Joseph Cuellar and others."[^11] A Justice Department copy of the review records the account that Turner gave the Hamiltons, who relayed it to the reviewers: Casolaro planned to meet in Martinsburg with Videnieks, Cuellar, an unidentified person from Byrd's office, an unidentified IRS employee and the attorney [[Robert Altman]]. The same passage records that a caller to the [[Unsolved Mysteries]] hotline reported seeing [[Clark Clifford]] and Altman driving in Martinsburg on the day of Casolaro's death in a late-model Chevrolet Caprice, and states: "We have no reason to believe either of these claims."[^25] -The Zipperstein and Erskine text records a detail from the hotel. At about 9:00 p.m. on August 9, 1991, a guest in an adjoining room saw someone matching Casolaro's general description enter room 517 with a key. The guest did not see the man's face, because his back was to her, and he was carrying a brown paper bag.[^16] The same text states that no one was seen entering or leaving Casolaro's room on the morning of August 10.[^17] +### Martinsburg police file and witness accounts -In October 2024, Kuzmarov published an article in CovertAction Magazine on the Martinsburg police report, which he wrote had recently been obtained by the Australian researcher Peter Osborne through a Freedom of Information Act request Osborne filed in 2004. The article said the report "includes a witness sketch of a man seen entering and leaving Danny Casolaro's room on the day he was found dead" and continued: "The man bears strong resemblance to Major Joseph Cuellar, a CIA and military intelligence Special Forces operative, who had long been a lead suspect in Casolaro's apparent murder." Kuzmarov added that the police file includes signed statements from a witness who saw a man other than Casolaro leaving the room with a key on the night before and the morning of Casolaro's death. A footnote to the article states that the sketch witness described the man leaving the room as wearing sports clothes that Cuellar was also known to wear.[^2] +The Zipperstein and Erskine text records a detail from the hotel. At about 9:00 p.m. on August 9, 1991, a guest in an adjoining room saw someone matching Casolaro's general description enter room 517 with a key. The guest did not see the man's face, because his back was to her, and he was carrying a brown paper bag.[^26] The same text states that no one was seen entering or leaving Casolaro's room on the morning of August 10.[^27] -Kuzmarov wrote that the Martinsburg police never interviewed Cuellar and that the Justice Department claimed not to be able to find him even though he worked with the U.S. Southern Command. The 1994 review records that Cuellar and Videnieks each spoke with its reviewers.[^8] Kuzmarov further wrote that [[Janet Reno]], [[John Dwyer]] and Zipperstein left the match between the sketch and Cuellar out of their investigation reports. He wrote that the producers of the Netflix series American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, [[Christian Hansen]] and [[Zachary Treitz]], received a copy of the Martinsburg report in 2014, and that the series presented Cuellar favorably on the basis of an interview with his son.[^2] +A March 14, 1994, letter from [[Charles R. Work]], counsel for Bill Hamilton and Nancy Hamilton of INSLAW, to [[John C. Dwyer]], written after a March 1 meeting attended by Zipperstein and Erskine, describes a different witness account. According to the letter, Erskine confirmed that a hotel maid had told Martinsburg police she saw a man leave Casolaro's room on the Saturday morning of the death, and that the police took a statement describing him as a man in his 30s with "an excellent sun tan," wearing a tee-shirt, dark slacks and deck shoes. The letter asked whether this was the man whom press accounts described Casolaro waiting for in the hotel bar on Thursday evening, a "dark-skinned man."[^28] + +In October 2024, Kuzmarov published an article in CovertAction Magazine on the Martinsburg police report, which he wrote had recently been obtained by the Australian researcher [[Peter Osborne]] through a Freedom of Information Act request Osborne filed in 2004. The article said the report "includes a witness sketch of a man seen entering and leaving Danny Casolaro's room on the day he was found dead" and continued: "The man bears strong resemblance to Major Joseph Cuellar, a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and military intelligence Special Forces operative, who had long been a lead suspect in Casolaro's apparent murder." Kuzmarov added that the police file includes signed statements from a witness who saw a man other than Casolaro leaving the room with a key on the night before and the morning of Casolaro's death. A footnote to the article states that the sketch witness described the man leaving the room as wearing sports clothes that Cuellar was also known to wear.[^2] + +Kuzmarov wrote that the Martinsburg police never interviewed Cuellar and that the Justice Department claimed not to be able to find him even though he worked with the U.S. Southern Command. The 1994 review records that Cuellar and Videnieks each spoke with its reviewers.[^4] Kuzmarov further wrote that [[Janet Reno]], John C. Dwyer and Zipperstein left the match between the sketch and Cuellar out of their investigation reports. He wrote that the producers of the Netflix series American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, Christian Hansen and Zachary Treitz, received a copy of the Martinsburg report in 2014, and that the series presented Cuellar favorably on the basis of an interview with his son.[^2] + +### Netflix series and later accounts + +[[Fox News]] reported in March 2024 that Martinsburg police granted Hansen's public records request from 2013, and that among the paper documents in a box of evidence were statements from another woman in the hotel who said she saw a dark-haired man enter Casolaro's room on the evening of his death. According to Fox News, the detail had not appeared in news coverage or in FBI files. The filmmakers guessed, "based on circumstances and a composite sketch," that Cuellar, whom Fox News described as a former military intelligence official who spoke with Casolaro about his theories in a diner weeks before his death, may have been the second man in the room. In the documentary, Cuellar's son said that his father specialized in "psychological warfare." Treitz told the [[Daily Mirror]] that he was "haunted" after making the connection, and the two told [[GQ]] that neither had decided whether Casolaro was murdered or killed himself.[^3] + +James Anthony DiEugenio, who wrote a critical review of the series in 2025, argued that the film's suggestion of a Cuellar sighting runs into an alibi: Cuellar was in Washington that day, at work on "outprocessing" from Desert Storm, and had several witnesses to back him up.[^29] ### Service record -The Justice Department's 1994 review records Cuellar as an Army Reserve major who was returning from Operation Desert Storm in May 1991 and was being processed into the Southern Command in August 1991.[^1][^3] Kuzmarov reported that he was born in Los Angeles in 1954, took part in covert operations in Venezuela, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia and Africa, served in the Persian Gulf War, and worked at NATO headquarters.[^2] +The Justice Department's 1994 review records Cuellar as an Army Reserve major who was returning from Operation Desert Storm in May 1991 and was being processed into the Southern Command in August 1991.[^1][^4] The February 1994 memorandum identifies him as Major Joseph A. Cuellar and places his office with the United States Army Southern Command in Arlington, Virginia. In that interview he said that his work with the command required frequent travel, which kept him from talking at length with Casolaro.[^7][^8] The minutes of the Council of Delegates of the [[Inter-American Defense Board]] for November 3, 1994, record the chair's welcome to Major Joseph A. Cuellar, an Army Reserve officer, as an adviser to the United States delegation.[^30] -Kuzmarov also quoted an October 11, 1991 letter from Don Walker, whom he identified as president of [[Business Risks International]], to Hamilton. The letter described Cuellar as an "intelligent and articulate individual" who "speaks several languages" and who had "extensive experience in U.S. army intelligence and the CIA." Kuzmarov described Business Risks International as a CIA front where Cuellar worked, and a footnote to the article states that Cuellar "is thought to have been a 'wet operative' ie. a CIA assassin."[^18] +Kuzmarov reported that Cuellar was born in [[Los Angeles]] in 1954, took part in covert operations in [[Venezuela]], [[Bosnia]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and Africa, served in the [[Persian Gulf War]], and worked at [[NATO]] headquarters.[^2] A 1990 Defense Department booklet on Hispanic Americans in the armed forces lists Joseph Anthony Cuellar among the Hispanic graduates of the [[United States Military Academy]] in the Class of 1976.[^31] A Joseph A. Cuellar appears in the Senate's list of Army officers for permanent promotion to major and appointment into the Regular Army on July 21, 1986,[^32] and a Joseph A. Cuellar appears among Army Reserve officers nominated to the grade of colonel on October 26, 2000 and again on February 27, 2001.[^33][^34] The booklet gives the middle name Anthony and the class year; the nominations and the Defense Board minutes give the middle initial A and the grade. These entries match the name and grade or class only; the records found do not establish that the officer listed is the Joseph Cuellar of the Casolaro record. + +Kuzmarov also quoted an October 11, 1991 letter from Don Walker, whom he identified as president of [[Business Risks International]], to Hamilton. The letter described Cuellar as an "intelligent and articulate individual" who "speaks several languages" and who had "extensive experience in U.S. army intelligence and the CIA." Kuzmarov described Business Risks International as a CIA front where Cuellar worked, and a footnote to the article states that Cuellar "is thought to have been a 'wet operative' ie. a CIA assassin."[^35] A Virginia registry entry lists a Business Risks International Inc. as an inactive foreign corporation (number F0506966), and entries under the same name appear in other states, including New Jersey, California and West Virginia.[^36] ### Footnotes [^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 [^2]: Kuzmarov, Jeremy. "Witness Sketch of Man Seen Entering and Leaving Journalist's Room on the Day He Was Found Dead Resembles Former CIA Agent." *CovertAction Magazine*, October 16, 2024. https://covertactionmagazine.com/2024/10/16/witness-sketch-of-man-seen-entering-and-leaving-journalists-room-on-the-day-he-was-found-dead-resembles-former-cia-agent/ -[^3]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 160-161. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, ordered November 1, 1993, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release pp. 41-42 (printed pp. 25-26), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro -[^5]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010. -[^6]: Thomas, Kenn, and Jim Keith. *The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro.* Feral House, 2004, p. 102. -[^7]: Thomas, Kenn, and Jim Keith. *The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro.* Feral House, 2004, p. 132, reporting the notes of Sarah McClendon. -[^8]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 161. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Zipperstein and Erskine, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 42 (printed p. 26), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro -[^11]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162 n.5. Cuellar's account to the reviewers. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162. Account given to the reviewers by a woman who had been involved with Cuellar; she is not named here as a private individual. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^13]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992, pp. 69-72. https://archive.org/stream/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport/TheInslawAffair_djvu.txt -[^14]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 ("B. The Death of Joseph Daniel Casolaro"), quotation at p. 248. https://archive.org/details/InslawPROMISBuaReport -[^15]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 160. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^16]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Zipperstein and Erskine, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 69 (printed p. 53), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro -[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Zipperstein and Erskine, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 70 (printed p. 54), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro -[^18]: Don Walker to William Hamilton, October 11, 1991, as quoted in Kuzmarov, *CovertAction Magazine*, October 16, 2024 (its note 3). https://covertactionmagazine.com/2024/10/16/witness-sketch-of-man-seen-entering-and-leaving-journalists-room-on-the-day-he-was-found-dead-resembles-former-cia-agent/ +[^3]: Coulter, Christina. "'Octopus Murders' conspiracy puts spotlight on journalist's mysterious 'suicide'." *Fox News*, March 16, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/us/octopus-murders-conspiracy-puts-spotlight-journalists-mysterious-suicide.print +[^4]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 161. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, ordered November 1, 1993, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release pp. 20, 42-43 (printed pp. 5, 26-27), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Casolaro review, appendix of persons interviewed, DOCID 70002071, release p. 2. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-CasolaroInterviews +[^7]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Metropolitan Field Office, memorandum to Steven E. Zipperstein, Assistant United States Attorney, Los Angeles, February 2, 1994, "Casolaro Review," interview of Cuellar on February 1, 1994, release p. 106, DOCID 70098626. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^8]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Metropolitan Field Office, memorandum to Steven E. Zipperstein, Assistant United States Attorney, Los Angeles, February 2, 1994, "Casolaro Review," interview of Cuellar on February 1, 1994, release p. 107, DOCID 70098626. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^9]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, memorandum recording a recontact by a woman who had been with Casolaro, December 16, 1993, DOCID 70098626, release p. 86. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^10]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle*, condensed version provided in October 1996 to an investigative committee, chapter 5, as posted online. https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/last_circle/5.htm +[^11]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010. +[^12]: *Congressional Record*, vol. 137, Senate, March 20, 1991, p. 6823, remarks of Senator Robert C. Byrd on the supplemental appropriations bills. https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_march-13-1991-march-21-1991_137-redacted +[^13]: Richardson, Elliot L., et al. *Addendum to INSLAW's Analysis and Rebuttal of the Bua Report*, February 14, 1994, p. 24 and n.5. https://archive.org/details/AddendumToInslawsAnalysisAndRebuttalOfTheBuaReport +[^14]: Thomas, Kenn, and Jim Keith. *The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro.* Feral House, 2004, p. 102. +[^15]: Thomas, Kenn, and Jim Keith. *The Octopus: Secret Government and the Death of Danny Casolaro.* Feral House, 2004, p. 132, reporting the notes of Sarah McClendon. +[^16]: Webb, Whitney Alyse. *One Nation Under Blackmail*, Vol. 1. TrineDay, 2022, p. 405. https://archive.org/details/one-nation-under-blackmail-vol.-2-whitney-alyse-webb +[^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, ordered November 1, 1993, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 43 (printed p. 27), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^18]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, undated "Casolaro Review" work list, DOCID 70098626, release pp. 44-45. The list describes itself as "overinclusive and does not reflect our views as to the importance of any of the listed items." https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^19]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, memorandum summarizing a telephone interview with Robert Booth Nichols conducted January 11, 1994, DOCID 70098626, release pp. 113-114. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^20]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162 n.51, Cuellar's account to the reviewers. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^21]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Metropolitan Field Office, memorandum to Steven E. Zipperstein, Assistant United States Attorney, Los Angeles, February 2, 1994, "Casolaro Review," interview of Cuellar on February 1, 1994, release p. 108, DOCID 70098626. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^22]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992, pp. 69-72. https://archive.org/stream/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport/TheInslawAffair_djvu.txt +[^23]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993, pp. 246-250 ("B. The Death of Joseph Daniel Casolaro"), quotation at p. 248. https://archive.org/details/InslawPROMISBuaReport +[^24]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 160. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^25]: U.S. Department of Justice, Casolaro review passage on William Turner's account and the hotline report, DOCID 70098622, release p. 108. https://archive.org/details/DOJReportOnDanielJCasolaro +[^26]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, ordered November 1, 1993, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 70 (printed p. 54), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^27]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, ordered November 1, 1993, as reproduced in a memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 71 (printed p. 55), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^28]: Letter from Charles R. Work, McDermott, Will & Emery, counsel for William and Nancy Hamilton, to John C. Dwyer, Assistant Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, March 14, 1994, following a meeting of March 1, 1994. https://archive.org/details/MaidWitnessCasolaroDeath +[^29]: DiEugenio, James Anthony. "American Conspiracy Pt. 4: The Octopus Murders." Substack, 2025. https://jamesanthonydieugenio.substack.com/p/american-conspiracy-pt-4-the-octopus +[^30]: Inter-American Defense Board (Junta Interamericana de Defensa), Council of Delegates, minutes of Session 1052, November 3, 1994, document C-2869, section III.A.5. https://archive.org/details/test_0100unse +[^31]: U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Manpower and Personnel Policy. *Hispanics in America's Defense*, 1990, section "The Military Academies and Hispanic Americans," United States Military Academy, Class of 1976. https://archive.org/details/hispanicsinameri00wash +[^32]: *Congressional Record*, vol. 132, Senate, July 21, 1986, p. 17142, Army nominations, "To be major." https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_july-15-28-1986_132-redacted +[^33]: *Congressional Record*, vol. 146, Senate, October 26, 2000, p. 24906, executive nominations received by the Senate, Army Reserve, "To be colonel." https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_october-25-2000-october-31-2000_146 +[^34]: *Congressional Record*, vol. 147, Senate, February 27, 2001, p. 2324, executive nominations received by the Senate, Army Reserve, "To be colonel." https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_february-8-2001-march-7-2001_147 +[^35]: Don Walker to William Hamilton, October 11, 1991, as quoted in Kuzmarov, *CovertAction Magazine*, October 16, 2024 (its note 3). https://covertactionmagazine.com/2024/10/16/witness-sketch-of-man-seen-entering-and-leaving-journalists-room-on-the-day-he-was-found-dead-resembles-former-cia-agent/ +[^36]: OpenCorporates, Business Risks International Inc., Virginia foreign corporation, company number F0506966. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/F0506966 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md index 779f15b5..0080d8b7 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md @@ -5,28 +5,55 @@ tags: - BCCI - Banker - CIA -summary: "Khalfan al-Mazrui was the Head of the Karachi office of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department." + - PrivateDepartment +summary: "Khalfan al-Mazrui was the head of the Karachi office of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department, responsible for BCCI's operations in Pakistan." +relations: + - type: employed_by + with: "[[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan]]" + role: "head of the Karachi office of the Private Department" + fn: 1 + - type: relative_of + with: "[[Sami Masri]]" + role: "brother-in-law" + fn: 3 + - type: relative_of + with: "[[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]]" + role: "brother (per Sami Masri)" + fn: 4 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- -Khalfan al-Mazrui was the Head of the [[Karachi]] office of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department.[^1] He was also the brother-in-law of [[Sami Masri]].[^2] +Khalfan al-Mazrui was the head of the [[Karachi]] office of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department.[^1] [[Jonathan Beaty]] wrote that he directed the Private Department in Karachi, "the entity that administers the fabled wealth of [[Abu Dhabi]]," and as such was "ultimately responsible for the operations of BCCI in Pakistan."[^2] He was the brother-in-law of [[Sami Masri]], whose sister was his wife.[^3] Masri told Beaty that Khalfan was the brother, "if he understood the complicated lineage being described," of [[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]], the director general of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department and a longtime director of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^4] ### Role in BCCI Operations -Al-Mazrui was involved in the restructuring efforts of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] after its financial difficulties.[^3] He was part of the group of BCCI bankers around Crown Prince Khalifa who believed they could maintain control of the imploding bank.[^4] +Al-Mazrui was involved in the restructuring efforts of BCCI after its financial difficulties.[^5] Beaty wrote that [[Zafar Iqbal]], whom Abu Dhabi named to head BCCI and its restructuring, "was Khalfan's arch-rival for power within the Emirates."[^6] -He was responsible for cleaning up the missing hundreds of millions of dollars that were drained off by employees in Karachi, and was sent in to manage the Private Department's Karachi section.[^5] +Beaty reported that [[Masihur Rahman]], BCCI's former chief financial officer, described a cabal of BCCI bankers around Crown Prince [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Khalifa]].[^7] + +He was responsible for cleaning up the missing hundreds of millions of dollars that were drained off by employees in Karachi, and was sent in to manage the Private Department's Karachi section.[^8] The Private Department in Karachi had a staff of hundreds, and Beaty wrote that nearly 80 percent of them were BCCI employees seconded to Zayed's personal staff.[^9] Masri told Beaty he was not sure whether his brother-in-law realized the extent of the bank's black operations.[^10] ### Connections and Interactions -Al-Mazrui was in communication with [[Jonathan Beaty]] regarding Sami Masri and the BCCI investigation.[^6] He was cautious and wary, especially about discussing sensitive information over the phone.[^7] He was also involved in meetings with BCCI heads in [[London]].[^8] +Al-Mazrui was in communication with Beaty regarding Sami Masri and the BCCI investigation. Beaty reached him by telephone in [[London]] after two days, and Khalfan sent word agreeing to meet Beaty and Masri in [[Casablanca]].[^11] He was cautious and wary, especially about discussing sensitive information over the phone: Beaty wrote that the sheikh, who had little English, did not want to talk about anything important on Pakistani telephones.[^12] + +Masri told Beaty that Khalfan and "Prince What's-his-name Sultan" were meeting "all the BCCI heads in London," and Beaty wrote that the meeting between the heads of the bank and Abu Dhabi's representatives failed to materialize before he learned by telephone that a London meeting had been held.[^13] + +Khalfan met Beaty at the Inter-Continental hotel in Casablanca, a man perhaps in his mid-forties. Beaty briefed him there on BCCI's criminal activities, and Khalfan suggested that Beaty go to Abu Dhabi to see whether Ghanim had time to see him.[^14] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. -[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 92. -[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. -[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 82. +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, cast of characters. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 66. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 68, 85. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 68. [^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. -[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 280. -[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 96. -[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 95. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 86. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 59. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 72. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 68. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 71-76. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 72-73. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 70-71. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 85-87. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marc Dutroux.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marc Dutroux.md index 8cf08f51..7681bb97 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marc Dutroux.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marc Dutroux.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ tags: summary: "Marc Dutroux, born November 6 1956, operated as a Belgian child trafficker and serial killer whose 1996 arrest exposed connections to international pedophile networks." born: 1956-11-06 location: "Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium" -updated: 2026-10-09 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- @@ -73,17 +73,19 @@ The writer S. Dovey wrote that Lelievre blocked the 12-year-old's path on her bi On June 17, 2004, the jury at Arlon convicted Dutroux of the abduction, sequestration and rape of both girls and Lelievre of their abduction and sequestration; Martin was convicted of their sequestration. Nihoul was acquitted of the charges relating to the abductions, the jury finding that he had no involvement in the abduction and sequestration of the 14-year-old and rejecting the "network" thesis argued by the prosecution, the Marchal family and the girl's own lawyers.[^8][^9] +The Belgian [[Chamber of Representatives]] commission's supplementary report of February 16, 1998 stated as its general conclusion that there were indications that both Dutroux and Nihoul, separately or together, had engaged in polycriminal activity (fraud, drug trafficking, abduction and rape of children followed by murders, trafficking in human beings, car trafficking) and that the networks they set up had benefited at various levels from an indirect protection arising from individual or collective erosion of the norm or corrupt conduct. The same conclusion stated that the commission had found no indication that these criminal circles enjoyed, within the police, the magistracy, the administration or the political world, protection that could by itself explain the failures, delays and anomalies of the investigations, and that the serious gaps arose chiefly from professional failings and structural defects of the criminal justice system.[^10] Its first report of April 14, 1997 had stated that the commission could not exclude that an eventual protection was among the reasons for the failure of the investigation.[^11] + ### The 1989 Conviction and Early Release -Dutroux's 1996 arrest was not his first: on April 26, 1989 he was convicted of abducting and raping five girls and women and sentenced to 13.5 years, but Justice Minister Wathelet paroled him on April 8, 1992 after roughly three years, over the objections of both the public prosecutor and a prison psychiatrist who had assessed him as a high-risk offender. He resumed offending soon after release, and the decision became a central controversy in the later parliamentary inquiries.[^10] +Dutroux's 1996 arrest was not his first: on April 26, 1989 he was convicted of abducting and raping five girls and women and sentenced to 13.5 years, but Justice Minister Wathelet paroled him on April 8, 1992 after roughly three years, over the objections of both the public prosecutor and a prison psychiatrist who had assessed him as a high-risk offender. He resumed offending soon after release, and the decision became a central controversy in the later parliamentary inquiries.[^12] ### Witness X1 Corroboration and the De Baets Team -The investigative team under the gendarme [[Patrick De Baets]] conducted extensive interviews with Regina Louf (Witness X1) and corroborated significant portions of her testimony through independent means before being removed from the case after pursuing leads toward prominent individuals; Judge Jacques Langlois ordered a rereading of all the related files in the summer of 1997, and on April 23, 1998, the prosecutors-general closed them, a course which De Baets and his colleagues maintained was a political decision.[^10][^11] +The investigative team under the gendarme [[Patrick De Baets]] conducted extensive interviews with Regina Louf (Witness X1) and corroborated significant portions of her testimony through independent means before being removed from the case after pursuing leads toward prominent individuals; Judge Jacques Langlois ordered a rereading of all the related files in the summer of 1997, and on April 23, 1998, the prosecutors-general closed them, a course which De Baets and his colleagues maintained was a political decision.[^12][^13] ### Gunderson, Gosch, and U.S. Parallels -Researchers including [[Ted Gunderson]], a former head of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s [[Los Angeles]] field office, drew parallels between the Belgian network and organized-abuse rings in the United States, including the [[McMartin Preschool]] case and the [[The Finders|Finders]] case; [[Noreen Gosch]], mother of kidnapped Iowa paperboy [[Johnny Gosch]], publicly stated her belief that her son had been abducted into an organized network with connections to both American and European intelligence services.[^12] +Researchers including [[Ted Gunderson]], a former head of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s [[Los Angeles]] field office, drew parallels between the Belgian network and organized-abuse rings in the United States, including the [[McMartin Preschool]] case and the [[The Finders|Finders]] case; [[Noreen Gosch]], mother of kidnapped Iowa paperboy [[Johnny Gosch]], publicly stated her belief that her son had been abducted into an organized network with connections to both American and European intelligence services.[^14] ### Footnotes @@ -96,6 +98,8 @@ Researchers including [[Ted Gunderson]], a former head of the [[Federal Bureau o [^7]: Chambre des Représentants de Belgique, Doc. 713/6-96/97, April 18, 1997, p. 112 and the chronology of August 1996, pp. 264-266; translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713006.pdf [^8]: "Nihoul acquitté pour les enlèvements." *La Dernière Heure,* June 17, 2004; translated from the French. https://www.dhnet.be/actu/faits/2004/06/17/nihoul-acquitte-pour-les-enlevements-MF73NPYQVBC25I2Y6P54BXIQDA/ [^9]: "Notorious child rapist-murderer convicted." NBC News and Associated Press, June 17, 2004. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5233011 -[^10]: "Paedophile Marc Dutroux and the Murders That United a Divided Belgium," *Euronews*, October 27, 2019; *Dutroux* trial verdict, Arlon Assize Court, June 17, 2004; U.S. Office of Justice Programs, "Exhausting Whiteness: The 1996-98 Belgian Parliamentary Inquiry," 2004. -[^11]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements. -[^12]: A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996; Ted Gunderson investigative reports. +[^10]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, supplementary report, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 6, "Conclusions generales," pp. 148-149, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713008.pdf +[^11]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the police and judicial investigations in the Dutroux-Nihoul affair, report of Renaat Landuyt and Nathalie de T'Serclaes, Doc. 713/6-96/97, April 14, 1997, chapter conclusion, p. 190, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713006.pdf +[^12]: "Paedophile Marc Dutroux and the Murders That United a Divided Belgium," *Euronews*, October 27, 2019; *Dutroux* trial verdict, Arlon Assize Court, June 17, 2004; U.S. Office of Justice Programs, "Exhausting Whiteness: The 1996-98 Belgian Parliamentary Inquiry," 2004. +[^13]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements. +[^14]: A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996; Ted Gunderson investigative reports. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md index 029cdcff..268318e5 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md @@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ aliases: - Martin Gardner category: "Skeptics & Critics" +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - Person - Skeptic @@ -23,8 +24,14 @@ Gardner, along with [[Carl Sagan]], [[Ray Hyman]], [[Paul Kurtz]], and [[James R Towards the end of his life, Gardner experienced a religious epiphany, openly discussing his belief in a supernatural being or God. He asserted that this belief was not pseudoscience because it could neither be confirmed nor disproved by science or reason, calling it "philosophical theism"[^1]. +### Psychic research, 1974 + +In March 1974 the magazine [[Time (magazine)|Time]] published a cover story on psychic research in which Gardner, identified in the article as its science and mathematics analyst, commented on the field. He listed "Uri Geller, The Secret Life of Plants, telepathy, ESP, the incomplete conclusions of [[Arthur Koestler]]" and wrote that these "all seem part of a new uncritical enthusiasm for pseudo science." He added: "The claims are immense, the proof nonexistent."[^2] + ### Publications * *Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science* (1952) ### Footnotes + [^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^2]: "Boom Times on the Psychic Frontier," *Time*, March 4, 1974, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100030002-8 (CIA CREST). diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md index d532022f..d66e473b 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md @@ -3,16 +3,22 @@ category: "Law Enforcement & Legal" tags: - Person summary: "Barnes was involved in a 'reverse sting' operation where methamphetamine precursors were reportedly supplied to Ben Kalka." +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[Robert Barnes]] was an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent at the San Francisco Bureau. He worked with [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] (PAT), who served as an undercover informant for him. Barnes admitted to Detective [[Sue Todd]] in June 2000 that PAT had worked for him.[^1] Barnes was involved in a "reverse sting" operation where methamphetamine precursors were reportedly supplied to [[Ben Kalka]]. He was also the agent who cleared the laundering of millions of dollars through a principality in [[Liechtenstein]].[^1] -[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that a chemical company was cooperating with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and reporting all the chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his chemical companies in Washington State, which Riconosciuto then provided to [[Ben Kalka]]. Riconosciuto also stated that he was working for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] when he connected with [[Ben Kalka]] and that the agency told him to find the monomethylamine for Kalka as part of the sting operation.[^1] +A letter dated April 13, 1982, signed by Phyllis Riconosciuto and [[Jimmy Hughes]], describes a plan for [[Michael Riconosciuto]] to meet Barnes and, after Barnes assumed protection of him, to enter protective custody with the FBI at the [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] office.[^2] In a transcribed interview with [[Ted Gunderson]], Riconosciuto said Barnes and a second agent interviewed him, that Barnes was interested in Kalka and not in Thompson or [[Paul Morasca]], and that Barnes dismissed [[Al Holbert]] as "just a nut."[^3] Seymour wrote that a 2000 interview of Barnes by Sue Todd confirmed that he had been the "handler" for both Riconosciuto and Thompson in a large drug sting in [[San Francisco]], a sting she says is mentioned in the [[John Di Giorgio|Di Giorgio]] file.[^4] -Barnes received three of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s computer coded cards from PAT, which he sent to Quantico. PAT, however, withheld one of the cards for himself. These cards were allegedly connected to the deaths of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]].[^1] +Michael Riconosciuto claimed that a chemical company was cooperating with the FBI and reporting all the chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his chemical companies in Washington State, which Riconosciuto then provided to Ben Kalka. Riconosciuto also stated that he was working for the FBI when he connected with Ben Kalka and that the agency told him to find the monomethylamine for Kalka as part of the sting operation.[^1] + +Barnes received three of Michael Riconosciuto's computer coded cards from PAT, which he sent to Quantico. PAT, however, withheld one of the cards for himself. These cards were allegedly connected to the deaths of Paul Morasca and [[Mary Quick]].[^1] --- ### Footnotes -[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, pp. 404-405. +[^3]: Transcript of a recorded interview of Michael Riconosciuto by Ted Gunderson, Casolaro papers, Folder 7 (Acc. 5516). https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^4]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, p. 405. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bigelow.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bigelow.md index 636dc2b1..3b06a0ff 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bigelow.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bigelow.md @@ -12,83 +12,97 @@ aliases: - Robert Thomas Bigelow - Bob Bigelow relations: + - type: owned + with: "[[Skinwalker Ranch]]" + start: 1996-09 + end: 2016-04 + role: "purchase in September 1996; sale reported in 2016, the buyer listed as Adamantium Real Estate, with Bigelow's ownership of the buyer unproven per UBMedia correction" + fn: 3 - type: funded with: "[[Never Back Down Inc.]]" role: "contribution of 20,000,500 dollars reported March 30, 2023" start: 2023-03-30 - fn: 8 + fn: 16 - type: funded with: "[[Make America Great Again Inc.]]" role: "contributions of 14,175,400 dollars in 2024 and 250,000 dollars in January 2025" start: 2024-02-09 - fn: 8 + fn: 16 - type: funded with: "[[Friends for Harry Reid]]" role: "10,800 dollars in 1998, 2003 and 2010" start: 1998-08-07 - fn: 7 + fn: 15 - type: funded with: "[[Searchlight Leadership Fund]]" role: "5,000 dollars (June 13, 2003) and 5,000 dollars from Bigelow Development Aerospace LLC (June 30, 2004)" start: 2003-06-13 - fn: 7 + fn: 15 - type: director_of with: "[[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]]" role: "president and director, and treasurer and director, per Form 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024" start: 2024-01 - fn: 9 + fn: 17 - type: director_of with: "[[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]]" role: "president and director, and treasurer and director, per Form 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024" start: 2024-01 - fn: 9 -updated: 2026-10-02 + fn: 17 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[Robert Bigelow]] is a billionaire hotelier, developer, and aerospace magnate known for his long-standing interest in [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) and paranormal research. His company, [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] (BAASS), was the primary contractor for the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AAWSAP), the precursor to the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).[^1] ### Interest in UAP and Paranormal Research -Bigelow has had a lifelong obsession with UAP and paranormal occurrences, and he has used his personal fortune to fund research into these mysteries. In the 1990s, he founded the [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS) to study UAP and the paranormal. He also purchased [[Skinwalker Ranch]] in [[Utah]], a property known for its long history of strange and often terrifying phenomena, so that his scientists could study the anomalous activity there.[^1] +Bigelow has had a lifelong obsession with UAP and paranormal occurrences, and he has used his personal fortune to fund research into these mysteries. In the 1990s, he founded the [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS) to study UAP and the paranormal. He also purchased [[Skinwalker Ranch]] in [[Utah]], a property known for its long history of strange and often terrifying phenomena, so that his scientists could study the anomalous activity there.[^1] The [[Deseret News]] reported in April 1997 that Bigelow bought the ranch in September 1996, three months after the Shermans first told their story in that paper.[^2] The [[Las Vegas Sun]] reported in October 1996 that Bigelow "negotiated to buy the ranch for about $200,000," that the National Institute for Discovery Science was "formed last October," and that Bigelow "has erected an observation building and moved in a pair of scientists and a veterinarian."[^3] The Deseret News reported in April 2006 that the property was "still owned by the National Institute for Discovery Science."[^4] UBMedia reported in September 2016 that "Adamantium Real Estate acquired the ranch in April 2016," and added a correction that "no proof has been brought forward to show that Robert Bigelow is an owner of Adamantium Real Estate."[^5] [[KLAS-TV]] and [[Vice]] reported in March 2020 that the buyer belonged to [[Brandon Fugal]] and that Bigelow sold the ranch in 2016.[^6] Fugal told Utah Business in December 2020 that "I think Mr. Bigelow saw me as a worthy successor and steward of the property."[^7] ### Role in AATIP -Through his friendship with Senator [[Harry Reid]], Bigelow became a central figure in the establishment of AAWSAP. His company, BAASS, was awarded the contract to conduct research for the program, with a total award amount of 21,948,810 dollars on one released copy of the order form and 10,000,000 dollars on another.[^2] BAASS was responsible for investigating UAP incidents, including the [[Colares Incidents]] in [[Brazil]], and for compiling a massive database of UAP encounters. The company also continued the investigation of Skinwalker Ranch under the auspices of the AATIP program.[^1] +Through his friendship with Senator [[Harry Reid]], Bigelow became a central figure in the establishment of AAWSAP. His company, BAASS, was awarded the contract to conduct research for the program, with a total award amount of 21,948,810 dollars on one released copy of the order form and 10,000,000 dollars on another.[^8] BAASS was responsible for investigating UAP incidents, including the [[Colares Incidents]] in [[Brazil]], and for compiling a massive database of UAP encounters. The company also continued the investigation of Skinwalker Ranch under the auspices of the AATIP program.[^1] According to the [[New York Times]], Reid said that in 2007 Bigelow told him that an official with the Defense Intelligence Agency had approached Bigelow wanting to visit Bigelow's ranch in Utah, where he conducted research.[^9] [[George Knapp]] told Congress in 2023 that Bigelow created NIDS in 1996 and that Reid attended one of the first meetings of its science advisory board.[^10] Bigelow's involvement was crucial to the operation of AATIP, and [[Luis Elizondo]] wrote that he spent his own money to front some of the program's costs. However, his role as a private contractor also drew scrutiny from within the [[Pentagon]] and was used by detractors to create a false impression that the program had gone rogue.[^1] ### Federal awards to Bigelow companies -[[USASpending.gov|USAspending.gov]], which holds federal contract data from fiscal 2008 onward, lists these awards to [[Bigelow Aerospace]] entities (companies, not Robert Bigelow personally), all from [[NASA]]: contract NNH13CH31C to Bigelow Aerospace LLC, "to provide and operate the [[Bigelow Expandable Activity Module]] (BEAM) on-board the [[International Space Station]]," phase 2 of the BEAM demonstration project, awarded after full and open competition, period December 20, 2012 to July 1, 2018, 17,839,858 dollars obligated;[^3] contract NNH15CN82C to Bigelow Aerospace LLC for [[NextSTEP]] conceptual studies leveraging the B330 habitat, resulting from broad agency announcement NNH15ZCQ001K, period July 31, 2015 to June 30, 2020, with 12,244,738.15 dollars obligated against a potential value of 16,044,796.15 dollars and 4,875,578 dollars in outlays;[^4] and three delivery orders to [[Bigelow Space One]] LLC for BEAM support: 80JSC021F0007 (October 19, 2020 to December 15, 2021, not competed, 5,006,667 dollars obligated, 5,000,000 dollars outlaid), 80JSC019F0011 (150,000 dollars) and 80JSC018F0024 (40,000 dollars).[^5] The obligations listed total 35,281,263.15 dollars. USAspending returns no award record for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 or for Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies; the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] documents for that contract state the paying office as the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office. +[[USASpending.gov|USAspending.gov]], which holds federal contract data from fiscal 2008 onward, lists these awards to [[Bigelow Aerospace]] entities (companies, not Robert Bigelow personally), all from [[NASA]]: contract NNH13CH31C to Bigelow Aerospace LLC, "to provide and operate the [[Bigelow Expandable Activity Module]] (BEAM) on-board the [[International Space Station]]," phase 2 of the BEAM demonstration project, awarded after full and open competition, period December 20, 2012 to July 1, 2018, 17,839,858 dollars obligated;[^11] contract NNH15CN82C to Bigelow Aerospace LLC for [[NextSTEP]] conceptual studies leveraging the B330 habitat, resulting from broad agency announcement NNH15ZCQ001K, period July 31, 2015 to June 30, 2020, with 12,244,738.15 dollars obligated against a potential value of 16,044,796.15 dollars and 4,875,578 dollars in outlays;[^12] and three delivery orders to [[Bigelow Space One]] LLC for BEAM support: 80JSC021F0007 (October 19, 2020 to December 15, 2021, not competed, 5,006,667 dollars obligated, 5,000,000 dollars outlaid), 80JSC019F0011 (150,000 dollars) and 80JSC018F0024 (40,000 dollars).[^13] The obligations listed total 35,281,263.15 dollars. USAspending returns no award record for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 or for Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies; the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] documents for that contract state the paying office as the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office. ### Lobbying registrations -Senate [[Lobbying Disclosure Act]] filings (searchable at lda.gov) show Bigelow Aerospace LLC as a client of [[Carliner Strategies]] LLC from the second quarter of 2014 (lobbyist [[Paul Carliner]], who disclosed a prior position as subcommittee staff director on the [[Senate Appropriations Committee]]) and of [[Brimley Group]] Inc. from the fourth quarter of 2014 (lobbyists [[Jessica Nickel]] and [[Thomas Culligan]], who disclosed prior positions with Representatives [[Rob Portman|Robert Portman]], [[Thomas Petri]] and [[Frank Wolf]]). The disclosed issues were funding for NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems account and the FAA [[Office of Commercial Space Transportation]]. Carliner reported 10,000 dollars (second quarter 2014), 30,000 (third), 70,000 (fourth) and 30,000 per quarter through 2015, a total of 230,000 dollars; Brimley reported 20,000 dollars (fourth quarter 2014) and 30,000 per quarter through 2015, a total of 140,000 dollars. From the second quarter of 2016 Bigelow Aerospace LLC registered as its own lobbying firm (lobbyists [[Christopher Hearsey]], listed as director of legislative affairs, and [[Ryan Noble]]) and reported expenses of 77,000 dollars (second quarter 2016), 110,000 (third and fourth quarters 2016), 110,000 (first through third quarters 2017) and 10,000 (fourth quarter 2017), a total of 637,000 dollars, on "commercialization of in-space expandable habitats" and "concerns arising from the authorization and supervision of commercial space activities," with the House, Senate, [[Office of Management and Budget]], [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and [[State Department]] listed as contacts. The searches found no filing by Bigelow entities that mentions unidentified anomalous phenomena.[^6] +Senate [[Lobbying Disclosure Act]] filings (searchable at lda.gov) show Bigelow Aerospace LLC as a client of [[Carliner Strategies]] LLC from the second quarter of 2014 (lobbyist [[Paul Carliner]], who disclosed a prior position as subcommittee staff director on the [[Senate Appropriations Committee]]) and of [[Brimley Group]] Inc. from the fourth quarter of 2014 (lobbyists [[Jessica Nickel]] and [[Thomas Culligan]], who disclosed prior positions with Representatives [[Rob Portman|Robert Portman]], [[Thomas Petri]] and [[Frank Wolf]]). The disclosed issues were funding for NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems account and the FAA [[Office of Commercial Space Transportation]]. Carliner reported 10,000 dollars (second quarter 2014), 30,000 (third), 70,000 (fourth) and 30,000 per quarter through 2015, a total of 230,000 dollars; Brimley reported 20,000 dollars (fourth quarter 2014) and 30,000 per quarter through 2015, a total of 140,000 dollars. From the second quarter of 2016 Bigelow Aerospace LLC registered as its own lobbying firm (lobbyists [[Christopher Hearsey]], listed as director of legislative affairs, and [[Ryan Noble]]) and reported expenses of 77,000 dollars (second quarter 2016), 110,000 (third and fourth quarters 2016), 110,000 (first through third quarters 2017) and 10,000 (fourth quarter 2017), a total of 637,000 dollars, on "commercialization of in-space expandable habitats" and "concerns arising from the authorization and supervision of commercial space activities," with the House, Senate, [[Office of Management and Budget]], [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and [[State Department]] listed as contacts. The searches found no filing by Bigelow entities that mentions unidentified anomalous phenomena.[^14] ### Federal campaign contributions [[OpenFEC]] schedule A records list the following contributions by Robert T. Bigelow and Bigelow companies (receipts dated 1979 to 2025). -To committees of Harry Reid: [[Friends for Harry Reid]], two entries of 1,000 dollars on August 7, 1998, two of 2,000 dollars on June 12, 2003 and two of 2,400 dollars on June 8, 2010 (10,800 dollars in all); and the [[Searchlight Leadership Fund]] (Reid's leadership PAC, per its [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]] registration), 5,000 dollars on June 13, 2003 and 5,000 dollars on June 30, 2004 from Bigelow Development Aerospace LLC (the same date carries a 5,000 dollar memo attribution to Bigelow personally).[^7] The same Bigelow Development Aerospace LLC gave 5,000 dollars to [[Friends of the Big Sky]] on April 2, 2004. The [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] received 28,500 dollars from Bigelow on September 28, 2007 and 28,500 dollars on June 30, 2008 (employer "Bigelow Investment Company"). Reid's July 2008 supplemental appropriation language and the September 22, 2008 award to BAASS fall between and after those two dates. +To committees of Harry Reid: [[Friends for Harry Reid]], two entries of 1,000 dollars on August 7, 1998, two of 2,000 dollars on June 12, 2003 and two of 2,400 dollars on June 8, 2010 (10,800 dollars in all); and the [[Searchlight Leadership Fund]] (Reid's leadership PAC, per its [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]] registration), 5,000 dollars on June 13, 2003 and 5,000 dollars on June 30, 2004 from Bigelow Development Aerospace LLC (the same date carries a 5,000 dollar memo attribution to Bigelow personally).[^15] The same Bigelow Development Aerospace LLC gave 5,000 dollars to [[Friends of the Big Sky]] on April 2, 2004. The [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] received 28,500 dollars from Bigelow on September 28, 2007 and 28,500 dollars on June 30, 2008 (employer "Bigelow Investment Company"). Reid's July 2008 supplemental appropriation language and the September 22, 2008 award to BAASS fall between and after those two dates. -To Republican and other federal committees before 2022: [[Friends for Bryan]] (1,000 dollars, March 23, 1988); [[Committee to Elect Demar Dahl]] (1,000, October 28, 1992); [[Berkley for Congress]] and related Berkley committees (1,000 in 1997, 2,000 in 1999, 4,800 in 2010, 2,000 for Berkley for Senate in 2011); [[Rehberg for Congress]] (two entries of 2,000 dollars on June 23, 2003 from Robert T. Bigelow, and two of 2,000 dollars on March 31, 2004 recorded under "Mrs. Robert T. Bigelow," occupation "hotel/real estate developer"); [[Ensign for Senate]] (2,100, September 11, 2006); Committee to Re-elect Congressman [[Dana Rohrabacher]] (2,000 in 2004, 2,300 in 2008, 500 in 2010) and Rohrabacher for Congress (5,400 on November 21, 2017); [[Chambliss for Senate]] (2,300, 2008); the [[National Republican Congressional Committee]] (15,000 dollars, April 7, 2010); the [[Nevada Republican State Central Committee]] (10,000, October 8, 2010); [[Heller Victory Committee]] (30,800 dollars, December 31, 2011, with the same amount attributed to the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]); [[Heller for Senate]] (2,700 in 2018 as joint-fundraising attribution) and [[Heller Senate Victory Committee]] (14,600, March 1, 2018); and [[Team Hardy Nevada Tough Victory Fund]] (240,000 dollars, October 24, 2018).[^8] +To Republican and other federal committees before 2022: [[Friends for Bryan]] (1,000 dollars, March 23, 1988); [[Committee to Elect Demar Dahl]] (1,000, October 28, 1992); [[Berkley for Congress]] and related Berkley committees (1,000 in 1997, 2,000 in 1999, 4,800 in 2010, 2,000 for Berkley for Senate in 2011); [[Rehberg for Congress]] (two entries of 2,000 dollars on June 23, 2003 from Robert T. Bigelow, and two of 2,000 dollars on March 31, 2004 recorded under "Mrs. Robert T. Bigelow," occupation "hotel/real estate developer"); [[Ensign for Senate]] (2,100, September 11, 2006); Committee to Re-elect Congressman [[Dana Rohrabacher]] (2,000 in 2004, 2,300 in 2008, 500 in 2010) and Rohrabacher for Congress (5,400 on November 21, 2017); [[Chambliss for Senate]] (2,300, 2008); the [[National Republican Congressional Committee]] (15,000 dollars, April 7, 2010); the [[Nevada Republican State Central Committee]] (10,000, October 8, 2010); [[Heller Victory Committee]] (30,800 dollars, December 31, 2011, with the same amount attributed to the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]); [[Heller for Senate]] (2,700 in 2018 as joint-fundraising attribution) and [[Heller Senate Victory Committee]] (14,600, March 1, 2018); and [[Team Hardy Nevada Tough Victory Fund]] (240,000 dollars, October 24, 2018).[^16] -In 2022: [[Take Back the Senate]] (255,000 dollars, August 17), [[American Resolve PAC]] (200,000 dollars, August 26), the [[Noem Victory Fund]] (25,000 dollars, June 13), [[Maggie's List]] (5,000 dollars on December 27, 2021 and 5,000 on January 4, 2022), [[Kat for Congress]] (5,742 dollars), [[Becker for Congress]] (5,800) and [[Committee to Elect Sam Peters]] (5,800, with a 2,900 dollar memo reversal), and a 2,900 dollar memo entry to [[Michelle Steel for Congress]]. [[Morning in America PAC]] received 5,000,000 dollars from Bigelow on August 11, 2022, recorded as three entries (2,000,000, 2,000,000 and 1,000,000), all listing the employer as Bigelow Aerospace and reported on a 2023 filing.[^8] +In 2022: [[Take Back the Senate]] (255,000 dollars, August 17), [[American Resolve PAC]] (200,000 dollars, August 26), the [[Noem Victory Fund]] (25,000 dollars, June 13), [[Maggie's List]] (5,000 dollars on December 27, 2021 and 5,000 on January 4, 2022), [[Kat for Congress]] (5,742 dollars), [[Becker for Congress]] (5,800) and [[Committee to Elect Sam Peters]] (5,800, with a 2,900 dollar memo reversal), and a 2,900 dollar memo entry to [[Michelle Steel for Congress]]. [[Morning in America PAC]] received 5,000,000 dollars from Bigelow on August 11, 2022, recorded as three entries (2,000,000, 2,000,000 and 1,000,000), all listing the employer as Bigelow Aerospace and reported on a 2023 filing.[^16] -In 2023 and after: [[Never Back Down Inc.]] (FEC committee C00834077, a super PAC), 20,000,500 dollars, reported March 30, 2023; [[Make America Great Again Inc.]], 5,000,000 dollars (February 9, 2024), 4,175,400 dollars (March 28, 2024) and 5,000,000 dollars (June 26, 2024), then 250,000 dollars on January 23, 2025; and [[Trump 47 Committee]], Inc. (a joint fundraising committee), 824,600 dollars on March 29, 2024, with memo entries of the same date allocating amounts to the [[Republican National Committee]] and 40 state and territorial party committees (10,000 dollars each, 400,000 dollars in all, dated March 29, June 27 and June 28, 2024).[^8] +In 2023 and after: [[Never Back Down Inc.]] (FEC committee C00834077, a super PAC), 20,000,500 dollars, reported March 30, 2023; [[Make America Great Again Inc.]], 5,000,000 dollars (February 9, 2024), 4,175,400 dollars (March 28, 2024) and 5,000,000 dollars (June 26, 2024), then 250,000 dollars on January 23, 2025; and [[Trump 47 Committee]], Inc. (a joint fundraising committee), 824,600 dollars on March 29, 2024, with memo entries of the same date allocating amounts to the [[Republican National Committee]] and 40 state and territorial party committees (10,000 dollars each, 400,000 dollars in all, dated March 29, June 27 and June 28, 2024).[^16] ### Foundations -The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc were recognized as 501(c)(3) private foundations in March 2024 at 4640 S Eastern Ave, [[Las Vegas]], Nevada. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and [[Colm Kelleher]] and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors, with no compensation reported on the Educational Foundation return (and 7,231 dollars for Jody Erikson on the Medical Foundation return); each foundation reports 62,000 dollars in contributions, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, and the preparer is [[McCarthy Kaster Guerrero]] CPAs Ltd.[^9] For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, the Educational Foundation's Form 990-PF reports contributions of 643,050 dollars (639,700 dollars from Robert Thomas Bigelow), total expenses of 658,557 dollars, officer and director compensation of 254,134 dollars (Stauch 95,769, Kelleher 93,365, Erickson 65,000), and 151,195 dollars in grants to six recipients described as "challenge grant award winners for the 'Survival of Human Consciousness After Death' contest." The Medical Foundation's return for the same year reports contributions of 94,100 dollars, all from Bigelow, and total expenses of 131,828 dollars.[^10] National Institute for Discovery Science does not appear in the [[ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer]] database. +The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc were recognized as 501(c)(3) private foundations in March 2024 at 4640 S Eastern Ave, [[Las Vegas]], Nevada. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and [[Colm Kelleher]] and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors, with no compensation reported on the Educational Foundation return (and 7,231 dollars for Jody Erikson on the Medical Foundation return); each foundation reports 62,000 dollars in contributions, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, and the preparer is [[McCarthy Kaster Guerrero]] CPAs Ltd.[^17] For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, the Educational Foundation's Form 990-PF reports contributions of 643,050 dollars (639,700 dollars from Robert Thomas Bigelow), total expenses of 658,557 dollars, officer and director compensation of 254,134 dollars (Stauch 95,769, Kelleher 93,365, Erickson 65,000), and 151,195 dollars in grants to six recipients described as "challenge grant award winners for the 'Survival of Human Consciousness After Death' contest." The Medical Foundation's return for the same year reports contributions of 94,100 dollars, all from Bigelow, and total expenses of 131,828 dollars.[^18] National Institute for Discovery Science does not appear in the [[ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer]] database. ### Footnotes [^1]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024. -[^2]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008 (FOIA-00269-2018, block 26); and the copy attached to modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf -[^3]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_NNH13CH31C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE-, Bigelow Aerospace LLC, NASA. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_NNH13CH31C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE- -[^4]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_NNH15CN82C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE-. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_NNH15CN82C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE- -[^5]: USAspending.gov awards CONT_AWD_80JSC021F0007_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000, CONT_AWD_80JSC019F0011_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000 and CONT_AWD_80JSC018F0024_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000 (Bigelow Space One LLC). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_80JSC021F0007_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000/ -[^6]: Senate Office of Public Records, Lobbying Disclosure Act database, filings with client or registrant name "Bigelow Aerospace," 2014 through 2017 (23 filings in all, including three registration reports), retrieved October 2, 2026. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Bigelow+Aerospace -[^7]: Federal Election Commission, OpenFEC API, schedule A receipts, committees C00204370 (Friends for Harry Reid, Senate) and C00327395 (Searchlight Leadership Fund, sponsor candidate Harry Reid), sub_ids 3061920110006449337, 3061920110006449338, 1070820110008097328, 1070820110008097329, 2072820101127880321, 2072820101127880567, 4070920041040043086, 4072020041040387575, 4072020041040387576. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/ -[^8]: Federal Election Commission, OpenFEC API, schedule A, contributor name search "Bigelow, Robert" with contributor_state NV, retrieved October 2, 2026; full row list with sub_ids in _LEDGER_M1.md. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/ -[^9]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, object IDs 202403379349100410 (Educational Foundation, EIN 93-3962948) and 202413379349100411 (Medical Foundation, EIN 93-3974535), in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API, EIN 933962948 and 933974535. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json -[^10]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, object IDs 202522589349100222 (Educational Foundation) and 202512589349100631 (Medical Foundation), in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2025/2025_TEOS_XML_09A.zip +[^2]: Zack Van Eyck, "No UFOs or ETs have dropped in at spooky ranch," *Deseret News*, April 27, 1997. https://www.deseret.com/1997/4/27/19308958/no-ufos-or-ets-have-dropped-in-at-spooky-ranch +[^3]: "Nevada millionaire buys UFO ranch in Utah," *Las Vegas Sun*, October 23, 1996. https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/oct/23/nevada-millionaire-buys-ufo-ranch-in-utah/ +[^4]: "Mysteries of UFO ranch in spotlight," *Deseret News*, April 22, 2006. https://www.deseret.com/2006/4/22/19949762/mysteries-of-ufo-ranch-in-spotlight +[^5]: Joshua Murdock, UBMedia, September 24, 2016, with editor's correction. https://web.archive.org/web/20190616173436/https://ubmedia.biz/ (article 016cb90c) +[^6]: KLAS-TV (8 News Now), Mystery Wire, March 10, 2020, https://digital-release.8newsnow.com/?p=2488085 ; Vice, "Brandon Fugal owner of Skinwalker Ranch," March 10, 2020, https://www.vice.com/en/article/brandon-fugal-owner-of-skinwalker-ranch +[^7]: "Why Brandon Fugal bought Skinwalker Ranch," *Utah Business*, December 15, 2020. https://www.utahbusiness.com/building-development/2020/12/15/why-a-millionaire-real-estate-mogul-bought-skinwalker-ranch/ +[^8]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008 (FOIA-00269-2018, block 26); and the copy attached to modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf +[^9]: Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean, *The New York Times*, December 16, 2017 (New York Times News Service text: https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2017/12/16/are-ufos-real-a-pentagon-program-tried-to-find-out). +[^10]: George Knapp, statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, July 26, 2023, pp. 1 to 2. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO06/20230726/116282/HHRG-118-GO06-20230726-SD004.pdf +[^11]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_NNH13CH31C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE-, Bigelow Aerospace LLC, NASA. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_NNH13CH31C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE- +[^12]: USAspending.gov, award CONT_AWD_NNH15CN82C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE-. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_NNH15CN82C_8000_-NONE-_-NONE- +[^13]: USAspending.gov awards CONT_AWD_80JSC021F0007_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000, CONT_AWD_80JSC019F0011_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000 and CONT_AWD_80JSC018F0024_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000 (Bigelow Space One LLC). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/awards/CONT_AWD_80JSC021F0007_8000_80JSC018D0001_8000/ +[^14]: Senate Office of Public Records, Lobbying Disclosure Act database, filings with client or registrant name "Bigelow Aerospace," 2014 through 2017 (23 filings in all, including three registration reports), retrieved October 2, 2026. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Bigelow+Aerospace +[^15]: Federal Election Commission, OpenFEC API, schedule A receipts, committees C00204370 (Friends for Harry Reid, Senate) and C00327395 (Searchlight Leadership Fund, sponsor candidate Harry Reid), sub_ids 3061920110006449337, 3061920110006449338, 1070820110008097328, 1070820110008097329, 2072820101127880321, 2072820101127880567, 4070920041040043086, 4072020041040387575, 4072020041040387576. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/ +[^16]: Federal Election Commission, OpenFEC API, schedule A, contributor name search "Bigelow, Robert" with contributor_state NV, retrieved October 2, 2026; full row list with sub_ids in _LEDGER_M1.md. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/ +[^17]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, object IDs 202403379349100410 (Educational Foundation, EIN 93-3962948) and 202413379349100411 (Medical Foundation, EIN 93-3974535), in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API, EIN 933962948 and 933974535. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json +[^18]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, object IDs 202522589349100222 (Educational Foundation) and 202512589349100631 (Medical Foundation), in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2025/2025_TEOS_XML_09A.zip diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md index 682d4465..02d29ed1 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md @@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ relations: role: "principal shareholder with the Abu Dhabi government and ruling family" start: 1972 end: 1991 - fn: 11 + fn: 13 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan was the Head of [[Abu Dhabi]]'s ruling family and president of the [[United Arab Emirates]].[^1] @@ -33,21 +34,21 @@ BCCI effectively merged with Zayed's Private Department, which handled and inves ### Role in BCCI Scandal -Zayed and his chief lieutenant, [[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]], were infuriated by the global seizure of BCCI, as it occurred just ten days before a deal to restructure the bank was to be signed.[^7] Zayed's various state agencies, along with Zayed himself, lost as much as $8 billion in the shutdown of BCCI.[^8] +Zayed and his chief lieutenant, [[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]], were infuriated by the global seizure of BCCI, as it occurred just ten days before a deal to restructure the bank was to be signed.[^8] Beaty wrote that no one saw Zayed without Mazrui's approval, and quoted a contact at the UAE embassy in Washington saying "only Ghanim al-Mazrui can approve that." Beaty wrote that the Manhattan prosecutor John Moscow thought whether Zayed or Mazrui knew about the bank's criminal activity was "one of the keys."[^9] Zayed's various state agencies, along with Zayed himself, lost as much as $8 billion in the shutdown of BCCI.[^10] -He ordered audits of BCCI, which revealed billions of dollars missing.[^9] The [[Bank of England]] tried to persuade Zayed to inject more money into BCCI to cover losses.[^10] +He ordered audits of BCCI, which revealed billions of dollars missing.[^11] The [[Bank of England]] tried to persuade Zayed to inject more money into BCCI to cover losses.[^12] ### The Kerry-Brown Findings -The [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]] of December 1992 stated that "there was no relationship more central to BCCI's existence from its inception than that between BCCI and Sheikh Zayed and the ruling family of Abu Dhabi." Abu Dhabi shareholders bought 20 percent of BCCI at its creation in 1972 for 500,000 dollars and let that interest fall to just over one percent within three years. In January 1978, when BCCI needed two more names for its purchase of [[Financial General Bankshares]], the ruling family supplied them, and in 1980 and 1981, when BCCI needed a buyer for the shares held by the [[Bank of America]], Abu Dhabi again increased its interest.[^11] +The [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]] of December 1992 stated that "there was no relationship more central to BCCI's existence from its inception than that between BCCI and Sheikh Zayed and the ruling family of Abu Dhabi." Abu Dhabi shareholders bought 20 percent of BCCI at its creation in 1972 for 500,000 dollars and let that interest fall to just over one percent within three years. In January 1978, when BCCI needed two more names for its purchase of [[Financial General Bankshares]], the ruling family supplied them, and in 1980 and 1981, when BCCI needed a buyer for the shares held by the [[Bank of America]], Abu Dhabi again increased its interest.[^13] -After the fall in 1980 of his financial adviser Abdullah Darweish, who was arrested on December 8, 1981, and charged with defrauding the ruling family, Zayed directed that all of his personal oil revenues be placed in BCCI, had the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] acquire a 10 percent stake in BCCI from its Cayman affiliate [[ICIC]], and placed the chairman of his Private Department, Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui, on BCCI's board, where he became chairman. Abu Dhabi's witness before the subcommittee, Ahmed Al Sayegh, testified that "in excess of $2 billion was entrusted to Abedi and Naqvi for investment by Their Highnesses Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa under a power of attorney between 1980 and 1990."[^11] +After the fall in 1980 of his financial adviser Abdullah Darweish, who was arrested on December 8, 1981, and charged with defrauding the ruling family, Zayed directed that all of his personal oil revenues be placed in BCCI, had the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] acquire a 10 percent stake in BCCI from its Cayman affiliate [[ICIC]], and placed the chairman of his Private Department, Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui, on BCCI's board, where he became chairman. Abu Dhabi's witness before the subcommittee, Ahmed Al Sayegh, testified that "in excess of $2 billion was entrusted to Abedi and Naqvi for investment by Their Highnesses Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa under a power of attorney between 1980 and 1990."[^13] -Abu Dhabi's position was that it had been BCCI's victim. "We didn't know anything about the bank because of our passive role in the past," Al Sayegh testified. The report found instead that BCCI's records and insiders "outline a picture of the relationship which suggests that Abu Dhabi officials were indeed knowing participants in substantial wrongdoing," that members of the ruling family had taken risk-free investments in BCCI, and that Abu Dhabi officials had engaged "in a cover-up of fraudulent activity involving BCCI, which continues, in substantial part, to this day." Members of the ruling family appeared to have contributed no more than 500,000 dollars to BCCI's capital before April 1990 while recorded as owners of almost a quarter of its shares, with a book value of more than 750 million dollars. By the closure of July 5, 1991, Abu Dhabi owned 77 percent of BCCI; because the rest was held by nominees and ICIC, the report concluded that "Abu Dhabi was in fact BCCI's sole owner."[^11] +Abu Dhabi's position was that it had been BCCI's victim. "We didn't know anything about the bank because of our passive role in the past," Al Sayegh testified. The report found instead that BCCI's records and insiders "outline a picture of the relationship which suggests that Abu Dhabi officials were indeed knowing participants in substantial wrongdoing," that members of the ruling family had taken risk-free investments in BCCI, and that Abu Dhabi officials had engaged "in a cover-up of fraudulent activity involving BCCI, which continues, in substantial part, to this day." Members of the ruling family appeared to have contributed no more than 500,000 dollars to BCCI's capital before April 1990 while recorded as owners of almost a quarter of its shares, with a book value of more than 750 million dollars. By the closure of July 5, 1991, Abu Dhabi owned 77 percent of BCCI; because the rest was held by nominees and ICIC, the report concluded that "Abu Dhabi was in fact BCCI's sole owner."[^13] ### Settlement -Under an agreement of January 12, 1994, by which Abu Dhabi handed [[Swaleh Naqvi]] to the [[United States]] and gave American prosecutors access to BCCI witnesses and documents, the United States dropped a civil suit of 1.5 billion dollars against Zayed, brought no criminal charges against him, and received 400 million dollars' worth of Abu Dhabi's shares in [[First American Bank]].[^12][^13] In June 1994 an Abu Dhabi court convicted twelve former BCCI executives and awarded Zayed's Private Department 6.56 billion dollars of the 9.13 billion dollars in damages.[^12] Abu Dhabi's shareholders agreed in November 1994 to a 1.8 billion dollar compensation package for BCCI's creditors, which received its last legal clearances in December 1995; an agreement with the liquidators in May 1996 cleared a first payment of 1.55 billion dollars.[^14] The liquidators later reported that the Abu Dhabi government had contributed 2.2 billion dollars to the liquidation funds.[^15] +Under an agreement of January 12, 1994, by which Abu Dhabi handed [[Swaleh Naqvi]] to the [[United States]] and gave American prosecutors access to BCCI witnesses and documents, the United States dropped a civil suit of 1.5 billion dollars against Zayed, brought no criminal charges against him, and received 400 million dollars' worth of Abu Dhabi's shares in [[First American Bank]].[^14][^15] In June 1994 an Abu Dhabi court convicted twelve former BCCI executives and awarded Zayed's Private Department 6.56 billion dollars of the 9.13 billion dollars in damages.[^14] Abu Dhabi's shareholders agreed in November 1994 to a 1.8 billion dollar compensation package for BCCI's creditors, which received its last legal clearances in December 1995; an agreement with the liquidators in May 1996 cleared a first payment of 1.55 billion dollars.[^16] The liquidators later reported that the Abu Dhabi government had contributed 2.2 billion dollars to the liquidation funds.[^17] ### Footnotes @@ -58,11 +59,13 @@ Under an agreement of January 12, 1994, by which Abu Dhabi handed [[Swaleh Naqvi [^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 163. [^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. [^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. -[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 129. -[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 55. -[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 136. -[^11]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Stockholders." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm -[^12]: Hussain, Thomas. "UAE jails and fines BCCI executives," United Press International, June 14, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/14/UAE-jails-and-fines-BCCI-executives/7650771566400/ -[^13]: "Ex-BCCI chief faces jail in UAE," United Press International, October 20, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/20/Ex-BCCI-chief-faces-jail-in-UAE/7767782625600/ -[^14]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ -[^15]: Hunter, Gregor Stuart. "After 22 years, UAE branches of defunct BCCI finally liquidated," *The National,* July 5, 2013. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/after-22-years-uae-branches-of-defunct-bcci-finally-liquidated-1.606808 +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 99. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 71, 73. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 129. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 55. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 136. +[^13]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Stockholders." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm +[^14]: Hussain, Thomas. "UAE jails and fines BCCI executives," United Press International, June 14, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/14/UAE-jails-and-fines-BCCI-executives/7650771566400/ +[^15]: "Ex-BCCI chief faces jail in UAE," United Press International, October 20, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/20/Ex-BCCI-chief-faces-jail-in-UAE/7767782625600/ +[^16]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ +[^17]: Hunter, Gregor Stuart. "After 22 years, UAE branches of defunct BCCI finally liquidated," *The National,* July 5, 2013. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/after-22-years-uae-branches-of-defunct-bcci-finally-liquidated-1.606808 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md index 193252e2..a3c1c319 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md @@ -1,5 +1,6 @@ --- category: "Authors & Journalists" +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - Person - Military @@ -13,21 +14,29 @@ relations: with: "[[University of Edinburgh]]" start: 1985 role: "bequest endowing the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology" - fn: 2 + fn: 4 --- Arthur Koestler was a Hungarian-born British novelist, journalist, and critic. He was known for his writings on science, parapsychology, and political philosophy. His 1972 book, *The Roots of Coincidence*, explored the concept of synchronicity and other parapsychological phenomena.[^1] Koestler's work, particularly *The Roots of Coincidence*, played a role in influencing key figures in the U.S. government's psychic research programs. Major General [[Edmund Thompson]], the Army's assistant chief of staff for intelligence, developed a considerable enthusiasm for psychic spying after reading Koestler's pro-paranormal book. This personal interest contributed to Thompson's approval and support for the [[Stargate Project|Gondola Wish]] program.[^1] +### Geneva conference, 1974 + +In August 1974 the [[Parapsychology Foundation]] held its 23rd annual conference at the Hotel La Réserve in [[Geneva]] on the subject "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology." A conference report dated October 28, 1974 describes the subject as "a topic selected at the instigation of Arthur Koestler, the well-known author, who in recent years has interested himself in the subject of parapsychology. His recent book, The Roots of Coincidence, reflects this interest." The report records that experiments with gifted subjects were presented by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]].[^2] + +In March 1974 the magazine [[Time (magazine)|Time]] published a cover story on psychic research that cited Koestler in its survey of the field. [[Martin Gardner]] was quoted in it as listing "the incomplete conclusions of Koestler" beside [[Uri Geller]] and *The Secret Life of Plants*, and as writing that these "all seem part of a new uncritical enthusiasm for pseudo science."[^3] + ### Koestler Chair of Parapsychology -Koestler's bequest endowed a chair in parapsychology at the [[University of Edinburgh]]. The Koestler Parapsychology Unit, in the university's psychology department, gives 1985 as its year of establishment, and [[Robert L. Morris]] was appointed the first holder of the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology in 1985.[^2][^3] A paper reproduced in the 1994 DIA peer review plan gives Morris as holding the chair in the Department of Psychology at Edinburgh.[^4] [[James E. Alcock]] described the chair in 1987 as "endowed by a bequest from the late Arthur Koestler, a long-time supporter of parapsychology."[^5] +Koestler's bequest endowed a chair in parapsychology at the [[University of Edinburgh]]. The Koestler Parapsychology Unit, in the university's psychology department, gives 1985 as its year of establishment, and [[Robert L. Morris]] was appointed the first holder of the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology in 1985.[^4][^5] A paper reproduced in the 1994 DIA peer review plan gives Morris as holding the chair in the Department of Psychology at Edinburgh.[^6] [[James E. Alcock]] described the chair in 1987 as "endowed by a bequest from the late Arthur Koestler, a long-time supporter of parapsychology."[^7] ### Footnotes [^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. -[^2]: Koestler Parapsychology Unit, University of Edinburgh, home page ("Established in 1985"). https://koestlerunit.wordpress.com/ -[^3]: "Robert Morris," Psi Encyclopedia, Society for Psychical Research ("In 1985, Morris was appointed the first holder of the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology"). https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/robert-morris/ -[^4]: Defense Intelligence Agency, *Project STAR GATE Research and Peer Review Plan,* June 1994, CIA-RDP96-00789R002700010001-1. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002700010001-1 -[^5]: Alcock, James E. "Parapsychology: Science of the Anomalous or Search for the Soul?" *Behavioral and Brain Sciences* (1987), CIA-RDP96-00789R002200120001-4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002200120001-4 +[^2]: Central Intelligence Agency, report on the 23rd Annual International Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation, Hotel La Réserve, Geneva, August 26 and 27, 1974, "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology," dated October 28, 1974, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2 (CIA CREST). +[^3]: "Boom Times on the Psychic Frontier," *Time*, March 4, 1974, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100030002-8 (CIA CREST). +[^4]: Koestler Parapsychology Unit, University of Edinburgh, home page ("Established in 1985"). https://koestlerunit.wordpress.com/ +[^5]: "Robert Morris," Psi Encyclopedia, Society for Psychical Research ("In 1985, Morris was appointed the first holder of the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology"). https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/robert-morris/ +[^6]: Defense Intelligence Agency, *Project STAR GATE Research and Peer Review Plan,* June 1994, CIA-RDP96-00789R002700010001-1. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002700010001-1 +[^7]: Alcock, James E. "Parapsychology: Science of the Anomalous or Search for the Soul?" *Behavioral and Brain Sciences* (1987), CIA-RDP96-00789R002200120001-4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002200120001-4 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ben Kalka.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ben Kalka.md index a46cf430..d201987b 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ben Kalka.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ben Kalka.md @@ -3,27 +3,140 @@ category: "Organized Crime" tags: - Person - OrganizedCrime + - Methamphetamine + - ReverseSting + - PROMIS +aliases: + - "Kalka" summary: "Kalka estimated he produced 8,000 pounds of drugs worth $10 million, using ingredients that federal agents had allegedly arranged for him to buy." +updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: investigated + with: "[[Robert Barnes]]" + reverse: true + start: 1982 + role: "FBI agent who handled Riconosciuto in the San Francisco sting, per Seymour" + fn: 7 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]" + reverse: true + start: 1982 + role: "agency of the reverse sting, per Seymour" + fn: 1 + - type: investigated + with: "[[John Di Giorgio]]" + reverse: true + start: 1989-10 + role: "former Austrian citizen said to be an undercover informant against Kalka" + fn: 1 + - type: investigated + with: "[[California Attorney General's Office]]" + reverse: true + start: 1989-10 + role: "state case against Kalka, per Seymour" + fn: 1 + - type: prosecuted + with: "[[United States]]" + reverse: true + start: 1989-10-26 + end: 1993-06-17 + role: "N.D. Cal. No. 3:89-cr-00603" + fn: 16 + - type: represented + with: "[[Chris Cannon]]" + reverse: true + start: 2000 + role: "defense attorney whose deal overturned Kalka's sentence, per Seymour" + fn: 1 + - type: partner_of + with: "[[Michael Riconosciuto]]" + start: 1982 + role: "business ties at R & R Research, per Seymour" + fn: 1 + - type: represented + with: "[[Harland Braun]]" + reverse: true + start: 1982 + role: "Los Angeles attorney for Kalka at the time of Riconosciuto's cooperating-witness negotiations, per an INSLAW memorandum" + fn: 11 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Sue Todd]]" + reverse: true + start: 2000 + role: "detective whose 2000 Octopus probe concluded Kalka was an undercover operative, per Seymour" + fn: 14 --- -[[Ben Kalka]] was a figure in the San Francisco drug world, initially a "bit player" who later became a major supplier of methamphetamine. He was arrested in 1982 with 900 pounds of methamphetamine in his possession and was serving time in a Pleasanton prison. Kalka's arrest was part of a federal sting operation, though he claimed the sting had ended by the time he began manufacturing the drug.[^1] +[[Ben Kalka]] was a figure in the [[San Francisco]] drug world, initially a "bit player" who later became a major supplier of [[Methamphetamine|methamphetamine]]. He was arrested in 1982 with 900 pounds of methamphetamine in his possession and was serving time in a [[Pleasanton]] prison. Kalka's arrest was part of a federal sting operation, though he claimed the sting had ended by the time he began manufacturing the drug.[^1] ### Methamphetamine Production and Government Involvement -Kalka estimated he produced 8,000 pounds of drugs worth $10 million, using ingredients that federal agents had allegedly arranged for him to buy. He became involved in methamphetamine production after a chemist friend asked him to find phenyl acetic acid, a key precursor. Despite the chemical not being illegal, its purchase was scrutinized by the government. A contact, [[Paul Palmer]], who had become a government informant after being busted for selling precursors, arranged for Kalka to obtain a semi-truck load of the chemical.[^1] +Kalka estimated he produced 8,000 pounds of drugs worth $10 million, using ingredients that federal agents had allegedly arranged for him to buy. He became involved in methamphetamine production after a chemist friend asked him to find [[Phenylacetic acid|phenyl acetic acid]], a key precursor. Despite the chemical not being illegal, its purchase was scrutinized by the government.[^1] Federal law later brought the chemical under control. A November 1, 1989 hearing of the [[House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control]] listed phenylacetic acid among the precursor chemicals regulated under the [[Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act]] of 1988.[^2] The current federal list of List I chemicals includes it.[^3] A letter of September 1, 1989 from the [[Chemical Manufacturers Association]] to the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] asked for guidance on implementing the act's final rule, published at 54 Fed. Reg. 31657 (August 1, 1989).[^4] -[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was introduced to Kalka by Palmer and helped Kalka find monomethylamine, the last ingredient needed for methamphetamine. Riconosciuto claimed he was working for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as part of the sting operation and was authorized to supply Kalka with the final ingredient. The plan to bust Kalka and his subordinates reportedly failed when Kalka diverted the truck carrying the chemicals away from federal agents. Kalka wondered why the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] did not track him down once the methamphetamine began hitting the streets, suggesting the agency stumbled upon his enterprise during another undercover operation.[^1] +A contact, [[Paul Palmer]], who had become a government informant after being busted for selling precursors, arranged for Kalka to obtain a semi-truck load of the chemical.[^1] -Kalka was released from prison in April 2000 after his lawyer, [[Chris Cannon]], struck a deal that overturned his sentence, contingent upon Kalka signing a letter stating he did not obtain his precursors from the [[United States|U.S. government]]. This letter was reportedly written by [[William Shockley]], a [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in San Francisco, and found by Detective [[Sue Todd]] in the Di Giorgio Extradition File.[^1] +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was introduced to Kalka by Palmer and helped Kalka find [[Methylamine|monomethylamine]], the last ingredient needed for methamphetamine. In a statement printed in the November 1, 1989 hearing record, the Chemical Manufacturers Association reviewed methylamine "due to its possible future listing as a CDTA chemical by DEA."[^5] Riconosciuto claimed he was working for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as part of the sting operation and was authorized to supply Kalka with the final ingredient. The plan to bust Kalka and his subordinates reportedly failed when Kalka diverted the truck carrying the chemicals away from federal agents. Kalka wondered why the FBI did not track him down once the methamphetamine began hitting the streets, suggesting the agency stumbled upon his enterprise during another undercover operation.[^1] + +[[Cheri Seymour|Seymour]]'s notes of an interview with [[Peter Zokosky]] record that Zokosky played a tape on which Riconosciuto narrated. The tape referred to the murder of [[Paul Morasca]] in San Francisco and [[Mary Quick]] in [[Fresno]]. It said that Kalka handled an LSD operation in Fresno and that alleged drug traffickers worked with him, and that at some point Barnes became involved in the investigation.[^6] Zokosky described Riconosciuto as unreliable, a pathological liar with grains of truth in his accounts.[^6] + +A letter dated April 13, 1982, signed by Riconosciuto's then-wife Phyllis Riconosciuto and by [[Jimmy Hughes]], engaged Hughes and a second man to provide bodyguard services for Riconosciuto on April 14, 15 and 16 for a flat fee of $1,300, to fly with him to Fresno while he put his affairs in order "until he goes into protective custody with the FBI at the Oakland [California] office." The letter stated that Riconosciuto was to meet [[Robert Barnes]], an FBI special agent, and that the two men could return to Palm Springs once Barnes assumed protection of him.[^7] Seymour places the letter in the period when Riconosciuto worked with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], whom she describes as administrator at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] and a partner at the time in the [[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] joint venture on the reservation.[^8] Seymour also connects the date of the letter to Riconosciuto's claim that he had worked undercover, on loan from the FBI, for the Fresno prosecutor [[Brian Leighton]], who prosecuted 29 members of the drug and arms group [[The Company]], and she quotes a San Francisco Chronicle article of April 28, 1982 by Bill Wallace headed "Story of Spies, Stolen Arms and Drugs."[^7] + +In a statement dated February 16, 1984, Riconosciuto wrote that Nichols directed him to have [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] recover "[all] of Kalka’s assets." He wrote that [[Jim De Silva|DeSilva]], who had control of the assets, agreed to release them and gave the location of the vehicles, which were in the Oakland area. The vehicles held a semi-truck loaded with amphetamine production chemicals and a red Datsun with a portable refrigerator containing acid. He added that Nichols complained that "PAT had made off with everything."[^9] + +### Accounts in the Casolaro Papers + +In a transcribed interview with [[Ted Gunderson]], a retired FBI special agent in charge, Riconosciuto said that in December 1981 word reached him "through the Wackenhut structure" that an attempt would be made on his life, and that he later learned Kalka had paid the [[Hells Angels|Hell's Angels]] a quarter of a million dollars to kill him. He said Kalka "was just horrified by the fact that I was with Paul Morasca." He said Kalka was "a fugitive from justice" who had been hiding in Colorado when Morasca gathered the company's raw materials, which Riconosciuto described as twelve hundred fifty-five-gallon drums of monomethylamine and close to half a million pounds of phenylacetic acid, collected through DeSilva. Riconosciuto said he gave the location to Barnes and a second FBI agent, that Barnes was interested in Kalka and not in Thompson or Morasca, and that the materials were removed shortly afterward, after DeSilva was beaten and told them where they were. He added that he had persuaded Kalka that a tracking device might be hidden in the phenylacetic acid, that Kalka had all of it screened, and that during the screening he introduced a heavy-metal micro-tagging material into it; he said Paul Palmer of Zero Waste wanted the fiber drums returned.[^10] + +An INSLAW memorandum to the record dated July 18, 1990, drawing on that interview, stated that Riconosciuto had initially intended to use the Los Angeles attorney [[Harland Braun|Harlan Braun]] in negotiations with [[Stephen Trott]] in the spring of 1982, but that Braun had a conflict because he represented Kalka, "allegedly one of the leaders in illegal drug trafficking against whom Riconosciuto was about to become a cooperative witness." Braun referred him to Donald Wager. The memorandum added that Riconosciuto had told the authors Pizzo and Fricker in December 1987 that Braun represented the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in the Los Angeles area.[^11] + +In a letter of October 6, 1983 to Judge Victor Dahman of the Madera County Justice Court, Gunderson wrote that Paul Morasca had been working with federal and San Bernardino authorities to expose and prosecute Kalka, [[Al Holbert]] and a third man, and that after Morasca's death large quantities of drugs and chemicals disappeared from their San Francisco location once the location had been given to San Francisco authorities by informants. He listed 940 pounds of pure methamphetamine, 35,000 pounds of phenylacetic acid and 100 fifty-five-gallon drums of 40 percent monomethylamine, which he stated Kalka, Holbert and the third man had bought in 1980 from Zero Waste Inc. of Oakland and Ark Distribution Company of Contra Costa and had placed in the Fresno and Madera area. Gunderson also wrote that he had been told the "Kalka group" was concerned that a witness was cooperating with him, and that he had information that the group had committed 18 murders since January 1982.[^12] + +### Arrest and Sentencing + +The Oakland Tribune reported that an Oakland businessman named Ben Kalka, 36, previously convicted twice on drug sale charges, was given the maximum term of four years in prison in Alameda County Superior Court after his arrest on August 28 at his Oakland hills home with two pounds of cocaine and $77,000 in cash. The article stated that he earned about $50,000 a year from a business restoring antique motorcycles for use in Hollywood films.[^13] + +### Todd's Conclusions + +[[Sue Todd]] concluded that Kalka was an undercover operative and that the entire drug operation was sanctioned by the [[United States|U.S. government]], as Kalka had been arrested multiple times, but the FBI always took possession of him away from the arresting officers.[^1] Seymour reports that Todd interviewed Barnes in 2000, and that Barnes confirmed he had been the "handler" for both Riconosciuto and Thompson in a large drug sting in San Francisco.[^14] ### Connections and Allegations -Kalka's business ties with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] at [[R & R Research]] and the laboratory facilities at Hercules, [[California]], were documented in [[David Mayer]]'s attorney/client files. [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], administrator at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]], also met with Riconosciuto at the Hercules plant. Investigators uncovered evidence of a chemical or drug operation at the Hercules plant that contaminated the entire property.[^1] +Kalka's business ties with Riconosciuto at [[R & R Research]] and the laboratory facilities at Hercules, [[California]], were documented in [[David Mayer]]'s attorney/client files. Nichols, administrator at the Cabazon Indian Reservation, also met with Riconosciuto at the Hercules plant. Investigators uncovered evidence of a chemical or drug operation at the Hercules plant that contaminated the entire property.[^1] -Kalka was close to [[Al Holbert]], a former [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence agent, and [[Paul Morasca]], who was murdered in San Francisco during the time these sting operations were underway. [[Sue Todd]] concluded that Kalka was an undercover operative and that the entire drug operation was sanctioned by the [[United States|U.S. government]], as Kalka had been arrested multiple times, but the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] always took possession of him away from the arresting officers.[^1] +Kalka was close to Al Holbert, a former [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence agent, and Morasca, who was murdered in San Francisco during the time these sting operations were underway. The Morasca homicide file (Case No. 82-1052505) reportedly contained over a thousand pages dating to the early 1980s and referenced the [[Fred Alvarez|Alvarez]] murders, according to Seymour.[^15] -[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that the precursors Kalka used were provided by the [[United States|U.S. government]] and that a chemical company was cooperating with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] by reporting all chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his companies, which he then provided to Kalka. The money from these operations was reportedly laundered through [[Liechtenstein]] and other countries.[^1] +Riconosciuto claimed that the precursors Kalka used were provided by the U.S. government and that a chemical company was cooperating with the FBI by reporting all chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his companies, which he then provided to Kalka. The money from these operations was reportedly laundered through [[Liechtenstein]] and other countries.[^1] + +### Federal Prosecution and Release + +The federal case United States v. Kalka, No. 3:89-cr-00603, was filed in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|Northern District of California]] on October 26, 1989 and terminated on June 17, 1993, according to the docket index.[^16] Seymour cites the same number as the "Di Giorgio Extradition File," captioned United States v. [[John Di Giorgio|Di Giorgio]].[^15] Seymour wrote that at a news conference on November 17, 1989, Attorney General [[John Van de Kamp]] of California described the case as the "biggest methamphetamine seizure in the world," displaying 1,022 pounds of methamphetamine and $1 million in cash.[^1] The precursors supplied to Kalka were reportedly part of a "reverse sting" operation headed by Barnes.[^1] + +A 1992 report of the [[House Committee on the Judiciary]] on the [[INSLAW]] matter recorded that Riconosciuto, after his 1991 arrest, "has been convicted of the drug related charges," and that the [[Department of Justice]] declined the committee's requests on the ground that his prosecution was an ongoing investigation.[^17] A 1997 hearing officer's report in a congressional reference proceeding described Riconosciuto as "convicted of manufacturing and selling methamphetamine" when discussing the sources relied on by [[Bill Hamilton]].[^18] The federal case against Riconosciuto, United States v. Riconosciuto, No. 3:91-cr-01034, was filed in the [[United States District Court for the Western District of Washington|Western District of Washington]] on April 1, 1991.[^19] + +Kalka was released from prison in April 2000 after his lawyer, [[Chris Cannon]], struck a deal that overturned his sentence, contingent upon Kalka signing a letter stating he did not obtain his precursors from the U.S. government. This letter was reportedly written by [[William Shockley]], a [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in San Francisco, and found by Detective Todd in the Di Giorgio Extradition File.[^1] The [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] inmate locator lists Ben Kalka's actual release date as April 20, 2000, from the [[Federal Correctional Institution Edgefield|Edgefield]] federal facility.[^20] + +A California state prisoner named Benio Kalka was sentenced to four years' imprisonment on November 1, 1985, and arrived at the Department of Corrections reception center at [[Vacaville]]. In 1989 the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|Ninth Circuit]] affirmed the denial of his habeas petition, which concerned work-time credits.[^21] Benio Kalka may be the Ben Kalka sentenced to four years in Alameda County; the term and the Northern California courts match, and neither record carries a shared identifier. --- ### Footnotes -[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, hearing on the flow of precursor chemicals and assault weapons from the United States, November 1, 1989 (SCNAC-101-1-18; Government Printing Office, 1990), Attachment 4, "Legitimate Uses for Precursor and Essential Chemicals Regulated by the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act," printed p. 196; hearing title "The Flow of Precursor Chemicals and Assault Weapons from the United States into the Andean Nations." https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/128172NCJRS.pdf +[^3]: 21 C.F.R. § 1310.02, List I chemicals, entry for phenylacetic acid, its esters and its salts (DEA chemical code 8791). https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/1310.02 +[^4]: Chemical Manufacturers Association, letter from Robert A. Roland to DEA Administrator John C. Lawn, September 1, 1989, printed as Attachment 5 in the hearing cited in note 2, pp. 198-199. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/128172NCJRS.pdf +[^5]: Chemical Manufacturers Association statement, printed in the hearing cited in note 2, p. 189. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/128172NCJRS.pdf +[^6]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 340 (interview with Peter Zokosky and an audio tape of Michael Riconosciuto narrating) and p. 344 (Zokosky's assessment of Riconosciuto). +[^7]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, pp. 404-405, on the letter of April 13, 1982 concerning Riconosciuto's meeting with Robert Barnes and protective custody, and on the Chronicle article of April 28, 1982 and Riconosciuto's claimed work for Brian Leighton. +[^8]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 405, on Nichols as administrator at the Cabazon Indian Reservation in 1982. +[^9]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, pp. 344-345, reproducing Riconosciuto's statement of February 16, 1984. +[^10]: Transcript of a recorded interview of Michael Riconosciuto by Ted Gunderson, Casolaro papers, Folder 7 (Acc. 5516), transcript pages concerning Kalka, Barnes, DeSilva and phenyl acetic acid; cited in the INSLAW memorandum to the record of July 18, 1990 (note 21). https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^11]: INSLAW, Inc., Memorandum to the Record, July 18, 1990, pp. 7-8, Casolaro papers, "Inslaw - Press Releases." https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^12]: Ted Gunderson, letter to Judge Victor Dahman, Justice Court, Madera County, October 6, 1983, pp. 1-2, with enclosures, Casolaro papers, "Misc Docs." https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^13]: "Businessman gets four-year cocaine term," Oakland Tribune, clipping in the Casolaro papers, "Misc Docs." https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^14]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 405, account of Detective Sue Todd's 2000 interview with Robert Barnes. +[^15]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 400, on the Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File (Case No. 82-1052505) and the Di Giorgio Extradition File (Case No. CR89-0603 VRW). +[^16]: United States v. Kalka, No. 3:89-cr-00603 (N.D. Cal.), docket record filed October 26, 1989, terminated June 17, 1993. CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/26558922/united-states-v-kalka/ +[^17]: U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report*, H. Rept. 102-857 (Washington, D.C.: GPO, September 10, 1992), p. 101. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^18]: INSLAW, Inc. v. United States, 39 Fed. Cl. 307 (1997), congressional reference proceeding, hearing officer's report (Miller, H.O.) on the sources relied on by Hamilton. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6763932/inslaw-inc-v-united-states/ +[^19]: United States v. Riconosciuto, No. 3:91-cr-01034 (W.D. Wash.), docket record filed April 1, 1991, including a judgment on revocation (Doc. 220) filed August 18, 2017. CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6144038/united-states-v-riconosciuto/ +[^20]: Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Locator, record for Ben Kalka (Edgefield facility, release date 04/20/2000). https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ +[^21]: Benio Kalka v. Dan Vasquez, 867 F.2d 546 (9th Cir. 1989), No. 87-2405, decided February 3, 1989. https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/867/867.F2d.546.87-2405.html diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md index e6dc70bf..3a4f8ec0 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- category: "Technologists" created: 2024-04-25 -updated: 2026-10-14 +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - KeyFigure - Person @@ -15,35 +15,37 @@ location: "Laude, Indiana" William A. Hamilton was born around 1940 and grew up in Laude, Indiana, where he was one of seven brothers. He graduated from Notre Dame with an English degree in 1962 and married [[Nancy Hamilton]] in 1963.[^1] -Hamilton worked as an analyst and Vietnamese linguist for the [[NSA]] for seven years. In 1969, he left federal service and became a management consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]]. He left the firm in 1971 to improve the software, which by contract rights belonged to the government. He then worked for eighteen months as an independent contractor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., and he then founded the [[INSLAW|Institute for Law and Social Research]].[^2][^3] He won a contract through a competitive bid to develop what would become [[PROMIS]], working under the direction of [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Charles R. Work]] with [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] funding routed through the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]. The resulting software, the Prosecutor's Management Information System, debuted on January 1, 1971, in the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office.[^1][^7] +Hamilton worked as an analyst and Vietnamese linguist for the [[NSA]] for seven years. In 1969, he left federal service and became a management consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]]. He left the firm in 1971 to improve the software, which by contract rights belonged to the government. He then worked for eighteen months as an independent contractor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., and he then founded the [[INSLAW|Institute for Law and Social Research]].[^2][^3] He won a contract through a competitive bid to develop what would become [[PROMIS]], working under the direction of [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Charles R. Work]] with [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] funding routed through the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]. The resulting software, the Prosecutor's Management Information System, debuted on January 1, 1971, in the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office.[^1][^4] In 1973, Hamilton and his wife Nancy founded INSLAW (the Institute for Law and Social Research), a non-profit organization that took over stewardship of PROMIS. INSLAW received additional LEAA funding to enhance PROMIS into a transferable system adoptable by other jurisdictions and oversaw its spread to prosecutors' offices around the country. In January 1981, Hamilton reorganized INSLAW as a for-profit entity and acquired the predecessor organization's assets.[^1] ### The DOJ Contract and Bankruptcy -In March 1982, INSLAW signed a $10 million, three-year contract with the [[Department of Justice|DOJ's]] [[Executive Office for United States Attorneys]] to install PROMIS in 20 large U.S. Attorneys' offices and word-processor systems in 74 smaller ones. From the contract's earliest days, Hamilton and [[C. Madison Brewer]], the DOJ's project manager, were in conflict: Hamilton alleged Brewer obstructed INSLAW's proprietary rights claims and engineered advance payment disputes to force the company into financial distress. When INSLAW ran out of funds to sustain litigation against the DOJ while fighting to protect its software rights, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 1985.[^4] +In March 1982, INSLAW signed a $10 million, three-year contract with the [[Department of Justice|DOJ's]] [[Executive Office for United States Attorneys]] to install PROMIS in 20 large U.S. Attorneys' offices and word-processor systems in 74 smaller ones. From the contract's earliest days, Hamilton and [[C. Madison Brewer]], the DOJ's project manager, were in conflict: Hamilton alleged Brewer obstructed INSLAW's proprietary rights claims and engineered advance payment disputes to force the company into financial distress. When INSLAW ran out of funds to sustain litigation against the DOJ while fighting to protect its software rights, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 1985.[^5] -Hamilton and Nancy Hamilton sued the DOJ for non-payment on a version of PROMIS called Modification 12 and for the alleged unauthorized distribution of the enhanced software beyond the contract's authorized sites. In September 1987, [[Bankruptcy Judge George F. Bason]] ruled in their favor, finding that the Department of Justice "took, converted, stole, Inslaw's enhanced PROMIS by trickery, fraud, and deceit" and awarding approximately $6.8 million in damages. The ruling was affirmed by the district court but reversed on jurisdictional grounds by the Court of Appeals in May 1991.[^4] +Hamilton and Nancy Hamilton sued the DOJ for non-payment on a version of PROMIS called Modification 12 and for the alleged unauthorized distribution of the enhanced software beyond the contract's authorized sites. In September 1987, [[Bankruptcy Judge George F. Bason]] ruled in their favor, finding that the Department of Justice "took, converted, stole, Inslaw's enhanced PROMIS by trickery, fraud, and deceit" and awarding approximately $6.8 million in damages. The ruling was affirmed by the district court but reversed on jurisdictional grounds by the Court of Appeals in May 1991.[^5] ### Representation by Elliot Richardson -Hamilton retained former [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] Elliot Richardson as lead counsel for INSLAW's civil claims. Richardson, who had served as Nixon's Attorney General before his resignation during the Saturday Night Massacre, provided INSLAW with significant public credibility. Richardson told the press and congressional investigators that the affair presented "circumstantial evidence of a sinister conspiracy" that was "at its outer reaches...far more sinister than anything revealed in Watergate." He submitted testimony, sworn statements, and affidavits linking high-level DOJ officials to a conspiracy to steal PROMIS and secretly transfer it.[^5] +Hamilton retained former [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] Elliot Richardson as lead counsel for INSLAW's civil claims. Richardson, who had served as Nixon's Attorney General before his resignation during the Saturday Night Massacre, provided INSLAW with significant public credibility. Richardson told the press and congressional investigators that the affair presented "circumstantial evidence of a sinister conspiracy" that was "at its outer reaches...far more sinister than anything revealed in Watergate." He submitted testimony, sworn statements, and affidavits linking high-level DOJ officials to a conspiracy to steal PROMIS and secretly transfer it.[^6] ### The 1985 Intelligence Letter -In November 2004, Hamilton received a document from a source described as a reliable U.S. intelligence contact. Dated May 16, 1985, the letter indicated that PROMIS software was being provided to an Arab sheik for resale and distribution, brokered by [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], [[Adnan Khashoggi]], and [[Richard Armitage]]. The document had been signed by [[William Bradford Reynolds]], who authenticated it when shown the letter. Hamilton considered this letter significant, because, he said, all copies had been ordered destroyed. The letter corroborated INSLAW's longstanding claim that PROMIS had been distributed internationally through channels that included Middle Eastern arms brokers with Iran-Contra connections.[^6] +In November 2004, Hamilton received a document from a source described as a reliable U.S. intelligence contact. Dated May 16, 1985, the letter indicated that PROMIS software was being provided to an Arab sheik for resale and distribution, brokered by [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], [[Adnan Khashoggi]], and [[Richard Armitage]]. The document had been signed by [[William Bradford Reynolds]], who authenticated it when shown the letter. Hamilton considered this letter significant, because, he said, all copies had been ordered destroyed. The letter corroborated INSLAW's longstanding claim that PROMIS had been distributed internationally through channels that included Middle Eastern arms brokers with Iran-Contra connections.[^7] ### The Octopus Investigation -In 1990, Hamilton contacted freelance journalist [[Danny Casolaro]], whose subsequent investigation would attempt to connect the PROMIS theft to the [[October Surprise]], the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], and the collapse of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] under the unified theory he called "[[The Octopus]]." Hamilton was in daily contact with Casolaro until approximately a week before Casolaro's death on August 10, 1991.[^6] +In 1990, Hamilton contacted freelance journalist [[Danny Casolaro]], whose subsequent investigation would attempt to connect the PROMIS theft to the [[October Surprise]], the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], and the collapse of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] under the unified theory he called "[[The Octopus]]." Hamilton was in daily contact with Casolaro until approximately a week before Casolaro's death on August 10, 1991.[^7] -In March 1991, Hamilton received a notarized affidavit from [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claiming that Riconosciuto had modified PROMIS at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]-[[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] joint venture. When Riconosciuto later approached Hamilton with a lead about former DOJ official [[Michael Abbell]]'s connections to the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], Hamilton, pressed for time, passed the lead to Casolaro - a handoff that Riconosciuto subsequently alleged led directly to Casolaro's death.[^6] +In March 1991, Hamilton received a notarized affidavit from [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claiming that Riconosciuto had modified PROMIS at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]-[[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] joint venture. When Riconosciuto later approached Hamilton with a lead about former DOJ official [[Michael Abbell]]'s connections to the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], Hamilton, pressed for time, passed the lead to Casolaro - a handoff that Riconosciuto subsequently alleged led directly to Casolaro's death.[^7] -Hamilton also described to investigators his belief that the main purpose of the Wackenhut-Cabazon joint venture was to provide a platform for government-sanctioned drug trafficking and money laundering by organized crime groups including the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and the [[Contras]], and that Riconosciuto's role was to use NSA's bank-surveillance version of PROMIS to launder drug proceeds with a portion channeled to unauthorized covert operations.[^6] +Hamilton also described to investigators his belief that the main purpose of the Wackenhut-Cabazon joint venture was to provide a platform for government-sanctioned drug trafficking and money laundering by organized crime groups including the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and the [[Contras]], and that Riconosciuto's role was to use NSA's bank-surveillance version of PROMIS to launder drug proceeds with a portion channeled to unauthorized covert operations.[^7] + +On March 14, 1994, Charles R. Work, counsel for Bill and Nancy Hamilton, wrote to [[John C. Dwyer]] after a March 1, 1994 meeting attended by [[Steven E. Zipperstein]] and [[Scott A. Erskine]]. The letter states that Erskine had confirmed that a hotel maid in Martinsburg gave police an eyewitness description of a man leaving Casolaro's room on the Saturday morning of the death: a man in his 30s with "an excellent sun tan," wearing a tee-shirt, dark slacks and deck shoes. The letter also asked whether this man was the "dark-skinned man" whom press accounts described Casolaro waiting for in the hotel bar on the Thursday evening before his death.[^8] On February 14, 1994, INSLAW's lawyers and principals, including [[Elliot Richardson]], Hamilton and Nancy Hamilton, had submitted an addendum to INSLAW's rebuttal of the Bua report that stated that [[Joseph Cuellar]] had a "purportedly chance encounter" with Casolaro in a pub near Casolaro's home less than one month before his death and told Casolaro that [[Peter Videnieks]] had agreed to meet.[^9] A Justice Department record of the same period states that the adjoining-room guest saw a man enter the room with a key at about 9:00 p.m. on August 9, and that no one was seen entering or leaving the room on the morning of August 10.[^10] ### Congressional Testimony and Final Legal Proceedings -Hamilton and INSLAW participated in all major investigations of the affair, including the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations inquiry (1989), the [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigation led by Representative Jack Brooks (1989-1992), and the Special Counsel investigation conducted by [[Nicholas J. Bua]] (1991-1993). In 1995, the U.S. Senate referred INSLAW's remaining claims to the Court of Federal Claims; the court ruled in 1997-1998 that all versions of PROMIS were in the public domain and that the government had always been free to use the software. INSLAW received no compensation.[^4] +Hamilton and INSLAW participated in all major investigations of the affair, including the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations inquiry (1989), the [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigation led by Representative Jack Brooks (1989-1992), and the Special Counsel investigation conducted by [[Nicholas J. Bua]] (1991-1993). In 1995, the U.S. Senate referred INSLAW's remaining claims to the Court of Federal Claims; the court ruled in 1997-1998 that all versions of PROMIS were in the public domain and that the government had always been free to use the software. INSLAW received no compensation.[^5] Hamilton continued to assert that PROMIS was fraudulently stolen and distributed internationally. He maintained a public website documenting INSLAW's claims long after the formal legal proceedings concluded. @@ -52,7 +54,10 @@ Hamilton continued to assert that PROMIS was fraudulently stolen and distributed [^1]: Newspapers.com, Hamilton family records, Notre Dame graduation records (via https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139683581/). [^2]: Mitchell Pacelle and Robert Safian, "Vendetta," *The American Lawyer*, December (year not printed in the reprint). Reprinted in U.S. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, *Staff Study of Allegations Pertaining to the Department of Justice's Handling of a Contract with INSLAW, Inc.*, Committee Print, 101st Congress, 1st Session (Washington: GPO, 1989). Archive.org, item micro_IA41152832_0145. [^3]: Same committee print, the passage on the profile's account of Hamilton's career (the reprinted profile, "The Rise and Fall of INSLAW"). -[^4]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992; U.S. Court of Federal Claims, *Inslaw, Inc. v. United States*, Ruling of Hearing Officer Christine Miller, July 31, 1997. -[^5]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992; Richardson, Elliot L. Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, 1992. -[^6]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010. -[^7]: Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., *System Overview and Report Formats for PROMIS* (May 1971), prepared for the District of Columbia Government Office of Crime Analysis under LEAA Grant No. 70-DF-047, note 1 to the passage on the design team, NCJ 32469. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/32469NCJRS.pdf +[^4]: Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., *System Overview and Report Formats for PROMIS* (May 1971), prepared for the District of Columbia Government Office of Crime Analysis under LEAA Grant No. 70-DF-047, note 1 to the passage on the design team, NCJ 32469. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/32469NCJRS.pdf +[^5]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992; U.S. Court of Federal Claims, *Inslaw, Inc. v. United States*, Ruling of Hearing Officer Christine Miller, July 31, 1997. +[^6]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992; Richardson, Elliot L. Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, 1992. +[^7]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010. +[^8]: Letter from Charles R. Work, McDermott, Will & Emery, counsel for William and Nancy Hamilton, to John C. Dwyer, Assistant Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, March 14, 1994. https://archive.org/details/MaidWitnessCasolaroDeath +[^9]: Richardson, Elliot L., et al. *Addendum to INSLAW's Analysis and Rebuttal of the Bua Report*, February 14, 1994, p. 24 and n.5. https://archive.org/details/AddendumToInslawsAnalysisAndRebuttalOfTheBuaReport +[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, review of the Casolaro matter by Steven E. Zipperstein and Scott A. Erskine, DOCID 70002067, release pp. 70-71 (printed pp. 54-55). https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md index 5dec301f..6868c44f 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md @@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ relations: role: "distant cousin" fn: 1 created: 2025-08-05 -updated: 2026-09-22 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- James "Jimmy" Hughes was the security director of the casino and bingo operations of the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]] for four years, until 1984.[^1] In a statement to investigators reported by the *[[Los Angeles Times]]* in 1985, he said that in the summer of 1981 he had been instructed, in the presence of the tribe's financial adviser [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], to take 25,000 dollars to Idyllwild and give it to a man as partial payment for the killing of [[Fred Alvarez]].[^1] He later described himself as a former Army Ranger who had become a "Mafia hit-man," said he had worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] abroad and been protected by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] in exchange for information, and alleged that Nichols issued murder contracts and that the tribe's gambling enterprises were fronts for government-sanctioned covert military activity and arms shipments to Central and [[South America]].[^2] @@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ Hughes was held without bail for nearly nine months. On July 1, 2010, Deputy Att Hughes joined the [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]] in 1987 and founded Jimmy Hughes Ministries, Free the Oppressed, in Honduras, where he ministered to and trained military personnel at Zambrano. In February 2008 he spoke at a fellowship dinner in Fresno, California, with General [[Daniel Lopez Carballo]] of Honduras. The writer Cheri Seymour wrote that he was involved in planning the June 2009 [[Honduras coup|coup]] that removed President [[Manuel Zelaya]]; its leaders, Generals [[Romeo Vasquez Velasquez]] and Lopez Carballo, who installed [[Roberto Micheletti]], were members of the fellowship and friends of Hughes.[^2] +### Riconosciuto's 1982 protective-custody letter + +A letter dated April 13, 1982, signed by Phyllis Riconosciuto, then the wife of Michael Riconosciuto, and by Hughes, engaged Hughes and a second man to provide bodyguard services for Riconosciuto on April 14, 15 and 16 for a flat fee of $1,300, including airfare, hotel and meals, to fly to [[Fresno]] and help him "get his affairs in order" until he went into protective custody with the FBI at its [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] office.[^6] The letter stated that Riconosciuto was to meet FBI special agent [[Robert Barnes]], and that Hughes and the second man could return to Palm Springs once Barnes assumed protection of him.[^6] [[Cheri Seymour]] wrote that the letter indicates Hughes had either met or known Barnes.[^7] + ### Footnotes [^1]: "California authorities believe an unsolved 1981 triple murder was a hit job," Associated Press, September 2009 (Fox News mirror), citing the *Los Angeles Times* of 1985 and state attorney general's spokesman Evan Westrup. https://www.foxnews.com/story/unsolved-1981-triple-murder-in-california-was-hit-job-authorities-say.amp ; "Authorities say triple tribe murder was hit job," Associated Press, September 2009. https://www.foxnews.com/story/authorities-triple-tribe-murder-was-hit-job.amp @@ -57,3 +61,5 @@ Hughes joined the [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]] in 198 [^3]: "Jimmy Hughes Speaks To KESQ After Charges Dropped," KESQ News Channel 3, Palm Springs, July 2, 2010. https://kesq.com/news/2010/07/02/jimmy-hughes-speaks-to-kesq-after-charges-dropped/ [^4]: Taxin, Amy, with Jennifer Kay. "Arrest in 1981 tribal murders revives old mystery." Associated Press, in *The Press Democrat,* November 22, 2009. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2009/11/22/arrest-in-1981-tribal-murders-revives-old-mystery/ [^5]: "Murder case against preacher abruptly dropped in mysterious 1981 California tribal slaying," Associated Press, July 2010 (Fox News). https://www.foxnews.com/us/murder-case-against-preacher-abruptly-dropped-in-mysterious-1981-california-tribal-slaying +[^6]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, pp. 404-405. +[^7]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, p. 405. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Krol.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Krol.md index 7862ec03..1b9c2fae 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Krol.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Krol.md @@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ born: 1910-10-26 died: 1996-03-03 location: "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 relations: - type: head_of with: "[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]]" @@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ Krol was born in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] to Polish immigrants, the fourth ### Black Mass -In February 1975 a midnight run of *Black Mass*, a film of a satanic mass, was cancelled at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] in Center City "after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese," according to [[Art Carduner]], whose [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] showed it instead on March 1.[^3] Krol led sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders in a joint statement that called the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and "a frontal attack on the sacred itself," said that it was "obviously intended not to be viewed as a film, but as a blasphemous ritualistic observance," and asked everyone in the local film industry "to resist and reject every attempt to market or portray this film." The signers included Rabbi Charles Lacks of the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]] and Francis G. Brown of the [[Philadelphia Yearly Meeting]] of the Religious Society of Friends.[^4] Eleven weeks before the Bandbox screening, on December 10, 1974, Hoersch had been arrested by the [[United States Secret Service]] for counterfeiting ten-dollar bills.[^5] +In February 1975 a midnight run of *Black Mass*, a film of a satanic mass, was cancelled at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] in Center City "after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese," according to [[Art Carduner]], whose [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] showed it instead on March 1.[^3] The *Inquirer* of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing there.[^3] On February 27, 1975, Krol led sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders in a joint statement that called the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and "a frontal attack on the sacred itself," said that it was "obviously intended not to be viewed as a film, but as a blasphemous ritualistic observance," and asked everyone in the local film industry "to resist and reject every attempt to market or portray this film." The signers included Rabbi Charles Lacks of the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]] and Francis G. Brown of the [[Philadelphia Yearly Meeting]] of the Religious Society of Friends.[^4] The *Inquirer* reported the statement the next morning, naming "John Cardinal Krol, archbishop of Philadelphia" among the 16 signers.[^5] Eleven weeks before the Bandbox screening, on December 10, 1974, Hoersch had been apprehended by Hatboro police after a shop reported a suspicious ten-dollar bill, and [[United States Secret Service]] agents found counterfeit ten-dollar bills in his car under a search warrant.[^6] ### Death -Krol, who had diabetes and a heart ailment, was hospitalized on February 14, 1996, and failed to respond to treatment for kidney problems and a blood clot in a lung, according to the [[Associated Press]]. He died at his home on March 3, 1996, aged 85.[^2] He was buried in the crypt of the [[Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul]] after a funeral attended by seven cardinals, sixty bishops, and 1,500 priests, at which Cardinal [[John O'Connor]] of [[New York City|New York]] preached.[^6] +Krol, who had diabetes and a heart ailment, was hospitalized on February 14, 1996, and failed to respond to treatment for kidney problems and a blood clot in a lung, according to the [[Associated Press]]. He died at his home on March 3, 1996, aged 85.[^2] He was buried in the crypt of the [[Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul]] after a funeral attended by seven cardinals, sixty bishops, and 1,500 priests, at which Cardinal [[John O'Connor]] of [[New York City|New York]] preached.[^7] ### Footnotes @@ -62,5 +62,6 @@ Krol, who had diabetes and a heart ailment, was hospitalized on February 14, 199 [^2]: Weil, Martin. "Cardinal John Krol Dies; Philadelphia Archbishop," *The Washington Post,* March 4, 1996. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/03/04/cardinal-john-krol-dies/8d845f35-61a2-4b44-934a-0bdc39ca14df/ [^3]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ [^4]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ -[^5]: "[...] bogus $180,000 in Bucks raid," *The Morning Call* (Allentown), December 11, 1974, p. 5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/275702319/ -[^6]: "Cardinal Krol laid to rest," United Press International, March 8, 1996. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/03/08/Cardinal-Krol-laid-to-rest/8760826261200/ +[^5]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ +[^6]: "[...] bogus $180,000 in Bucks raid," *The Morning Call* (Allentown), December 11, 1974, p. 5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/275702319/ +[^7]: "Cardinal Krol laid to rest," United Press International, March 8, 1996. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/03/08/Cardinal-Krol-laid-to-rest/8760826261200/ diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karel Maasdam.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karel Maasdam.md index 9fd6cca2..94315e24 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karel Maasdam.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karel Maasdam.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ aliases: - Alex Privee summary: "Karel Maasdam, alias 'Alex Privee,' was described by Nick Davies in 1998 as the owner of the Bell Boys escort agency in the Netherlands." created: 2026-05-14 -updated: 2026-10-09 +updated: 2026-10-15 location: "Netherlands" relations: - type: owned @@ -53,34 +53,22 @@ A [[Brussels]] magistrate identified in [[X-Dossier]] witness statements only by ### Accounts in the Dovey book -S. Dovey wrote that Maasdam had a bookkeeper who told the Dutch current-affairs programme EenVandaag that [[Warwick Spinks]] frequently supplied boys to Demmink and Holthuis, and that Maasdam's accountant gave Dutch intelligence services a dossier identifying [[Gero-Video]] as a distributor of child pornography. Dovey also wrote that Glandorf was investigated alongside associates such as Maasdam.[^12] +S. Dovey wrote that a man Dovey describes as Maasdam's bookkeeper told the Dutch current-affairs programme EenVandaag that [[Warwick Spinks]] frequently supplied boys to Demmink and to Holthuis. Dovey also wrote that Maasdam's accountant gave Dutch intelligence services a dossier identifying [[Gero-Video]] as a distributor of child pornography, and that Glandorf was investigated alongside associates such as Maasdam.[^12] The Morkhoven Workgroup dossier, as reported by Dovey, identified the owner of the [[G-Force nightclub]] in Amsterdam as an American named John Edward Mullaney and linked him through a company called [[Korper and Korver]] to [[John Stamford]]'s [[Spartacus Network]] and through a company called [[Adonis]] to Maasdam. Dovey also wrote that Gero-Video was linked to [[TAG Films]].[^12] The Dutch commercial register lists a J.E. Mullaney Holding B.V., registered in Amsterdam and no longer active, and an active Korper B.V. and Adonis B.V.; the register entries do not state who held the companies.[^13] ### Footnotes [^1]: Nick Davies, "Paedophile network trafficks young boys across Europe," nickdavies.net, dated October 1, 1998 and marked previously unpublished. https://www.nickdavies.net/1998/10/01/paedophile-network-trafficks-young-boys-across-europe/ - [^2]: "Samenvatting van de aanleiding, het verloop, de resultaten en de besluitvorming in het Rolodex-onderzoek," December 23, 2013, enclosure to a letter of the Minister van Veiligheid en Justitie to the Tweede Kamer (Kamerstuk 33 750 VI, nr. 116), Eerste Kamer copy. https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvgs5kjg27kof_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vjigib8p5szh - [^3]: Het Parool, classified advertisements, December 24, 1983 (ABCDDD:010846300:mpeg21:a0137), January 30, 1984 (ABCDDD:010833158:mpeg21:a0039), February 1, 1984 (ABCDDD:010833236:mpeg21:a0079) and October 28, 1985 (ABCDDD:010831481:mpeg21:a0029), Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Delpher. http://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010846300:mpeg21:a0137 - [^4]: Het Parool, classified advertisements, March 4, 1985 (ABCDDD:010831409:mpeg21:a0033), March 6, 1985 (ABCDDD:010831411:mpeg21:a0060) and March 8, 1985 (ABCDDD:010831413:mpeg21:a0023), Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Delpher. http://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010831413:mpeg21:a0023 - [^5]: Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115, letter of the Minister van Veiligheid en Justitie, July 1, 2015, answers to questions 2 and 8. https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvi0xeni9vr2l_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vme26leaeuex/f=/vjvdn6hc42z9.pdf - [^6]: "Politie onderzocht Demmink in '97," NOS, March 5, 2014. https://nos.nl/artikel/619220-politie-onderzocht-demmink-in-97 - [^7]: "Oud-hoofdofficier justitie Jan Wolter Wabeke uit Best genoemd in zedenzaak Joris Demmink," Omroep Brabant, March 5, 2014. https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/1720283/oud-hoofdofficier-justitie-jan-wolter-wabeke-uit-best-genoemd-in-zedenzaak-joris-demmink - [^8]: Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Kamerstuk 33 750 VI, nr. 116, letter of the Minister van Veiligheid en Justitie, March 27, 2014. https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20140327/brief_regering/document3/f=/vjifeja4nlzk.pdf - [^9]: "Politicians and officials named in court as 'boy brothel' case begins," DutchNews.nl, April 18, 2016. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2016/04/politicians-and-officials-named-in-court-as-boy-brothel-case-begins/ - -[^10]: "Forced child prostitution case: Netherlands elite, royalty under microscope," NL Times, April 18, 2016. https://nltimes.nl/node/28758 - +[^10]: "Forced child prostitution case: Netherlands elite, royalty under microscope," NL Times, April 18, 2016. https://nltimes.nl/2016/04/18/forced-child-prostitution-case-netherlands-elite-royalty-microscope [^11]: "Dutroux case and X-Dossier victim-witnesses," crimesandconsequences.com, updated 2021. PV 117.535, November 19, 1996, as quoted in the document. https://crimesandconsequences.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/dutroux-case-and-x-dossier-victim-witnesses.pdf - -[^12]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk.* Thehotstar, 2023. - +[^12]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk,* on the bookkeeper's account, the accountant's dossier and the Glandorf investigation. Thehotstar, 2023. [^13]: Kamer van Koophandel, Handelsregister, entries 33304101, 65922646 and 09208081. https://opencorporates.com/companies/nl/33304101 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R.C. Horsch.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R.C. Horsch.md index b2caa7ef..0a895f1e 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R.C. Horsch.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R.C. Horsch.md @@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ relations: role: "chemist, as Stanley Stokowski" start: 1981 end: 1984 - fn: 51 + fn: 53 - type: investigated with: "[[United States Secret Service]]" reverse: true @@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ relations: with: "[[Drug Enforcement Administration]]" reverse: true start: 1977 - fn: 48 + fn: 50 - type: investigated with: "[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]" reverse: true @@ -124,51 +124,53 @@ He said that in the early 1970s he taught himself to fly in a Cessna 152 bought Horsch said he and a girlfriend, a medical student at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], performed on weekends in a live sex show above [[Times Square]], in an act built around simulated rape. He began appearing in pornographic loops in 1969 for 100 dollars a job.[^14] In April 1971 the *Philadelphia Daily News* described him as "the underground 35mm filmmaker," shooting two reels with a model and a live snake in the Renaissance Studio, a loft at 752 South 2nd Street that also held the stored photographic equipment of [[John Butterworth]].[^36] -In February 1973 he and Butterworth, a news cameraman for [[KYW-TV]], shot The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig in Philadelphia with the New York performers [[Georgina Spelvin]], [[Tina Russell]], [[Darby Lloyd Rains]], and [[Helen Madigan]]. The film depicts rape, bondage, urination, and sex with a character presented as a schoolgirl. Horsch said 60 to 70 percent of the roughly 20,000 dollar budget came from [[Salvatore La Russa|Salvatore "Sam the Barber" La Russa]], who ran the Bag of Nails bar at 13th and Locust Streets, from "money that he had laying around in a shoebox behind the bar. We're talking about organized crime." A hospital scene was shot in the emergency room of the [[Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania]] under permission obtained for a student film. Horsch said his girlfriend at the time was the wife of a Philadelphia assistant district attorney, that the film was shot in her house, and that staff of the [[Philadelphia District Attorney's Office]] attended the premiere at the 1812 Theater on Chestnut Street, which had a searchlight outside. Horsch said theater chains were controlled by "certain political groups," that La Russa arranged distribution through Philadelphia organized crime, and that the film was sold to the distributor [[Sam Lake]] for 50,000 dollars. [[Al Goldstein]] wrote in [[Screw (magazine)|Screw]] that the sex in it was disgusting. La Russa died of a heart attack in 1996.[^14][^15][^37] +In April 1971 a classified advertisement in *The Distant Drummer*, a Philadelphia underground newspaper, sought an actress aged 18 to 25 for "work in conjunction with [[American Film Institute]] project," with the contact given as "Ray Hoersch, Filmmakers of America."[^37] The advertisement appeared less than four weeks before the April 26, 1971 *Philadelphia Daily News* report of the shoot at the Renaissance Studio.[^36] -In February 1975, eleven weeks after the counterfeiting arrest, "Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch" was to show his film [[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]] at midnight at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]]; the showing was cancelled after what the *Philadelphia Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and [[Art Carduner]] of the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] gave it a midnight screening instead, as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Horsch attending. A joint statement signed by sixteen Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia and led by Cardinal [[John Krol]] called the film, which it described as depicting "an authentic satanic rite," "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film"; the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]] added that it saw "no redeeming social or aesthetic value whatever in 'Black Mass.'" The [[Religious News Service]] reported that Horsch had tried to film an actual ceremony and, failing that, had obtained transcripts of the rite. "The Satanic Mass is the exact inverse of the Catholic ceremony," he said. "Every part of it is reversed in blasphemy, for its intention is a deliberate corruption, a parody of the Mass."[^38][^39] +In February 1973 he and Butterworth, a news cameraman for [[KYW-TV]], shot The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig in Philadelphia with the New York performers [[Georgina Spelvin]], [[Tina Russell]], [[Darby Lloyd Rains]], and [[Helen Madigan]]. The film depicts rape, bondage, urination, and sex with a character presented as a schoolgirl. Horsch said 60 to 70 percent of the roughly 20,000 dollar budget came from [[Salvatore La Russa|Salvatore "Sam the Barber" La Russa]], who ran the Bag of Nails bar at 13th and Locust Streets, from "money that he had laying around in a shoebox behind the bar. We're talking about organized crime." A hospital scene was shot in the emergency room of the [[Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania]] under permission obtained for a student film. Horsch said his girlfriend at the time was the wife of a Philadelphia assistant district attorney, that the film was shot in her house, and that staff of the [[Philadelphia District Attorney's Office]] attended the premiere at the 1812 Theater on Chestnut Street, which had a searchlight outside. Horsch said theater chains were controlled by "certain political groups," that La Russa arranged distribution through Philadelphia organized crime, and that the film was sold to the distributor [[Sam Lake]] for 50,000 dollars. [[Al Goldstein]] wrote in [[Screw (magazine)|Screw]] that the sex in it was disgusting. La Russa died of a heart attack in 1996.[^14][^15][^38] + +In February 1975, eleven weeks after the counterfeiting arrest, "Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch" was to show his film [[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]] at midnight at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]]; the showing was cancelled after what the *Philadelphia Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and [[Art Carduner]] of the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] gave it a midnight screening instead, as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Horsch attending. The *Inquirer* column of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing at the Bandbox and reported that Hoersch would attend the opening.[^39] A joint statement signed by sixteen Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia and led by Cardinal [[John Krol]] called the film, which it described as depicting "an authentic satanic rite," "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film"; the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]] added that it saw "no redeeming social or aesthetic value whatever in 'Black Mass.'" The [[Religious News Service]] reported that Horsch had tried to film an actual ceremony and, failing that, had obtained transcripts of the rite. "The Satanic Mass is the exact inverse of the Catholic ceremony," he said. "Every part of it is reversed in blasphemy, for its intention is a deliberate corruption, a parody of the Mass."[^40][^41] ### Forgery and Counterfeiting -In December 1972 "Raymond C. Hoersch Jr., Philadelphia, Pa." was listed for trial in [[Mecklenburg County Superior Court]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], on a charge of uttering a forged check; the conviction for forging checks in [[North Carolina]] dates from 1972.[^16][^40] On December 10, 1974, the Hatboro Card Shop on Old York Road in [[Hatboro, Pennsylvania|Hatboro]] reported a suspicious ten-dollar bill, and Hatboro police detained Horsch, then 31. [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agents under [[James D'Amelio]] found 630 dollars in counterfeit ten-dollar notes in his car and a counterfeit driver's license and vehicle registration in his name, and seized the printing equipment in a small building on Taylor Street in [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]], where they arrested [[Charles Griffith]], 39, of [[Wallingford, Pennsylvania|Wallingford]]. The operation had also been printing counterfeit operator's cards and vehicle registration certificates. Authorities described Horsch as unemployed and quoted him as saying that he "hadn't worked for 11 years" and "traveled consistently"; the Chalfont address he gave was his parents' house. Both men were committed to the [[Philadelphia Detention Center]] in default of bail. Accounts of the face value seized range from 180,000 dollars to more than one million dollars. He served two years.[^1][^18][^41] +In December 1972 "Raymond C. Hoersch Jr., Philadelphia, Pa." was listed for trial in [[Mecklenburg County Superior Court]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], on a charge of uttering a forged check; the conviction for forging checks in [[North Carolina]] dates from 1972.[^16][^42] On December 10, 1974, the Hatboro Card Shop on Old York Road in [[Hatboro, Pennsylvania|Hatboro]] reported a suspicious ten-dollar bill, and Hatboro police detained Horsch, then 31. [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agents under [[James D'Amelio]] found 630 dollars in counterfeit ten-dollar notes in his car and a counterfeit driver's license and vehicle registration in his name, and seized the printing equipment in a small building on Taylor Street in [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]], where they arrested [[Charles Griffith]], 39, of [[Wallingford, Pennsylvania|Wallingford]]. The operation had also been printing counterfeit operator's cards and vehicle registration certificates. Authorities described Horsch as unemployed and quoted him as saying that he "hadn't worked for 11 years" and "traveled consistently"; the Chalfont address he gave was his parents' house. Both men were committed to the [[Philadelphia Detention Center]] in default of bail. Accounts of the face value seized range from 180,000 dollars to more than one million dollars. He served two years.[^1][^18][^43] -In his 2013 account Horsch said that before the counterfeiting he had spent about a year in deep depression editing a pennysaver magazine called *Wisdom's Child*. He said he reproduced automobile titles and registrations that he sold "through local organized crime outlet," which used them to ship stolen cars "to [[South America]] or wherever they were going," and forged [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]] etchings that he took to [[Christie's]], [[Sotheby's]], and [[Freeman's|Freeman Fine Arts]] in Philadelphia, saying he had found them in "my grandmother's attic or something like that"; the auction houses, he said, "were the ones who authenticated them and declared them to be genuine and sold them." He described his arrest as a traffic stop with about 10,000 dollars in the car, after which Secret Service agents questioned him overnight in Center City and offered immunity if he gave up the printer; a judge was woken "at three o'clock in the morning" to sign the agreement, "and I said, I'm the printer." He said he received a 24-month sentence and served 18 months, partly at [[Allenwood Federal Prison Camp|Allenwood]] and partly at the prison camp on [[Eglin Air Force Base]] in the Florida Panhandle, where, he said, "One of the inmates was H.L. Hunt" [sic; E. Howard Hunt], the Mr. Smith of his Wackenhut years, "sitting in the back, writing spy novels." Horsch said he smuggled liquor to him from a job on the base, and that when he described their earlier dealings Hunt "gave me a blank look and said something about never having worked for the CIA." Hunt had served nine months and 13 days at [[Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury|Danbury]] and Allenwood before his release on appeal bond in January 1974; he returned to custody at the Eglin prison camp on April 25, 1975, four and a half months after Horsch's arrest, and was paroled from Eglin on February 23, 1977.[^42][^43][^44][^45] +In his 2013 account Horsch said that before the counterfeiting he had spent about a year in deep depression editing a pennysaver magazine called *Wisdom's Child*. He said he reproduced automobile titles and registrations that he sold "through local organized crime outlet," which used them to ship stolen cars "to [[South America]] or wherever they were going," and forged [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]] etchings that he took to [[Christie's]], [[Sotheby's]], and [[Freeman's|Freeman Fine Arts]] in Philadelphia, saying he had found them in "my grandmother's attic or something like that"; the auction houses, he said, "were the ones who authenticated them and declared them to be genuine and sold them." He described his arrest as a traffic stop with about 10,000 dollars in the car, after which Secret Service agents questioned him overnight in Center City and offered immunity if he gave up the printer; a judge was woken "at three o'clock in the morning" to sign the agreement, "and I said, I'm the printer." He said he received a 24-month sentence and served 18 months, partly at [[Allenwood Federal Prison Camp|Allenwood]] and partly at the prison camp on [[Eglin Air Force Base]] in the Florida Panhandle, where, he said, "One of the inmates was H.L. Hunt" [sic; E. Howard Hunt], the Mr. Smith of his Wackenhut years, "sitting in the back, writing spy novels." Horsch said he smuggled liquor to him from a job on the base, and that when he described their earlier dealings Hunt "gave me a blank look and said something about never having worked for the CIA." Hunt had served nine months and 13 days at [[Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury|Danbury]] and Allenwood before his release on appeal bond in January 1974; he returned to custody at the Eglin prison camp on April 25, 1975, four and a half months after Horsch's arrest, and was paroled from Eglin on February 23, 1977.[^44][^45][^46][^47] ### Methamphetamine and New Zealand -On February 4, 1977, agents of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] arrested Horsch, then 32, in Philadelphia and charged him with manufacturing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, seizing laboratory equipment. He posted bail and went first to California with Myroslawa "Anna" Ferkuniak, whom he had met after her arrest in an [[LSD]] raid on a house near [[Temple University]], and took the identity of Stanley Edward Stokowski, a physicist and chemist from [[Lewiston, Maine]], with a 1963 degree from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] and a 1968 doctorate in physics from [[Stanford University]].[^46] He said in 2013 that the 1977 charge arose from an attempt to make an unscheduled analog of amphetamine, of which his process had produced some of the real drug as a side reaction, and that he had been out of prison "four or five months" when he was arrested. "I became a fugitive in 76, actually on my birthday," he said; the arrest on which he jumped bail was in February 1977, and public records indexes give his month of birth as May.[^47] He said that between 1979 and early 1980 he supplied "well over half of all the amphetamine" in the Pennsylvania, [[New Jersey]], and Maryland area, subcontracting parts of the process to legitimate chemical companies and selling to two men only, one "connected with the mafia in Philadelphia" and one "who had an in with the [[Pagans Motorcycle Club|Pagans]] and the [[Warlocks Motorcycle Club|Warlocks]]," that he was paid in paper grocery sacks at a family dinner in [[Voorhees Township, New Jersey|Voorhees]], that he produced the drug at a house he built "on top of a mountain in the Sierra foothills," and that "I bought a jet aircraft." He said FBI agents obtained his father's telephone records once a year to trace calls to him, and that "a couple other sources, not exactly from within the FBI itself, but along the edges," told him at the end of 1979 that agents were getting close.[^31] On September 12, 1980, he married [[Myroslawa Ferkuniak|Ferkuniak]] in Reno as Stanley E. Stokowski, before a religious celebrant; the marriage was recorded on September 16, and both parties gave their residence as Florida.[^1][^16][^30][^48] They married, he said, "specifically because we needed a marriage license to get into New Zealand," and he chose the country because its cheese industry produced whey, from which he proposed to distill alcohol, having written in 1977 or 1978 a book on alcohol fuel production that he sold by mail order "through ads in Popular Science and Popular Mechanics." *The Press* reported in October 1984, on the Minister of Immigration [[Kerry Burke]]'s announcement of the findings, that Hoersch "entered New Zealand in 1980"; Horsch put his stay at "just about exactly four years."[^49][^50] The Christchurch lawyer John Rutherford, who *The Press* reported in 1984 had got in touch with Horsch "after reading American advertisements about new technology," set up [[Chemical Technology Limited]] with him at [[Clandeboye, New Zealand|Clandeboye]], near [[Timaru]], a company working on byproducts of milk; Horsch launched its plant for converting whey into ethanol, having obtained the work with a forged Stanford transcript in Stokowski's name. His son Eugene was born in 1981.[^1][^51] The company was "formed earlier this year," *The Press* reported in July 1981; the companies register records its incorporation on May 26, 1981. On July 14, 1981, the Minister of Customs, [[Hugh Templeton]], and the Minister of Energy, [[Bill Birch]], announced a licence for its distillery at [[Temuka]], the first commercial one in the South Island, to make industrial ethanol mainly from whey and beet crops. "Dr Stanly Stokowski, the director," said the 1.5 million dollar plant would produce one million litres a year from 22 to 27 million litres of whey from the neighbouring dairy factory, and that gasohol fuels were being studied. Two regional development suspensory loans totalling 120,235 dollars were approved for the company in 1981 on the recommendation of the South Canterbury Regional Development Council, and the [[Development Finance Corporation]] reported favourably on the project. The Minister of Science and Technology, [[Ian Shearer]], opened the plant in April 1982. In December 1981 Rutherford, as a director, asked the Canterbury United Council to back ethanol in place of tetraethyl lead as an octane booster.[^50][^52][^53][^54][^55] Horsch lived at [[Hadlow, New Zealand|Hadlow]], near Timaru, and ran a mail-order computer software exchange at [[Washdyke]]; the March 1984 issue of the Christchurch microcomputer magazine *Bits & Bytes* carried an article by him, and its partners recalled that "He said at least five times in two minutes that he had a doctorate." He trained unskilled local men as welders and in other trades, and about eight jobs were created.[^33][^56] The *Philadelphia Daily News* reported in 1985 that while he was a fugitive he had "operated three successful businesses, wrote and published a book on producing alcohol fuel for homes and farms, and helped design and build an ethanol plant for the New Zealand government."[^16] A New Zealand government investigation later found that his immigration papers, in the stolen name, included a university transcript, that the [[New Zealand Department of Immigration|Department of Immigration]] had been "under some pressure" from his "proposed employer" to "make an early decision," and that no checks had been made with the [[New Zealand Ministry of Energy|Ministry of Energy]] or other departments; the real Stokowski confirmed that the transcript was his. *The Press*'s [[San Francisco]] correspondent, [[John Hutchison (journalist)|John Hutchison]], reached the chemist, whom the paper named as Dr Stanley Edward Stokowski, 42, a 1968 Stanford doctorate working at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Lawrence Livermore Laboratory]]; he said he was unaware that anyone had used his name and had never lost his passport.[^33][^50] He was also named in a civil case in the [[High Court of New Zealand|High Court]] at [[Wellington]] over a credit card debt of about 18,000 dollars.[^51] +On February 4, 1977, agents of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] arrested Horsch, then 32, in Philadelphia and charged him with manufacturing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, seizing laboratory equipment. He posted bail and went first to California with Myroslawa "Anna" Ferkuniak, whom he had met after her arrest in an [[LSD]] raid on a house near [[Temple University]], and took the identity of Stanley Edward Stokowski, a physicist and chemist from [[Lewiston, Maine]], with a 1963 degree from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] and a 1968 doctorate in physics from [[Stanford University]].[^48] He said in 2013 that the 1977 charge arose from an attempt to make an unscheduled analog of amphetamine, of which his process had produced some of the real drug as a side reaction, and that he had been out of prison "four or five months" when he was arrested. "I became a fugitive in 76, actually on my birthday," he said; the arrest on which he jumped bail was in February 1977, and public records indexes give his month of birth as May.[^49] He said that between 1979 and early 1980 he supplied "well over half of all the amphetamine" in the Pennsylvania, [[New Jersey]], and Maryland area, subcontracting parts of the process to legitimate chemical companies and selling to two men only, one "connected with the mafia in Philadelphia" and one "who had an in with the [[Pagans Motorcycle Club|Pagans]] and the [[Warlocks Motorcycle Club|Warlocks]]," that he was paid in paper grocery sacks at a family dinner in [[Voorhees Township, New Jersey|Voorhees]], that he produced the drug at a house he built "on top of a mountain in the Sierra foothills," and that "I bought a jet aircraft." He said FBI agents obtained his father's telephone records once a year to trace calls to him, and that "a couple other sources, not exactly from within the FBI itself, but along the edges," told him at the end of 1979 that agents were getting close.[^31] On September 12, 1980, he married [[Myroslawa Ferkuniak|Ferkuniak]] in Reno as Stanley E. Stokowski, before a religious celebrant; the marriage was recorded on September 16, and both parties gave their residence as Florida.[^1][^16][^30][^50] They married, he said, "specifically because we needed a marriage license to get into New Zealand," and he chose the country because its cheese industry produced whey, from which he proposed to distill alcohol, having written in 1977 or 1978 a book on alcohol fuel production that he sold by mail order "through ads in Popular Science and Popular Mechanics." *The Press* reported in October 1984, on the Minister of Immigration [[Kerry Burke]]'s announcement of the findings, that Hoersch "entered New Zealand in 1980"; Horsch put his stay at "just about exactly four years."[^51][^52] The Christchurch lawyer John Rutherford, who *The Press* reported in 1984 had got in touch with Horsch "after reading American advertisements about new technology," set up [[Chemical Technology Limited]] with him at [[Clandeboye, New Zealand|Clandeboye]], near [[Timaru]], a company working on byproducts of milk; Horsch launched its plant for converting whey into ethanol, having obtained the work with a forged Stanford transcript in Stokowski's name. His son Eugene was born in 1981.[^1][^53] The company was "formed earlier this year," *The Press* reported in July 1981; the companies register records its incorporation on May 26, 1981. On July 14, 1981, the Minister of Customs, [[Hugh Templeton]], and the Minister of Energy, [[Bill Birch]], announced a licence for its distillery at [[Temuka]], the first commercial one in the South Island, to make industrial ethanol mainly from whey and beet crops. "Dr Stanly Stokowski, the director," said the 1.5 million dollar plant would produce one million litres a year from 22 to 27 million litres of whey from the neighbouring dairy factory, and that gasohol fuels were being studied. Two regional development suspensory loans totalling 120,235 dollars were approved for the company in 1981 on the recommendation of the South Canterbury Regional Development Council, and the [[Development Finance Corporation]] reported favourably on the project. The Minister of Science and Technology, [[Ian Shearer]], opened the plant in April 1982. In December 1981 Rutherford, as a director, asked the Canterbury United Council to back ethanol in place of tetraethyl lead as an octane booster.[^52][^54][^55][^56][^57] Horsch lived at [[Hadlow, New Zealand|Hadlow]], near Timaru, and ran a mail-order computer software exchange at [[Washdyke]]; the March 1984 issue of the Christchurch microcomputer magazine *Bits & Bytes* carried an article by him, and its partners recalled that "He said at least five times in two minutes that he had a doctorate." He trained unskilled local men as welders and in other trades, and about eight jobs were created.[^33][^58] The *Philadelphia Daily News* reported in 1985 that while he was a fugitive he had "operated three successful businesses, wrote and published a book on producing alcohol fuel for homes and farms, and helped design and build an ethanol plant for the New Zealand government."[^16] A New Zealand government investigation later found that his immigration papers, in the stolen name, included a university transcript, that the [[New Zealand Department of Immigration|Department of Immigration]] had been "under some pressure" from his "proposed employer" to "make an early decision," and that no checks had been made with the [[New Zealand Ministry of Energy|Ministry of Energy]] or other departments; the real Stokowski confirmed that the transcript was his. *The Press*'s [[San Francisco]] correspondent, [[John Hutchison (journalist)|John Hutchison]], reached the chemist, whom the paper named as Dr Stanley Edward Stokowski, 42, a 1968 Stanford doctorate working at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Lawrence Livermore Laboratory]]; he said he was unaware that anyone had used his name and had never lost his passport.[^33][^52] He was also named in a civil case in the [[High Court of New Zealand|High Court]] at [[Wellington]] over a credit card debt of about 18,000 dollars.[^53] -In March 1984, returning from a trip to the [[United States]], he was held up by Customs over a microcomputer he had with him and was found to be carrying several passports, five according to later accounts. Customs, he said in 2013, "took my passport to examine it and didn't give it back," and he reckoned he had "about three or four days before the proverbial shit hit the fan."[^33][^49] He left New Zealand on March 17 on another passport, which police believed had been stolen in a burglary of a house at Temuka, leaving his wife and son behind, and the New Zealand police, American authorities, and [[Interpol]] searched for him. Rumors circulated in New Zealand that he was a Soviet or Bulgarian spy or was wanted by the CIA. Rutherford told *The Press* that his partner was "a particularly smart fellow, a real toiler and an excellent family man," that he might have had trouble in the United States on the scale of draft evasion, and dismissed the suggestion that he was a spy.[^1][^51] Detective Superintendent [[R.N. MacDonald]], director of drug enforcement and intelligence at police headquarters, said police were liaising with overseas agencies, and the director of the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service|Security Intelligence Service]], Brigadier [[Lindsay Smith]], said only that it was "a matter for the police and for customs." Police searched properties at Clandeboye and Hadlow, and at their request the Fire Service drained a well at the ethanol plant; MacDonald would not comment on reports that firearms and drugs had been found in it. [[Westpac]] put the company into receivership on May 22, 1984, with [[K.N. Curnow]] of [[Deloitte Haskins & Sells]] as receiver, and Rutherford arranged to pay the bank about 170,000 dollars. Horsch said he had owned 80 percent of the distillery and signed his share over. In October 1984 Rutherford told *The Press* that business at the plant was booming and that Horsch "had trained everybody up before he left ... he did everything he said he was going to accomplish."[^57] The plant was still turning whey into alcohol in 1986.[^33][^49][^56][^58][^59] The *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that after New Zealand he returned to California and used the name Richard Harris.[^60] He said he settled in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], started a computer business, programmed computer games, and arranged through a Philadelphia lawyer to surrender, and that FBI agents arrested him at 4 a.m. on the Monday he was to do so; he said he served about 33 months.[^49] The FBI arrested him in Orlando; *The Press* reported in April 1985 (Press Association) that, according to Joanne Epps, he had left New Zealand in June 1984 and was arrested in Florida that October.[^1][^16][^51] Reporting the sentence, *The Press* quoted [[Joanne Epps]], identified as a Philadelphia assistant district attorney, as saying he had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing methamphetamine for supply and to running a methamphetamine laboratory, and New Zealand police said extradition had been unlikely because they "did not normally extradite persons for passport offences."[^61] +In March 1984, returning from a trip to the [[United States]], he was held up by Customs over a microcomputer he had with him and was found to be carrying several passports, five according to later accounts. Customs, he said in 2013, "took my passport to examine it and didn't give it back," and he reckoned he had "about three or four days before the proverbial shit hit the fan."[^33][^51] He left New Zealand on March 17 on another passport, which police believed had been stolen in a burglary of a house at Temuka, leaving his wife and son behind, and the New Zealand police, American authorities, and [[Interpol]] searched for him. Rumors circulated in New Zealand that he was a Soviet or Bulgarian spy or was wanted by the CIA. Rutherford told *The Press* that his partner was "a particularly smart fellow, a real toiler and an excellent family man," that he might have had trouble in the United States on the scale of draft evasion, and dismissed the suggestion that he was a spy.[^1][^53] Detective Superintendent [[R.N. MacDonald]], director of drug enforcement and intelligence at police headquarters, said police were liaising with overseas agencies, and the director of the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service|Security Intelligence Service]], Brigadier [[Lindsay Smith]], said only that it was "a matter for the police and for customs." Police searched properties at Clandeboye and Hadlow, and at their request the Fire Service drained a well at the ethanol plant; MacDonald would not comment on reports that firearms and drugs had been found in it. [[Westpac]] put the company into receivership on May 22, 1984, with [[K.N. Curnow]] of [[Deloitte Haskins & Sells]] as receiver, and Rutherford arranged to pay the bank about 170,000 dollars. Horsch said he had owned 80 percent of the distillery and signed his share over. In October 1984 Rutherford told *The Press* that business at the plant was booming and that Horsch "had trained everybody up before he left ... he did everything he said he was going to accomplish."[^59] The plant was still turning whey into alcohol in 1986.[^33][^51][^58][^60][^61] The *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that after New Zealand he returned to California and used the name Richard Harris.[^62] He said he settled in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], started a computer business, programmed computer games, and arranged through a Philadelphia lawyer to surrender, and that FBI agents arrested him at 4 a.m. on the Monday he was to do so; he said he served about 33 months.[^51] The FBI arrested him in Orlando; *The Press* reported in April 1985 (Press Association) that, according to Joanne Epps, he had left New Zealand in June 1984 and was arrested in Florida that October.[^1][^16][^53] Reporting the sentence, *The Press* quoted [[Joanne Epps]], identified as a Philadelphia assistant district attorney, as saying he had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing methamphetamine for supply and to running a methamphetamine laboratory, and New Zealand police said extradition had been unlikely because they "did not normally extradite persons for passport offences."[^63] -From the Philadelphia Detention Center he wrote letters to the *Philadelphia Daily News* in January 1985 as public relations officer of the Inmate Betterment Committee, one reporting that inmates had raised money for [[1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia|famine relief in Ethiopia]], and on April 2, 1985, the paper published his guest opinion column arguing that harsher sentences did not reduce crime.[^62][^63][^64] Before his sentencing on the drug-manufacturing charge, the psychologist [[Don Seraydarian]] examined him for four hours at the request of his lawyers and wrote that he was "grandiose, mistrustful, suspicious, and excessively controlling," was "consumed by anger," and had "great concern about 'losing control' over himself." Horsch told him: "I go from job to job because once I learn something, I want to go to something else." He listed his occupations as chemist, computer analyst, and photographer.[^5] A sentencing memorandum filed by the federal defender [[Sally A. Kocher]] described "deep-rooted emotional problems" and quoted a psychologist's finding that he had "a very superior intellect exceeding that of 99 percent of the people" but was "severely limited emotionally and is driven by unconscious destructive patterns." Judge [[Joseph L. McGlynn Jr.]] sentenced him to three years for manufacturing methamphetamine, saying that "anybody who has a speed lab ought to know he's going to jail," and Judge [[Donald W. Van Artsdalen]] added a year and a day for bail-jumping, saying that fugitives must be punished "no matter how exemplary a life they may have lived" while at large. He was released in 1987 and became the information technology director of a company in [[Northeast Philadelphia]].[^1][^5][^16] "I loved being a fugitive," he later said. "It was always exciting, always thinking, 'Who am I going to be today?'"[^1] +From the Philadelphia Detention Center he wrote letters to the *Philadelphia Daily News* in January 1985 as public relations officer of the Inmate Betterment Committee, one reporting that inmates had raised money for [[1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia|famine relief in Ethiopia]], and on April 2, 1985, the paper published his guest opinion column arguing that harsher sentences did not reduce crime.[^64][^65][^66] Before his sentencing on the drug-manufacturing charge, the psychologist [[Don Seraydarian]] examined him for four hours at the request of his lawyers and wrote that he was "grandiose, mistrustful, suspicious, and excessively controlling," was "consumed by anger," and had "great concern about 'losing control' over himself." Horsch told him: "I go from job to job because once I learn something, I want to go to something else." He listed his occupations as chemist, computer analyst, and photographer.[^5] A sentencing memorandum filed by the federal defender [[Sally A. Kocher]] described "deep-rooted emotional problems" and quoted a psychologist's finding that he had "a very superior intellect exceeding that of 99 percent of the people" but was "severely limited emotionally and is driven by unconscious destructive patterns." Judge [[Joseph L. McGlynn Jr.]] sentenced him to three years for manufacturing methamphetamine, saying that "anybody who has a speed lab ought to know he's going to jail," and Judge [[Donald W. Van Artsdalen]] added a year and a day for bail-jumping, saying that fugitives must be punished "no matter how exemplary a life they may have lived" while at large. He was released in 1987 and became the information technology director of a company in [[Northeast Philadelphia]].[^1][^5][^16] "I loved being a fugitive," he later said. "It was always exciting, always thinking, 'Who am I going to be today?'"[^1] ### New Britain Township -Ferkuniak died at the family's home in Philadelphia on July 28, 1989, at 39; her obituary in *[[The Morning Call]]* gave the cause as "a lengthy illness," and the *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that she died of an accidental overdose of glutethimide and codeine. The following month Horsch bought a house on Airy Avenue in [[New Britain Township, Pennsylvania|New Britain Township]] for 137,500 dollars. In 1991 he and John R. Butterworth registered the trade name Butterworth's Hickory Pit, a barbecue restaurant in [[North Wales, Pennsylvania|North Wales]], and on August 27, 1993, he filed a Chapter 13 petition in the [[United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania|federal bankruptcy court]] in Philadelphia, No. 93-22545, listing the restaurant as a trade name; his 60-month plan was confirmed, and he was discharged in December 1998.[^65] In 1997 township police charged him with cashing 187.19 dollars in paychecks made out to his dead nephew. Around 1999 he was briefly engaged to a teenage housekeeper. He registered an unpublished 285-page manuscript, "Brains, cockroaches, computers, and the meaning of life: an introduction to metaphilosophy," with the [[United States Copyright Office|Copyright Office]] under the name Raymond Charles Horsch on October 19, 1987.[^66] As "RC Hürsch" he directed *Lovers* (1993) and *Lovers 2* (1994) for [[Candida Royalle]]'s [[Femme Productions]], and in 1996 he appeared in *Streets of New York 7*, directed by Neville Chambers.[^67] In the 1990s and 2000s he produced a series of pornographic videos with amateur couples and then films of staged violence against women, many of whom he recruited with cash and drugs on the streets of [[Kensington, Philadelphia|Kensington]]. In September 2004 he married [[Amy McHale]], thirty years his junior, beside a greenhouse behind his Chalfont house; they divorced in 2008, and she continued to visit him after he moved to Olney.[^1][^24][^37][^68][^69][^70][^71] +Ferkuniak died at the family's home in Philadelphia on July 28, 1989, at 39; her obituary in *[[The Morning Call]]* gave the cause as "a lengthy illness," and the *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that she died of an accidental overdose of glutethimide and codeine. The following month Horsch bought a house on Airy Avenue in [[New Britain Township, Pennsylvania|New Britain Township]] for 137,500 dollars. In 1991 he and John R. Butterworth registered the trade name Butterworth's Hickory Pit, a barbecue restaurant in [[North Wales, Pennsylvania|North Wales]], and on August 27, 1993, he filed a Chapter 13 petition in the [[United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania|federal bankruptcy court]] in Philadelphia, No. 93-22545, listing the restaurant as a trade name; his 60-month plan was confirmed, and he was discharged in December 1998.[^67] In 1997 township police charged him with cashing 187.19 dollars in paychecks made out to his dead nephew. Around 1999 he was briefly engaged to a teenage housekeeper. He registered an unpublished 285-page manuscript, "Brains, cockroaches, computers, and the meaning of life: an introduction to metaphilosophy," with the [[United States Copyright Office|Copyright Office]] under the name Raymond Charles Horsch on October 19, 1987.[^68] As "RC Hürsch" he directed *Lovers* (1993) and *Lovers 2* (1994) for [[Candida Royalle]]'s [[Femme Productions]], and in 1996 he appeared in *Streets of New York 7*, directed by Neville Chambers.[^69] In the 1990s and 2000s he produced a series of pornographic videos with amateur couples and then films of staged violence against women, many of whom he recruited with cash and drugs on the streets of [[Kensington, Philadelphia|Kensington]]. In September 2004 he married [[Amy McHale]], thirty years his junior, beside a greenhouse behind his Chalfont house; they divorced in 2008, and she continued to visit him after he moved to Olney.[^1][^24][^38][^70][^71][^72][^73] -In 2009 a woman at the house called township police to report noises. Officers under Chief [[Robert Scafidi]] found marijuana plants in the basement, 455 by one press account and "nearly 200" by Scafidi's recollection in 2026, firearms including an M1 carbine, 25 pounds of gunpowder, bondage devices, pornography showing women who appeared to be bleeding, and identification cards belonging to several different women. Horsch ran into the surrounding fields and was caught. Horsch said in 2013 that the operation had been discovered by "a fluke" when a young woman living in the house, who knew nothing of the basement, called police about a prowler; he said he grew marijuana to support his art and that most of it "went through two oncology groups to cancer patients, although I made a comfortable living from it."[^32] Scafidi said the district attorney's office took the identification cards for follow-up. "I really don't know what happened after that," he said. "He always got light sentences for some reason," Scafidi said in 2026. "He was a person who worked at being evil."[^13] On March 20, 2009, on Ontario Street in Kensington, Horsch slowed his green Jeep beside a nine-year-old girl, called to her, got out and approached her; she ran home, and police found him nearby with binoculars, a camera with a telephoto lens, an eye patch and condoms in the Jeep. In 2010 he was convicted in Municipal Court of luring a child into a motor vehicle and corrupting the morals of a minor, and Judge Roger Gordon sentenced him to two and a half to five years, a conviction that would have required registration under Megan's Law. The prosecutor, [[Jill Fertel]], had asked for the maximum after learning what the New Britain police had found. Horsch appealed for a new trial in the Common Pleas Court; the girl and her mother were too afraid to testify again, the charges were dropped, the conviction was vacated, and in 2015 a Common Pleas judge granted his petition to expunge the case. In September 2026 a court clerk refused *The Philadelphia Inquirer* access to the file on the ground that expunged records should have been destroyed. "No one was getting arrested for what Raymond Horsch was doing," Fertel said.[^72] In his 2013 interview Horsch said the girl had stepped out from between parked cars, that the story "was made up and augmented by her mother" because the girl was not allowed to cross the street, and that "the charges were dropped, expunged, and I was exonerated."[^32] The federal case, United States v. Horsch, No. 2:09-cr-00794 in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania|Eastern District of Pennsylvania]], was filed on December 15, 2009, before Judge [[Richard Barclay Surrick]], charging him with manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants; a bench warrant issued the same day, and [[Jerome Brown]], later counsel to his son, entered his appearance for the defense in January 2010.[^73] The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney [[Elizabeth F. Abrams]], and the government filed notice of his prior drug convictions to enhance the sentence. On January 10, 2011, he pleaded guilty to possessing 100 or more marijuana plants with intent to distribute, possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Surrick sentenced him on June 28, 2012, and resentenced him on July 3 to 53 months on the drug and felon-in-possession counts and one consecutive month on the shotgun count, a total of 54 months, with credit for time served in the Bucks County jail, and ordered the Airy Avenue house forfeited; the final order of forfeiture was entered on October 22, 2012.[^74] He was released in June 2013. He said he had written four or five books in prison, among them a memoir written with one of his former wives about her adolescence, including stripping at 14, which, he said, was banned for its content.[^32] In January 2014 Horsch's website [[Eroto|eroto.com]] credited "authors R.C. Hörsch and Anna M. Ferkuniak," along with "publisher S.E. Stokowski," with books that [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] had banned, and offered their eBooks free.[^75] The site's books page of September 2014 lists *Annie*, "the intimate journal of a troubled young girl wrestling with addiction, destructive behavior, bulimia and rampant promiscuity," by "Anna M. Ferkuniak and R. C. Hörsch." Its Foreword, signed A. M. Ferkuniak, begins: "My ex-husband, R. C., is the one who got me to write this memoir."[^76] A paperback edition crediting R. Horsch and Anna Ferkuniak was issued by [[CreateSpace]] in 2014.[^77] Her obituary in *The Morning Call* of August 1, 1989, described her as the wife of Raymond Horsch.[^78] The bank repossessed the [[New Britain, Pennsylvania|New Britain]] house the same year.[^13][^15][^68][^79] +In 2009 a woman at the house called township police to report noises. Officers under Chief [[Robert Scafidi]] found marijuana plants in the basement, 455 by one press account and "nearly 200" by Scafidi's recollection in 2026, firearms including an M1 carbine, 25 pounds of gunpowder, bondage devices, pornography showing women who appeared to be bleeding, and identification cards belonging to several different women. Horsch ran into the surrounding fields and was caught. Horsch said in 2013 that the operation had been discovered by "a fluke" when a young woman living in the house, who knew nothing of the basement, called police about a prowler; he said he grew marijuana to support his art and that most of it "went through two oncology groups to cancer patients, although I made a comfortable living from it."[^32] Scafidi said the district attorney's office took the identification cards for follow-up. "I really don't know what happened after that," he said. "He always got light sentences for some reason," Scafidi said in 2026. "He was a person who worked at being evil."[^13] On March 20, 2009, on Ontario Street in Kensington, Horsch slowed his green Jeep beside a nine-year-old girl, called to her, got out and approached her; she ran home, and police found him nearby with binoculars, a camera with a telephoto lens, an eye patch and condoms in the Jeep. In 2010 he was convicted in Municipal Court of luring a child into a motor vehicle and corrupting the morals of a minor, and Judge Roger Gordon sentenced him to two and a half to five years, a conviction that would have required registration under Megan's Law. The prosecutor, [[Jill Fertel]], had asked for the maximum after learning what the New Britain police had found. Horsch appealed for a new trial in the Common Pleas Court; the girl and her mother were too afraid to testify again, the charges were dropped, the conviction was vacated, and in 2015 a Common Pleas judge granted his petition to expunge the case. In September 2026 a court clerk refused *The Philadelphia Inquirer* access to the file on the ground that expunged records should have been destroyed. "No one was getting arrested for what Raymond Horsch was doing," Fertel said.[^74] In his 2013 interview Horsch said the girl had stepped out from between parked cars, that the story "was made up and augmented by her mother" because the girl was not allowed to cross the street, and that "the charges were dropped, expunged, and I was exonerated."[^32] The federal case, United States v. Horsch, No. 2:09-cr-00794 in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania|Eastern District of Pennsylvania]], was filed on December 15, 2009, before Judge [[Richard Barclay Surrick]], charging him with manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants; a bench warrant issued the same day, and [[Jerome Brown]], later counsel to his son, entered his appearance for the defense in January 2010.[^75] The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney [[Elizabeth F. Abrams]], and the government filed notice of his prior drug convictions to enhance the sentence. On January 10, 2011, he pleaded guilty to possessing 100 or more marijuana plants with intent to distribute, possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Surrick sentenced him on June 28, 2012, and resentenced him on July 3 to 53 months on the drug and felon-in-possession counts and one consecutive month on the shotgun count, a total of 54 months, with credit for time served in the Bucks County jail, and ordered the Airy Avenue house forfeited; the final order of forfeiture was entered on October 22, 2012.[^76] He was released in June 2013. He said he had written four or five books in prison, among them a memoir written with one of his former wives about her adolescence, including stripping at 14, which, he said, was banned for its content.[^32] In January 2014 Horsch's website [[Eroto|eroto.com]] credited "authors R.C. Hörsch and Anna M. Ferkuniak," along with "publisher S.E. Stokowski," with books that [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] had banned, and offered their eBooks free.[^77] The site's books page of September 2014 lists *Annie*, "the intimate journal of a troubled young girl wrestling with addiction, destructive behavior, bulimia and rampant promiscuity," by "Anna M. Ferkuniak and R. C. Hörsch." Its Foreword, signed A. M. Ferkuniak, begins: "My ex-husband, R. C., is the one who got me to write this memoir."[^78] A paperback edition crediting R. Horsch and Anna Ferkuniak was issued by [[CreateSpace]] in 2014.[^79] Her obituary in *The Morning Call* of August 1, 1989, described her as the wife of Raymond Horsch.[^80] The bank repossessed the [[New Britain, Pennsylvania|New Britain]] house the same year.[^13][^15][^70][^81] ### The Olney House -Eugene Horsch, then a [[Drexel University]] student, caused a drunk-driving crash in 2003 that left the other driver in a vegetative state until his death sixteen years later. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was released in 2006. His great-aunt [[Helen M. Hoersch]], the last of Albert Hoersch's children, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a senior editor at the [[American Society for Testing and Materials]], died on April 5, 2004, at 83, "at the home of her nephew," Ray Horsch.[^80] The *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that Horsch acquired the Chew Avenue house after her death and in 2007 used a power of attorney to transfer it to his son for one dollar; the city's deed index records a deed executed on October 1, 2007, with "Hoersch Helen M" as grantor and Eugene A. Horsch as grantee. Horsch moved into the house with his son.[^81][^82][^83] In 2013 police found about 1.9 million dollars' worth of marijuana in the house, and Eugene was sentenced to four to eight years.[^1][^84] +Eugene Horsch, then a [[Drexel University]] student, caused a drunk-driving crash in 2003 that left the other driver in a vegetative state until his death sixteen years later. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was released in 2006. His great-aunt [[Helen M. Hoersch]], the last of Albert Hoersch's children, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a senior editor at the [[American Society for Testing and Materials]], died on April 5, 2004, at 83, "at the home of her nephew," Ray Horsch.[^82] The *Inquirer* reported in 2026 that Horsch acquired the Chew Avenue house after her death and in 2007 used a power of attorney to transfer it to his son for one dollar; the city's deed index records a deed executed on October 1, 2007, with "Hoersch Helen M" as grantor and Eugene A. Horsch as grantee. Horsch moved into the house with his son.[^83][^84][^85] In 2013 police found about 1.9 million dollars' worth of marijuana in the house, and Eugene was sentenced to four to eight years.[^1][^86] -From about 2017 to 2021 Horsch's website, rchorsch.com, advertised an escort service whose client reviews describe visits to the Olney house. Its motto was "I fear what I love." In 2014 he self-published Empathy: The Memoir of an Empathetic Serial Killer, in which the narrator strangles a woman named Krista and dissolves her body with sodium hydroxide in a basement bathtub; the publisher's description calls the book fiction.[^85] In 2016 he released Deleted Scenes: A Serial Killer's Video Journal, filmed over twelve years under the name Ich Bin Niemand, about a man who selects victims among addicts, prostitutes, and runaways. A woman named [[Krista Killen]] lived in the house for years and appeared in his films. His online biography described him as an "artist, filmmaker, composer, writer, porn performer, drug smuggler, some-time political activist, art forger, counterfeiter, pot grower, air show pilot, army deserter, fugitive, sociopath, ex-convict and all-out villain." In 2014 a [[Wikipedia]] user named "S.E. Stokowski" created an article about him and made more than 150 edits to it over the following years. Amazon sold his books until the third week of September 2026.[^1][^5][^37][^68][^86] +From about 2017 to 2021 Horsch's website, rchorsch.com, advertised an escort service whose client reviews describe visits to the Olney house. Its motto was "I fear what I love." In 2014 he self-published Empathy: The Memoir of an Empathetic Serial Killer, in which the narrator strangles a woman named Krista and dissolves her body with sodium hydroxide in a basement bathtub; the publisher's description calls the book fiction.[^87] In 2016 he released Deleted Scenes: A Serial Killer's Video Journal, filmed over twelve years under the name Ich Bin Niemand, about a man who selects victims among addicts, prostitutes, and runaways. A woman named [[Krista Killen]] lived in the house for years and appeared in his films. His online biography described him as an "artist, filmmaker, composer, writer, porn performer, drug smuggler, some-time political activist, art forger, counterfeiter, pot grower, air show pilot, army deserter, fugitive, sociopath, ex-convict and all-out villain." In 2014 a [[Wikipedia]] user named "S.E. Stokowski" created an article about him and made more than 150 edits to it over the following years. Amazon sold his books until the third week of September 2026.[^1][^5][^38][^70][^88] ### The Kensington Crematorium -At a 2014 exhibition in a Kensington gallery, Horsch showed what appeared to be autopsy photographs of an unidentified woman, ending with video of her body being loaded into an incinerator. He said the footage was shot at "a Kensington warehouse where the city morgue would send unidentified remains." His release for the show read: "The Medical Examiner totally botched the autopsy and didn't even bother to sew her up properly. My horrible photograph is all that is left of her, the only trace of her short, sad existence. She has nothing else, not even a name." He later posted a series that intercut women acting out their own deaths with images of people dead of overdoses, which he described as made in "unknowing collaboration with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner" and city paramedics.[^87] +At a 2014 exhibition in a Kensington gallery, Horsch showed what appeared to be autopsy photographs of an unidentified woman, ending with video of her body being loaded into an incinerator. He said the footage was shot at "a Kensington warehouse where the city morgue would send unidentified remains." His release for the show read: "The Medical Examiner totally botched the autopsy and didn't even bother to sew her up properly. My horrible photograph is all that is left of her, the only trace of her short, sad existence. She has nothing else, not even a name." He later posted a series that intercut women acting out their own deaths with images of people dead of overdoses, which he described as made in "unknowing collaboration with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner" and city paramedics.[^89] -A law enforcement official and people who knew Horsch in the period have said he paid an employee in drugs and cash for access to the crematorium attached to the [[Garzone Funeral Home]] in Kensington. The brothers [[Louis Garzone|Louis]] and [[Gerald Garzone]], who operated it as [[Liberty Cremations]], pleaded guilty in 2008 to selling more than 240 corpses to a New York tissue-recovery company whose cutters removed bone, tendon, and organs for resale to hospitals. Some of the tissue was diseased and was implanted in patients who were not told of its origin. The business closed in 2007. A woman who worked on Horsch's films from 2003 said he told her his contact was an employee named George. Four people identified the man as [[George Newsome]], who lived on Ruth Street a block from the crematorium, was arrested for heroin possession in 2011 and cocaine possession in 2013, and died in 2014. Gerald Garzone said he had never heard of Horsch. He acknowledged knowing a man named George from the neighborhood and declined to say whether he had employed him. The [[Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office]] declined to say whether the city sent unclaimed bodies to the Garzones. Horsch was not named in the 2007 case.[^87] +A law enforcement official and people who knew Horsch in the period have said he paid an employee in drugs and cash for access to the crematorium attached to the [[Garzone Funeral Home]] in Kensington. The brothers [[Louis Garzone|Louis]] and [[Gerald Garzone]], who operated it as [[Liberty Cremations]], pleaded guilty in 2008 to selling more than 240 corpses to a New York tissue-recovery company whose cutters removed bone, tendon, and organs for resale to hospitals. Some of the tissue was diseased and was implanted in patients who were not told of its origin. The business closed in 2007. A woman who worked on Horsch's films from 2003 said he told her his contact was an employee named George. Four people identified the man as [[George Newsome]], who lived on Ruth Street a block from the crematorium, was arrested for heroin possession in 2011 and cocaine possession in 2013, and died in 2014. Gerald Garzone said he had never heard of Horsch. He acknowledged knowing a man named George from the neighborhood and declined to say whether he had employed him. The [[Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office]] declined to say whether the city sent unclaimed bodies to the Garzones. Horsch was not named in the 2007 case.[^89] ### The 2026 Investigation -In May 2025 a fire at the Chew Avenue house brought narcotics officers, who found marijuana plants, firearms, and containers of chemicals. Horsch died the same month and was cremated.[^37][^86] Killen died in August 2025; the affidavit for the 2026 search gave the cause as "drug intoxication," and the city medical examiner found that she had overdosed.[^1][^81] +In May 2025 a fire at the Chew Avenue house brought narcotics officers, who found marijuana plants, firearms, and containers of chemicals. Horsch died the same month and was cremated.[^38][^88] Killen died in August 2025; the affidavit for the 2026 search gave the cause as "drug intoxication," and the city medical examiner found that she had overdosed.[^1][^83] -On June 19, 2026, a federal park ranger stopped Eugene Horsch's car beside [[Independence National Historical Park]]. His passenger carried an identification card in the name of [[Blair Tonzelli]], who was reported missing in February 2023. A photograph of Tonzelli, nude, with an apparent black eye and blood near her mouth, had been in rotation as the lead image on Horsch's website from about 2020 until at least September 2023, seven months after the missing-person report. The search of the Olney house that followed, and its results, are set out under [[Olney House Investigation]].[^68][^84] +On June 19, 2026, a federal park ranger stopped Eugene Horsch's car beside [[Independence National Historical Park]]. His passenger carried an identification card in the name of [[Blair Tonzelli]], who was reported missing in February 2023. A photograph of Tonzelli, nude, with an apparent black eye and blood near her mouth, had been in rotation as the lead image on Horsch's website from about 2020 until at least September 2023, seven months after the missing-person report. The search of the Olney house that followed, and its results, are set out under [[Olney House Investigation]].[^70][^86] -On September 16, 2026, Deputy Police Commissioner [[Frank Vanore]] said that investigators had reviewed about 30 percent of more than 600,000 images and 70,000 videos from the house, had identified 58 people in them, and believed five of the women shown to be dead. He described a video in which Horsch gives a woman drugs and money, handcuffs her to a bed, and tightens a zip tie around her neck with pliers until she stops moving. Her family identified her as [[Nicole Fusaro]], 27, last seen in Kensington on July 19, 2018. Amy McHale, last seen at the house in 2016, and Tonzelli remain missing. "We did never recover a body here," Vanore said.[^2][^86][^87][^88] +On September 16, 2026, Deputy Police Commissioner [[Frank Vanore]] said that investigators had reviewed about 30 percent of more than 600,000 images and 70,000 videos from the house, had identified 58 people in them, and believed five of the women shown to be dead. He described a video in which Horsch gives a woman drugs and money, handcuffs her to a bed, and tightens a zip tie around her neck with pliers until she stops moving. Her family identified her as [[Nicole Fusaro]], 27, last seen in Kensington on July 19, 2018. Amy McHale, last seen at the house in 2016, and Tonzelli remain missing. "We did never recover a body here," Vanore said.[^2][^88][^89][^90] -[[J.J. Klaver]], a retired FBI agent with no role in the case, told *Newsweek*: "Obviously, this guy's a serial killer." [[Michael Yoder]], a retired FBI profiler who reviewed the 1985 evaluation, said it described "a potential serial killer." The police department has not used the term. Horsch was never charged with a homicide.[^5][^89] +[[J.J. Klaver]], a retired FBI agent with no role in the case, told *Newsweek*: "Obviously, this guy's a serial killer." [[Michael Yoder]], a retired FBI profiler who reviewed the 1985 evaluation, said it described "a potential serial killer." The police department has not used the term. Horsch was never charged with a homicide.[^5][^91] ### Footnotes @@ -208,56 +210,58 @@ On September 16, 2026, Deputy Police Commissioner [[Frank Vanore]] said that inv [^34]: Paull, Dave. "Lake LA-4-200 Bucaneer ZK-EDK cancelled," *NZ Civil Aircraft* (blog), October 11, 2009 ("Chemical Technology Ltd of Christchurch became the listed owners on 30-10-1981 ... Ownership changed to John Rutherford on 19-06-89 ... cancelled for the NZ register as exported on 17-09-2009"). https://nzcivair.blogspot.com/2009/10/lake-la-4-200-bucaneer-zk-edk-cancelled.html [^35]: Wise, David. New Zealand civil aircraft register, ZK-EAA to ZK-EHZ ("ZK-EDK 1 12/74 LA-4-200 Buccaneer 469 ex N5012L export cx 9/09"). https://www.flydw.org.uk/DWZKEAH.htm [^36]: Hamilton, Fred. [Feature on a film shoot at the Renaissance Studio], *Philadelphia Daily News,* April 26, 1971, p. 22. https://www.newspapers.com/image/184959243/ -[^37]: "Five takeaways from Philly missing women mystery connected to Raymond and Eugene Horsch," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 4, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-missing-women-20260804.html -[^38]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^37]: Classified advertisement, "Jobs," *The Distant Drummer* (Thursday's Drummer), no. 131, April 1, 1971. Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/2597 +[^38]: "Five takeaways from Philly missing women mystery connected to Raymond and Eugene Horsch," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 4, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-missing-women-20260804.html [^39]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ -[^40]: [Superior Court trial calendar for the week of December 4], *The Charlotte News,* December 1, 1972, p. 33. https://www.newspapers.com/image/621947721/ -[^41]: The *Inquirer* of August 2, 2026, gives the value seized as the equivalent of over one million dollars; the Associated Press and *The Morning Call* in December 1974 gave 180,000 dollars. -[^42]: "Hunt Returns To Prison Life," United Press International, *The Pittsburgh Press,* April 25, 1975, p. 6 ("Hunt has already spent nine months and 13 days at the Danbury, Conn., and Allenwood, Pa., federal prisons"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/147591127/ -[^43]: Braxton, Sheila. "Hunt Arrives at Eglin," *Playground Daily News* (Fort Walton Beach, Florida), April 27, 1975, p. 1A. https://www.newspapers.com/image/54213176/ -[^44]: "E. Howard Hunt Released After Serving 32 Months," Associated Press, *The New York Times,* February 24, 1977, p. 16. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/24/archives/ -[^45]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, 2013, audio at 47:46 to 55:11 (Wisdom's Child, title documents, etchings, the counterfeiting arrest, Eglin; audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 -[^46]: Stokowski, Stanley Edward. "Spectroscopic Studies of SrTiO3 Using Impurity Ion Probes," Ph.D. dissertation, Stanford University, May 1968 (title page: "By Stanley Edward Stokowski May 1968"); *Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports* (1969), p. 3236; *Journal of the Optical Society of America B* 3 (1986), p. 114 ("Stokowski, a native of Lewiston, Maine, received the B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963 and the Ph.D. degree in physics from Stanford University in 1968"). The 2026 *Inquirer* gives the middle name as Eugene. https://books.google.com/books?q=%22Stanley+Edward+Stokowski%22 -[^47]: U.S. Index to Public Records, 1994-2019, "Raymond C Horsch" [Raymond C Hoersch], birth May 1943, residence 1989-2013 Chalfont, Pennsylvania (Ancestry.com), accessed September 23, 2026. https://www.ancestry.com/ -[^48]: "A Philadelphia man is arrested on drug charges," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 5, 1977, p. 10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/172176774/ -[^49]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, 2013, audio at 1:05:45 to 1:09:27 (New Zealand, the Orlando arrest, time served; audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 -[^50]: "Impostor: immigration cleared of blame," *The Press* (Christchurch), October 3, 1984. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841003.2.23 -[^51]: Leask, Anna. "Man linked to multiple missing women in US had fled NZ 40 years ago after posing as scientist," *The New Zealand Herald,* September 23, 2026 (quoting *The Press* of 1984, the New Zealand immigration investigation report, and a 1985 Associated Press report). *The Press* reported in June 1984 that he came to New Zealand with his "wife, Anna, and 18-month-old son," and in April 1985 that he fled "with his wife and 18-month-old son," which would place the birth about late 1982 against the 1981 New Zealand birth of Eugene given by the *Inquirer*; Horsch said in 2013 that his son was three years old at the time of his Orlando arrest; Joanne Epps gave June 1984 as the month he left New Zealand, against the March 17 date reported in New Zealand. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/raymond-horsch-man-linked-to-philadelphia-house-of-horrors-lived-near-timaru-under-stolen-name/BVQSWBL3LZDL3GIXFEHHBFY6RY/ -[^52]: "Ethanol plant at Temuka," *The Press* (Christchurch), July 15, 1981. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810715.2.31 -[^53]: "Ethanol by September," *The Press* (Christchurch), July 20, 1981 (Press Association, Wellington). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810720.2.23 -[^54]: "Ethanol study beyond council," *The Press* (Christchurch), December 11, 1981. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19811211.2.98 -[^55]: "Dr Shearer wants extra effort in biotechnology," *The Press* (Christchurch), April 23, 1982. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19820423.2.96.9 -[^56]: "Police look for U.S. chemist," *The Press* (Christchurch), June 6, 1984 (Press Association, Timaru). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840606.2.48 -[^57]: "Ethanol plant's business booms," *The Press* (Christchurch), October 4, 1984. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841004.2.21 -[^58]: "Police seek wife, child," *The Press* (Christchurch), June 13, 1984 (Press Association, Timaru). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840613.2.7 -[^59]: "Jerusalem artichokes as dual-purpose crop?," *The Press* (Christchurch), February 14, 1986. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860214.2.93.1 -[^60]: "Olney investigation: What we know about Eugene Horsch, missing women, and the search," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/olney-investigation-eugene-horsch-missing-women-20260627.html -[^61]: "Ethanol 'scientist' jailed for drug offences," *The Press* (Christchurch), April 27, 1985 (Press Association). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850427.2.26 -[^62]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "Detention Center Deserves Praise, Not Rebuke," letter, *Philadelphia Daily News,* January 8, 1985, p. 32. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185932354/ -[^63]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "Inmates Aid Ethiopians," letter, *Philadelphia Daily News,* January 14, 1985, p. 24. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185937892/ -[^64]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "...And Throw Away the Key? It Doesn't Work," guest opinion, *Philadelphia Daily News,* April 2, 1985, p. 34. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185922416/ -[^65]: *In re Horsch,* No. 93-22545 (Bankr. E.D. Pa.), filed August 27, 1993, closed December 22, 1998, docket via CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r -[^66]: United States Copyright Office, registration TXu000301199, "Brains, cockroaches, computers, and the meaning of life: an introduction to metaphilosophy / by Raymond C. Horsch," unpublished text, 285 p., created 1987, registered October 19, 1987, claimant Raymond Charles Horsch. https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_16862088 -[^67]: Internet Adult Film Database, "RC Hürsch," director credits *Lovers* (Femme Productions, 1993) and *Lovers 2* (Femme Productions, 1994); "Streets Of New York 7" (Pleasure Productions, 1996), director Neville Chambers, cast including Ray Horsch. https://www.iafd.com/title.rme/id=b609e8df-4df6-46c4-8925-639ed9e91852 -[^68]: "Bucks County connection with Philly 'house of horror' case," *Yahoo News* (syndicated), 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/bucks-county-connection-philly-house-091634860.html -[^69]: "Anna M. Horsch," obituary, *The Morning Call,* August 1, 1989, p. 18. https://www.newspapers.com/image/283766965/ -[^70]: [Bucks County real-estate transfers], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* October 29, 1989, p. 480 ("[Airy Ave.] ... to Raymond C. Horsch"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/177531276/ -[^71]: [Fictitious name registrations], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 16, 1991, p. 28 ("Butterworth's Hickory Pit, North Wales; Raymond C. Horsch ... Butterworth"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/175247169/ -[^72]: Rushing, Ellie, Barbara Laker, Ryan W. Briggs, and Max Marin. "Raymond Horsch was convicted of luring a 9-year-old girl to his car in 2009. Now those court records could be destroyed." *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 22, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/raymond-horsch-child-luring-kensington-records-expunged-20260922.html -[^73]: *United States v. Horsch,* No. 2:09-cr-00794-RBS (E.D. Pa.), filed December 15, 2009, terminated July 5, 2012; indictment (Doc. 1), motion and order for bench warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Elizabeth T. Hey (Doc. 2), notices of appearance of Jerome M. Brown (Docs. 5 and 7), docket via CourtListener RECAP. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r&court=paed -[^74]: *United States v. Horsch,* No. 2:09-cr-00794-RBS (E.D. Pa.), superseding indictment of January 26, 2010, information under 21 U.S.C. sec. 851 of December 23, 2010, change of plea of January 10, 2011, judgments of June 28 and July 3, 2012, and final order of forfeiture of October 22, 2012, docket via CourtListener RECAP. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r&court=paed -[^75]: eroto.com front page, Internet Archive capture of January 13, 2014 ("In honor of having three of four posted books banned by Amazon, authors R.C. Hörsch and Anna M. Ferkuniak, along with publisher S.E. Stokowski, have decided to make the eBook versions of everything available to all our friends for FREE download."). https://web.archive.org/web/20140113132225/http://eroto.com/ -[^76]: eroto.com, "Books," Internet Archive capture of September 28, 2014 (*Annie*, "By Anna M. Ferkuniak and R. C. Hörsch"), https://web.archive.org/web/20140928154523/http://www.eroto.com:80/books ; eroto.com, "Annie," capture of September 27, 2020 (Foreword "By A. M. Ferkuniak"), https://web.archive.org/web/20200927100923/https://eroto.com/books/35-annie -[^77]: *Annie* (2014), authors R. Horsch and Anna Ferkuniak, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 9781492971054, 162 pages (Open Library edition OL55275516M). https://openlibrary.org/books/OL55275516M -[^78]: "Anna M. Horsch," obituary, *The Morning Call,* August 1, 1989, p. 18 ("She was the wife of Raymond Horsch"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/283766965/ -[^79]: The Inquirer article of September 22, 2026, and WPVI both give the federal sentence as 54 months; earlier sources give 53 months. -[^80]: "Hoersch, Helen M.," death notice, *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* April 7, 2004, p. B12. https://www.newspapers.com/image/201102740/ -[^81]: "A woman missing since 2016 had close ties to the Olney house that's now the target of a massive investigation," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/olney-raid-missing-women-mystery-drugs-20260627.html -[^82]: "What we know about the Olney investigation into missing women," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026 (which calls Helen M. Hoersch his sister; her 1991 and 2004 notices make her his aunt). https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/olney-investigation-eugene-horsch-missing-women-20260627.html -[^83]: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, real estate transfer index, W. Chew Ave., deed document 51798675, executed October 1, 2007, recorded October 26, 2007, grantor "Hoersch Helen M," grantee "Horsch Eugene A"; later mortgages of 2007 and 2009 and satisfaction of 2025, via the city's open data (rtt_summary). https://phl.carto.com/ (rtt_summary table) -[^84]: "Who is Eugene Horsch? Man at Center of Philadelphia 'House of Horrors,'" *Newsweek,* 2026. https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-eugene-horsch-man-at-center-of-philadelphia-house-of-horrors-12459693 -[^85]: Stevenson, Thomas, summarizing a *New York Post* report. "'I am a murderer': Suspect in Philly 'house of horrors' case said humans are 'cancer,' railed against racism, global warming in writings," *The Post Millennial,* October 1, 2026. https://thepostmillennial.com/i-am-a-murderer-suspect-in-philly-house-of-horrors-case-said-humans-are-cancer-railed-against-racism-global-warming-in-writings -[^86]: Cuffe, Davis. "Philadelphia's 'house of horrors' investigation: All that we know," *Billy Penn,* September 18, 2026. https://billypenn.com/2026/09/18/philadelphia-house-of-horrors-police-investigation-olney-update/ -[^87]: Briggs, Ryan W., Max Marin, Barbara Laker, and Ellie Rushing. "Raymond Horsch had access to a Kensington crematorium linked to illegal body parts sales, years before missing persons investigation," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 21, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-horsch-missing-women-kensington-bodies-crematorium-20260921.html -[^88]: "Philadelphia police identify 58 people in images from investigation into Olney house," *CBS News Philadelphia,* September 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/horsch-investigation-chew-avenue-olney-philadelphia/ -[^89]: "Eugene Horsch Denies He's a Serial Killer as Philadelphia Cops Hunt for Missing Women," *Newsweek,* 2026. https://www.newsweek.com/philadelphia-obviously-serial-killer-former-fbi-agent-12457175 +[^40]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^41]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ +[^42]: [Superior Court trial calendar for the week of December 4], *The Charlotte News,* December 1, 1972, p. 33. https://www.newspapers.com/image/621947721/ +[^43]: The *Inquirer* of August 2, 2026, gives the value seized as the equivalent of over one million dollars; the Associated Press and *The Morning Call* in December 1974 gave 180,000 dollars. +[^44]: "Hunt Returns To Prison Life," United Press International, *The Pittsburgh Press,* April 25, 1975, p. 6 ("Hunt has already spent nine months and 13 days at the Danbury, Conn., and Allenwood, Pa., federal prisons"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/147591127/ +[^45]: Braxton, Sheila. "Hunt Arrives at Eglin," *Playground Daily News* (Fort Walton Beach, Florida), April 27, 1975, p. 1A. https://www.newspapers.com/image/54213176/ +[^46]: "E. Howard Hunt Released After Serving 32 Months," Associated Press, *The New York Times,* February 24, 1977, p. 16. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/24/archives/ +[^47]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, 2013, audio at 47:46 to 55:11 (Wisdom's Child, title documents, etchings, the counterfeiting arrest, Eglin; audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 +[^48]: Stokowski, Stanley Edward. "Spectroscopic Studies of SrTiO3 Using Impurity Ion Probes," Ph.D. dissertation, Stanford University, May 1968 (title page: "By Stanley Edward Stokowski May 1968"); *Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports* (1969), p. 3236; *Journal of the Optical Society of America B* 3 (1986), p. 114 ("Stokowski, a native of Lewiston, Maine, received the B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963 and the Ph.D. degree in physics from Stanford University in 1968"). The 2026 *Inquirer* gives the middle name as Eugene. https://books.google.com/books?q=%22Stanley+Edward+Stokowski%22 +[^49]: U.S. Index to Public Records, 1994-2019, "Raymond C Horsch" [Raymond C Hoersch], birth May 1943, residence 1989-2013 Chalfont, Pennsylvania (Ancestry.com), accessed September 23, 2026. https://www.ancestry.com/ +[^50]: "A Philadelphia man is arrested on drug charges," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 5, 1977, p. 10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/172176774/ +[^51]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, 2013, audio at 1:05:45 to 1:09:27 (New Zealand, the Orlando arrest, time served; audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 +[^52]: "Impostor: immigration cleared of blame," *The Press* (Christchurch), October 3, 1984. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841003.2.23 +[^53]: Leask, Anna. "Man linked to multiple missing women in US had fled NZ 40 years ago after posing as scientist," *The New Zealand Herald,* September 23, 2026 (quoting *The Press* of 1984, the New Zealand immigration investigation report, and a 1985 Associated Press report). *The Press* reported in June 1984 that he came to New Zealand with his "wife, Anna, and 18-month-old son," and in April 1985 that he fled "with his wife and 18-month-old son," which would place the birth about late 1982 against the 1981 New Zealand birth of Eugene given by the *Inquirer*; Horsch said in 2013 that his son was three years old at the time of his Orlando arrest; Joanne Epps gave June 1984 as the month he left New Zealand, against the March 17 date reported in New Zealand. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/raymond-horsch-man-linked-to-philadelphia-house-of-horrors-lived-near-timaru-under-stolen-name/BVQSWBL3LZDL3GIXFEHHBFY6RY/ +[^54]: "Ethanol plant at Temuka," *The Press* (Christchurch), July 15, 1981. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810715.2.31 +[^55]: "Ethanol by September," *The Press* (Christchurch), July 20, 1981 (Press Association, Wellington). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810720.2.23 +[^56]: "Ethanol study beyond council," *The Press* (Christchurch), December 11, 1981. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19811211.2.98 +[^57]: "Dr Shearer wants extra effort in biotechnology," *The Press* (Christchurch), April 23, 1982. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19820423.2.96.9 +[^58]: "Police look for U.S. chemist," *The Press* (Christchurch), June 6, 1984 (Press Association, Timaru). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840606.2.48 +[^59]: "Ethanol plant's business booms," *The Press* (Christchurch), October 4, 1984. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841004.2.21 +[^60]: "Police seek wife, child," *The Press* (Christchurch), June 13, 1984 (Press Association, Timaru). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840613.2.7 +[^61]: "Jerusalem artichokes as dual-purpose crop?," *The Press* (Christchurch), February 14, 1986. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860214.2.93.1 +[^62]: "Olney investigation: What we know about Eugene Horsch, missing women, and the search," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/olney-investigation-eugene-horsch-missing-women-20260627.html +[^63]: "Ethanol 'scientist' jailed for drug offences," *The Press* (Christchurch), April 27, 1985 (Press Association). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850427.2.26 +[^64]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "Detention Center Deserves Praise, Not Rebuke," letter, *Philadelphia Daily News,* January 8, 1985, p. 32. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185932354/ +[^65]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "Inmates Aid Ethiopians," letter, *Philadelphia Daily News,* January 14, 1985, p. 24. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185937892/ +[^66]: Hoersch, Raymond C. "...And Throw Away the Key? It Doesn't Work," guest opinion, *Philadelphia Daily News,* April 2, 1985, p. 34. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185922416/ +[^67]: *In re Horsch,* No. 93-22545 (Bankr. E.D. Pa.), filed August 27, 1993, closed December 22, 1998, docket via CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r +[^68]: United States Copyright Office, registration TXu000301199, "Brains, cockroaches, computers, and the meaning of life: an introduction to metaphilosophy / by Raymond C. Horsch," unpublished text, 285 p., created 1987, registered October 19, 1987, claimant Raymond Charles Horsch. https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_16862088 +[^69]: Internet Adult Film Database, "RC Hürsch," director credits *Lovers* (Femme Productions, 1993) and *Lovers 2* (Femme Productions, 1994); "Streets Of New York 7" (Pleasure Productions, 1996), director Neville Chambers, cast including Ray Horsch. https://www.iafd.com/title.rme/id=b609e8df-4df6-46c4-8925-639ed9e91852 +[^70]: "Bucks County connection with Philly 'house of horror' case," *Yahoo News* (syndicated), 2026. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/bucks-county-connection-philly-house-091634860.html +[^71]: "Anna M. Horsch," obituary, *The Morning Call,* August 1, 1989, p. 18. https://www.newspapers.com/image/283766965/ +[^72]: [Bucks County real-estate transfers], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* October 29, 1989, p. 480 ("[Airy Ave.] ... to Raymond C. Horsch"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/177531276/ +[^73]: [Fictitious name registrations], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 16, 1991, p. 28 ("Butterworth's Hickory Pit, North Wales; Raymond C. Horsch ... Butterworth"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/175247169/ +[^74]: Rushing, Ellie, Barbara Laker, Ryan W. Briggs, and Max Marin. "Raymond Horsch was convicted of luring a 9-year-old girl to his car in 2009. Now those court records could be destroyed." *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 22, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/crime/raymond-horsch-child-luring-kensington-records-expunged-20260922.html +[^75]: *United States v. Horsch,* No. 2:09-cr-00794-RBS (E.D. Pa.), filed December 15, 2009, terminated July 5, 2012; indictment (Doc. 1), motion and order for bench warrant signed by Magistrate Judge Elizabeth T. Hey (Doc. 2), notices of appearance of Jerome M. Brown (Docs. 5 and 7), docket via CourtListener RECAP. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r&court=paed +[^76]: *United States v. Horsch,* No. 2:09-cr-00794-RBS (E.D. Pa.), superseding indictment of January 26, 2010, information under 21 U.S.C. sec. 851 of December 23, 2010, change of plea of January 10, 2011, judgments of June 28 and July 3, 2012, and final order of forfeiture of October 22, 2012, docket via CourtListener RECAP. https://www.courtlistener.com/?q=Horsch&type=r&court=paed +[^77]: eroto.com front page, Internet Archive capture of January 13, 2014 ("In honor of having three of four posted books banned by Amazon, authors R.C. Hörsch and Anna M. Ferkuniak, along with publisher S.E. Stokowski, have decided to make the eBook versions of everything available to all our friends for FREE download."). https://web.archive.org/web/20140113132225/http://eroto.com/ +[^78]: eroto.com, "Books," Internet Archive capture of September 28, 2014 (*Annie*, "By Anna M. Ferkuniak and R. C. Hörsch"), https://web.archive.org/web/20140928154523/http://www.eroto.com:80/books ; eroto.com, "Annie," capture of September 27, 2020 (Foreword "By A. M. Ferkuniak"), https://web.archive.org/web/20200927100923/https://eroto.com/books/35-annie +[^79]: *Annie* (2014), authors R. Horsch and Anna Ferkuniak, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, ISBN 9781492971054, 162 pages (Open Library edition OL55275516M). https://openlibrary.org/books/OL55275516M +[^80]: "Anna M. Horsch," obituary, *The Morning Call,* August 1, 1989, p. 18 ("She was the wife of Raymond Horsch"). https://www.newspapers.com/image/283766965/ +[^81]: The Inquirer article of September 22, 2026, and WPVI both give the federal sentence as 54 months; earlier sources give 53 months. +[^82]: "Hoersch, Helen M.," death notice, *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* April 7, 2004, p. B12. https://www.newspapers.com/image/201102740/ +[^83]: "A woman missing since 2016 had close ties to the Olney house that's now the target of a massive investigation," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/olney-raid-missing-women-mystery-drugs-20260627.html +[^84]: "What we know about the Olney investigation into missing women," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* June 27, 2026 (which calls Helen M. Hoersch his sister; her 1991 and 2004 notices make her his aunt). https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/olney-investigation-eugene-horsch-missing-women-20260627.html +[^85]: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, real estate transfer index, W. Chew Ave., deed document 51798675, executed October 1, 2007, recorded October 26, 2007, grantor "Hoersch Helen M," grantee "Horsch Eugene A"; later mortgages of 2007 and 2009 and satisfaction of 2025, via the city's open data (rtt_summary). https://phl.carto.com/ (rtt_summary table) +[^86]: "Who is Eugene Horsch? Man at Center of Philadelphia 'House of Horrors,'" *Newsweek,* 2026. https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-eugene-horsch-man-at-center-of-philadelphia-house-of-horrors-12459693 +[^87]: Stevenson, Thomas, summarizing a *New York Post* report. "'I am a murderer': Suspect in Philly 'house of horrors' case said humans are 'cancer,' railed against racism, global warming in writings," *The Post Millennial,* October 1, 2026. https://thepostmillennial.com/i-am-a-murderer-suspect-in-philly-house-of-horrors-case-said-humans-are-cancer-railed-against-racism-global-warming-in-writings +[^88]: Cuffe, Davis. "Philadelphia's 'house of horrors' investigation: All that we know," *Billy Penn,* September 18, 2026. https://billypenn.com/2026/09/18/philadelphia-house-of-horrors-police-investigation-olney-update/ +[^89]: Briggs, Ryan W., Max Marin, Barbara Laker, and Ellie Rushing. "Raymond Horsch had access to a Kensington crematorium linked to illegal body parts sales, years before missing persons investigation," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* September 21, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-horsch-missing-women-kensington-bodies-crematorium-20260921.html +[^90]: "Philadelphia police identify 58 people in images from investigation into Olney house," *CBS News Philadelphia,* September 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/horsch-investigation-chew-avenue-olney-philadelphia/ +[^91]: "Eugene Horsch Denies He's a Serial Killer as Philadelphia Cops Hunt for Missing Women," *Newsweek,* 2026. https://www.newsweek.com/philadelphia-obviously-serial-killer-former-fbi-agent-12457175 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ramon J. Martinez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ramon J. Martinez.md index 053b12dd..160eb42d 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ramon J. Martinez.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ramon J. Martinez.md @@ -6,15 +6,22 @@ tags: - The_Finders - Washington_DC - 1980s -summary: "Ramon J. Martinez was the U.S. Customs Special Agent in Washington D.C. who conducted the February 1987 investigation of The Finders' properties and authored the reports documenting warehouse contents, CIA interference in the investigation, and the subsequent suppression of the case." +summary: "Ramon J. Martinez was the U.S. Customs Special Agent whose February and April 1987 reports documented the contents of The Finders' warehouse and the end of the investigation." location: "Washington, D.C." +updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: investigated + with: "[[The Finders]]" + start: 1987-02-05 + end: 1987-04-13 + fn: 1 --- Ramon J. Martinez was a U.S. Customs Special Agent based in Washington D.C. who conducted the primary federal investigation of [[The Finders]]' properties in February 1987. His reports, filed February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987, constitute the principal primary documentary record of what investigators found at the group's warehouse and Glover Park properties, including the telex communications describing international operations involving children and the subsequent CIA interference in the investigation. Both reports were included in the FBI Vault's November 2019 release of Finders documents under FOIA case number 1372462-0.[^1][^2] ### The 1987 Finders Investigation -Martinez was called in by Metropolitan Police to assist with the investigation after the van used to transport six malnourished children in Tallahassee, Florida on February 4, 1987 was traced to [[The Finders]]' warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE in Washington D.C. He executed search warrants on the warehouse and the Glover Park duplex alongside MPD Detective Bradley on February 5-6, 1987.[^1] +Martinez was called in by Metropolitan Police to assist with the investigation after the van used to transport six malnourished children in Tallahassee, Florida on February 4, 1987 was traced to The Finders' warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE in Washington D.C. He executed search warrants on the warehouse and the Glover Park duplex alongside MPD Detective Bradley on February 5-6, 1987.[^1] His February 7, 1987 report documented the following at the warehouse: @@ -36,9 +43,9 @@ Martinez's overall documented assessment: the files indicated "international tra On February 6, 1987, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] took over the investigation and took possession of the computers and floppy disks seized from Finders properties. The FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence Division directed the Metropolitan Police Department to classify all MPD reports as Secret and directed MPD not to brief the FBI's own Washington Field Office.[^1][^2] -In late March or early April 1987, Martinez met with MPD Sgt. [[John H. Stitcher Jr.]], who informed him that the investigation "had become a CIA internal matter" and that "the Finders was a CIA front gone bad." An MPD report filed by Stitcher on February 19, 1987 had previously documented a CIA official's acknowledgment that the investigation was "treading on their toes," that the CIA had "had someone working on the case since it first broke," and that the agency had a "vested interest" in the group.[^1] +On March 31, 1987 Martinez contacted an MPD detective to review the seized documents, and on April 2, 1987 he spoke at the Metropolitan Police Department with a third party who discussed the case with him on an "off the record" basis. Martinez reported that this person said the MPD report had been classified secret, that the FBI had directed MPD not to advise the FBI's Washington Field Office, that the FBI had withdrawn from the investigation several weeks earlier, and that the investigation had become a CIA internal matter.[^3] The same person said the State Department had advised MPD that the passport holders' travel to Moscow, North Korea and North Vietnam from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s was within the law.[^3] A Customs Service memorandum quoted by U.S. News & World Report in December 1993 recorded that the CIA "admitted to owning the Finders organization as a front for a domestic computer training operation but that it had gone bad."[^4] An MPD report filed by Stitcher on February 19, 1987 had previously documented a CIA official's acknowledgment that the investigation was "treading on their toes," that the CIA had "had someone working on the case since it first broke," and that the agency had a "vested interest" in the group.[^1] -Martinez's April 13, 1987 report concluded: "The MPD report has been classified SECRET... FBI had withdrawn from the investigation... FBI Foreign Counter Intelligence Division had directed MPD not to advise the FBI Washington Field Office... No further information will be available. No further action will be taken."[^1] +Martinez's April 13, 1987 report concluded: "No further information will be available. No further action will be taken."[^3] ### Professional Consequences @@ -48,10 +55,12 @@ In 1994, the U.S. Customs Service proposed to remove Martinez from his position. ### Significance as a Primary Source -Martinez's reports, confirmed authentic by the FBI Vault's 2019 release, remain the most detailed primary-source description of what federal investigators found at [[The Finders]]' properties. The key evidentiary limitation is that no second investigator present at the same raids independently confirmed all elements of his reports in records accessible to the public, particularly the specific telex describing the Hong Kong children purchase order.[^3] His April 1987 report provides the primary documentary basis for the claim that the CIA intervened to end the investigation. +Martinez's reports, confirmed authentic by the FBI Vault's 2019 release, remain the most detailed primary-source description of what federal investigators found at The Finders' properties. The key evidentiary limitation is that no second investigator present at the same raids independently confirmed all elements of his reports in records accessible to the public, particularly the specific telex describing the Hong Kong children purchase order.[^5] His April 1987 report provides the primary documentary basis for the claim that the CIA intervened to end the investigation. ### Footnotes [^1]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. [^2]: MintPress News. "Losing Finders: How the US Government Worked to Keep the CIA Connection Secret." 2019. https://www.mintpressnews.com/finders-cult-us-government-worked-keep-cia-connection-secret/277948/. Also: FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders. -[^3]: Sword, Autumn. "Were 'The Finders' a CIA-Fronted Satanic Cult?" Skeptical Inquirer, February 28, 2023. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/were-the-finders-a-cia-fronted-satanic-cult/. +[^3]: U.S. Customs Service, Report of Investigation (Continuation), signed by Ramon J. Martinez, April 13, 1987, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 2 of 4. https://archive.org/details/report_of_investigation_finders +[^4]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993. Text as enclosed in FBI WMFO teletype dated December 23, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04 +[^5]: Sword, Autumn. "Were 'The Finders' a CIA-Fronted Satanic Cult?" Skeptical Inquirer, February 28, 2023. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/were-the-finders-a-cia-fronted-satanic-cult/. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Salvatore La Russa.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Salvatore La Russa.md index 5430b27a..75f877b5 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Salvatore La Russa.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Salvatore La Russa.md @@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ relations: - type: relative_of with: "[[Michael LaRussa]]" role: "brother" - fn: 17 + fn: 22 created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-10-07 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Salvatore "Sam the Barber" LaRussa (1938 to August 18, 1996) was a [[Philadelphia]] barber, bust-out bar operator, restaurateur and club owner who gained notoriety in law enforcement and underworld circles through his friendship with [[Nicodemo Scarfo]].[^1] [[R.C. Horsch]] said that most of the budget of the 1973 pornographic feature *[[The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig]]* came from LaRussa.[^2] @@ -54,19 +54,21 @@ In the early 1960s, while in his early twenties, LaRussa began opening what came The Crime Commission listed bust-out operations at several Locust Street addresses in its 1974 report on police corruption in Philadelphia, among them the Skabidoo/AU in the Family at 1301 Locust Street, the Why Not Lounge at 1305 Locust Street and the RD Club on the second floor at 1301 Locust Street.[^5] +The Crime Commission's 1974 report also describes payments to police. It says that an officer passed word of an anticipated raid on liquor establishments to LaRussa, owner of the Sugar Shack, which was not raided.[^6] The report describes LaRussa as the manager of the Why Not Lounge, owned by [[Irvin Goltzer]], and says that LaRussa "also negotiated the payoffs" to uniformed officers. It quotes LaRussa advising Goltzer to pay, or "they will bust the joint."[^7] In a recorded conversation an officer told Goltzer, "I always understood that Sam the Barber [LaRussa] ran the place," and Goltzer replied, "He works for me."[^8] In another passage an officer said, "I took a couple of Sammy the Barber's joints. I took the Bag O'Nails."[^9] The report also describes a month in which Goltzer and LaRussa ran the Brass Monkey, a former bust-out operation at 1227 Walnut Street, at the request of its owner.[^10] + In the early 1970s LaRussa bought the [[Piccadilly Club]] on [[South Street (Philadelphia)|South Street]] near Front, reopened it as Scruples and later renamed it Christine's, after his granddaughter.[^3] Next door he opened [[La Cucina Ristorante]], a restaurant near Second and South Streets that he owned.[^1][^3] ### La Cucina and the Scarfo circle -The Crime Commission's 1990 report describes La Cucina Ristorante, 121 South Street, as having "long been a hangout for members of Scarfo's LCN Family."[^4] [[Philip Leonetti]], Scarfo's nephew, said that "There was a place on South Street called La Cucina that we used to go to. Sam the Barber, who was with us, owned it. We rented the place out and threw a big party," and placed there the Christmas party that Scarfo threw for himself after he became boss.[^6] In the mid-1980s Scarfo and several of his senior associates were frequent customers at La Cucina.[^1] In a 1987 account, [[Thomas DelGiorno]] said that on one night he met Scarfo, Leonetti and [[Salvatore Merlino]] at La Cucina, "a restaurant on South Street near Front," and told the three men that [[Salvatore Testa]] had been murdered.[^7] +The Crime Commission's 1990 report describes La Cucina Ristorante, 121 South Street, as having "long been a hangout for members of Scarfo's LCN Family."[^4] [[Philip Leonetti]], Scarfo's nephew, said that "There was a place on South Street called La Cucina that we used to go to. Sam the Barber, who was with us, owned it. We rented the place out and threw a big party," and placed there the Christmas party that Scarfo threw for himself after he became boss.[^11] In the mid-1980s Scarfo and several of his senior associates were frequent customers at La Cucina.[^1] In a 1987 account, [[Thomas DelGiorno]] said that on one night he met Scarfo, Leonetti and [[Salvatore Merlino]] at La Cucina, "a restaurant on South Street near Front," and told the three men that [[Salvatore Testa]] had been murdered.[^12] -Scarfo's 1985 Christmas party at the restaurant drew police attention.[^1] The journalist [[George Anastasia]] quoted an unnamed participant describing Scarfo hosting "this big thing" at La Cucina that Christmas, with "forty, maybe fifty" members present from about two o'clock and invited nonmembers arriving after four o'clock.[^8] In the 1987 extortion trial, prosecutors showed the jury an FBI videotape of [[Leland Beloff]], [[Robert Rego]] and former state senator [[Henry Cianfrani]] entering "LaCucina Ristorante Extraordinaire, 117 South Street," at 4:30 p.m. on December 19, 1985, when a Scarfo Christmas party allegedly was under way inside.[^9] [[George Anastasia]] wrote that during a celebration at La Cucina, Scarfo offered [[Nicholas Caramandi]] his personal congratulations.[^10] +Scarfo's 1985 Christmas party at the restaurant drew police attention.[^1] The journalist [[George Anastasia]] quoted an unnamed participant describing Scarfo hosting "this big thing" at La Cucina that Christmas, with "forty, maybe fifty" members present from about two o'clock and invited nonmembers arriving after four o'clock.[^13] In the 1987 extortion trial, prosecutors showed the jury an FBI videotape of [[Leland Beloff]], [[Robert Rego]] and former state senator [[Henry Cianfrani]] entering "LaCucina Ristorante Extraordinaire, 117 South Street," at 4:30 p.m. on December 19, 1985, when a Scarfo Christmas party allegedly was under way inside.[^14] George Anastasia wrote that during a celebration at La Cucina, Scarfo offered [[Nicholas Caramandi]] his personal congratulations.[^15] ### The Whitemarsh house -In the 1987 trial, Caramandi described an alleged event on November 25, 1984, "in a house in [[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh]], [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]]," with some 30 Mafia members standing around a dining-room table, at which he was initiated into the Mafia. He testified that Scarfo put a piece of tissue paper in his palm and lit it.[^11] The Third Circuit's 1990 opinion in [[United States v. Pungitore]] states that in the fall of 1984 [[Charles Iannece]] and [[Joseph Grande]], along with government witness Caramandi, became made members.[^12] +In the 1987 trial, Caramandi described an alleged event on November 25, 1984, "in a house in [[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh]], [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]]," with some 30 Mafia members standing around a dining-room table, at which he was initiated into the Mafia. He testified that Scarfo put a piece of tissue paper in his palm and lit it.[^16] The Third Circuit's 1990 opinion in [[United States v. Pungitore]] states that in the fall of 1984 [[Charles Iannece]] and [[Joseph Grande]], along with government witness Caramandi, became made members.[^17] -Caramandi told Anastasia that "Finally, we get to the house and it's Sam the Barber's house," in Whitemarsh, which he said LaRussa built himself and was later offered about nine hundred thousand dollars for. Anastasia wrote that thirty-five members of the Philadelphia mob looked on as Scarfo administered the oath, and that LaRussa had left his house before the ceremony began; by four o'clock that afternoon, he wrote, the ceremonies were over and the drinks and food were served.[^13] +Caramandi told Anastasia that "Finally, we get to the house and it's Sam the Barber's house," in Whitemarsh, which he said LaRussa built himself and was later offered about nine hundred thousand dollars for. Anastasia wrote that thirty-five members of the Philadelphia mob looked on as Scarfo administered the oath, and that LaRussa had left his house before the ceremony began; by four o'clock that afternoon, he wrote, the ceremonies were over and the drinks and food were served.[^18] LaRussa's own account, given to a federal grand jury in 1987, concerned his home in Whitemarsh. He said he had invited Scarfo to his home several times and that Scarfo finally accepted. LaRussa said he was called away to work that day and did not share in a catered meal for about 40 people that he had brought in from his restaurant. He told the grand jury: "I told him it's my pleasure to have him there."[^1] Caramandi later testified that he and two other mob figures were formally initiated, or "made," that afternoon, after LaRussa had left the house.[^1] DelGiorno and Caramandi testified that LaRussa allowed Scarfo to use his Whitemarsh home for Mafia initiation ceremonies.[^3] The Crime Commission's 1990 report states the same of the two witnesses' testimony.[^4] @@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ LaRussa's own account, given to a federal grand jury in 1987, concerned his home LaRussa told the grand jury that he was a frequent guest at Scarfo's waterfront home in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]], had supervised construction work there, and usually picked up the check when Scarfo ate at La Cucina. He said he was in the dark about Scarfo's mob activities: "I never ask him any questions," he said. "We go out. We have dinner. We eat. We drink. We laugh. Christmas, we exchange gifts."[^1] -Leonetti said that Scarfo had him pay $650,000 in cash for a Fort Lauderdale house on the water, which Scarfo named Casablanca South. He said that "Sam wasn't a made guy, but he was with us," that Scarfo put LaRussa in charge of the renovations, and that Scarfo ended up spending close to $100,000 on them.[^14] +Leonetti said that Scarfo had him pay $650,000 in cash for a Fort Lauderdale house on the water, which Scarfo named Casablanca South. He said that "Sam wasn't a made guy, but he was with us," that Scarfo put LaRussa in charge of the renovations, and that Scarfo ended up spending close to $100,000 on them.[^19] ### The 1973 film @@ -84,11 +86,11 @@ Horsch then said that "Sam was always complaining that it didn't make any money, ### Waterfront clubs -LaRussa operated establishments along South Street and, most recently, along [[Delaware Avenue]].[^1] In the 1990s he opened clubs along the [[Delaware River]] waterfront, among them [[Club Vegas]], the [[South Beach Club]] and the [[Aztec Club]]. The Aztec Club was one he built, operated and later sold. A correction published August 21, 1996 stated that he constructed Club Vegas and South Beach but did not own the building or the liquor license of either.[^3] In May 1992 the Aztec Club was among the waterfront's old showplace standbys, with the [[Riverfront Dinner Theater]] and the Barbary.[^15] In May 1995 Club Vegas was new that year among about a dozen clubs along the waterfront.[^16] +LaRussa operated establishments along South Street and, most recently, along [[Delaware Avenue]].[^1] In the 1990s he opened clubs along the [[Delaware River]] waterfront, among them [[Club Vegas]], the [[South Beach Club]] and the [[Aztec Club]]. The Aztec Club was one he built, operated and later sold. A correction published August 21, 1996 stated that he constructed Club Vegas and South Beach but did not own the building or the liquor license of either.[^3] In May 1992 the Aztec Club was among the waterfront's old showplace standbys, with the [[Riverfront Dinner Theater]] and the Barbary.[^20] In May 1995 Club Vegas was new that year among about a dozen clubs along the waterfront.[^21] ### Family -LaRussa was married twice.[^3] His brother [[Michael LaRussa]] was described in 2012 as the owner of [[Dante & Luigi's]] at 10th and Catharine Streets in Bella Vista, where he said: "I do still have people that are 'connected' come in here. I don't make a fuss about it."[^17] +LaRussa was married twice.[^3] His brother [[Michael LaRussa]] was described in 2012 as the owner of [[Dante & Luigi's]] at 10th and Catharine Streets in Bella Vista, where he said: "I do still have people that are 'connected' come in here. I don't make a fuss about it."[^22] ### Death and survivors @@ -96,20 +98,27 @@ LaRussa died of a heart attack on Sunday, August 18, 1996. The Inquirer gave the The Inquirer listed four sons, Joseph, Salvatore Jr., Michael and Giovanni, a daughter, Sharlene Pantisano, and five grandchildren.[^1] The Daily News listed three sons and a daughter besides the fifth child, and said that his companion of eight years, [[Nadeen Seuss]], had recently borne him that child, Giovanni, named for a brother who had died 19 years earlier.[^3] +### Footnotes + [^1]: Anastasia, George, "Salvatore Larussa, 58, Friend Of Mob Figures," *Philadelphia Inquirer*, August 21, 1996, Wayback copy of the articles.philly.com page: https://web.archive.org/web/20150928205738id_/http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-21/news/25645305_1_nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-grand-jury-mob-activities [^2]: West, Ashley, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report*, Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio transcript at 20:33 to 21:07 and 28:59 to 29:49 (republishing interviews recorded in 2013): https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ In the transcript, "Sam" without a surname follows the reference to Sam Lake and is used for the buyer, the person complaining and the person said to have made four or five million dollars. [^3]: Caparella, Kitty, "Heart Attack Claims `Sam The Barber'," *Philadelphia Daily News*, August 20, 1996, with the correction published August 21, 1996, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-20/news/25645508_1_heart-transplant-heart-attack-mob [^4]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Organized Crime in Pennsylvania: A Decade of Change, 1990 Report* (1991), p. 159 (entry for Salvatore LaRussa, also known as Samuel LaRussa, Salvatore LaRusso and "Sam the Barber"; the index also lists La Cucina Ristorante, 121 South Street, at p. 159), NCJ 133208: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/133208NCJRS.pdf [^5]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), public document on Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn -[^6]: Leonetti, Philip, with Scott Burnstein, *Mafia Prince: Inside America's Most Violent Crime Family and the Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra* (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2012), pp. 131-133 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/mafiaprinceinsid0000leon -[^7]: Daughen, Joseph R., "It All Began With Bug On One Mobster's Pad," *Philadelphia Daily News*, April 10, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-04-10/news/26194567_1_salvatore-testa-scarfo-family-mob-members -[^8]: Anastasia, George, *Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob, the Mafia's Most Violent Family* (New York: William Morrow, 1991), p. 277 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas The passage does not name the quoted speaker. -[^9]: Smith, Jim, "Prosecution Rests Case In Scarfo Trial," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 4, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-04/news/26163517_1_philadelphia-south-jersey-extortion-case-nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo -[^10]: Anastasia, *Blood and Honor*, p. 211 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas -[^11]: Smith, Jim, "Big Scores Easy For Caramandi," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 1, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-01/news/26161878_1_nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-mafia-members-knife -[^12]: *United States v. Pungitore*, 910 F.2d 1084 (3d Cir. 1990), text from the Caselaw Access Project: https://static.case.law/f2d/910/cases/1084-01.json -[^13]: Anastasia, *Blood and Honor*, pp. 214-215, 217, quoting Caramandi (lending copy; the book's index lists LaRussa at pp. 214 and 215): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas -[^14]: Leonetti, *Mafia Prince*, pp. 191, 193 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/mafiaprinceinsid0000leon -[^15]: de la Vina, Mark, "Riverfront Jam Once Just Wet, It's Getting Wild," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 22, 1992, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1992-05-22/news/26015302_1_waterfront-entertainment-aztec-club -[^16]: Weiner, Jennifer, "Checking Out The Clubs . . .," *Philadelphia Inquirer*, May 19, 1995, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1995-05-19/entertainment/25672572_1_club-vegas-waterfront-family-reunion-day -[^17]: Bender, William, "Dante & Luigi's: Still a longtime hit," *Philadelphia Daily News*, January 30, 2012: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/news_update/20120130_Dante___Luigi_s__Still_a_longtime_hit.html +[^6]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 108. https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^7]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), pp. 112-113 (manager, p. 112; "also negotiated the payoffs" and "they will bust the joint," p. 113). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^8]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 114 (taped conversation between Goltzer and an officer, as quoted in the report). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^9]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 117. https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^10]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 124. https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^11]: Leonetti, Philip, with Scott Burnstein, *Mafia Prince: Inside America's Most Violent Crime Family and the Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra* (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2012), pp. 131-133 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/mafiaprinceinsid0000leon +[^12]: Daughen, Joseph R., "It All Began With Bug On One Mobster's Pad," *Philadelphia Daily News*, April 10, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-04-10/news/26194567_1_salvatore-testa-scarfo-family-mob-members +[^13]: Anastasia, George, *Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob, the Mafia's Most Violent Family* (New York: William Morrow, 1991), p. 277 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas The passage does not name the quoted speaker. +[^14]: Smith, Jim, "Prosecution Rests Case In Scarfo Trial," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 4, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-04/news/26163517_1_philadelphia-south-jersey-extortion-case-nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo +[^15]: Anastasia, *Blood and Honor*, p. 211 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas +[^16]: Smith, Jim, "Big Scores Easy For Caramandi," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 1, 1987, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-01/news/26161878_1_nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-mafia-members-knife +[^17]: *United States v. Pungitore*, 910 F.2d 1084 (3d Cir. 1990), text from the Caselaw Access Project: https://static.case.law/f2d/910/cases/1084-01.json +[^18]: Anastasia, *Blood and Honor*, pp. 214-215, 217, quoting Caramandi (lending copy; the book's index lists LaRussa at pp. 214 and 215): https://archive.org/details/bloodhonorinside00anas +[^19]: Leonetti, *Mafia Prince*, pp. 191, 193 (lending copy): https://archive.org/details/mafiaprinceinsid0000leon +[^20]: de la Vina, Mark, "Riverfront Jam Once Just Wet, It's Getting Wild," *Philadelphia Daily News*, May 22, 1992, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1992-05-22/news/26015302_1_waterfront-entertainment-aztec-club +[^21]: Weiner, Jennifer, "Checking Out The Clubs . . .," *Philadelphia Inquirer*, May 19, 1995, Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1995-05-19/entertainment/25672572_1_club-vegas-waterfront-family-reunion-day +[^22]: Bender, William, "Dante & Luigi's: Still a longtime hit," *Philadelphia Daily News*, January 30, 2012: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/news_update/20120130_Dante___Luigi_s__Still_a_longtime_hit.html diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sam Lake.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sam Lake.md index 950554e5..928bb3e5 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sam Lake.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sam Lake.md @@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ relations: with: "[[Scorpio '70]]" start: 1970 role: "producer, and writer from an idea by Lake" - fn: 16 + fn: 17 created: 2026-09-23 updated: 2026-10-15 --- @@ -110,23 +110,23 @@ The film magazine [[Take One]] named the company in its March-April 1973 issue. The [[Boxoffice (magazine)|Boxoffice]] booking chart of the Canadian edition, dated February 4, 1974, lists the film under the distributor "Mature," with a booking date of October 15, 1973.[^14] Take One attributes the company to Bob Sumner, and Horsch attributes it to Lake. -A New York corporation named Mature Pictures, Inc. appears in the state registry under the alternate name Mature Pictures Incorporated. Its status is listed as inactive, with the dissolution type "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority." Its registered address is in care of the law firm Kassner & Detsky at 350 Fifth Avenue.[^15] +A New York corporation named Mature Pictures, Inc. appears in the state registry under the alternate name Mature Pictures Incorporated. Its status is listed as inactive, with the dissolution type "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority." Its registered address is in care of the law firm Kassner & Detsky at 350 Fifth Avenue.[^15] In *Walt Disney Productions v. Mature Pictures Corp.* (Southern District of New York, No. 75 Civ. 394, decided February 14, 1975), Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy granted [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]] and the Walt Disney Music Company a preliminary injunction over the use of the "Mickey Mouse March" in a film titled *The Life and Times of the Happy Hooker* or *The Life and Times of Xaviera*. Kassner & Detsky, by Seymour S. Detsky, appeared for the defendants Mature Pictures Corp. and Robert Sumner.[^16] ### Scorpio '70 -The [[American Film Institute]] catalog lists Sam Lake as the producer of *Scorpio '70* (1970), directed by [[Ron Sullivan]] from a script by Dario Finelli, with a writing credit to Lake "from an idea by." The catalog lists the distribution company as Sam Lake Enterprises.[^16] +The [[American Film Institute]] catalog lists Sam Lake as the producer of *Scorpio '70* (1970), directed by [[Ron Sullivan]] from a script by Dario Finelli, with a writing credit to Lake "from an idea by." The catalog lists the distribution company as Sam Lake Enterprises.[^17] ### Robert Sumner and Quality X -Alilunas wrote that Robert Sumner premiered *Deep Throat* at the [[World Theater]] in New York in 1972 "to record crowds," and that in spring 1977, as "president of Mature Pictures in New York," with his World Theater lease expiring, he put his film library on videotape, licensing titles from the [[Mitchell Brothers]], [[Alex de Renzy]] and [[Radley Metzger]] as well as his own. The initial investment was 75,000 dollars; the first stock was thirty cassettes at 110 dollars each, sold at the East World Theater. The label was Quality X, advertised in *Screw* from October 1977.[^4] By October 1978 the Sweetheart's Home Video Center stores of [[Arthur Morowitz]], in the lobbies of the World Theater and the Manhattan Twin, carried Quality X tapes supplied by Sumner.[^17] In 1979, Alilunas wrote, "Sumner's Mature Pictures" released [[Gerard Damiano]]'s *People* and *Misbehavin'* to theaters and on video at the same time, the first use of that release pattern.[^18] +Alilunas wrote that Robert Sumner premiered *Deep Throat* at the [[World Theater]] in New York in 1972 "to record crowds," and that in spring 1977, as "president of Mature Pictures in New York," with his World Theater lease expiring, he put his film library on videotape, licensing titles from the [[Mitchell Brothers]], [[Alex de Renzy]] and [[Radley Metzger]] as well as his own. The initial investment was 75,000 dollars; the first stock was thirty cassettes at 110 dollars each, sold at the East World Theater. The label was Quality X, advertised in *Screw* from October 1977.[^4] By October 1978 the Sweetheart's Home Video Center stores of [[Arthur Morowitz]], in the lobbies of the World Theater and the Manhattan Twin, carried Quality X tapes supplied by Sumner.[^18] In 1979, Alilunas wrote, "Sumner's Mature Pictures" released [[Gerard Damiano]]'s *People* and *Misbehavin'* to theaters and on video at the same time, the first use of that release pattern.[^19] In a note based on his 2012 email correspondence with Revene, Alilunas wrote that the Swedish producer [[Per Sjöstedt]], investor for the director [[Joe Sarno]], kept connections to the New York adult-film trade "particularly with Sam Lake at Mature Pictures, where Sarno had made many of his early sexploitation films." Sjöstedt became assistant producer and production manager for Lake alongside the producer Robert Sumner, and Lake's connections "were deep, with links to Howard Farber and Arthur Morowitz's Distribpix." Sumner "also founded Quality-X Video," and the Sjöstedt connection led to the formation of [[Femme Productions]].[^3] ### The World Theater and Mature Enterprises -The [[Boston Globe]] obituary of the New York judge [[Joel J. Tyler]] reports that charges were filed in August 1972 against Mature Enterprises, the company that owned the New Mature World Theater, for promoting obscene material, and that the trial began in December 1972. The obituary says that the film tried was [[Deep Throat]], which had opened at that theater on June 12, 1972, and that Tyler fined Mature Enterprises 100,000 dollars, a sum later reduced on appeal.[^19] +The [[Boston Globe]] obituary of the New York judge [[Joel J. Tyler]] reports that charges were filed in August 1972 against Mature Enterprises, the company that owned the New Mature World Theater, for promoting obscene material, and that the trial began in December 1972. The obituary says that the film tried was [[Deep Throat]], which had opened at that theater on June 12, 1972, and that Tyler fined Mature Enterprises 100,000 dollars, a sum later reduced on appeal.[^20] -A game designer identified in video titles as "Remedy's Sam Lake" shares the name and is a different person.[^20] +A game designer identified in video titles as "Remedy's Sam Lake" shares the name and is a different person.[^21] ### Footnotes @@ -142,11 +142,12 @@ A game designer identified in video titles as "Remedy's Sam Lake" shares the nam [^10]: GOTHAM RELEASING CORP. "Exec: Sam Lake, Pres.," 630 Ninth Ave., New York, *Motion Picture Exhibitor,* August-November 1960. https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/motionpictureexh64jaye_0_0637 The same listing, April-July 1964. https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/motionpictureexh71jaye_0_0302 Also September-December 1961 and September-December 1962 editions, https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/motionpictureexh68jaye_0_0460 [^11]: "Sam Lake Enterprises, Inc., 630 Ninth Ave., New York 36, N. Y.," and "Sam Lake, President," *The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures 1963.* https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/1963filmdailyyea1963wids_0432 [^12]: "SAM LAKE of Sam Lake Enterprises Inc., New York, one of the foremost distributors of sex-exploitation pictures in the world," *CINE World,* nos. 6-7, April 1965. https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/cine-world-6-7_0022 Photograph caption identifying "U.S. Distributor Sam Lake," https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/cine-world-6-7_0014 -[^13]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), pp. 11-15. The passages quoted appear on page 15 and page 16 of the issue. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 and https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/take-one-1973-03_0016 +[^13]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), pp. 11-17. The Sumner passage appears on page 16 and the "highly visible" passage on page 17. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 and https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/take-one-1973-03_0016 [^14]: "Boxoffice Bookinguide," *Boxoffice* (Canadian edition), February 4, 1974, national booking chart, entry for *Erotic Memoirs/Male Chauvinist Pig* ("Mature 10-15-73"). https://archive.org/details/boxoffice-canadian-1974-02-04 and https://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/boxoffice-canadian-1974-02-04_0018 [^15]: "MATURE PICTURES, INC.," New York (US) entity, status "Inactive," "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority," registered address "%KASSNER & DETSKY, 350 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10001," previously known as "MATURE PICTURES INCORPORATED." OpenCorporates, accessed October 15, 2026. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/248644 -[^16]: "Scorpio '70 (1970)," *AFI Catalog of Feature Films,* production and distribution credits (producer "Sam Lake, Pres."; writer "Sam Lake, From an idea by"; distribution "Sam Lake Enterprises"). https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20729-SCORPIO-'70 -[^17]: Alilunas, *Smutty Little Movies,* p. 75. -[^18]: Alilunas, *Smutty Little Movies,* p. 77. -[^19]: "Obituary of Judge Joel J. Tyler," *The Boston Globe,* January 16, 2012 (charges filed against Mature Enterprises in August 1972; trial began December 1972; the New Mature World Theater; fine of $100,000 later reduced on appeal). https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2012/01/16/joel-tyler-judge-deep-throat-case/hbiQ0keQ0VW0y26CY035SL/story.html -[^20]: "Remedy's Sam Lake addresses Alan Wake fans," video title, Internet Archive item youtube-k5CRjoQKyY8. https://archive.org/details/youtube-k5CRjoQKyY8 +[^16]: *Walt Disney Productions v. Mature Pictures Corp.*, 389 F. Supp. 1397 (S.D.N.Y. 1975) (No. 75 Civ. 394, Duffy, J., February 14, 1975; counsel Kassner & Detsky, Seymour S. Detsky, for defendants Mature Pictures Corp. and Robert Sumner). https://static.case.law/f-supp/389/cases/1397-01.json +[^17]: "Scorpio '70 (1970)," *AFI Catalog of Feature Films,* production and distribution credits (producer "Sam Lake, Pres."; writer "Sam Lake, From an idea by"; distribution "Sam Lake Enterprises"). https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20729-SCORPIO-'70 +[^18]: Alilunas, *Smutty Little Movies,* p. 75. +[^19]: Alilunas, *Smutty Little Movies,* p. 77. +[^20]: "Obituary of Judge Joel J. Tyler," *The Boston Globe,* January 16, 2012 (charges filed against Mature Enterprises in August 1972; trial began December 1972; the New Mature World Theater; fine of $100,000 later reduced on appeal). https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2012/01/16/joel-tyler-judge-deep-throat-case/hbiQ0keQ0VW0y26CY035SL/story.html +[^21]: "Remedy's Sam Lake addresses Alan Wake fans," video title, Internet Archive item youtube-k5CRjoQKyY8. https://archive.org/details/youtube-k5CRjoQKyY8 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Georgina Spelvin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Georgina Spelvin.md index aba37ff4..ad0db105 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Georgina Spelvin.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Georgina Spelvin.md @@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ relations: role: "performer" fn: 2 created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Georgina Spelvin is an American performer who appeared on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in *[[The Pajama Game]]* and toured in musical productions through the 1950s and 1960s before starring, at 36, in [[Gerard Damiano]]'s *[[The Devil in Miss Jones]]* (1973), for which she had first been hired as the cook on the set; she had applied for that job because the anti-war film collective she had started needed money for the rent on its editing space.[^1] She lived and worked in [[New York City]] for two decades before moving to [[California]] in the mid-1970s, and in 2006 published a memoir, *The Devil Made Me Do It*.[^1] @@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ In February 1973 she appeared in *[[The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig] [^1]: West, Ashley. "Georgina Spelvin: The Devil, Miss Jones and the New York Years," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 11, May 19, 2013. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/05/19/georgina-spelvin/ [^2]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026 (republishing interviews recorded in 2013). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ [^3]: "How a pornographer's violent fantasies blurred fact and fiction as cops searched Olney house for missing women," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 2, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/a/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-philadelphia-missing-women-history-20260802.html -[^4]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), pp. 11-15. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 +[^4]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), pp. 11-17 (Sumner sentence at p. 16). https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jean-Michel Nihoul.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jean-Michel Nihoul.md index 223f2017..fa543029 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jean-Michel Nihoul.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jean-Michel Nihoul.md @@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ relations: - type: partner_of with: "[[Marleen De Cokere]]" role: "companion" - fn: 4 + fn: 6 - type: director_of with: "[[Achats Services Commerces]]" start: 1994 role: "de facto manager" fn: 1 created: 2026-04-28 -updated: 2026-10-09 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Michel Nihoul, a Brussels businessman and fraudster, was arrested in August 1996 in the investigation of [[Marc Dutroux]] and for years was held to be the man who connected Dutroux to a protected network. The Belgian parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Dutroux affair devoted a section of its 1998 report to "the relational network of M. Nihoul."[^1] @@ -34,23 +34,29 @@ From 1981 he was a client of a sex club at 145 rue des Atrébates in Etterbeek, Through the Confrérie des Maîtres Brasseurs, the free radio Radio Activité, of which he was the driving force, and his firm J.-M. Nihoul et Associés, he cultivated politicians and officials and sold interventions for parole, pardons, prison leave and residence permits, for which he said he had earned about 500,000 francs; a magistrate appointed him a real estate expert without qualifications. With the suspended lawyer [[Annie Bouty]] and her Cadreco association he arranged residence papers for foreigners, among them Nigerians. The commission had indications that at the end of the 1980s he organized the political campaigns of several young lawyers who later faced disciplinary or criminal proceedings. It could not establish whether his ties to politicians were as close as he claimed, noting that he boasted of having "le bras long comme le Danube," and it found no substance in his claim to be protected by a Brussels investigating judge.[^1] +The Belgian [[Chamber of Representatives]] commission's supplementary report of February 16, 1998 stated as its general conclusion that there were indications that both Dutroux and Nihoul, separately or together, had engaged in polycriminal activity (fraud, drug trafficking, abduction and rape of children followed by murders, trafficking in human beings, car trafficking) and that the networks they set up had benefited at various levels from an indirect protection arising from individual or collective erosion of the norm or corrupt conduct. The same conclusion stated that the commission had found no indication that these criminal circles enjoyed, within the police, the magistracy, the administration or the political world, protection that could by itself explain the failures, delays and anomalies of the investigations, and that the serious gaps arose chiefly from professional failings and structural defects of the criminal justice system.[^3] + +The same report stated, on the Nihoul circle in particular, that it had not acquired proof that Nihoul and Annie Bouty had enjoyed protection in the fraud files, and that Nihoul's claim of protection by a Brussels investigating judge was found to be untrue.[^4] + ### Informant In 1995 and 1996 Nihoul was an informant of the gendarmerie's BSR in Dinant; the gendarmerie had registered him as a coded informant. In May 1995 he passed on information, obtained through [[Michel Lelievre|Michel Lelièvre]], about a stolen car and collected a 30,000-franc reward from the insurer Royale Belge; he later introduced Lelièvre to his handlers. The BSR took no action against Lelièvre in the first half of 1996, though he was wanted to serve a prison sentence and though, the commission found, there were indications that the BSR knew he and Dutroux had stolen a truck in 1995; Nihoul had asked his handler to leave Lelièvre alone. "In the end," the commission wrote, "it was the informant who directed his handlers and not the reverse." Its first report had listed eight indications of protection for Nihoul, among them witnesses who testified under oath that two associates from the entourage of a former minister protected him, and his hold as an informant over a policeman who failed to arrest Lelièvre before Lelièvre took part in the abductions of two girls aged 12 and 14. The commission concluded that "the Nihoul movement" had operated amid "the relaxation of norms and corrupting behavior" and in that sense had received and granted protection, "rarely in a very spectacular way and, most of the time, in the context of services between friends."[^1] ### ASCO and the Dutroux Case -[[Achats Services Commerces]] (ASCO) was founded on July 2, 1991, at Wasmes by the operator of Le Dolo, Nihoul's companion and a third Dolo client, went into voluntary liquidation on June 23, 1995, and was declared bankrupt by the commercial court of Mons on October 9, 1995; Nihoul was at least its de facto manager in 1994, and the commission linked the company to the reports of white Mercedes cars.[^1] He had met Dutroux a year before his arrest through Lelièvre, to whom he sold drugs. [[Michelle Martin]] told investigators that Dutroux had been in frequent contact with Nihoul around the abduction of a 14-year-old girl, and Dutroux said Nihoul was looking for girls for a Belgian prostitution network. Nihoul was led from the courthouse at Neufchâteau on August 16, 1996, to shouts of "à mort." His companion [[Marleen De Cokere]] was arrested in late September. His warrant in the Dutroux case was lifted in January 1997.[^3][^4] In an interview with *Der Spiegel* in 2001, in his two-room flat in Jette with De Cokere beside him, Nihoul said of children, "I never did anything with children. I love children," and that Dutroux had taken the girls "for his own consumption." The magazine reported that the investigation files showed Dutroux had asked his advice on getting into the trade in girls and that Nihoul had advised him to organize sadomasochistic parties, which Nihoul said he had understood to mean adults. He spoke of the group-sex parties he and De Cokere had organized, "but with style," attended by influential politicians and officials at Le Dolo and Faulx-les-Tombes, and said: "Ich habe die Regierung in der Hand" (I have the government in hand). For 20,000 marks more he offered "a sitting minister who is involved in a murder," and, for a six-figure sum, a photograph of the then Prince Albert with a naked sixteen-year-old taken on the second floor of the Mirano club twenty years earlier.[^5] [[Regina Louf]], the witness X1, alleged that he organized parties at which children were abused; the prosecutors-general closed the files opened on her testimony in April 1998.[^6] +[[Achats Services Commerces]] (ASCO) was founded on July 2, 1991, at Wasmes by the operator of Le Dolo, Nihoul's companion and a third Dolo client, went into voluntary liquidation on June 23, 1995, and was declared bankrupt by the commercial court of Mons on October 9, 1995; Nihoul was at least its de facto manager in 1994, and the commission linked the company to the reports of white Mercedes cars.[^1] He had met Dutroux a year before his arrest through Lelièvre, to whom he sold drugs. [[Michelle Martin]] told investigators that Dutroux had been in frequent contact with Nihoul around the abduction of a 14-year-old girl, and Dutroux said Nihoul was looking for girls for a Belgian prostitution network. Nihoul was led from the courthouse at Neufchâteau on August 16, 1996, to shouts of "à mort." His companion [[Marleen De Cokere]] was arrested in late September. His warrant in the Dutroux case was lifted in January 1997.[^5][^6] In an interview with *Der Spiegel* in 2001, in his two-room flat in Jette with De Cokere beside him, Nihoul said of children, "I never did anything with children. I love children," and that Dutroux had taken the girls "for his own consumption." The magazine reported that the investigation files showed Dutroux had asked his advice on getting into the trade in girls and that Nihoul had advised him to organize sadomasochistic parties, which Nihoul said he had understood to mean adults. He spoke of the group-sex parties he and De Cokere had organized, "but with style," attended by influential politicians and officials at Le Dolo and Faulx-les-Tombes, and said: "Ich habe die Regierung in der Hand" (I have the government in hand). For 20,000 marks more he offered "a sitting minister who is involved in a murder," and, for a six-figure sum, a photograph of the then Prince Albert with a naked sixteen-year-old taken on the second floor of the Mirano club twenty years earlier.[^7] [[Regina Louf]], the witness X1, alleged that he organized parties at which children were abused; the prosecutors-general closed the files opened on her testimony in April 1998.[^8] -At the trial in Arlon in 2004, Dutroux accused Nihoul of being his link to a ring kidnapping girls for prostitution, which Nihoul denied. Véronique Laurent, convicted of ordering the killing of her husband, [[Michel Piro]], testified that Nihoul had come to their bar, La Terrasse, four or five times.[^7] Only seven of the twelve jurors found him guilty of the abductions, and the professional judges acquitted him of every charge connected with the children; the court had returned the jury to consider a lesser charge of complicity in the kidnappings, on which it acquitted him, and the jury convicted him of membership of a gang that smuggled drugs and people into Belgium.[^8] On June 22, 2004, he was sentenced to five years for drug trafficking and criminal association. He left Saint-Gilles prison on parole on April 28, 2006, and retired with his companion to the Belgian coast, where he died on October 23, 2019.[^3][^8] +At the trial in Arlon in 2004, Dutroux accused Nihoul of being his link to a ring kidnapping girls for prostitution, which Nihoul denied. Véronique Laurent, convicted of ordering the killing of her husband, [[Michel Piro]], testified that Nihoul had come to their bar, La Terrasse, four or five times.[^9] Only seven of the twelve jurors found him guilty of the abductions, and the professional judges acquitted him of every charge connected with the children; the court had returned the jury to consider a lesser charge of complicity in the kidnappings, on which it acquitted him, and the jury convicted him of membership of a gang that smuggled drugs and people into Belgium.[^10] On June 22, 2004, he was sentenced to five years for drug trafficking and criminal association. He left Saint-Gilles prison on parole on April 28, 2006, and retired with his companion to the Belgian coast, where he died on October 23, 2019.[^5][^10] ### Footnotes [^1]: Chambre des Représentants de Belgique. *Enquête parlementaire sur la manière dont l'enquête, dans ses volets policiers et judiciaires, a été menée dans l'affaire Dutroux-Nihoul et consorts,* rapport complémentaire, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 4, "Le réseau relationnel de M. Nihoul," pp. 126-145, and the list of indications from the report of April 14, 1997 (Doc. 713/6-96/97, pp. 186-188). https://www.dekamer.be/kvvcr/pdf_sections/comm/dutroux/49K0713008.pdf [^2]: "Michel Nihoul: Lügner, Betrüger, Frauenheld, aber kein Pädophiler." dpa, *Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,* FAZ.NET, May 17, 2004. -[^3]: "Michel Nihoul est décédé." *La Libre Belgique,* October 23, 2019; translated from the French. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/societe/michel-nihoul-est-decede-5db04ec39978e218e36b29be -[^4]: "Belgian pedophile case." United Press International, September 24, 1996. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/09/24/Belgian-pedophile-case/1297843537600/ -[^5]: Smoltczyk, Alexander. "Im Netz der Dossiers." *Der Spiegel,* no. 42/2001, October 14, 2001; quotations translated from the German. https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/im-netz-der-dossiers-a-c9fe5b47-0002-0001-0000-000020353850 -[^6]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise « Neufchâteau », déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000. -[^7]: Hovine, Annick. "La cour d'assises fait la tournée des bars de Charleroi." *La Libre Belgique,* April 28, 2004. -[^8]: Associated Press. "Notorious child rapist-murderer convicted." NBC News, June 17, 2004. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/5233011 ; "'Most hated' Belgian in jail for life." Al Jazeera, June 22, 2004. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/6/22/most-hated-belgian-in-jail-for-life +[^3]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, supplementary report, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 6, "Conclusions generales," pp. 148-149, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713008.pdf +[^4]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, supplementary report, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 5.2, "Conclusion: Nihoul et consorts ont-ils beneficie de protections?," p. 143, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713008.pdf +[^5]: "Michel Nihoul est décédé." *La Libre Belgique,* October 23, 2019; translated from the French. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/societe/michel-nihoul-est-decede-5db04ec39978e218e36b29be +[^6]: "Belgian pedophile case." United Press International, September 24, 1996. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/09/24/Belgian-pedophile-case/1297843537600/ +[^7]: Smoltczyk, Alexander. "Im Netz der Dossiers." *Der Spiegel,* no. 42/2001, October 14, 2001; quotations translated from the German. https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/im-netz-der-dossiers-a-c9fe5b47-0002-0001-0000-000020353850 +[^8]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise « Neufchâteau », déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000. +[^9]: Hovine, Annick. "La cour d'assises fait la tournée des bars de Charleroi." *La Libre Belgique,* April 28, 2004. +[^10]: Associated Press. "Notorious child rapist-murderer convicted." NBC News, June 17, 2004. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/5233011 ; "'Most hated' Belgian in jail for life." Al Jazeera, June 22, 2004. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/6/22/most-hated-belgian-in-jail-for-life diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marion Pettie.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marion Pettie.md index 66cc2192..6837417c 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marion Pettie.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marion Pettie.md @@ -6,10 +6,17 @@ tags: - Military - The_Finders - Washington_DC -summary: "Marion Pettie (1920-2003) was the founder and 'Game Caller' of The Finders communal group, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant with family CIA connections whose group was investigated for child trafficking in 1987 before the federal inquiry was closed after CIA acknowledged an interest." +summary: "Marion Pettie (1920-2003) was the founder and Game Caller of The Finders, a retired Air Force master sergeant whose group was investigated in 1987 before the inquiry closed." born: 1920 died: 2003-10-24 location: "Washington, D.C. / Culpeper, Virginia" +updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: founded + with: "[[The Finders]]" + start: 1971 + role: founder and Game Caller + fn: 2 --- Marion David Pettie (1920-2003) was the founder and leader of [[The Finders]], a Washington D.C.-based communal group that came under federal investigation in February 1987 following the arrest of two members who were transporting six malnourished children in a van in Tallahassee, Florida. A retired [[U.S. Air Force]] Master Sergeant with documented family connections to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and its proprietary airline [[Air America]], Pettie functioned within the group as the "Game Caller," the title used both by adult members and by the children under the group's care, for approximately three decades until the group's announced dissolution in 1987.[^1][^2] @@ -24,9 +31,11 @@ From at least the 1940s, Pettie hosted open-house gatherings at his Washington D An anonymous three-page investigative memo of unknown provenance, circulated among researchers during the 1990s, alleged a more formal intelligence relationship. The memo claimed that in 1946 Pettie served as chauffeur to General [[Ira Eaker]], then commanding general of Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater, and that newspaper publisher [[Charles Marsh]] subsequently arranged for Pettie to receive counterintelligence training. The memo further alleged that Colonel [[Leonard N. Weigner]] of the USAF directed Pettie to retire from active duty and surround himself with "kooks" in order to provide cover for intelligence recruitment and the infiltration of counterculture movements, with Major [[George Varga]] serving as Pettie's case officer until Varga's death in the 1970s.[^2] -Weigner died in September 1990. His Washington Post obituary confirmed a career in Air Force intelligence and the CIA.[^2] The memo's specific claims regarding Weigner as Pettie's handler and Marsh as a facilitator are unverified and not corroborated by any accessible primary source. The same body of conspiracy-press reporting further claims that under Varga's direction Pettie ran a network of recruited agents in Europe, including a Dr. [[Keith Arnold]] recruited in Paris in 1958 and taken to [[Moscow]] in 1959 or 1960, who later operated from [[Hong Kong]] under [[Rockefeller Foundation]] cover; these claims rest on the same uncorroborated sources.[^6] +Pettie's own account, as recorded in Tobe Terrell's memoir The Gamecaller, described his Air Force service as chauffeur work for the Secretary of the Air Force and said that General Ira Eaker offered him a chance to attend intelligence school in Germany.[^3] -Pettie consistently denied CIA employment in public statements. In the most direct formulation, given to journalist Eddie Dean in 1996: "The reason the CIA wouldn't hire me is that they wouldn't have the control factor over me."[^2] In a 1993 interview with U.S. News & World Report, however, Pettie confirmed that his wife [[Isabelle Pettie]] "once worked for the Central Intelligence Agency" and that his son [[George Pettie]] worked for Air America, the CIA proprietary airline that operated in Southeast Asia during the [[Vietnam War]].[^3] +Weigner died in September 1990. His Washington Post obituary confirmed a career in Air Force intelligence and the CIA.[^2] The memo's specific claims regarding Weigner as Pettie's handler and Marsh as a facilitator are unverified and not corroborated by any accessible primary source. The same body of conspiracy-press reporting further claims that under Varga's direction Pettie ran a network of recruited agents in Europe, including a Dr. [[Keith Arnold]] recruited in Paris in 1958 and taken to [[Moscow]] in 1959 or 1960, who later operated from [[Hong Kong]] under [[Rockefeller Foundation]] cover; these claims rest on the same uncorroborated sources.[^4] + +Pettie consistently denied CIA employment in public statements. In the most direct formulation, given to journalist Eddie Dean in 1996: "The reason the CIA wouldn't hire me is that they wouldn't have the control factor over me."[^2] In a December 1993 interview with U.S. News & World Report, Pettie said that the CIA's interest in the Finders might stem from the fact that his "late wife once worked for the agency" ([[Isabelle Pettie]]) and that his son [[George Pettie]] had worked for "a CIA proprietary firm, Air America," the CIA proprietary airline that operated in Southeast Asia during the [[Vietnam War]]. He said the group had never been connected to the CIA and had never been involved in child abuse, pornography, Satanism or animal slaughter.[^5] ### The Finders and the Game Caller Role @@ -34,19 +43,19 @@ Pettie's communal gatherings evolved into The Finders, a group that coalesced in He described no formal membership requirements: "Nobody signs anything." His stated personal philosophy, offered to Eddie Dean, was "to know everything and do nothing."[^2] The group blended Taoism with New Age and Human Potential Movement concepts, and members pooled finances into what [[Robert Gardner Terrell]] called the "Invisible Bank."[^1] -Beginning around 1980, children in the group were raised communally rather than by biological parents. Pettie described this practice as replicating what he believed were original Native American child-rearing traditions. Children were not enrolled in conventional schools and were removed from their parents for months during group-organized travel described as educational.[^4] +Beginning around 1980, children in the group were raised communally rather than by biological parents. Pettie described this practice as replicating what he believed were original Native American child-rearing traditions. Children were not enrolled in conventional schools and were removed from their parents for months during group-organized travel described as educational.[^6] -In his 1998 interview with Steamshovel Press, Pettie described a close 1960s connection to [[Timothy Leary]], saying Leary sent people to a communal property Pettie ran in the mountains near Culpeper called the [[Free State]] and that Leary gave him [[LSD]], which Pettie claimed he kept in his refrigerator without ever taking.[^6] +In his 1998 interview with Steamshovel Press, Pettie described a close 1960s connection to [[Timothy Leary]], saying Leary sent people to a communal property Pettie ran in the mountains near Culpeper called the [[Free State]] and that Leary gave him [[LSD]], which Pettie claimed he kept in his refrigerator without ever taking.[^4] ### The John Cox Connection -An unsigned investigative memo circulated in the mid-1990s, of unknown provenance, claimed that Pettie recruited computer specialist [[John J. Cox]], described as the founder of [[General Scientific Corporation]] in Rockville, Maryland, in 1979. The memo alleged Cox trained Finders members in computer programming and communications, and took members to Costa Rica and Panama in 1980-81. MPD Intelligence documents in the 2019 FBI Vault release offer a different account, describing The Finders as having "attempted to infiltrate" General Scientific rather than having been recruited through it. The company name appeared in a December 1993 Secretary of State query generated during the DOJ reinvestigation. The two accounts have not been reconciled in accessible sources.[^5] +An unsigned investigative memo circulated in the mid-1990s, of unknown provenance, claimed that Pettie recruited computer specialist [[John J. Cox]], described as the founder of [[General Scientific Corporation]] in Rockville, Maryland, in 1979. The memo alleged Cox trained Finders members in computer programming and communications, and took members to Costa Rica and Panama in 1980-81. MPD Intelligence documents in the 2019 FBI Vault release offer a different account, describing The Finders as having "attempted to infiltrate" General Scientific rather than having been recruited through it. The company name appeared in a December 1993 Secretary of State query generated during the DOJ reinvestigation. The two accounts have not been reconciled in accessible sources.[^7] ### The 1987 Investigation -The February 1987 arrests of [[Douglas Ammerman]] and [[James Michael Holwell]] in Tallahassee while transporting six malnourished children prompted searches of The Finders' Washington D.C. warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE and the Glover Park duplex. Investigators found extensive computer networks with satellite communications, files describing methods for obtaining children, and telex communications referencing international operations. U.S. Customs Special Agent [[Ramon J. Martinez]] documented the contents in reports dated February 7 and April 13, 1987.[^1][^5] +The February 1987 arrests of [[Douglas Ammerman]] and [[James Michael Holwell]] in Tallahassee while transporting six malnourished children prompted searches of The Finders' Washington D.C. warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE and the Glover Park duplex. Investigators found extensive computer networks with satellite communications, files describing methods for obtaining children, and telex communications referencing international operations. U.S. Customs Special Agent [[Ramon J. Martinez]] documented the contents in reports dated February 7 and April 13, 1987.[^1][^7] -An MPD report filed February 19, 1987 by Sgt. [[John H. Stitcher Jr.]] described a CIA official acknowledging Isabelle Pettie's CIA employment and stating that the investigation had been "treading on their toes," that the CIA had "had someone working on the case since it first broke," and that the agency had a "vested interest" in the group. The FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence Division classified MPD reports Secret and directed MPD not to brief the FBI's own Washington Field Office. A separate April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division report concluded the group "is and has been utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency as a disinformation service." All charges against the two arrested men were eventually dropped.[^1][^5] +An MPD report filed February 19, 1987 by Sgt. [[John H. Stitcher Jr.]] described a CIA official acknowledging Isabelle Pettie's CIA employment and stating that the investigation had been "treading on their toes," that the CIA had "had someone working on the case since it first broke," and that the agency had a "vested interest" in the group. The FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence Division classified MPD reports Secret and directed MPD not to brief the FBI's own Washington Field Office. A separate April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division report concluded the group "is and has been utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency as a disinformation service." All charges against the two arrested men were eventually dropped.[^1][^7] ### Post-1987 and Final Years @@ -54,18 +63,20 @@ By 1996, when journalist Eddie Dean interviewed Pettie in Culpeper, Virginia, Pe A 1996 court appearance involved Pettie being unable to locate a briefcase containing approximately two million dollars in land deed documents. Robert Gardner Terrell announced the group's dissolution on March 11, 1987, though activity was observed at the former warehouse address as late as October 1991.[^1] -Pettie gave no extended public interviews after 1996. He died on October 24, 2003, in Culpeper, Virginia.[^2] +He died on October 24, 2003, in Culpeper, Virginia.[^2] Tobe Terrell's memoir dates his death to October 2003 and records that Terrell took Pettie the first draft of the book on his deathbed, where Pettie told him that what Terrell had written "sounds more like me than I sound like myself."[^3] ### Family -- Isabelle Pettie (wife, deceased by 1987): Confirmed CIA employee, approximately 1950-1971 per the Stitcher MPD report. Held passports to North Korea, North Vietnam, and the Soviet Union.[^5] -- George Pettie (son): Worked for Air America. Had broken contact with his father by 1985 and was operating a home inspection business in Northern Virginia at the time of the 1987 investigation. He described the circa-1971 Glover Park gatherings as "the beginning of a new life" for his father and followers.[^3] +- Isabelle Pettie (wife, deceased by 1987): Confirmed CIA employee, approximately 1950-1971 per the Stitcher MPD report. Held passports to North Korea, North Vietnam, and the Soviet Union.[^7] +- George Pettie (son): Worked for Air America. Had broken contact with his father by 1985 and was operating a home inspection business in Northern Virginia at the time of the 1987 investigation. He told the Washington Post on February 7, 1987 that his father, then 66, had retired from the Air Force in 1956 as a master sergeant, that the two had not spoken in two years, and that around 1971 Pettie gathered his followers at the W Street house: "That was the beginning of a new life for him."[^8] ### Footnotes [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar. [^2]: Dean, Eddie. "Finders' Keeper." Washington City Paper, May 24, 1996. https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/287890/finders-keeper/. -[^3]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993 / January 3, 1994. -[^4]: Fisher, Marc and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. -[^5]: FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). Also: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. -[^6]: Kenn Thomas and Len Bracken, "The Finders' Keeper," Steamshovel Press #16, 1998; A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996. These conspiracy-press sources make additional, largely uncorroborated claims about Pettie's intelligence role and cultural-infiltration activities. +[^3]: Terrell, Tobe. *The Gamecaller*. Old Rag Publishing, Gainesville, Florida, 2009. https://archive.org/details/TheGamecaller +[^4]: Kenn Thomas and Len Bracken, "The Finders' Keeper," Steamshovel Press #16, 1998; A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996. These conspiracy-press sources make additional, largely uncorroborated claims about Pettie's intelligence role and cultural-infiltration activities. +[^5]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993 / January 3, 1994. +[^6]: Fisher, Marc and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. +[^7]: FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). Also: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. +[^8]: Fisher, Marc, and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/07/finders-group-has-its-roots-in-popular-60s-hippie-refuge/2d6b5d9d-904f-4acd-a371-f560fca68b39/ diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Martin Orne.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Martin Orne.md index 1a80b803..b16c8fcc 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Martin Orne.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Martin Orne.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ born: 1927-10-16 died: 2000-02-11 location: Vienna, Austria created: 2026-06-03 -updated: 2026-06-04 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Martin Orne was a psychologist and psychiatrist born in Vienna, Austria, who emigrated to the [[United States]] after the Nazi annexation and completed his B.A. at [[Harvard University]] in 1948. He studied briefly at the [[University of Zurich]] on a Fulbright fellowship, working with [[Carl Jung]], then took his M.D. at [[Tufts University]] in 1955 and his Ph.D. in psychology at Harvard in 1958. In 1961 he founded the Institute for Experimental Psychiatry and directed it throughout his subsequent career. He joined the faculty of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in 1964, where he served as professor of psychiatry and psychology until his retirement in 1996, and edited the *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis* from 1962 to 1992.[^1] @@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ He chaired the [[American Medical Association]] committee whose 1985 report in * [^5]: Martin T. Orne, "The potential uses of hypnosis in interrogation," in Albert Biderman and Herbert Zimmer, eds., *The Manipulation of Human Behavior*. John Wiley and Sons, 1961. pp. 169-215. [^6]: Martin T. Orne, "On the social psychology of the psychological experiment," *American Psychologist*, 1962, 17, 776-783; Martin T. Orne and Frederick J. Evans, "Social control in the psychological experiment: Antisocial behavior and hypnosis," *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology*, 1965, 1(3), 189-200; Martin T. Orne, "The simulation of hypnosis: Why, how, and what it means," *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis*, 1971, 19, 183-210. [^7]: Martin T. Orne, David F. Dinges, and Emily Carota Orne, "On the differential diagnosis of multiple personality in the forensic context," *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis*, 1984, 32(2), 118-169. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207148408416005 -[^8]: Martin T. Orne, "On the use and misuse of hypnosis in court," *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis*, 1979, 27(4), 311-341; American Medical Association, "Scientific Status of Refreshing Recollection by the Use of Hypnosis," *JAMA*, 1985; False Memory Syndrome Foundation Newsletter, March/April 2000, 9(2). +[^8]: Martin T. Orne, "On the use and misuse of hypnosis in court," *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis*, 1979, 27(4), 311-341; American Medical Association, "Scientific Status of Refreshing Recollection by the Use of Hypnosis," *JAMA*, 1985; False Memory Syndrome Foundation Newsletter, March/April 2000, 9(2). https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf00.304.html diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md index 07db61e9..a147f2de 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md @@ -49,28 +49,33 @@ relations: start: 1991 end: 1993 role: "special counsel's inquiry into his INSLAW allegations" - fn: 14 + fn: 19 - type: prosecuted with: "[[Department of Justice]]" reverse: true start: 1991 end: 1992 role: "federal narcotics prosecution in Tacoma, Washington; convicted January 1992" - fn: 29 + fn: 34 - type: represented with: "[[Thomas Olmstead]]" reverse: true start: 1992 end: 1992 role: "trial counsel in Tacoma" - fn: 29 + fn: 34 - type: represented with: "[[John Rosellini]]" reverse: true start: 1991 end: 1991 role: "attorney after the March 1991 arrest, at the time of the April 1991 congressional interview" - fn: 24 + fn: 29 + - type: partner_of + with: "[[Ben Kalka]]" + start: 1982 + role: "business ties at R & R Research, per Seymour" + fn: 14 --- [[Michael Riconosciuto]] is a computer scientist and convicted methamphetamine manufacturer who claimed to have modified [[PROMIS]] software for a joint venture between the [[Wackenhut Corporation]] and the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]] band near Indio, California. He was a central source for [[Danny Casolaro]]'s investigation into what Casolaro called the [[The Octopus|Octopus]]. The Justice Department special counsel [[Nicholas J. Bua]] wrote that he "can fairly be described as the key witness against Brian," meaning [[Earl Brian]]. He was convicted in Tacoma, Washington, in January 1992 on drug charges that he said were a government frame-up.[^1] @@ -90,45 +95,53 @@ Riconosciuto told [[Spy]] magazine in 1992 that he "met with George Wackenhut an The Bua report found that the former tribal chairman [[Arthur Welmas]] and his wife never saw or met Earl Brian at the reservation, and that [[Sam Cross]], the Indio police chief during those years, said he had been in the mobile trailer behind the casino and saw no computer equipment in it. John Philip Nichols told investigators the PROMIS allegations were fabricated, and the report noted that Nichols had a motive to call Riconosciuto a liar, but that "everything Nichols told us was consistent with the great weight of the evidence we obtained from other sources."[^13] +### Kalka and the 1982 sting + +In a statement dated February 16, 1984, Riconosciuto wrote that Nichols directed him to have [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] recover "[all] of Kalka’s assets." The statement lists a semi-truck loaded with amphetamine production chemicals and a red Datsun with a portable refrigerator containing acid, both located in the [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] area.[^14] An audio tape on which Riconosciuto narrated, played by Zokosky to Seymour's source, said that [[Ben Kalka]] handled an LSD operation in [[Fresno]].[^15] + +In a transcribed interview with Gunderson, Riconosciuto said that Kalka had paid the [[Hells Angels|Hell's Angels]] a quarter of a million dollars to kill him after December 1981, that Kalka was "a fugitive from justice" hiding in Colorado when [[Paul Morasca]] gathered the company's raw materials, and that he had persuaded Kalka to have the phenylacetic acid screened, during which he introduced a heavy-metal micro-tagging material.[^16] An INSLAW memorandum of July 18, 1990 states that Riconosciuto's intended Los Angeles attorney in the spring of 1982, [[Harland Braun]], had a conflict because he represented Kalka.[^17] A letter dated April 13, 1982, signed by Phyllis Riconosciuto and [[Jimmy Hughes]], arranged bodyguards for Riconosciuto until he entered FBI protective custody at the Oakland office.[^18] + ### PROMIS claims and the House Judiciary investigation Riconosciuto said that Brian made a copy of the proprietary PROMIS software available to him through Wackenhut, after acquiring it from [[Peter Videnieks]], a [[Department of Justice|Justice Department]] contracting official. He said his modifications were intended to facilitate worldwide implementation of PROMIS in law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including adaptations for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]] in [[Canada]].[^5] Seymour treats this as the central element of the PROMIS software scandal.[^1] -Riconosciuto's first claims reached [[Bill Hamilton|William and Nancy Hamilton]], the owners of [[INSLAW]], in May 1990. On a conference call that a reporter for one of [[Lyndon LaRouche]]'s publications arranged, he told the Hamiltons that he and Brian were hired as consultants to Wackenhut Research, that he and Brian traveled to Iran in 1980 and paid a $40 million bribe to prevent the release of American hostages before the November 1980 election, and that he still had a copy of the PROMIS source code. The Bua report summarizes the Hamiltons' memoranda of that call, and says that four of his statements about PROMIS could be established with accuracy, three under oath and one in the Hamiltons' notes.[^14] +Riconosciuto's first claims reached [[Bill Hamilton|William and Nancy Hamilton]], the owners of [[INSLAW]], in May 1990. On a conference call that a reporter for one of [[Lyndon LaRouche]]'s publications arranged, he told the Hamiltons that he and Brian were hired as consultants to Wackenhut Research, that he and Brian traveled to Iran in 1980 and paid a $40 million bribe to prevent the release of American hostages before the November 1980 election, and that he still had a copy of the PROMIS source code. The Bua report summarizes the Hamiltons' memoranda of that call, and says that four of his statements about PROMIS could be established with accuracy, three under oath and one in the Hamiltons' notes.[^19] -On April 4, 1991, Riconosciuto gave a sworn statement to [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigators. The committee's report says he connected his work on PROMIS to Brian and Videnieks, and that during a luncheon attended by Brian, Videnieks, [[Jimmy Hughes]], and himself, the enhanced software was loaded into the trunk of his car.[^15] He also said he had two copies of a tape of his February 1991 conversation with Videnieks, and that DEA agents seized them at his arrest.[^15] He gave the committee access to a storage facility holding computer tapes and documents. A General Accounting Office analysis for the committee found that only one of five magnetic media could be read, that it held a corporate data file of accounts, and that a later review found one readable tape containing instructions for a word-processing modification and no PROMIS versions.[^16] +On April 4, 1991, Riconosciuto gave a sworn statement to [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigators. The committee's report says he connected his work on PROMIS to Brian and Videnieks, and that during a luncheon attended by Brian, Videnieks, Jimmy Hughes, and himself, the enhanced software was loaded into the trunk of his car.[^20] He also said he had two copies of a tape of his February 1991 conversation with Videnieks, and that DEA agents seized them at his arrest.[^20] He gave the committee access to a storage facility holding computer tapes and documents. A General Accounting Office analysis for the committee found that only one of five magnetic media could be read, that it held a corporate data file of accounts, and that a later review found one readable tape containing instructions for a word-processing modification and no PROMIS versions.[^21] -The Bua report traced a series of contradictions in his accounts. In his affidavit he said he had received a single copy of PROMIS from Brian. At trial he said he had received three versions from Nichols. In the affidavit he dated his PROMIS work to 1983 and 1984 in Indio, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Miami, Florida. At trial he placed it between late 1981 and early 1983, mentioned only Indio, and did not mention Maryland or Miami.[^17] The report noted that Inslaw did not sign its implementation contract until March 1982 and did not produce an enhanced version to DOJ until April 20, 1983, and that "it would have been physically impossible for anybody from DOJ to produce anything but a public domain version of PROMIS in November 1981."[^17] +The Bua report traced a series of contradictions in his accounts. In his affidavit he said he had received a single copy of PROMIS from Brian. At trial he said he had received three versions from Nichols. In the affidavit he dated his PROMIS work to 1983 and 1984 in Indio, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Miami, Florida. At trial he placed it between late 1981 and early 1983, mentioned only Indio, and did not mention Maryland or Miami.[^22] The report noted that Inslaw did not sign its implementation contract until March 1982 and did not produce an enhanced version to DOJ until April 20, 1983, and that "it would have been physically impossible for anybody from DOJ to produce anything but a public domain version of PROMIS in November 1981."[^22] -The Bua report called him "a totally unreliable witness in connection with the allegations he has made about the alleged theft of PROMIS software," and wrote that his "story about PROMIS reminds us of a historical novel; a tale of total fiction woven against the background of accurate historical facts."[^18] The report listed other claims for which it "came across no credible witness who could confirm any of this": work with the CIA, a radio detonator device used to overthrow the Allende government in Chile, patents on revolutionary devices, recovery of computer data from computers damaged in the overthrow of the Shah, handling of the October Surprise payments, and persuading organized crime members associated with Tony Accardo not to commit a murder. It also stated that "Most people who know Riconosciuto told us that he displays a high degree of familiarity with scientific and technical concepts," that NCIC records indicated burglary and bail jumping convictions from the early 1970s, and that during the almost year he was out of prison after his first call to the Hamiltons he never produced the 1099 forms, the photographs of him with Brian in Iran, or the version of PROMIS he said he would give them.[^19] The report states that Riconosciuto said [[Wayne Reeder]] arrived at the September 1981 demonstration with Brian. A 1991 Riverside County investigator's report that named Brian was prepared from Riconosciuto's jail interview and from license-plate records supplied by a former Indio officer. The Bua report found that the registration notes referred only to Reeder.[^20] +The Bua report called him "a totally unreliable witness in connection with the allegations he has made about the alleged theft of PROMIS software," and wrote that his "story about PROMIS reminds us of a historical novel; a tale of total fiction woven against the background of accurate historical facts."[^23] The report listed other claims for which it "came across no credible witness who could confirm any of this": work with the CIA, a radio detonator device used to overthrow the Allende government in Chile, patents on revolutionary devices, recovery of computer data from computers damaged in the overthrow of the Shah, handling of the October Surprise payments, and persuading organized crime members associated with Tony Accardo not to commit a murder. It also stated that "Most people who know Riconosciuto told us that he displays a high degree of familiarity with scientific and technical concepts," that NCIC records indicated burglary and bail jumping convictions from the early 1970s, and that during the almost year he was out of prison after his first call to the Hamiltons he never produced the 1099 forms, the photographs of him with Brian in Iran, or the version of PROMIS he said he would give them.[^24] The report states that Riconosciuto said [[Wayne Reeder]] arrived at the September 1981 demonstration with Brian. A 1991 Riverside County investigator's report that named Brian was prepared from Riconosciuto's jail interview and from license-plate records supplied by a former Indio officer. The Bua report found that the registration notes referred only to Reeder.[^25] -The House committee wrote that Riconosciuto "could not provide evidence other than his eyewitness account" of Brian's involvement in the PROMIS conversion at the reservation, that Brian "flatly contradicts" the claims in his own sworn statement, and that the committee was "not in a position to make findings of fact on Dr. Brian's role" but "would strongly recommend that further investigation be given" to it. In a footnote the committee recorded that a Riverside County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Report of October 10, 1991 placed Brian, with Riconosciuto and others, at the weapons demonstration at the Lake Cahuilla gun range in Indio on the evening of September 10, 1981, and that Welmas was quoted in the Washington Business Journal of March 30, 1992 as saying, "Brian must have been involved. His name was mentioned and discussed on a daily basis."[^21] +The House committee wrote that Riconosciuto "could not provide evidence other than his eyewitness account" of Brian's involvement in the PROMIS conversion at the reservation, that Brian "flatly contradicts" the claims in his own sworn statement, and that the committee was "not in a position to make findings of fact on Dr. Brian's role" but "would strongly recommend that further investigation be given" to it. In a footnote the committee recorded that a Riverside County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Report of October 10, 1991 placed Brian, with Riconosciuto and others, at the weapons demonstration at the Lake Cahuilla gun range in Indio on the evening of September 10, 1981, and that Welmas was quoted in the Washington Business Journal of March 30, 1992 as saying, "Brian must have been involved. His name was mentioned and discussed on a daily basis."[^26] ### The 1991 affidavit, arrest and congressional interview -The affidavit describes a February 1991 telephone call in which Videnieks told Riconosciuto that it would be beneficial to refuse a committee request for an interview. It also says that if he cooperated, he would be punished, with the indictment of Riconosciuto for savings and loan fraud and perjury among the punishments.[^22] Bua reports that Brian and Videnieks each "categorically and under oath denied" the allegations, and that both said they had never met Riconosciuto or each other and had never been to Indio. The report stated: "We found both men to be credible witnesses, both in their demeanor and in the substance of their statements."[^23] +The affidavit describes a February 1991 telephone call in which Videnieks told Riconosciuto that it would be beneficial to refuse a committee request for an interview. It also says that if he cooperated, he would be punished, with the indictment of Riconosciuto for savings and loan fraud and perjury among the punishments.[^27] Bua reports that Brian and Videnieks each "categorically and under oath denied" the allegations, and that both said they had never met Riconosciuto or each other and had never been to Indio. The report stated: "We found both men to be credible witnesses, both in their demeanor and in the substance of their statements."[^28] -On March 21, 1991, Riconosciuto signed the affidavit for the Hamiltons, for use in INSLAW's bankruptcy adversary proceeding. On March 29, 1991, eight days later, DEA special agents arrested him on drug charges.[^24] A DEA agent's affidavit in the drug case, held on the archive.org item USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto, describes recorded deliveries of methamphetamine and methadone to a confidential informant beginning in February 1991, and surveillance of a residence at Lakebay, Washington, on March 29, 1991.[^25] The House report states that the Department of Justice proposed a courthouse in Seattle for the interview, and that the Department's attorney refused to give a sworn assurance that the interview would not be monitored or recorded. It also says the Department refused the committee's request to interview the DEA arresting agents, citing the ongoing prosecution, and refused access to its investigative files on him.[^24] The committee wrote that the timing of the arrest, coupled with Riconosciuto's allegation that tapes of a telephone conversation with Videnieks had been confiscated by DEA agents, "raises serious questions concerning whether the Department's prosecution of Mr. Riconosciuto was related to his cooperation with the committee." The same passage states that the arrest "diminishes his credibility as a witness," and that the committee "received sworn testimony and recovered documents which support aspects of Mr. Riconosciuto's story," tying Riconosciuto, Brian and Robert Booth Nichols to U.S. intelligence agencies and, in Nichols's case, possibly to organized crime.[^24] +On March 21, 1991, Riconosciuto signed the affidavit for the Hamiltons, for use in INSLAW's bankruptcy adversary proceeding. On March 29, 1991, eight days later, DEA special agents arrested him on drug charges.[^29] A DEA agent's affidavit in the drug case, held on the archive.org item USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto, describes recorded deliveries of methamphetamine and methadone to a confidential informant beginning in February 1991, and surveillance of a residence at Lakebay, Washington, on March 29, 1991.[^30] The House report states that the Department of Justice proposed a courthouse in Seattle for the interview, and that the Department's attorney refused to give a sworn assurance that the interview would not be monitored or recorded. It also says the Department refused the committee's request to interview the DEA arresting agents, citing the ongoing prosecution, and refused access to its investigative files on him.[^29] The committee wrote that the timing of the arrest, coupled with Riconosciuto's allegation that tapes of a telephone conversation with Videnieks had been confiscated by DEA agents, "raises serious questions concerning whether the Department's prosecution of Mr. Riconosciuto was related to his cooperation with the committee." The same passage states that the arrest "diminishes his credibility as a witness," and that the committee "received sworn testimony and recovered documents which support aspects of Mr. Riconosciuto's story," tying Riconosciuto, Brian and Robert Booth Nichols to U.S. intelligence agencies and, in Nichols's case, possibly to organized crime.[^29] -The Bua report addressed the arrest directly. It stated, "We are convinced beyond all doubt that there was absolutely no connection between Riconosciuto's prosecution and his allegations in the Inslaw matter." It described the case as beginning as a local Washington State drug investigation in which a small-time methamphetamine dealer cooperated with police, with the Seattle office of the DEA brought in after the supplier was found to be distributing on a large scale. It states that DEA recorded Riconosciuto delivering methamphetamine on videotape on more than one occasion, that he ran a large methamphetamine lab at the property where he lived, and that the trial judge commented at sentencing that he was "not sure whether Riconosciuto could tell fact from fiction."[^26] The report records Riconosciuto's testimony that the case was a set up, that the DEA had altered the videotapes, that the government had altered telephone records, and that his lab was only for mining metals.[^26] The Associated Press reported at the opening of the trial that his lawyer said the chemicals found at the property near Tonasket in Okanogan County were used to extract platinum from mining wastes, that the defense would offer expert testimony that recordings can be altered, and that former Attorney General [[Elliot Richardson]], counsel to Inslaw, and Hamilton were expected defense witnesses.[^27] +The Bua report addressed the arrest directly. It stated, "We are convinced beyond all doubt that there was absolutely no connection between Riconosciuto's prosecution and his allegations in the Inslaw matter." It described the case as beginning as a local Washington State drug investigation in which a small-time methamphetamine dealer cooperated with police, with the Seattle office of the DEA brought in after the supplier was found to be distributing on a large scale. It states that DEA recorded Riconosciuto delivering methamphetamine on videotape on more than one occasion, that he ran a large methamphetamine lab at the property where he lived, and that the trial judge commented at sentencing that he was "not sure whether Riconosciuto could tell fact from fiction."[^31] The report records Riconosciuto's testimony that the case was a set up, that the DEA had altered the videotapes, that the government had altered telephone records, and that his lab was only for mining metals.[^31] The Associated Press reported at the opening of the trial that his lawyer said the chemicals found at the property near Tonasket in Okanogan County were used to extract platinum from mining wastes, that the defense would offer expert testimony that recordings can be altered, and that former Attorney General [[Elliot Richardson]], counsel to Inslaw, and Hamilton were expected defense witnesses.[^32] ### Trial and sentence, 1992 -At his trial in federal court in Tacoma in January 1992, Riconosciuto's defense was that he was being framed on the drug charges as punishment for his testimony about PROMIS. He testified at length about PROMIS and said he had supervised a lead programmer and programming teams working in a mobile trailer behind the Cabazon casino.[^28] He testified that in February 1991 he received a message from someone named Peter telling him to be at a restaurant wearing a yellow shirt, that the people there were unknown to him except for one man he recognized as "Norm," that they placed a call and handed him the phone, and that one of them said, "It's no wonder, this is Videnieks." He testified that Videnieks told him he "was making some people nervous" and that there might be problems for him in connection with a savings and loan matter. Asked on direct examination how many times he had met Videnieks he answered "At least a dozen occasions," and that the first place was "In Indio, California." He also testified that the DEA had seized two copies of his tape of the February call and that he was "not sure" where the original was.[^28] +At his trial in federal court in Tacoma in January 1992, Riconosciuto's defense was that he was being framed on the drug charges as punishment for his testimony about PROMIS. He testified at length about PROMIS and said he had supervised a lead programmer and programming teams working in a mobile trailer behind the Cabazon casino.[^33] He testified that in February 1991 he received a message from someone named Peter telling him to be at a restaurant wearing a yellow shirt, that the people there were unknown to him except for one man he recognized as "Norm," that they placed a call and handed him the phone, and that one of them said, "It's no wonder, this is Videnieks." He testified that Videnieks told him he "was making some people nervous" and that there might be problems for him in connection with a savings and loan matter. Asked on direct examination how many times he had met Videnieks he answered "At least a dozen occasions," and that the first place was "In Indio, California." He also testified that the DEA had seized two copies of his tape of the February call and that he was "not sure" where the original was.[^33] -On January 19, 1992, the Associated Press reported that a jury had convicted Riconosciuto, then 44, on seven drug counts: possession of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing methamphetamine, and two counts of distributing methadone. He was acquitted on three other counts. The AP reported a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, and quoted assistant U.S. attorney Mark Bartlett as saying, "We're very happy." Riconosciuto and his lawyer, [[Thomas Olmstead]], branded four videotapes as fake, and the videotapes showed drugs being delivered to a government informer. The charges covered November 1989 to April 1991.[^29] The AP also reported that two of the videotapes showed a man who appeared to be Riconosciuto accepting 5,000 dollars in marked bills from an informer in a kitchen at Lakebay on the Kitsap Peninsula, that agents testified he was arrested with the bills and that his wallet held a 100 dollar bill from an earlier marked delivery, that one of his fingerprints was on a mug in a tape, that the defense called no witnesses, and that Judge Bryan had denied a defense motion for a mistrial based on a claim that one tape shown to the jury was stolen from Riconosciuto in 1989.[^29] The Bua report records that the trial judge sentenced Riconosciuto to 360 months, "the lowest available sentence under the applicable sentencing guidelines."[^28] +On January 19, 1992, the Associated Press reported that a jury had convicted Riconosciuto, then 44, on seven drug counts: possession of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing methamphetamine, and two counts of distributing methadone. He was acquitted on three other counts. The AP reported a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, and quoted assistant U.S. attorney Mark Bartlett as saying, "We're very happy." Riconosciuto and his lawyer, [[Thomas Olmstead]], branded four videotapes as fake, and the videotapes showed drugs being delivered to a government informer. The charges covered November 1989 to April 1991.[^34] The AP also reported that two of the videotapes showed a man who appeared to be Riconosciuto accepting 5,000 dollars in marked bills from an informer in a kitchen at Lakebay on the Kitsap Peninsula, that agents testified he was arrested with the bills and that his wallet held a 100 dollar bill from an earlier marked delivery, that one of his fingerprints was on a mug in a tape, that the defense called no witnesses, and that Judge Bryan had denied a defense motion for a mistrial based on a claim that one tape shown to the jury was stolen from Riconosciuto in 1989.[^34] The Bua report records that the trial judge sentenced Riconosciuto to 360 months, "the lowest available sentence under the applicable sentencing guidelines."[^33] -The Bua report also records that Riconosciuto, with two others, filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of the investigation. It says the lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Bua was involved in organized crime murders and that one of the FBI agents assigned to the case had murdered Danny Casolaro. The report states that the district court dismissed the suit as patently frivolous, in [[Riconosciuto v. Bua]], No. 92 C 6217 (N.D. Ill.).[^30] +The Bua report also records that Riconosciuto, with two others, filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of the investigation. It says the lawsuit alleged, among other things, that Bua was involved in organized crime murders and that one of the FBI agents assigned to the case had murdered Danny Casolaro. The report states that the district court dismissed the suit as patently frivolous, in [[Riconosciuto v. Bua]], No. 92 C 6217 (N.D. Ill.).[^35] + +The federal drug case is docketed as United States v. Riconosciuto, No. 3:91-cr-01034, in the [[United States District Court for the Western District of Washington|Western District of Washington]], filed April 1, 1991. A judgment on revocation (Doc. 220) was filed on August 18, 2017.[^36] In a 1997 hearing officer's report in the INSLAW congressional reference proceeding, Hearing Officer Miller described Riconosciuto as "convicted of manufacturing and selling methamphetamine" while discussing the confidential sources that Bill Hamilton had relied on.[^37] ### Appeals and later cases -The Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence in an unpublished memorandum decided October 27, 1993. The appeal challenged the admission of evidence from searches conducted without warrants, the government's destruction of evidence, and the drug quantity used at sentencing. The memorandum describes searches of his property outside Tonasket, Washington, in early April 1993, and of a shack in Home, Washington, on April 10, 1993.[^31] +The Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence in an unpublished memorandum decided October 27, 1993. The appeal challenged the admission of evidence from searches conducted without warrants, the government's destruction of evidence, and the drug quantity used at sentencing. The memorandum describes searches of his property outside Tonasket, Washington, in early April 1993, and of a shack in Home, Washington, on April 10, 1993.[^38] -The Bua report states that Riconosciuto "was involved with hallucinogenic drugs at least as far back as 1972, when he was convicted on a PCP charge," and that in that case his defense was that someone had planted the PCP on him.[^32] Separately, the Court of Appeals of Washington affirmed a grand larceny conviction against him in December 1974. The opinion records his contention that a federal investigation of an alleged conspiracy to manufacture drugs involving him was underway.[^33] +The Bua report states that Riconosciuto "was involved with hallucinogenic drugs at least as far back as 1972, when he was convicted on a PCP charge," and that in that case his defense was that someone had planted the PCP on him.[^39] Separately, the Court of Appeals of Washington affirmed a grand larceny conviction against him in December 1974. The opinion records his contention that a federal investigation of an alleged conspiracy to manufacture drugs involving him was underway.[^40] -In a news release of September 27, 1994 announcing the Department's review of the Bua report, the Department of Justice stated that two primary sources relied on by INSLAW "were not credible: Michael Riconosciuto, currently serving a 30-year sentence on methamphetamine charges, and Ari Ben-Menashe."[^34] +In a news release of September 27, 1994 announcing the Department's review of the Bua report, the Department of Justice stated that two primary sources relied on by INSLAW "were not credible: Michael Riconosciuto, currently serving a 30-year sentence on methamphetamine charges, and Ari Ben-Menashe."[^41] -In 2017 Riconosciuto filed a federal habeas petition in the Central District of California against the warden and the U.S. Probation and Parole office. Judge John A. Kronstadt dismissed the petition for lack of jurisdiction on February 16, 2017.[^35] +In 2017 Riconosciuto filed a federal habeas petition in the Central District of California against the warden and the U.S. Probation and Parole office. Judge John A. Kronstadt dismissed the petition for lack of jurisdiction on February 16, 2017.[^42] ### Nichols, Casolaro and the Octopus @@ -144,15 +157,15 @@ He also claimed participation in a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-sanctioned Riconosciuto claimed to have handled gold transfers, money laundering, "virtual dead drops," and altered ACH daily reconciliations for underworld figures, including Robert Booth Nichols, [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilbert Rodriguez]], and [[Jose Santacruz Londono]] of the Cali Drug Cartel. He sought to provide this information to [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCEN]] in exchange for witness protection.[^1] -Regarding the [[October Surprise]], Riconosciuto claimed that he and Brian traveled to [[Iran]] in 1980 and paid $40 million to Iranian officials to delay the release of U.S. hostages until after [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration. The Bua report found no credible evidence for that trip and states that Brian's office records placed him in New York on September 10, 1981.[^36] Seymour wrote that the claim created what Riconosciuto described as a "domino effect" in Washington and generated additional investigations and media attention.[^1] +Regarding the [[October Surprise]], Riconosciuto claimed that he and Brian traveled to [[Iran]] in 1980 and paid $40 million to Iranian officials to delay the release of U.S. hostages until after [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration. The Bua report found no credible evidence for that trip and states that Brian's office records placed him in New York on September 10, 1981.[^43] Seymour wrote that the claim created what Riconosciuto described as a "domino effect" in Washington and generated additional investigations and media attention.[^1] Riconosciuto claimed to have been in direct communication with [[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], before and after Hand's disappearance, and handled money transfers for Hand when he fled [[Australia]].[^1] -Beyond PROMIS, Riconosciuto was involved in advanced technological projects, including theoretical work on railguns for the U.S. Army, and research into "energy transfer phenomena" with [[William Frash]] and [[Patrick Moriarty]], his father's business partner, aiming to develop technology that would "supercede all existing world patents in the field."[^1] At trial he testified that his group ran a pilot plant at its facility in [[Hercules, California]], and that the work included [[Hercules Research]].[^37] [[Harry Fair|Dr. Harry Fair]] of Picatinny Arsenal described him as a "potential national resource" after a May 1981 railgun blackboard exercise.[^1] In the 1984 Gunderson interview Riconosciuto said Hercules Research began with scrap and residue platinum catalyst left in an acid plant at Hercules, from which he said the group generated 130,000 dollars, and that it then worked tailings piles in the northern Sacramento River area to recover platinum group metals; he described a project at Hercules he called the "Special Project" as a direct energy related weapons project based on Interprobe technology and technology developed at Hercules Research.[^38] +Beyond PROMIS, Riconosciuto was involved in advanced technological projects, including theoretical work on railguns for the U.S. Army, and research into "energy transfer phenomena" with [[William Frash]] and [[Patrick Moriarty]], his father's business partner, aiming to develop technology that would "supercede all existing world patents in the field."[^1] At trial he testified that his group ran a pilot plant at its facility in [[Hercules, California]], and that the work included [[Hercules Research]].[^44] [[Harry Fair|Dr. Harry Fair]] of Picatinny Arsenal described him as a "potential national resource" after a May 1981 railgun blackboard exercise.[^1] In the 1984 Gunderson interview Riconosciuto said Hercules Research began with scrap and residue platinum catalyst left in an acid plant at Hercules, from which he said the group generated 130,000 dollars, and that it then worked tailings piles in the northern Sacramento River area to recover platinum group metals; he described a project at Hercules he called the "Special Project" as a direct energy related weapons project based on Interprobe technology and technology developed at Hercules Research.[^45] ### Clearances and the Aquino question -In an undated transcript of an interview with Gunderson (the interviewer is initialed "T.G."), the speaker, initialed "M.R.," discusses members of the Church of Set and of [[Michael Aquino]]'s circle. He says that the reaction to Aquino he received from "Dr. Malkin" was "Well, his clearance isn't all that high."[^39] In the same passage the speaker says that nearly everyone in Aquino's group was psy-ops or intelligence related.[^39] The transcript's cover line begins with the name "Michael," and the first notes in the file are headed "NOTES OF PHONE CONV. 12/29/87." Records found do not establish whether "Dr. Malkin" is [[Myron S. Malkin]], the former NASA Space Shuttle director and former Defense Department official, whose name appears in an undated (year not printed) Cabazon Arms letter.[^40] +In an undated transcript of an interview with Gunderson (the interviewer is initialed "T.G."), the speaker, initialed "M.R.," discusses members of the Church of Set and of [[Michael Aquino]]'s circle. He says that the reaction to Aquino he received from "Dr. Malkin" was "Well, his clearance isn't all that high."[^46] In the same passage the speaker says that nearly everyone in Aquino's group was psy-ops or intelligence related.[^46] The transcript's cover line begins with the name "Michael," and the first notes in the file are headed "NOTES OF PHONE CONV. 12/29/87." Records found do not establish whether "Dr. Malkin" is [[Myron S. Malkin]], the former NASA Space Shuttle director and former Defense Department official, whose name appears in an undated (year not printed) Cabazon Arms letter.[^47] ### Witness protection attempts @@ -173,30 +186,37 @@ Following his arrest, Riconosciuto attempted multiple times to trade information [^11]: John Connolly, "Inside the Shadow CIA," *Spy*, September 1992, pp. 46 to 54. The bracketed description of Ammarell is the magazine's. https://www.prop1.org/legal/prisons/92wack.htm [^12]: Unsigned, undated letter, Danny Casolaro papers, folder "Wackenhut-Correspondence," beginning "The cooperation I have received from the Wackenhut Corporation." The spelling "Amarell" is as printed in the letter. https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks [^13]: Bua report, printed pp. 59 to 60 (Welmas and his wife; Cross; Nichols's denial and the "motive" passage, quoting "everything Nichols told us was consistent with the great weight of the evidence we obtained from other sources"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^14]: Bua report, printed pp. 42 to 43 (the four accurately recorded statements, one in the Hamiltons' notes; the May 18, 1990 call and the Iran and Wackenhut Research claims; "the key witness against Brian"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it, summarizing the Hamiltons' memoranda. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^15]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report*, H. Rept. 102-857, 102d Cong., 2d sess., September 10, 1992, "2. Sworn Statement of Michael Riconosciuto," pp. 50 to 52 (the affidavit and tape statements on p. 51; the luncheon statement in n. 131 and the storage-facility and GAO passages on p. 52), as the committee summarized the April 4, 1991 sworn statement. The committee also described him as "a self-described computer expert who in the past has been involved with contract computer and munitions work for U.S. intelligence agencies," brought to its attention in June 1990 (p. 50). Official findings and committee summaries of a witness's statements. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport -[^16]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, p. 52 and nn. 131 to 135, citing the General Accounting Office report of November 12, 1991 and the follow-up report of March 23, 1992 on the Riconosciuto media. Official findings as reported by the committee. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport -[^17]: Bua report, printed pp. 49 to 51 (affidavit and trial inconsistencies; the affidavit's "1983 and 1984" statement; the trial testimony of "late 1981" to "early 1983"; the April 20, 1983 delivery and March 1982 contract). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^18]: Bua report, printed p. 73 (conclusion). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^19]: Bua report, printed pp. 70 to 73 (the list of unconfirmed claims, the 1099 forms and photographs, NCIC records, "high degree of familiarity with scientific and technical concepts"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^20]: Bua report, printed pp. 62 to 63 (the Gilbert report and Baird's registration notes) and p. 66 (Reeder and Westley). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^21]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, section "2. Possible Connection Between Earl Brian, Michael Riconosciuto, Robert Booth Nichols and the Cabazon Indian Reservation," pp. 72 to 73 and nn. 218 to 222, citing the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Report of October 10, 1991, pp. 2 to 4, and the *Washington Business Journal*, March 30, 1992. Official findings of the committee. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport -[^22]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, p. 51 and n. 126 (affidavit paragraph on the February 1991 call), and Bua report, printed p. 46 (punishments in the affidavit, including the savings and loan and perjury indictments). Official summaries of a witness's sworn claims. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport -[^23]: Bua report, printed pp. 53 to 54 (Brian and Videnieks, "categorically and under oath denied all the allegations made by Riconosciuto about them"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^24]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, "D. Department Interferes With Michael Riconosciuto's Sworn Statement to the Committee," pp. 100 to 101 (arrest of March 29, 1991; attorney John Rosellini; the courthouse proposal; the refusal of a sworn non-monitoring statement; the refusal to interview the DEA agents; the timing quotation). Official findings of the committee, placed as its position. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport -[^25]: Affidavit of a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in *United States v. Michael James Riconosciuto*, federal court, Washington, 1991, nine pages, archive.org item USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto. https://archive.org/details/USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto. Only the dates and places stated above are drawn from the document. -[^26]: Bua report, printed pp. 66 to 68 ("We are convinced beyond all doubt"; DEA videotapes; the lab; "not sure whether Riconosciuto could tell fact from fiction"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^27]: Associated Press, "Defendant Says Government Drug Charges Are Part Of Vendetta," January 2, 1992, Seattle Times archive. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920102/1468169/defendant-says-government-drug-charges-are-part-of-vendetta -[^28]: Bua report, printed pp. 47 to 48 and 53 (trial testimony on PROMIS, the trailer, the yellow shirt and "It's no wonder, this is Videnieks," the tape and "not sure"; the meetings with Videnieks, printed p. 53; sentence of 360 months, "the lowest available sentence under the applicable sentencing guidelines"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^29]: Associated Press, "Jury Says Guilty," January 19, 1992, Seattle Times archive (the headline continues with the claim of a frame-up and the 20-year term). https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920119/1471110/jury-says-guilty -[^30]: Bua report, printed p. 69 (the lawsuit, Riconosciuto v. Bua, No. 92 C 6217 (N.D. Ill.), dismissed as patently frivolous). The allegations are as the report describes them. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^31]: *United States v. Riconosciuto*, No. 92-30200 (9th Cir. October 27, 1993) (unpublished memorandum; submitted August 31, 1993), reported at 9 F.3d 1555. The memorandum is not precedential and affirms the judgment. https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F3/009/9.F3d.1555.92-30200.html -[^32]: Bua report, printed pp. 68 and 71 to 72 (PCP charge in the early 1970s; "at least as far back as 1972, when he was convicted on a PCP charge"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^33]: *State v. Riconosciuto*, 12 Wash. App. 350, 529 P.2d 1134 (Wash. Ct. App., Div. One, December 23, 1974), No. 2623-1, judgment affirmed. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1172527/state-v-riconosciuto/ -[^34]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, news release of September 27, 1994 on the review of the Bua report in the INSLAW matter. Official position of the Department. https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/Pre_96/September94/555.txt.html -[^35]: *Riconosciuto v. Langford*, No. 2:17-cv-01088-JAK-AJW (C.D. Cal.), judgment of February 16, 2017, dismissing the petition for a writ of habeas corpus for lack of jurisdiction; respondents the warden and U.S. Probation and Parole. https://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.cacd.670148 -[^36]: Bua report, printed pp. 40 to 41 (no credible evidence on the Iran hostage allegations) and p. 66 (Brian's New York office and expense records for September 10, 1981). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^37]: Bua report, printed p. 53 (Riconosciuto's trial testimony on the pilot plant in Hercules, California, Hercules Research and the Interprobe joint venture). Testimony as the report summarizes it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^38]: Gunderson interview transcripts, Danny Casolaro papers, Folder 7 (Acc. 5516), archive.org item casolaro-notebooks (the Hercules Research, platinum catalyst and "Special Project" passages). https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. The speaker's own account. -[^39]: Ted Gunderson and Michael Riconosciuto interview notes, file "Folder 7 Acc5516," archive.org item casolaro-notebooks. Undated passage. https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. -[^40]: Letter over the name of Arthur Welmas, headed "CABAZON INDIAN SECURITY /WSI JOINT VENTURE," Indio, California, dated "May 1" (year not printed), Danny Casolaro papers, folder "Wackenhut-Correspondence." https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks +[^14]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, pp. 344-345, reproducing Riconosciuto's statement of February 16, 1984. +[^15]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, p. 340. +[^16]: Transcript of a recorded interview of Michael Riconosciuto by Ted Gunderson, Casolaro papers, Folder 7 (Acc. 5516). https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^17]: INSLAW, Inc., Memorandum to the Record, July 18, 1990, pp. 7-8, Casolaro papers. https://archive.org/details/ddosecrets_casolaro_files +[^18]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, pp. 404-405. +[^19]: Bua report, printed pp. 42 to 43 (the four accurately recorded statements, one in the Hamiltons' notes; the May 18, 1990 call and the Iran and Wackenhut Research claims; "the key witness against Brian"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it, summarizing the Hamiltons' memoranda. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^20]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report*, H. Rept. 102-857, 102d Cong., 2d sess., September 10, 1992, "2. Sworn Statement of Michael Riconosciuto," pp. 50 to 52 (the affidavit and tape statements on p. 51; the luncheon statement in n. 131 and the storage-facility and GAO passages on p. 52), as the committee summarized the April 4, 1991 sworn statement. The committee also described him as "a self-described computer expert who in the past has been involved with contract computer and munitions work for U.S. intelligence agencies," brought to its attention in June 1990 (p. 50). Official findings and committee summaries of a witness's statements. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^21]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, p. 52 and nn. 131 to 135, citing the General Accounting Office report of November 12, 1991 and the follow-up report of March 23, 1992 on the Riconosciuto media. Official findings as reported by the committee. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^22]: Bua report, printed pp. 49 to 51 (affidavit and trial inconsistencies; the affidavit's "1983 and 1984" statement; the trial testimony of "late 1981" to "early 1983"; the April 20, 1983 delivery and March 1982 contract). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^23]: Bua report, printed p. 73 (conclusion). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^24]: Bua report, printed pp. 70 to 73 (the list of unconfirmed claims, the 1099 forms and photographs, NCIC records, "high degree of familiarity with scientific and technical concepts"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^25]: Bua report, printed pp. 62 to 63 (the Gilbert report and Baird's registration notes) and p. 66 (Reeder and Westley). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^26]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, section "2. Possible Connection Between Earl Brian, Michael Riconosciuto, Robert Booth Nichols and the Cabazon Indian Reservation," pp. 72 to 73 and nn. 218 to 222, citing the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Special Operations Report of October 10, 1991, pp. 2 to 4, and the *Washington Business Journal*, March 30, 1992. Official findings of the committee. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^27]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, p. 51 and n. 126 (affidavit paragraph on the February 1991 call), and Bua report, printed p. 46 (punishments in the affidavit, including the savings and loan and perjury indictments). Official summaries of a witness's sworn claims. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^28]: Bua report, printed pp. 53 to 54 (Brian and Videnieks, "categorically and under oath denied all the allegations made by Riconosciuto about them"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^29]: U.S. House of Representatives, H. Rept. 102-857, "D. Department Interferes With Michael Riconosciuto's Sworn Statement to the Committee," pp. 100 to 101 (arrest of March 29, 1991; attorney John Rosellini; the courthouse proposal; the refusal of a sworn non-monitoring statement; the refusal to interview the DEA agents; the timing quotation). Official findings of the committee, placed as its position. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport +[^30]: Affidavit of a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in *United States v. Michael James Riconosciuto*, federal court, Washington, 1991, nine pages, archive.org item USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto. https://archive.org/details/USAV.MichaelRiconosciuto. Only the dates and places stated above are drawn from the document. +[^31]: Bua report, printed pp. 66 to 68 ("We are convinced beyond all doubt"; DEA videotapes; the lab; "not sure whether Riconosciuto could tell fact from fiction"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^32]: Associated Press, "Defendant Says Government Drug Charges Are Part Of Vendetta," January 2, 1992, Seattle Times archive. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920102/1468169/defendant-says-government-drug-charges-are-part-of-vendetta +[^33]: Bua report, printed pp. 47 to 48 and 53 (trial testimony on PROMIS, the trailer, the yellow shirt and "It's no wonder, this is Videnieks," the tape and "not sure"; the meetings with Videnieks, printed p. 53; sentence of 360 months, "the lowest available sentence under the applicable sentencing guidelines"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^34]: Associated Press, "Jury Says Guilty," January 19, 1992, Seattle Times archive (the headline continues with the claim of a frame-up and the 20-year term). https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920119/1471110/jury-says-guilty +[^35]: Bua report, printed p. 69 (the lawsuit, Riconosciuto v. Bua, No. 92 C 6217 (N.D. Ill.), dismissed as patently frivolous). The allegations are as the report describes them. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^36]: United States v. Riconosciuto, No. 3:91-cr-01034 (W.D. Wash.), docket record filed April 1, 1991, including Doc. 220, judgment on revocation filed August 18, 2017. CourtListener. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6144038/united-states-v-riconosciuto/ +[^37]: INSLAW, Inc. v. United States, 39 Fed. Cl. 307 (1997), congressional reference proceeding, hearing officer's report (Miller, H.O.). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6763932/inslaw-inc-v-united-states/ +[^38]: *United States v. Riconosciuto*, No. 92-30200 (9th Cir. October 27, 1993) (unpublished memorandum; submitted August 31, 1993), reported at 9 F.3d 1555. The memorandum is not precedential and affirms the judgment. https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F3/009/9.F3d.1555.92-30200.html +[^39]: Bua report, printed pp. 68 and 71 to 72 (PCP charge in the early 1970s; "at least as far back as 1972, when he was convicted on a PCP charge"). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^40]: *State v. Riconosciuto*, 12 Wash. App. 350, 529 P.2d 1134 (Wash. Ct. App., Div. One, December 23, 1974), No. 2623-1, judgment affirmed. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1172527/state-v-riconosciuto/ +[^41]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, news release of September 27, 1994 on the review of the Bua report in the INSLAW matter. Official position of the Department. https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/Pre_96/September94/555.txt.html +[^42]: *Riconosciuto v. Langford*, No. 2:17-cv-01088-JAK-AJW (C.D. Cal.), judgment of February 16, 2017, dismissing the petition for a writ of habeas corpus for lack of jurisdiction; respondents the warden and U.S. Probation and Parole. https://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.cacd.670148 +[^43]: Bua report, printed pp. 40 to 41 (no credible evidence on the Iran hostage allegations) and p. 66 (Brian's New York office and expense records for September 10, 1981). Official finding, placed as the position of the body that issued it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^44]: Bua report, printed p. 53 (Riconosciuto's trial testimony on the pilot plant in Hercules, California, Hercules Research and the Interprobe joint venture). Testimony as the report summarizes it. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^45]: Gunderson interview transcripts, Danny Casolaro papers, Folder 7 (Acc. 5516), archive.org item casolaro-notebooks (the Hercules Research, platinum catalyst and "Special Project" passages). https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. The speaker's own account. +[^46]: Ted Gunderson and Michael Riconosciuto interview notes, file "Folder 7 Acc5516," archive.org item casolaro-notebooks. Undated passage. https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks. +[^47]: Letter over the name of Arthur Welmas, headed "CABAZON INDIAN SECURITY /WSI JOINT VENTURE," Indio, California, dated "May 1" (year not printed), Danny Casolaro papers, folder "Wackenhut-Correspondence." https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md index d20a1d34..82c5f319 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ relations: role: "director, senior vice president, chairman of the investment committee, per Seymour" fn: 4 created: 2024-04-25 -updated: 2026-10-08 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Robert Booth Nichols was born in the [[United States]] on March 3, 1943.[^1] He was a principal source for the journalist [[Danny Casolaro]] in the investigation Casolaro called [[The Octopus]], and the subject of a [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] organized-crime investigation from 1987.[^2][^3] @@ -66,9 +66,11 @@ Nichols testified in 1993, in his suit against the Los Angeles Police Department Telephone records show that Casolaro and Nichols "spoke regularly and at length" in the last months of Casolaro's life, and the two had dinner at a restaurant in Virginia in the early summer of 1991. Nichols told committee investigators he had been "a sounding board" for Casolaro and would not give a sworn statement.[^3] On September 30, 1991, he told Detective Sergeant Swartwood of the Martinsburg police that he thought Casolaro had been murdered and that Riconosciuto "was probably involved in some way." Bua's report noted a January 1993 *Spy* article suggesting that Nichols had Casolaro killed for fear of being exposed as a would-be FBI informant against the Mafia, and found "no evidence that he had anything to do with Mr. Casolaro's death. Furthermore, he was in London on the day that Mr. Casolaro died."[^8] According to Seymour, Nichols had warned Casolaro to drop the investigation and went to Martinsburg to press him in person, Casolaro had confronted him shortly before his death about [[Michael Abbell]] and the Cali cartel, and Nichols later wrote a manuscript, "Danny Casolaro's Octopus."[^4] +In a telephone interview with the FBI on January 11, 1994, Nichols said that when Casolaro drove him to [[Dulles International Airport]] in the summer of 1991, Casolaro was on the telephone there with [[Joseph Cuellar]], trying to have Cuellar introduce him to Peter Videnieks. Nichols also said that Casolaro described his first meeting with Cuellar as strange, because Cuellar had initiated the conversation at a bar in Northern Virginia.[^11] The 1994 Justice Department review states that Casolaro met Cuellar "by chance" at "The Sign of the Whale" in Arlington, Virginia, and that Cuellar had gone there to meet friends celebrating his return from [[Operation Desert Storm]].[^12] + ### The Bayou Fee -In the spring of 2004 Nichols offered [[Samuel Israel III]], manager of the Bayou hedge funds, access to what British investigators later described as programs with "all of the hallmarks of fraudulent prime bank note programs." After more than 150 million dollars of Bayou money passed through a London account of the "Humanitarian Coalition Aid Foundation" and back in April 2004, Nichols and Israel signed a "Financial and Security Consultancy Agreement" on July 11, 2004, and on July 19 Israel wired ten million dollars to accounts in Germany, Liechtenstein, Singapore and the [[United Kingdom]] in the name of or controlled by Nichols, about eight million of which ended in a London account in the names of Nichols and his wife, Ellen. The Bayou funds' liquidating entity sued the couple in 2008 to recover the fee as a fraudulent transfer; they answered that he had received it "for value, in good faith and without knowledge of the alleged voidability of the transfer." Nichols was deposed on video at the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] in Manhattan on December 16, 2008, and the case was closed on April 28, 2010.[^1][^11] At the time his address was in Honolulu.[^1] +In the spring of 2004 Nichols offered [[Samuel Israel III]], manager of the Bayou hedge funds, access to what British investigators later described as programs with "all of the hallmarks of fraudulent prime bank note programs." After more than 150 million dollars of Bayou money passed through a London account of the "Humanitarian Coalition Aid Foundation" and back in April 2004, Nichols and Israel signed a "Financial and Security Consultancy Agreement" on July 11, 2004, and on July 19 Israel wired ten million dollars to accounts in Germany, Liechtenstein, Singapore and the [[United Kingdom]] in the name of or controlled by Nichols, about eight million of which ended in a London account in the names of Nichols and his wife, Ellen. The Bayou funds' liquidating entity sued the couple in 2008 to recover the fee as a fraudulent transfer; they answered that he had received it "for value, in good faith and without knowledge of the alleged voidability of the transfer." Nichols was deposed on video at the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] in Manhattan on December 16, 2008, and the case was closed on April 28, 2010.[^1][^13] At the time his address was in Honolulu.[^1] ### Footnotes @@ -82,4 +84,6 @@ In the spring of 2004 Nichols offered [[Samuel Israel III]], manager of the Bayo [^8]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua,* March 1993 (Riconosciuto's credibility), and section "Involvement of Robert Booth Nichols," pp. 157-159 and note 58 (p. 159), citing *Booth Nichols v. City of Los Angeles,* No. NCC 31322B, trial transcript, March 11, 1993. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 [^9]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010, chapter 22. [^10]: Connolly, John. "The Story That Killed Danny Casolaro." *Spy,* January 1993. https://archive.org/details/SpyMagazine -[^11]: Nichols, Robert Booth. Videotaped deposition, December 16, 2008, *United States v. Samuel Israel III,* 05 Cr. 1039 (S.D.N.Y.), and *Bayou Management, LLC v. Nichols.* https://archive.org/details/robert-booth-nichols ; docket, *Bayou Management, LLC v. Nichols,* 1:08-cv-06036 (S.D.N.Y.), filed July 2, 2008, terminated April 28, 2010, CourtListener. +[^11]: Federal Bureau of Investigation memorandum summarizing a telephone interview with Robert Booth Nichols conducted January 11, 1994, DOCID 70098626, release pp. 113-114. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 160-161. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 +[^13]: Nichols, Robert Booth. Videotaped deposition, December 16, 2008, *United States v. Samuel Israel III,* 05 Cr. 1039 (S.D.N.Y.), and *Bayou Management, LLC v. Nichols.* https://archive.org/details/robert-booth-nichols ; docket, *Bayou Management, LLC v. Nichols,* 1:08-cv-06036 (S.D.N.Y.), filed July 2, 2008, terminated April 28, 2010, CourtListener. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md index 8e0c7230..f122901b 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md @@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ tags: - Person - Journalist summary: "Turner later admitted to police that he met with Casolaro but initially refused to specify the time or describe the contents of the papers." +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[Bill Turner]] was a friend and confidante of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]. He met with Casolaro in the parking lot of the Sheraton Hotel in Martinsburg, Virginia, on August 9, 1991, the day before Casolaro's death, to deliver some papers. These papers allegedly included two sealed packages that Turner had been keeping in his safe for Casolaro, and a packet of Hughes Aircraft papers belonging to Turner, who had been let go from Hughes for whistleblowing.[^1] @@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ Turner stated he was "scared shitless" about information he had seen connecting [[Bill Hamilton]], president of [[INSLAW]], later stated that he had received an affidavit from Bill Turner on "highly classified computer printouts on off-shore accounts that he claimed Casolaro intended to use the night he died in a planned meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]] and [[Joseph Cuellar]] and others."[^1] +A Justice Department copy of the Casolaro review records that Turner told the Hamiltons, who relayed the account to the reviewers, that Casolaro planned to meet in Martinsburg with Peter Videnieks, Joseph Cuellar, an unidentified person from Senator [[Robert Byrd]]'s office, an unidentified IRS employee and the attorney [[Robert Altman]]. The review states of this claim and of a report by a caller to the [[Unsolved Mysteries]] hotline that [[Clark Clifford]] and Altman were seen driving in Martinsburg on the day of the death in a late-model Chevrolet Caprice: "We have no reason to believe either of these claims."[^2] INSLAW's February 14, 1994 addendum to its rebuttal of the Bua report states that Casolaro told Turner that the Friday evening meeting in Martinsburg had been arranged by Cuellar, whom it described, according to Turner, as a U.S. Army Special Forces covert intelligence officer.[^3] + ### Footnotes [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice, Casolaro review passage on William Turner's account and the hotline report, DOCID 70098622, release p. 108. https://archive.org/details/DOJReportOnDanielJCasolaro +[^3]: Richardson, Elliot L., et al. *Addendum to INSLAW's Analysis and Rebuttal of the Bua Report*, February 14, 1994, p. 24. https://archive.org/details/AddendumToInslawsAnalysisAndRebuttalOfTheBuaReport diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Margaret Thatcher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Margaret Thatcher.md index 72248917..397396de 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Margaret Thatcher.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Margaret Thatcher.md @@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ aliases: - Mrs. Thatcher summary: "Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990; the vault records her governments' Cold War, Al-Yamamah and Iraq arms-export, intelligence, Falklands and Libya decisions." created: 2026-05-14 -updated: 2026-10-12 +updated: 2026-10-15 born: 1925-10-13 died: 2013-04-08 location: "Grantham, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom" @@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ relations: - type: relative_of with: "[[Mark Thatcher]]" role: "son" - fn: 39 + fn: 41 - type: participant_in with: "[[Falklands War]]" role: "Prime Minister" @@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ relations: role: "Prime Minister during the 1985 negotiation of the first agreement" start: 1985-04 end: 1985-09 - fn: 33 + fn: 35 - type: member_of with: "[[House of Lords]]" role: "Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven" @@ -120,45 +120,47 @@ Asked on November 7, 1986, whether she had had discussions with [[Shimon Peres]] On October 24, 1986, the Foreign Secretary, [[Geoffrey Howe]], told the Commons that the trial of [[Nezar Hindawi]] had ended that day. Hindawi "was found guilty of attempting to place a bomb on an El Al aircraft at Heathrow on 17 April and was sentenced to 45 years' imprisonment." Howe said that "There is conclusive evidence of Syrian official involvement with Hindawi," and that "We have therefore decided to break diplomatic relations with Syria." The Syrian ambassador was told to close his [[Syrian Embassy in London|embassy]] and leave the country within 14 days.[^30] +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote in 1992 that the closure of the embassy followed from a plan conceived by [[Rafael Eitan|Rafi Eitan]] to implicate the embassy in terrorism: "As a result, Margaret Thatcher closed down the Syrian Embassy in London."[^31] Diplomatic relations were restored on November 28, 1990, when [[Douglas Hurd]] told the Commons that Britain was resuming relations with Syria "with immediate effect."[^32] + ### Al-Yamamah -Al-Yamamah ("the Dove" in Arabic) was the series of government-to-government arms agreements between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, with [[British Aerospace]] (later [[BAE Systems]]) as prime contractor. The first agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding signed at Lancaster House in September 1985 by the Secretary of State for Defence, [[Michael Heseltine]], and the Saudi Defence Minister, Prince [[Sultan bin Abdulaziz]]; it is dated September 26, 1985, and covered 72 Tornado aircraft and 30 Hawk trainers, among other equipment.[^31][^32] Two further, more detailed agreements followed in 1986 and 1988, and the programme was extended in 1993 by an order for 48 more Tornados.[^31][^32] +Al-Yamamah ("the Dove" in Arabic) was the series of government-to-government arms agreements between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, with [[British Aerospace]] (later [[BAE Systems]]) as prime contractor. The first agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding signed at Lancaster House in September 1985 by the Secretary of State for Defence, [[Michael Heseltine]], and the Saudi Defence Minister, Prince [[Sultan bin Abdulaziz]]; it is dated September 26, 1985, and covered 72 Tornado aircraft and 30 Hawk trainers, among other equipment.[^33][^34] Two further, more detailed agreements followed in 1986 and 1988, and the programme was extended in 1993 by an order for 48 more Tornados.[^33][^34] -Foreign Office files released to the [[National Archives]] and reported in 2016 record that Thatcher stopped in [[Riyadh]] in April 1985 on her way back from South Asia and met King [[Fahd]]. Heseltine approved the stop-over on the basis that it would allow her to complete the sale, and Prince [[Bandar bin Sultan]], then Saudi ambassador to the United States, invited her. A briefing document stated that it "seems unlikely that Prince Bandar would seek to engineer such a meeting unless something positive was likely to come out of it." The official record of the meeting was billed as one about regional developments and does not mention the aircraft. After the visit Thatcher wrote to Fahd: "I was glad that we were able to discuss a further matter privately over lunch. I look forward to receiving your majesty's personal envoy soon, in order that we may conclude this matter successfully."[^33] +Foreign Office files released to the [[National Archives]] and reported in 2016 record that Thatcher stopped in [[Riyadh]] in April 1985 on her way back from South Asia and met King [[Fahd]]. Heseltine approved the stop-over on the basis that it would allow her to complete the sale, and Prince [[Bandar bin Sultan]], then Saudi ambassador to the United States, invited her. A briefing document stated that it "seems unlikely that Prince Bandar would seek to engineer such a meeting unless something positive was likely to come out of it." The official record of the meeting was billed as one about regional developments and does not mention the aircraft. After the visit Thatcher wrote to Fahd: "I was glad that we were able to discuss a further matter privately over lunch. I look forward to receiving your majesty's personal envoy soon, in order that we may conclude this matter successfully."[^35] -The Guardian published in October 2006 documents that had been released to the National Archives in May of that year and were withdrawn by the Ministry of Defence after the paper approached it. One was a January 1986 telegram from [[Colin Chandler]], head of the Ministry's arms sales unit, who was in Riyadh with BAE executives. The Guardian reported from it that the price of each Tornado had been raised by 32 percent, from £16.3 million to £21.5 million, and that the total was to reach £5 billion against the £3.5 billion to £4 billion stated in the Memorandum. The same release contained a Ministry of Defence briefing prepared for Thatcher that described Prince Sultan as "not highly intelligent," and Foreign Office correspondence of 1985 sending Thatcher's chief aide at Number 10, [[Charles Powell]], a copy of an Arab magazine that alleged £600 million in secret commissions, with advice that officials "should simply refuse all comment."[^31] Lord Gilmour, who had been a minister under Thatcher, told BBC2's Newsnight, as the Guardian quoted him: "You either got the business and bribed, or you didn't bribe and didn't get the business."[^31] +The Guardian published in October 2006 documents that had been released to the National Archives in May of that year and were withdrawn by the Ministry of Defence after the paper approached it. One was a January 1986 telegram from [[Colin Chandler]], head of the Ministry's arms sales unit, who was in Riyadh with BAE executives. The Guardian reported from it that the price of each Tornado had been raised by 32 percent, from £16.3 million to £21.5 million, and that the total was to reach £5 billion against the £3.5 billion to £4 billion stated in the Memorandum. The same release contained a Ministry of Defence briefing prepared for Thatcher that described Prince Sultan as "not highly intelligent," and Foreign Office correspondence of 1985 sending Thatcher's chief aide at Number 10, [[Charles Powell]], a copy of an Arab magazine that alleged £600 million in secret commissions, with advice that officials "should simply refuse all comment."[^33] Lord Gilmour, who had been a minister under Thatcher, told BBC2's Newsnight, as the Guardian quoted him: "You either got the business and bribed, or you didn't bribe and didn't get the business."[^33] -In 1992 the [[National Audit Office]] reported on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project. Its examination of project receipts and payments passing through the Ministry of Defence "found no evidence of commission payments being made to third parties." On February 27, 1992, in a private session of the [[Public Accounts Committee]], whose chairman was [[Robert Sheldon]], the Ministry's permanent secretary, Sir [[Michael Quinlan]], said: "The whole project operates under a seal of confidentiality. There is a very great sensitivity about the project on the part of the Saudi Arabian Government. Open Government is alien to them." Asked for an assurance that no public funds had gone the wrong way, Quinlan answered: "Yes, I can give you the assurance that there is no basis to support any suggestion that commission payments have been made using public funds."[^34] The report was not published. The Guardian reported in March 2024, after finding the papers in Sheldon's archive at the [[London School of Economics]], that only ten copies were printed and that only Sheldon and his deputy read it. The Guardian also reported that a Ministry memorandum disclosed at a later criminal trial showed that in 1988 the Ministry's head of arms sales had helped set up regular quarterly payments to Prince Bandar from Al-Yamamah funds, which BAE made on the Ministry's instruction. BAE said all payments were made with the express approval of the United Kingdom government, and the Ministry said the funds remained the property of the Saudi government.[^35] +In 1992 the [[National Audit Office]] reported on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project. Its examination of project receipts and payments passing through the Ministry of Defence "found no evidence of commission payments being made to third parties." On February 27, 1992, in a private session of the [[Public Accounts Committee]], whose chairman was [[Robert Sheldon]], the Ministry's permanent secretary, Sir [[Michael Quinlan]], said: "The whole project operates under a seal of confidentiality. There is a very great sensitivity about the project on the part of the Saudi Arabian Government. Open Government is alien to them." Asked for an assurance that no public funds had gone the wrong way, Quinlan answered: "Yes, I can give you the assurance that there is no basis to support any suggestion that commission payments have been made using public funds."[^36] The report was not published. The Guardian reported in March 2024, after finding the papers in Sheldon's archive at the [[London School of Economics]], that only ten copies were printed and that only Sheldon and his deputy read it. The Guardian also reported that a Ministry memorandum disclosed at a later criminal trial showed that in 1988 the Ministry's head of arms sales had helped set up regular quarterly payments to Prince Bandar from Al-Yamamah funds, which BAE made on the Ministry's instruction. BAE said all payments were made with the express approval of the United Kingdom government, and the Ministry said the funds remained the property of the Saudi government.[^37] -The [[Serious Fraud Office]] launched an investigation into allegations of corruption against BAE on July 29, 2004, one aspect of which concerned Al-Yamamah. By autumn 2006 it intended to examine Swiss bank accounts, and the judgment of the House of Lords records that the Saudi authorities responded with an explicit threat to withdraw from bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, to withdraw cooperation on the United Kingdom's strategic objectives in the Middle East and to end negotiations then in progress for the purchase of Typhoon aircraft. The ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir [[Sherard Cowper-Coles]], told the Director that "British lives on British streets were at risk." The Prime Minister, [[Tony Blair]], sent the Attorney General a personal minute on December 8, 2006.[^36] +The [[Serious Fraud Office]] launched an investigation into allegations of corruption against BAE on July 29, 2004, one aspect of which concerned Al-Yamamah. By autumn 2006 it intended to examine Swiss bank accounts, and the judgment of the House of Lords records that the Saudi authorities responded with an explicit threat to withdraw from bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, to withdraw cooperation on the United Kingdom's strategic objectives in the Middle East and to end negotiations then in progress for the purchase of Typhoon aircraft. The ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir [[Sherard Cowper-Coles]], told the Director that "British lives on British streets were at risk." The Prime Minister, [[Tony Blair]], sent the Attorney General a personal minute on December 8, 2006.[^38] -On December 14, 2006, the Attorney General, [[Lord Goldsmith]], told the Lords that the Director of the Serious Fraud Office had decided to discontinue the investigation "following representations that have been made both to the Attorney General and the Director concerning the need to safeguard national and international security." He said he had obtained "the views of the Prime Minister and the Foreign and Defence Secretaries," who had expressed "the clear view that continuation of the investigation would cause serious damage to UK/Saudi security, intelligence and diplomatic co-operation."[^37] [[The Corner House]] and Campaign Against Arms Trade challenged the decision. The Divisional Court quashed it on the ground that the Director had yielded to a threat. On July 30, 2008, the House of Lords allowed the Director's appeal in [[R (Corner House Research) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office]], holding the decision lawful. [[Lord Bingham]] wrote that what determined the decision was "the Director's judgment that the public interest in saving British lives outweighed the public interest in pursuing BAE to conviction."[^36] +On December 14, 2006, the Attorney General, [[Lord Goldsmith]], told the Lords that the Director of the Serious Fraud Office had decided to discontinue the investigation "following representations that have been made both to the Attorney General and the Director concerning the need to safeguard national and international security." He said he had obtained "the views of the Prime Minister and the Foreign and Defence Secretaries," who had expressed "the clear view that continuation of the investigation would cause serious damage to UK/Saudi security, intelligence and diplomatic co-operation."[^39] [[The Corner House]] and Campaign Against Arms Trade challenged the decision. The Divisional Court quashed it on the ground that the Director had yielded to a threat. On July 30, 2008, the House of Lords allowed the Director's appeal in [[R (Corner House Research) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office]], holding the decision lawful. [[Lord Bingham]] wrote that what determined the decision was "the Director's judgment that the public interest in saving British lives outweighed the public interest in pursuing BAE to conviction."[^38] -On March 1, 2010, BAE Systems pleaded guilty in the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia]] to conspiring to defraud the United States by making false statements about its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance program and to violating the Arms Export Control Act, and was fined $400 million by Judge John D. Bates. The Department of Justice stated that BAE took the role of prime contractor to the United Kingdom government in the mid-1980s after the formal understanding with Saudi Arabia, that its "support services" resulted in substantial benefits to a foreign public official of Saudi Arabia who was in a position of influence over sales of fighter jets, and that BAE undertook no adequate review or verification of more than $5 million in invoices submitted by one employee from May 2001 to early 2002.[^38] +On March 1, 2010, BAE Systems pleaded guilty in the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia]] to conspiring to defraud the United States by making false statements about its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance program and to violating the Arms Export Control Act, and was fined $400 million by Judge John D. Bates. The Department of Justice stated that BAE took the role of prime contractor to the United Kingdom government in the mid-1980s after the formal understanding with Saudi Arabia, that its "support services" resulted in substantial benefits to a foreign public official of Saudi Arabia who was in a position of influence over sales of fighter jets, and that BAE undertook no adequate review or verification of more than $5 million in invoices submitted by one employee from May 2001 to early 2002.[^40] ### Mark Thatcher -On January 24, 1996, [[George Galloway]] told the Commons that commissions on the Al-Yamamah arms sales had been paid through middlemen, and named [[Mark Thatcher]] and [[Wafic Said]] among them. He described Mark Thatcher as "the son of the then Prime Minister, who gave 10 Downing street as his address at the time," who "was later given his own house and other lavish benefits by Wafic Said." Galloway also named [[Douglas Leese]] among the intermediaries and described [[Jonathan Aitken]] as Said's business partner.[^39] The writer [[Paul Foot]] wrote in 1998 that it had become "common knowledge" that Mark Thatcher enriched himself by £12 million from the Al-Yamamah deals, that Thatcher himself never denied it or sued anyone for mentioning it, and that no one, including the authors of a book on the subject, could produce a single hard fact to prove it.[^40] The Guardian wrote in 2006 that all those involved had always denied the allegations.[^31] +On January 24, 1996, [[George Galloway]] told the Commons that commissions on the Al-Yamamah arms sales had been paid through middlemen, and named [[Mark Thatcher]] and [[Wafic Said]] among them. He described Mark Thatcher as "the son of the then Prime Minister, who gave 10 Downing street as his address at the time," who "was later given his own house and other lavish benefits by Wafic Said." Galloway also named [[Douglas Leese]] among the intermediaries and described [[Jonathan Aitken]] as Said's business partner.[^41] The writer [[Paul Foot]] wrote in 1998 that it had become "common knowledge" that Mark Thatcher enriched himself by £12 million from the Al-Yamamah deals, that Thatcher himself never denied it or sued anyone for mentioning it, and that no one, including the authors of a book on the subject, could produce a single hard fact to prove it.[^42] The Guardian wrote in 2006 that all those involved had always denied the allegations.[^33] -[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote that Mark Thatcher introduced [[Gerald Bull]] to [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] in 1983, and that Van Der Westhuizen connected Bull with [[ARMSCOR]] for the "supergun" project. Ben-Menashe wrote that Mark Thatcher was present at a late-1986 meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], Senator [[John Tower]] and Van Der Westhuizen. He also wrote that Mark Thatcher presented himself to Ben-Menashe in Santiago in 1988 as a private businessman with no connection to the British government, despite his mother's position, and that Mark Thatcher was involved in the sale of 48 [[Chieftain tanks]] to Chile after the [[Falklands War]].[^41] +Ari Ben-Menashe wrote that Mark Thatcher introduced [[Gerald Bull]] to [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] in 1983, and that Van Der Westhuizen connected Bull with [[ARMSCOR]] for the "supergun" project. Ben-Menashe wrote that Mark Thatcher was present at a late-1986 meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], Senator [[John Tower]] and Van Der Westhuizen. He also wrote that Mark Thatcher presented himself to Ben-Menashe in Santiago in 1988 as a private businessman with no connection to the British government, despite his mother's position, and that Mark Thatcher was involved in the sale of 48 [[Chieftain tanks]] to Chile after the [[Falklands War]].[^43] -On January 13, 2005, in the Cape High Court in [[Cape Town]], Mark Thatcher pleaded guilty under a plea agreement to attempting to contravene section 2 of South Africa's Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act by agreeing to charter a helicopter, for which he paid $275,000. The text of the agreement stated: "The accused began to suspect that the helicopter might in fact be intended for use in ... mercenary activity [in the west African region]. Despite his misgivings the accused decided to invest money in the charter of the helicopter." His lawyers stated that he was not charged with any involvement in the attempted coup in [[Equatorial Guinea]]. Judge Abe Motala imposed a fine of three million rand, or five years in prison, and a further four-year sentence suspended for five years. Zimbabwe had jailed [[Simon Mann]], a friend of Mark Thatcher and a former British special services officer, with 65 other suspected mercenaries in September 2004.[^42][^43] +On January 13, 2005, in the Cape High Court in [[Cape Town]], Mark Thatcher pleaded guilty under a plea agreement to attempting to contravene section 2 of South Africa's Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act by agreeing to charter a helicopter, for which he paid $275,000. The text of the agreement stated: "The accused began to suspect that the helicopter might in fact be intended for use in ... mercenary activity [in the west African region]. Despite his misgivings the accused decided to invest money in the charter of the helicopter." His lawyers stated that he was not charged with any involvement in the attempted coup in [[Equatorial Guinea]]. Judge Abe Motala imposed a fine of three million rand, or five years in prison, and a further four-year sentence suspended for five years. Zimbabwe had jailed [[Simon Mann]], a friend of Mark Thatcher and a former British special services officer, with 65 other suspected mercenaries in September 2004.[^44][^45] ### Matrix Churchill and the Scott Inquiry -[[Matrix Churchill]], a machine-tool company based in Coventry, exported precision tooling to Iraq under export licenses approved by the [[Department of Trade and Industry]], despite MI6 awareness that the machinery would be used for weapons production. Three Matrix Churchill directors were prosecuted in 1992 for breaching export controls. The Arms-to-Iraq affair was the British corollary to the same illicit weapons procurement networks that characterized Western support for [[Saddam Hussein]] during the [[Iran-Iraq War]]. On November 18, 1992, the Prime Minister, [[John Major]], answered (holding answer of November 17) a Commons question on whether the papers supplied to defence counsel would be placed in the Library: "No. The papers were supplied to the defence for the purposes of the trial. Lord Justice Scott will have access to them."[^44] +[[Matrix Churchill]], a machine-tool company based in Coventry, exported precision tooling to Iraq under export licenses approved by the [[Department of Trade and Industry]], despite MI6 awareness that the machinery would be used for weapons production. Three Matrix Churchill directors were prosecuted in 1992 for breaching export controls. The Arms-to-Iraq affair was the British corollary to the same illicit weapons procurement networks that characterized Western support for [[Saddam Hussein]] during the [[Iran-Iraq War]]. On November 18, 1992, the Prime Minister, [[John Major]], answered (holding answer of November 17) a Commons question on whether the papers supplied to defence counsel would be placed in the Library: "No. The papers were supplied to the defence for the purposes of the trial. Lord Justice Scott will have access to them."[^46] -The trial collapsed after ministers' public interest immunity certificates kept intelligence documents from the defense. The allegation that ministers had signed the certificates to suppress intelligence documents that would have exonerated the defendants was made in the media. The government's account, given by [[Ian Lang]] to the Commons on February 15, 1996, recorded the charges "made and repeated in the media that the Ministers who signed the PII certificates were seeking to deprive defendants in a criminal trial of the means by which to clear themselves." Lang said that [[Richard Scott|Sir Richard Scott]] "concludes, after more than three years of painstaking investigation, that all Ministers who signed PII certificates did so without any impropriety."[^45] +The trial collapsed after ministers' public interest immunity certificates kept intelligence documents from the defense. The allegation that ministers had signed the certificates to suppress intelligence documents that would have exonerated the defendants was made in the media. The government's account, given by [[Ian Lang]] to the Commons on February 15, 1996, recorded the charges "made and repeated in the media that the Ministers who signed the PII certificates were seeking to deprive defendants in a criminal trial of the means by which to clear themselves." Lang said that [[Richard Scott|Sir Richard Scott]] "concludes, after more than three years of painstaking investigation, that all Ministers who signed PII certificates did so without any impropriety."[^47] -The [[Scott Inquiry]], commissioned by Major in November 1992 after the end of the Matrix Churchill trial, reported on February 15, 1996, after Thatcher had left office.[^45][^46] Lang quoted the report's finding that "following the ceasefire in 1988, but not before, Government policy towards the export of non-lethal military goods changed in a way that he believes should have been drawn to the attention of the House." He added that Scott "expressly accepts that they were sincere in doing so," while not agreeing "that they were correct in their belief."[^45] +The [[Scott Inquiry]], commissioned by Major in November 1992 after the end of the Matrix Churchill trial, reported on February 15, 1996, after Thatcher had left office.[^47][^48] Lang quoted the report's finding that "following the ceasefire in 1988, but not before, Government policy towards the export of non-lethal military goods changed in a way that he believes should have been drawn to the attention of the House." He added that Scott "expressly accepts that they were sincere in doing so," while not agreeing "that they were correct in their belief."[^47] ### Stoke Lodge and the Elm Guest House allegations -The writer S. Dovey wrote that civic functions at [[Stoke Lodge]], the residence of the Australian High Commissioner in Kensington, were attended by Thatcher, [[Peter Morrison]], [[Peter Hayman]] and Brittan. Dovey also wrote that the chauffeur firm used by the residence employed men later convicted of child abuse and murder, and that reporting on a June 1982 police raid of the [[Elm Guest House]] may have stopped after intervention by Attorney General [[Michael Havers]].[^47] +The writer S. Dovey wrote that civic functions at [[Stoke Lodge]], the residence of the Australian High Commissioner in Kensington, were attended by Thatcher, [[Peter Morrison]], [[Peter Hayman]] and Brittan. Dovey also wrote that the chauffeur firm used by the residence employed men later convicted of child abuse and murder, and that reporting on a June 1982 police raid of the [[Elm Guest House]] may have stopped after intervention by Attorney General [[Michael Havers]].[^49] ### Resignation and later life -On November 22, 1990, Thatcher addressed the Commons in the debate on the motion of confidence in her government.[^48] She faced a leadership challenge from Heseltine in which she could not win the second ballot. She resigned as Prime Minister on November 28, 1990, and was succeeded by Major. She was elevated to the House of Lords as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven in 1992. She died on April 8, 2013, at The Ritz hotel in London, following a stroke, aged 87.[^1] +On November 22, 1990, Thatcher addressed the Commons in the debate on the motion of confidence in her government.[^50] She faced a leadership challenge from Heseltine in which she could not win the second ballot. She resigned as Prime Minister on November 28, 1990, and was succeeded by Major. She was elevated to the House of Lords as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven in 1992. She died on April 8, 2013, at The Ritz hotel in London, following a stroke, aged 87.[^1] ### Footnotes @@ -192,21 +194,23 @@ On November 22, 1990, Thatcher addressed the Commons in the debate on the motion [^28]: Thatcher, Margaret, written answer on Mr. M. Vanunu, House of Commons, November 7, 1986, HC Deb vol. 103, col. 632W. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written_answers/1986/nov/07/mr-m-vanunu [^29]: Thatcher, Margaret, written answer on Mr. Mordechai Vanunu, House of Commons, November 27, 1986, HC Deb vol. 106, col. 299W. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written_answers/1986/nov/27/mr-mordechai-vanunu [^30]: Howe, Sir Geoffrey, statement on Anglo-Syrian relations, House of Commons, October 24, 1986, HC Deb vol. 102, cols. 1504-14. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/oct/24/anglo-syrian-relations -[^31]: Leigh, David, and Rob Evans, "The secret Whitehall telegram that reveals truth behind controversial Saudi arms deal," *The Guardian,* October 27, 2006. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/28/bae.whitehall -[^32]: Lewis, Mike, and Katherine Templar. *UK Personnel Supporting the Saudi Armed Forces: Risk, Knowledge and Accountability.* 2018, citing the Memorandum of Understanding for the Provision of Equipment and Services for the Royal Saudi Air Force, September 26, 1985, and UK National Archives file FCO 8/6055. https://www.mikelewisresearch.com/RSAFfinal.pdf -[^33]: "Thatcher held secret Saudi talks to win huge arms deal, archives show," *Middle East Eye,* August 25, 2016 (reporting on Foreign Office files released to the National Archives). https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/thatcher-held-secret-saudi-talks-win-huge-arms-deal-archives-show -[^34]: Ministry of Defence Appropriation Accounts 1990-91, Class I, Vote 2, Defence Procurement: The Saudi Arabian Airforce Project (National Audit Office report, 1992), and summary minutes of the private session of the Committee of Public Accounts, February 27, 1992 (Sir Michael Quinlan, Ministry of Defence), in the papers of Robert Sheldon, London School of Economics, as published by The Guardian. https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/24502904/collected-files-sheldon-papers-reduced.pdf -[^35]: "Suppressed report on UK-Saudi arms deal discovered in archive," *The Guardian,* March 24, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/24/al-yamamah-arms-deal-report-discovery-anti-corruption-mod-nao-britain-saudi-arabia -[^36]: *R (on the application of Corner House Research and others) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office* [2008] UKHL 60 (House of Lords, July 30, 2008), on appeal from [2008] EWHC 714 (Admin). https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2008/60.html -[^37]: Goldsmith, Lord (Attorney General), statement "BAE Systems: Al Yamamah Contract," House of Lords, December 14, 2006, HL Deb cols. 1711-8. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/61214-0014.htm -[^38]: U.S. Department of Justice, "BAE Systems PLC Pleads Guilty and Ordered to Pay $400 Million Criminal Fine," press release, March 1, 2010 (*United States v. BAE Systems plc,* D.D.C., Crim. No. 10-035, Judge John D. Bates). https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/bae-systems-plc-pleads-guilty-and-ordered-pay-400-million-criminal-fine -[^39]: Galloway, George, speech on Saudi Arabia, House of Commons, January 24, 1996, HC Deb vol. 270, cols. 453-62. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1996/jan/24/saudi-arabia -[^40]: Foot, Paul, "Prince and Pimp," *London Review of Books,* vol. 20, no. 1, January 1, 1998. https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n01/paul-foot/prince-and-pimp -[^41]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network.* Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015). -[^42]: "Thatcher admits role in coup plot," *Al Jazeera,* January 13, 2005. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/1/13/thatcher-admits-role-in-coup-plot -[^43]: "Thatcher's son pleads guilty in coup plot," Associated Press, January 13, 2005. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6818757 -[^44]: Major, John, written answer on Matrix Churchill, House of Commons, November 18, 1992, HC Deb vol. 214, cols. 216-7W. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written_answers/1992/nov/18/matrix-churchill -[^45]: Lang, Ian, statement on the Scott Report, House of Commons, February 15, 1996, HC Deb vol. 271, cols. 1139-64. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1996/feb/15/scott-report -[^46]: Scott, Sir Richard. *Report of the Inquiry into the Export of Defence Equipment and Dual-Use Goods to Iraq and Related Prosecutions.* HC 115, HMSO, February 15, 1996. Quoted in the Lang statement (Lang, February 15, 1996, above). -[^47]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk.* 2023. -[^48]: Thatcher, Margaret, speech in the debate on "Confidence in Her Majesty's Government," House of Commons, November 22, 1990, HC Deb vol. 181, cols. 439-518. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1990/nov/22/confidence-in-her-majestys-government +[^31]: Ari Ben-Menashe, *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network* (Sheridan Square Press, 1992; TrineDay, 2015), pp. 121 to 124 (Thatcher sentence at p. 124). +[^32]: HC Deb 28 November 1990, "Middle East," statement by Douglas Hurd. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1990/nov/28/middle-east-2 +[^33]: Leigh, David, and Rob Evans, "The secret Whitehall telegram that reveals truth behind controversial Saudi arms deal," *The Guardian,* October 27, 2006. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/28/bae.whitehall +[^34]: Lewis, Mike, and Katherine Templar. *UK Personnel Supporting the Saudi Armed Forces: Risk, Knowledge and Accountability.* 2018, citing the Memorandum of Understanding for the Provision of Equipment and Services for the Royal Saudi Air Force, September 26, 1985, and UK National Archives file FCO 8/6055. https://www.mikelewisresearch.com/RSAFfinal.pdf +[^35]: "Thatcher held secret Saudi talks to win huge arms deal, archives show," *Middle East Eye,* August 25, 2016 (reporting on Foreign Office files released to the National Archives). https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/thatcher-held-secret-saudi-talks-win-huge-arms-deal-archives-show +[^36]: Ministry of Defence Appropriation Accounts 1990-91, Class I, Vote 2, Defence Procurement: The Saudi Arabian Airforce Project (National Audit Office report, 1992), and summary minutes of the private session of the Committee of Public Accounts, February 27, 1992 (Sir Michael Quinlan, Ministry of Defence), in the papers of Robert Sheldon, London School of Economics, as published by The Guardian. https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/24502904/collected-files-sheldon-papers-reduced.pdf +[^37]: "Suppressed report on UK-Saudi arms deal discovered in archive," *The Guardian,* March 24, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/24/al-yamamah-arms-deal-report-discovery-anti-corruption-mod-nao-britain-saudi-arabia +[^38]: *R (on the application of Corner House Research and others) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office* [2008] UKHL 60 (House of Lords, July 30, 2008), on appeal from [2008] EWHC 714 (Admin). https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2008/60.html +[^39]: Goldsmith, Lord (Attorney General), statement "BAE Systems: Al Yamamah Contract," House of Lords, December 14, 2006, HL Deb cols. 1711-8. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/61214-0014.htm +[^40]: U.S. Department of Justice, "BAE Systems PLC Pleads Guilty and Ordered to Pay $400 Million Criminal Fine," press release, March 1, 2010 (*United States v. BAE Systems plc,* D.D.C., Crim. No. 10-035, Judge John D. Bates). https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/bae-systems-plc-pleads-guilty-and-ordered-pay-400-million-criminal-fine +[^41]: Galloway, George, speech on Saudi Arabia, House of Commons, January 24, 1996, HC Deb vol. 270, cols. 453-62. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1996/jan/24/saudi-arabia +[^42]: Foot, Paul, "Prince and Pimp," *London Review of Books,* vol. 20, no. 1, January 1, 1998. https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n01/paul-foot/prince-and-pimp +[^43]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network.* Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015). +[^44]: "Thatcher admits role in coup plot," *Al Jazeera,* January 13, 2005. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/1/13/thatcher-admits-role-in-coup-plot +[^45]: "Thatcher's son pleads guilty in coup plot," Associated Press, January 13, 2005. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6818757 +[^46]: Major, John, written answer on Matrix Churchill, House of Commons, November 18, 1992, HC Deb vol. 214, cols. 216-7W. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written_answers/1992/nov/18/matrix-churchill +[^47]: Lang, Ian, statement on the Scott Report, House of Commons, February 15, 1996, HC Deb vol. 271, cols. 1139-64. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1996/feb/15/scott-report +[^48]: Scott, Sir Richard. *Report of the Inquiry into the Export of Defence Equipment and Dual-Use Goods to Iraq and Related Prosecutions.* HC 115, HMSO, February 15, 1996. Quoted in the Lang statement (Lang, February 15, 1996, above). +[^49]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk.* 2023. +[^50]: Thatcher, Margaret, speech in the debate on "Confidence in Her Majesty's Government," House of Commons, November 22, 1990, HC Deb vol. 181, cols. 439-518. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1990/nov/22/confidence-in-her-majestys-government diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md index c8b1c8bb..1ebec585 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md @@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ Joseph Cuellar, an Army Reserve major, met Casolaro by chance at a bar in Arling Casolaro's notes, a Justice Department memorandum records, reflect a telephone call he made to Videnieks on June 13, 1991. Videnieks refused to talk and referred him to his lawyer, Charles Ruff. Videnieks recalled a call from a reporter whose name sounded like "Kessler," which he said could have been "Casolaro," and said he could not remember whether he had ever spoken with Casolaro.[^38] +In a February 1994 FBI interview, Joseph Cuellar said that Casolaro pressed him repeatedly to introduce him to Videnieks, that the woman Cuellar was dating at the time also telephoned him to add pressure, and that he then telephoned Videnieks and passed on Casolaro's interest. According to Cuellar, Videnieks indicated that he might meet Casolaro but was "done with that and there was no need to go into it anymore."[^39] + +A work list of further steps in the same Justice Department file, which described its items as overinclusive, names Cuellar as item 16, "Joe Cuellar (source)," and Videnieks as item 17, "Peter Videnieks (possible source)," and notes that Videnieks was represented by counsel, Charles Ruff.[^40] + +In floor remarks on March 20, 1991 on the supplemental appropriations bills that included Desert Shield and Desert Storm funding, Senator Robert Byrd thanked "my chief of staff, Barbara Videnieks."[^41] INSLAW's February 14, 1994 addendum to its rebuttal of the Bua report stated that Cuellar described himself to Casolaro as one of Videnieks's closest friends and told Casolaro that Videnieks had agreed to meet, and that Casolaro had gone to Martinsburg for a meeting with sources whom he described to an associate as a relative of Barbara Videnieks plus one other person from Byrd's office.[^42] + The review recorded that Videnieks denied any involvement in Casolaro's death and said he had been at a summer cottage in New York state from August 5 to August 11, 1991. His personnel records showed leave in that period, a credit card receipt showed a purchase at a bookstore in Oneonta, New York, on August 9, and his telephone records showed a call from the cottage to his brother on August 9 at 8:35 p.m. The review found no reason to question his account that he was in New York on August 10, 1991, and was unaware of evidence linking him to the death.[^35] The review also recorded that a Kentucky salvage dealer told Martinsburg police that Videnieks and Brian had played a high-stakes poker game at a Sheraton in Martinsburg around the time of Casolaro's death. The police could not corroborate the account, and the review found the witness lacked credibility.[^35] ### Trial testimony and later accounts @@ -159,4 +165,8 @@ Seymour wrote that Videnieks offered rewards for non-cooperation with the House [^35]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, pp. 159-160. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 [^36]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 161. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 [^37]: U.S. Department of Justice. Review of the *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua*, September 27, 1994, p. 162. https://archive.org/details/doj-oip-inslaw-1993 -[^38]: U.S. Department of Justice, memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 42 (printed p. 26), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^38]: U.S. Department of Justice, memorandum on the BCCI and INSLAW special prosecutor contacts, undated, [1994], release p. 43 (printed p. 27), DOCID 70002067. https://archive.org/details/INSLAW-Casolaro +[^39]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Metropolitan Field Office, memorandum to Steven E. Zipperstein, February 2, 1994, DOCID 70098626, release p. 107. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^40]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, undated "Casolaro Review" work list, DOCID 70098626, release pp. 44-45. https://archive.org/details/JohnC.DwyerNotesOnInslaw +[^41]: *Congressional Record*, vol. 137, Senate, March 20, 1991, p. 6823, remarks of Senator Robert C. Byrd on the supplemental appropriations bills. https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_march-13-1991-march-21-1991_137-redacted +[^42]: Richardson, Elliot L., et al. *Addendum to INSLAW's Analysis and Rebuttal of the Bua Report*, February 14, 1994, p. 24 and n.5. https://archive.org/details/AddendumToInslawsAnalysisAndRebuttalOfTheBuaReport diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Zokosky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Zokosky.md index c47d40f2..762523c0 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Zokosky.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Zokosky.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ relations: with: "[[Meridian International Logistics]]" role: "board member; asked later to be taken off the board (Zokosky to Seymour, 2001)" fn: 1 -updated: 2026-10-08 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[Peter Zokosky]] was an arms manufacturer and a key figure in various covert operations and business ventures, often associated with [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. He was a former president of [[Armtec]], a company that produced combustible cartridge cases for the Army, and was under a non-compete agreement with them until August 1981. Zokosky also served as a consultant to the [[Great Britain|British Government]] on shell casings.[^1] @@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Seymour wrote in her 1992 VORTEX account that Michael Riconosciuto had once been ### Role in "The Octopus" Investigation -Peter Zokosky was a key source for [[Cheri Seymour]]'s investigation into "[[The Octopus]]." He provided Seymour with a copy of the "Special Operations [Surveillance] Report" on the Lake Cahuilla meeting, which he had obtained from a friend in [[Washington, D.C.]], the document the special counsel had traced to Gilbert's 1991 interview with Riconosciuto. He also provided an audio-taped conversation with Michael Riconosciuto narrating the murders of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]], and their connection to drug operations. Zokosky stated that Paul Morasca was killed due to a "narcotics deal" gone awry and his involvement in laundering drug profits.[^1] +Peter Zokosky was a key source for [[Cheri Seymour]]'s investigation into "[[The Octopus]]." He provided Seymour with a copy of the "Special Operations [Surveillance] Report" on the Lake Cahuilla meeting, which he had obtained from a friend in [[Washington, D.C.]], the document the special counsel had traced to Gilbert's 1991 interview with Riconosciuto. He also provided an audio-taped conversation with Michael Riconosciuto narrating the murders of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]], and their connection to drug operations. The tape referred to the murder of Morasca in [[San Francisco]] and of Quick in [[Fresno]], and said that [[Ben Kalka]] handled an LSD operation in Fresno.[^4] Zokosky stated that Paul Morasca was killed due to a "narcotics deal" gone awry and his involvement in laundering drug profits.[^1] Seymour recorded Zokosky's assessment of Riconosciuto as unreliable, a pathological liar with grains of truth in the tales he spins.[^5] Zokosky was initially defensive about [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death, stating he believed Casolaro committed suicide, though his wife, [[Regina Zokosky]], indicated he had previously said otherwise. He allowed Cheri Seymour and [[Kelly O'Meara]] to review a manuscript written by Robert Booth Nichols about Danny Casolaro's death, titled "Danny Casolaro's Octopus."[^1] @@ -54,3 +54,5 @@ He was an investor in the Cabazon Indian Reservation and a skeet range, though h [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010. The special counsel's report records the Picatinny meeting date as disputed and found no support for the presence of Contra leaders or Earl Brian at Lake Cahuilla. [^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.,* March 1993, pp. 56-64. [^3]: Seymour, Cheri. "VORTEX," diary dated February 24, 1992, p. 11. https://archive.org/details/VORTEXDocument +[^4]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, p. 340. +[^5]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010, p. 344. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md index 1fa66047..cc76a819 100644 --- a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md @@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ relations: role: "defense counsel, Cloer murder trial" fn: 25 created: 2025-08-05 -updated: 2026-10-07 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] (spelled Phillip Arthur Thompson in court records), also known as PAT, "Jason" and Jason Smith, was convicted of robbing and kidnapping two [[United Parcel Service]] drivers in [[Burlingame, California]] in December 1980,[^1] and, on April 8, 2008, of the first degree murder of [[Betty Cloer]] in [[El Dorado County]] in 1971.[^2] [[Michael Riconosciuto]] named him as the killer of [[Paul Morasca]], and [[Cheri Seymour]] wrote that he worked as an informant for [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Robert Barnes]].[^3] @@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ The Third District affirmed the conviction in an unpublished opinion filed Decem [^15]: Thomas and Keith, *The Octopus*, text near pp. 28-36, citing Jonathan Littman and Taylor, "Bizarre Murders Puzzle Cops," San Francisco Chronicle, December 30, 1991. https://archive.org/details/the-octopus [^16]: Ted L. Gunderson to Hon. Victor Dahman, October 6, 1983, Danny Casolaro papers, Misc. Docs file. https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks [^17]: "Statement of Michael J. Riconosciuto," February 16, 1984, Danny Casolaro papers, Misc. Docs file. https://archive.org/details/casolaro-notebooks -[^18]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, ch. 17, "The Inslaw Affair," p. 344. https://archive.org/details/TheInslawAffair +[^18]: Seymour, *The Last Circle*, ch. 17, "The Inslaw Affair," pp. 344-345. https://archive.org/details/TheInslawAffair [^19]: John Hussar, "Crime probes tied to Nichols associates," Desert Sun (Palm Springs), March 21, 1985, p. 1 (reprint). https://www.maebrussell.com/Inslaw/Desert%20Sun%203-21-85.html [^20]: "Transcript of Meeting," Alan D. Boyack, Ted Gunderson and Michael James Riconosciuto, May 5, 1991, Tacoma, Washington, pp. 19-21. https://archive.org/details/CasolaroTranscriptBoyackGundersonRiconsosciuto [^21]: Cheri Seymour, "VORTEX" summary dated February 24, 1992, attached to her affidavit notarized in Mariposa County, October 1992. https://archive.org/details/VORTEXDocument diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.md index 34231aa0..bc1eeaf7 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.md @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ relations: start: 1976 fn: 2 created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- The [[Abu Dhabi]] Investment Authority (ADIA) is, in its own description to the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, "a public institution established by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1976 as an independent investment institution."[^1] From 1980 it held 10 percent of the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] (BCCI), and its secretary general from 1976, [[Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui|Ghanim Faris al-Mazrui]], represented it on BCCI's board from 1981 and became the bank's chairman.[^2] @@ -33,12 +33,15 @@ The [[Abu Dhabi]] Investment Authority (ADIA) is, in its own description to the According to the [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]], after the fall in 1980 of Abdullah Darweish, the adviser who managed the investments of the ruling family, Sheikh [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Zayed]] directed ADIA to acquire a 10 percent stake in BCCI from [[ICIC]], BCCI's Cayman affiliate, which had agreed to buy back the shares of the departing [[Bank of America]]. Unlike the ruling family, which appeared to have contributed no more than 500,000 dollars to BCCI's capital before April 1990, ADIA "appears to have made some cash payments for its interest in BCCI," whose book value was about 250 million dollars at the end of 1989.[^2] -After BCCI's closure ADIA joined the Private Department of the UAE president in suing the bank's former executives in Abu Dhabi, and on June 14, 1994, the court awarded it 1.347 billion dollars of the 9.13 billion dollars in damages.[^3] ADIA held 10 percent of Union National Bank, the former Bank of Credit and Commerce Emirates. In January 1995 BCCI's liquidators agreed to sell the bank's 40 percent stake in it back to the Abu Dhabi government for about 27.4 million dollars, and an Abu Dhabi official said the government would later transfer its 50 percent holding to ADIA; the purchase was completed in May 1996.[^4][^5] +A Federal Reserve enforcement release of July 29, 1991 reproduced BCCI's ownership tables for 1989, which list the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority among the shareholders. A note to the tables states that ADIA sold 1,273 shares acquired in the July 1989 rights offering to Sheikh [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan]] on July 18, 1989.[^3] + +After BCCI's closure ADIA joined the Private Department of the UAE president in suing the bank's former executives in Abu Dhabi, and on June 14, 1994, the court awarded it 1.347 billion dollars of the 9.13 billion dollars in damages.[^4] ADIA held 10 percent of Union National Bank, the former Bank of Credit and Commerce Emirates. In January 1995 BCCI's liquidators agreed to sell the bank's 40 percent stake in it back to the Abu Dhabi government for about 27.4 million dollars, and an Abu Dhabi official said the government would later transfer its 50 percent holding to ADIA; the purchase was completed in May 1996.[^5][^6] ### Footnotes [^1]: International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, "Abu Dhabi Investment Authority." https://www.ifswf.org/members/abu-dhabi-investment-authority [^2]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Stockholders." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm -[^3]: Hussain, Thomas. "UAE jails and fines BCCI executives," United Press International, June 14, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/14/UAE-jails-and-fines-BCCI-executives/7650771566400/ -[^4]: "Abu Dhabi to buy BCCI share in UAE bank," United Press International, January 31, 1995. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/01/31/Abu-Dhabi-to-buy-BCCI-share-in-UAE-bank/6991791528400/ -[^5]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ +[^3]: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, press release, "formal enforcement proceeding against BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg) S.A.," July 29, 1991, with the attached BCCI shareholder tables for 1989 and note 1 to the rights-offering table. https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/files/19910729.pdf +[^4]: Hussain, Thomas. "UAE jails and fines BCCI executives," United Press International, June 14, 1994. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/14/UAE-jails-and-fines-BCCI-executives/7650771566400/ +[^5]: "Abu Dhabi to buy BCCI share in UAE bank," United Press International, January 31, 1995. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/01/31/Abu-Dhabi-to-buy-BCCI-share-in-UAE-bank/6991791528400/ +[^6]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Martinet Press.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Martinet Press.md index 01a66c2b..ccbb5409 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Martinet Press.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Martinet Press.md @@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ The FBI paid Sutter more than $140,000 between 2003 and at least 2021 for intell Martinet Press's primary publications, all drawn from O9A source material and produced under Tempel ov Blood's collective authorship, include: -*Iron Gates* (October 18, 2014; ISBN 9780692306581): An ultraviolent novel depicting a post-collapse race war and mass genocide, framed within O9A's [[Insight Roles]] doctrine as spiritually necessary transgression. Became required AWD reading after Sutter's infiltration; its distribution through Terrorgram channels gave it reach far beyond the original O9A audience. The book is available through the [[Internet Archive]] in full text and was carried by multiple commercial booksellers including WORD Bookstore, ThriftBooks, and Better World Books. +*Iron Gates* (listed October 18, 2014 on Amazon and Goodreads; announced by the press on July 28, 2014 and posted as available on October 29, 2014; ISBN 9780692306581; 404 pages on the Amazon listing, 406 on Goodreads): An ultraviolent novel depicting a post-collapse race war and mass genocide, framed within O9A's [[Insight Roles]] doctrine as spiritually necessary transgression. Became required AWD reading after Sutter's infiltration; its distribution through Terrorgram channels gave it reach far beyond the original O9A audience. The book is available through the [[Internet Archive]] in full text and was carried by multiple commercial booksellers including WORD Bookstore, ThriftBooks, and Better World Books. *Liber 333*: An O9A initiation text containing practical instructions for the Seven Fold Way, including descriptions of the Insight Roles doctrine and guidance for the initiate's progression through transgressive acts. @@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ The relationship between Martinet Press and Sutter's FBI informant status is a m - February 2003: Sutter arrested in [[Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania]] by [[Philadelphia JTTF]] - May 2003: Guilty plea entered, [[United States v. Sutter (2003)]], 2:03-cr-00158-ER-1 ([[Eastern District of Pennsylvania]]) - 2004: Released from federal prison; informant deployment as "deep-cover" source begins -- 2014: *Iron Gates* published by Martinet Press (October 18, 2014; ISBN 9780692306581) +- 2014: *Iron Gates* announced by Martinet Press on July 28, listed for retail on October 18 and posted as available on October 29 (ISBN 9780692306581)[^12] - 2017: Tempel ov Blood members integrated into AWD; Sutter joins AWD as "swissdiscipline" - February 7, 2018: FBI payment period specifically associated with the AWD investigation begins ($78,133.20 in payments + $4,378.60 expenses) - 2019-2020: Martinet Press publishes additional works including *Choronzon IV*, *Goetia Daemonium*, *Egregoroi*, and *PREDATOR* issues[^3] @@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ The court documents disclosing Sutter's informant status, obtained and published ### Court Description of the Publishing Operation -In the August 13, 2021 [[motion to suppress]] filed in [[United States v. Shea et al. (2020)|United States v. Cole]], 2:20-cr-00032-JCC ([[Western District of Washington|W.D. Wash.]]), Cole's defense described the CI, without using Sutter's name, as: "a convicted felon and currently owns and operates a publishing company that distributes white supremacist writings." The motion also stated that the informant had been paid over $140,000 since 2003 and "$78,133.20 plus an expense advance of $4,378.60, since February 7, 2018, which almost entirely coincides with his work on the investigation into Mr. Cole and Atomwaffen."[^12] +In the August 13, 2021 [[motion to suppress]] filed in [[United States v. Shea et al. (2020)|United States v. Cole]], 2:20-cr-00032-JCC ([[Western District of Washington|W.D. Wash.]]), Cole's defense described the CI, without using Sutter's name, as: "a convicted felon and currently owns and operates a publishing company that distributes white supremacist writings." The motion also stated that the informant had been paid over $140,000 since 2003 and "$78,133.20 plus an expense advance of $4,378.60, since February 7, 2018, which almost entirely coincides with his work on the investigation into Mr. Cole and Atomwaffen."[^13] -The government's response of August 20, 2021 (Dkt. 200), signed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Woods and Seth Wilkinson, stated that the informant had received about $140,000, "which included both compensation and reimbursement for expenses," and argued that paying him for about sixteen years "tends to suggest that the informant is reliable."[^13] Judge [[John C. Coughenour]] denied the motion to suppress and for a hearing under *Franks v. Delaware* on August 30, 2021, writing that the compensation "does not impugn his credibility. If anything, it suggests that he demonstrated reliability."[^14] +The government's response of August 20, 2021 (Dkt. 200), signed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Woods and Seth Wilkinson, stated that the informant had received about $140,000, "which included both compensation and reimbursement for expenses," and argued that paying him for about sixteen years "tends to suggest that the informant is reliable."[^14] Judge [[John C. Coughenour]] denied the motion to suppress and for a hearing under *Franks v. Delaware* on August 30, 2021, writing that the compensation "does not impugn his credibility. If anything, it suggests that he demonstrated reliability."[^15] The affidavit itself, which was attached to the motion as Exhibit A, had not previously been public; it was the first time the original search warrant application against Cole's home was released. @@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ Martinet Press continued operating after Sutter's informant status was publicly ### Distribution Through Terrorgram -Martinet Press publications achieved their widest distribution not through direct sale or the O9A organizational network but through Terrorgram Collective's Telegram channels, which distributed them alongside other accelerationist propaganda to an audience that included individuals with no prior AWD or O9A connection. This secondary distribution made Martinet Press texts - especially *Iron Gates* - standard reference points within the broader [[Siege Culture]] and [[Nihilistic Violent Extremism|nihilistic violent extremism]] ecosystem, contributing to the ideological environment in which the [[764 Network|764]] network and its predecessor [[CVLT]] operated, and shaping the content cited in the manifestos of self-radicalizing attackers including the perpetrators of the [[2026 Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting]].[^15] +The [[Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism]] at the [[Middlebury Institute of International Studies]] wrote that Martinet Press used its place in Atomwaffen Division to "disseminate its hyper violent content across the burgeoning Telegram accelerationist ecosystem," and that its books became "required readings for recruits."[^16] + +Martinet Press publications achieved their widest distribution not through direct sale or the O9A organizational network but through Terrorgram Collective's Telegram channels, which distributed them alongside other accelerationist propaganda to an audience that included individuals with no prior AWD or O9A connection. This secondary distribution made Martinet Press texts - especially *Iron Gates* - standard reference points within the broader [[Siege Culture]] and [[Nihilistic Violent Extremism|nihilistic violent extremism]] ecosystem, contributing to the ideological environment in which the [[764 Network|764]] network and its predecessor [[CVLT]] operated, and shaping the content cited in the manifestos of self-radicalizing attackers including the perpetrators of the [[2026 Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting]].[^17] ### Footnotes @@ -123,7 +125,9 @@ Martinet Press publications achieved their widest distribution not through direc [^9]: "The Mainstream Publishers, Distributors and Bookshops Selling Satanist Neo-Nazi Books." *Bellingcat,* June 30, 2023. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/06/30/the-mainstream-publishers-distributors-and-bookshops-selling-satanist-neo-nazi-books [^10]: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. "Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting To Murder Fellow Service Members In Deadly Ambush," March 3, 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-us-army-soldier-sentenced-45-years-prison-attempting-murder-fellow-service [^11]: Winston, Ali. "Plea Deal in the Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers," *Rolling Stone,* July 6, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/neo-nazi-1378280/ -[^12]: Defense motion to suppress and Exhibit A (original search warrant affidavit), United States v. Cole, 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 194 (W.D. Wash.), August 13, 2021. Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/kaleb-cole-august-13-2021-motion-to-suppress-1 -[^13]: Government's Response to Motion to Suppress, *United States v. Cole*, Dkt. 200 (W.D. Wash., August 20, 2021), pp. 10-11 and 17. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.200.0.pdf -[^14]: Order Denying Motion to Suppress, United States v. Cole, Case No. CR20-0032-JCC (W.D. Wash., August 30, 2021). Leagle.com: infdco20210901708. -[^15]: ISD Global. Research reports on Terrorgram and Martinet Press distribution networks. +[^12]: Martinet Press, "New Book: Iron Gates," October 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20180827050101/https://martinetpress.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/new-book-iron-gates/ ; "Forthcoming Novel: Iron Gates," July 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140923120337/http://martinetpress.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/forthcoming-novel-iron-gates/ ; Amazon.com listing, Wayback capture of November 25, 2018: https://web.archive.org/web/20181125012801/https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Gates-Tempel-ov-Blood/dp/0692306587 ; Goodreads, ISBN 9780692306581: https://www.goodreads.com/book/isbn/9780692306581 +[^13]: Defense motion to suppress and Exhibit A (original search warrant affidavit), United States v. Cole, 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 194 (W.D. Wash.), August 13, 2021. Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/kaleb-cole-august-13-2021-motion-to-suppress-1 +[^14]: Government's Response to Motion to Suppress, *United States v. Cole*, Dkt. 200 (W.D. Wash., August 20, 2021), pp. 10-11 and 17. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.200.0.pdf +[^15]: Order Denying Motion to Suppress, United States v. Cole, Case No. CR20-0032-JCC (W.D. Wash., August 30, 2021). Leagle.com: infdco20210901708. +[^16]: Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Order of Nine Angles." September 29, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-order-nine +[^17]: ISD Global. Research reports on Terrorgram and Martinet Press distribution networks. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Order of Nine Angles.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Order of Nine Angles.md index 8cc10425..ee5211fc 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Order of Nine Angles.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Order of Nine Angles.md @@ -88,25 +88,25 @@ Between April 2019 and April 2021, HOPE not hate documented eight individuals li [[Harry Vaughan]], 18, of Kingston-upon-Thames, a grammar school student at [[Tiffin School]] who had achieved A-grade A-levels in maths, further maths, physics, and history, was arrested on 19 June 2019 in a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into [[Fascist Forge]], an online extremist forum. He was charged with one count of encouraging terrorism (section 1, Terrorism Act 2006), one count of disseminating a terrorist publication (section 2, Terrorism Act 2006), 12 counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist (section 58, Terrorism Act 2000), and two counts of possessing indecent images. He pleaded guilty on all counts. The documents on his devices included Sonnenkrieg Division propaganda of his own creation, bomb-making manuals, and a guide to killing people. Sentenced at the Old Bailey in November 2020 by Mr Justice Sweeney, who described him as "a dangerous offender," he received a two-year detention sentence suspended for two years, a result that drew criticism from counter-extremism researchers.[^14] -The cases of the unnamed Cornish teenager ([[Feuerkrieg Division]] UK leader, sentenced February 2021) and [[Benjamin Hannam]] (Metropolitan Police constable, sentenced May 2021) are documented in the existing page and in the [[National Action]] vault entry respectively. The unnamed Cornish defendant received a 24-month youth rehabilitation order; the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] press release confirmed that a copy of Iron Gates, the O9A-affiliated novel published by Martinet Press, was found during the 2019 police search of his home.[^15] +The cases of the unnamed Cornish teenager ([[Feuerkrieg Division]] UK leader, sentenced February 2021) and [[Benjamin Hannam]] (Metropolitan Police constable, sentenced May 2021) are documented in the existing page and in the [[National Action]] vault entry respectively. The unnamed Cornish defendant received a 24-month youth rehabilitation order; the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] press release confirmed that a copy of Iron Gates, the O9A-affiliated novel published by Martinet Press, was found during the 2019 police search of his home.[^15] The [[Institute for Strategic Dialogue]] records that he was 16 at the time of the search and that he pleaded guilty in February 2021 to 12 terrorism-related charges.[^16] -[[Danyal Hussein]], an 18-year-old Iraqi Kurd from [[Wembley]], was convicted on 6 July 2021 at the Old Bailey of the murders of sisters [[Bibaa Henry]] (46) and [[Nicole Smallman]] (27) in [[Fryent Country Park]], London, on 6 June 2020. Hussein had signed a handwritten contract in his own blood addressed to the demon [[Lucifuge Rofocale]], pledging to kill six women every six months in exchange for lottery winnings. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 35 years. Investigators found that he had been in contact with an individual closely associated with the Order of Nine Angles. The case was cited by [[Stephanie Peacock MP]] in October 2021 in renewed calls for O9A's proscription.[^16] +[[Danyal Hussein]], an 18-year-old Iraqi Kurd from [[Wembley]], was convicted on 6 July 2021 at the Old Bailey of the murders of sisters [[Bibaa Henry]] (46) and [[Nicole Smallman]] (27) in [[Fryent Country Park]], London, on 6 June 2020. Hussein had signed a handwritten contract in his own blood addressed to the demon [[Lucifuge Rofocale]], pledging to kill six women every six months in exchange for lottery winnings. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 35 years. Investigators found that he had been in contact with an individual closely associated with the Order of Nine Angles. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue states that he was "closely associated" with the Order of Nine Angles and took part in an O9A internet forum.[^16] The case was cited by [[Stephanie Peacock MP]] in October 2021 in renewed calls for O9A's proscription.[^17] -[[Ben John]], 21, of Lincoln, a criminology student at [[De Montfort University]] Leicester, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on 12 August 2021 of one count of possessing a document useful to a terrorist under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing's East Midlands unit found a hard drive containing the Anarchy Cookbook, alongside white supremacist and antisemitic literature and material relating to O9A. Judge [[Timothy Spencer QC]] sentenced John on 31 August 2021 to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, ordering him to read works of classic literature including Dickens and Austen, a direction that attracted widespread press criticism. Solicitor General [[Alex Chalk QC MP]] referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the [[Criminal Justice Act 1988]] as unduly lenient. On 19 January 2022, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence to two years' immediate custody plus one year on licence.[^17] +[[Ben John]], 21, of Lincoln, a criminology student at [[De Montfort University]] Leicester, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on 12 August 2021 of one count of possessing a document useful to a terrorist under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing's East Midlands unit found a hard drive containing the Anarchy Cookbook, alongside white supremacist and antisemitic literature and material relating to O9A. Judge [[Timothy Spencer QC]] sentenced John on 31 August 2021 to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, ordering him to read works of classic literature including Dickens and Austen, a direction that attracted widespread press criticism. Solicitor General [[Alex Chalk QC MP]] referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the [[Criminal Justice Act 1988]] as unduly lenient. On 19 January 2022, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence to two years' immediate custody plus one year on licence.[^18] -[[Luca Benincasa]], 20, of Cardiff, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 26 January 2023 by Judge [[Jane Miller KC]] to five years and seven months for terrorism charges and an additional consecutive eight months for child images offences, with a three-year extended licence on the terrorism counts, for a total custodial term of approximately nine years and three months. He had pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court on 15 July 2022 to one count of membership of the proscribed organisation Feuerkrieg Division under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and four counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist under section 58, including improvised explosive device and pipe-bomb manuals. Benincasa was the first person convicted of FKD membership since that group's proscription in July 2020. He had described himself as the "UK cell leader" of FKD and one of its key recruiters; Judge Miller KC found him to be "a prominent member." Press coverage described him as a "prominent ONA member," though the published sentencing remarks' specific language on O9A has not been independently verified and constitutes an open thread.[^18] +[[Luca Benincasa]], 20, of Cardiff, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 26 January 2023 by Judge [[Jane Miller KC]] to five years and seven months for terrorism charges and an additional consecutive eight months for child images offences, with a three-year extended licence on the terrorism counts, for a total custodial term of approximately nine years and three months. He had pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court on 15 July 2022 to one count of membership of the proscribed organisation Feuerkrieg Division under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and four counts of possessing documents useful to a terrorist under section 58, including improvised explosive device and pipe-bomb manuals. Benincasa was the first person convicted of FKD membership since that group's proscription in July 2020. He had described himself as the "UK cell leader" of FKD and one of its key recruiters; Judge Miller KC found him to be "a prominent member." Press coverage described him as a "prominent ONA member," though the published sentencing remarks' specific language on O9A has not been independently verified and constitutes an open thread.[^19] -[[Ashley Podsiad-Sharp]], 42, a prison officer at [[HMP Armley]] in Leeds, was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of one count of possessing terrorist material under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (acquitted of a second count of dissemination). He was sentenced on 31 August 2023 by Judge [[Jeremy Richardson KC]] to eight years' imprisonment plus five years' extended licence. His devices contained the White Resistance Manual, a 200-page publication containing sections on arson, poisoning, infrastructure sabotage, bomb-making, and evading police capture. He had been a former member of National Action before its proscription and had subsequently founded the [[White Stag Athletics Club]], which required members to hold white-supremacist and antisemitic views. Podsiad-Sharp showed, in the judge's assessment, "not one iota of remorse." The sentencing remarks are published on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website.[^19] +[[Ashley Podsiad-Sharp]], 42, a prison officer at [[HMP Armley]] in Leeds, was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of one count of possessing terrorist material under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (acquitted of a second count of dissemination). He was sentenced on 31 August 2023 by Judge [[Jeremy Richardson KC]] to eight years' imprisonment plus five years' extended licence. His devices contained the White Resistance Manual, a 200-page publication containing sections on arson, poisoning, infrastructure sabotage, bomb-making, and evading police capture. He had been a former member of National Action before its proscription and had subsequently founded the [[White Stag Athletics Club]], which required members to hold white-supremacist and antisemitic views. Podsiad-Sharp showed, in the judge's assessment, "not one iota of remorse." The sentencing remarks are published on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website.[^20] -[[Declan George-Candiani]], 26, of Streatham, was stopped at [[Stansted Airport]] on 13 August 2024 by Counter Terrorism Command officers using Schedule 7 powers. His phone was analysed and he was arrested; an iPad was also seized from his home. He was convicted at the Old Bailey on 3 October 2024 of two counts of collecting material likely useful to a terrorist under section 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (acquitted of two further counts), and sentenced on 28 November 2024 to 23 months' imprisonment plus one year on licence, plus a 10-year terrorism notification requirement. Devices contained extreme right-wing manifestos, mass killer writings, and lone-wolf attack guides. In police interview, George-Candiani told officers he had developed an interest in O9A's "traditional Satanism," attributing his downloading of the material to that interest.[^20] +[[Declan George-Candiani]], 26, of Streatham, was stopped at [[Stansted Airport]] on 13 August 2024 by Counter Terrorism Command officers using Schedule 7 powers. His phone was analysed and he was arrested; an iPad was also seized from his home. He was convicted at the Old Bailey on 3 October 2024 of two counts of collecting material likely useful to a terrorist under section 58(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (acquitted of two further counts), and sentenced on 28 November 2024 to 23 months' imprisonment plus one year on licence, plus a 10-year terrorism notification requirement. Devices contained extreme right-wing manifestos, mass killer writings, and lone-wolf attack guides. In police interview, George-Candiani told officers he had developed an interest in O9A's "traditional Satanism," attributing his downloading of the material to that interest.[^21] -[[Cameron Finnigan]], 19, of Horsham, West Sussex, joined the 764 online extremist group in late 2023. Counter Terrorism Policing became aware of him in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on 4 October 2024 to five counts: one count of possessing a document for terrorist purposes under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (an 11-page PDF outlining truck, knife, and firearm mass-casualty attack planning), one count of doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide under section 2 of the [[Suicide Act 1961]] as amended (encouraging a young woman to livestream her suicide to his Telegram group), two counts of criminal damage, and one count of possessing indecent images. He was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 16 January 2025 by Mr Justice Jay to six years' imprisonment plus three years' extended licence. The judge assessed him as posing a high risk of serious harm to the public, including children, and applied a 25% reduction for youth and mental health. The sentencing remarks are published on the judiciary.uk website.[^21] +[[Cameron Finnigan]], 19, of Horsham, West Sussex, joined the 764 online extremist group in late 2023. Counter Terrorism Policing became aware of him in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on 4 October 2024 to five counts: one count of possessing a document for terrorist purposes under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (an 11-page PDF outlining truck, knife, and firearm mass-casualty attack planning), one count of doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide under section 2 of the [[Suicide Act 1961]] as amended (encouraging a young woman to livestream her suicide to his Telegram group), two counts of criminal damage, and one count of possessing indecent images. He was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 16 January 2025 by Mr Justice Jay to six years' imprisonment plus three years' extended licence. The judge assessed him as posing a high risk of serious harm to the public, including children, and applied a 25% reduction for youth and mental health. The sentencing remarks are published on the judiciary.uk website.[^22] ### Criminal Cases Linked to O9A: International Documented individuals who committed or planned violence while affiliated with or influenced by O9A include: -[[Ethan Phelan Melzer]], a U.S. Army Private in the 173rd Airborne Brigade who, under the alias "Etil Reggad," transmitted classified information about his unit's planned deployment to Turkey to O9A members on [[Telegram]], conspiring to facilitate a mass-casualty attack on his own soldiers. Arrested May 2020 in Vicenza, Italy; pleaded guilty on June 24, 2022 in the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]]; sentenced on March 3, 2023 to 45 years in prison. The Southern District stated that Melzer sent details of his unit's location, movements and security to O9A members, "in particular, a sub-group of O9A known as the 'RapeWaffen Division'."[^22] [[Patrik Hermansson]] reported on that Telegram channel for Hope Not Hate on June 23, 2020.[^23] +[[Ethan Phelan Melzer]], a U.S. Army Private in the 173rd Airborne Brigade who, under the alias "Etil Reggad," transmitted classified information about his unit's planned deployment to Turkey to O9A members on [[Telegram]], conspiring to facilitate a mass-casualty attack on his own soldiers. Arrested May 2020 in Vicenza, Italy; pleaded guilty on June 24, 2022 in the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]]; sentenced on March 3, 2023 to 45 years in prison. The Southern District stated that Melzer sent details of his unit's location, movements and security to O9A members, "in particular, a sub-group of O9A known as the 'RapeWaffen Division'."[^23] [[Patrik Hermansson]] reported on that Telegram channel for Hope Not Hate on June 23, 2020.[^24] [[Guilherme Von Neutegem]], a Canadian O9A adherent charged with murder for killing a victim outside a mosque in Toronto in 2020. @@ -118,27 +118,27 @@ Documented individuals who committed or planned violence while affiliated with o ### The Proscription Non-Decision -O9A has not been proscribed in the United Kingdom as of mid-2026. The [[Home Office]] proscription criteria under Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 require the Home Secretary to believe that an organisation is "concerned in terrorism," meaning it: (a) commits or participates in acts of terrorism; (b) prepares for terrorism; (c) promotes or encourages terrorism; or (d) is otherwise concerned in terrorism. If the statutory test is met, the Home Secretary then applies discretionary factors including the nature and scale of the organisation's activities and the need to support the international counter-terrorism community.[^24] +O9A has not been proscribed in the United Kingdom as of mid-2026. The [[Home Office]] proscription criteria under Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 require the Home Secretary to believe that an organisation is "concerned in terrorism," meaning it: (a) commits or participates in acts of terrorism; (b) prepares for terrorism; (c) promotes or encourages terrorism; or (d) is otherwise concerned in terrorism. If the statutory test is met, the Home Secretary then applies discretionary factors including the nature and scale of the organisation's activities and the need to support the international counter-terrorism community.[^25] -The legal and structural problem O9A presents for proscription is its deliberate decentralisation. O9A has no formal membership rolls, no governing body, no public leadership structure, and no legal entity. Its basic unit is the autonomous nexion, connected by shared texts rather than hierarchy. Proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000 operates on the premise that there is an "organisation" whose members can then be charged with membership offences under Section 11. If the Home Office concludes that O9A's structure is too diffuse to constitute an "organisation" in the statutory sense, the proscription mechanism becomes legally uncertain even if the substantive test of concern in terrorism is met. This structural problem does not appear to have been definitively addressed in any published government document, but it is widely cited by counter-extremism researchers as the most likely non-political reason for the non-decision.[^25] +The legal and structural problem O9A presents for proscription is its deliberate decentralisation. O9A has no formal membership rolls, no governing body, no public leadership structure, and no legal entity. Its basic unit is the autonomous nexion, connected by shared texts rather than hierarchy. Proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000 operates on the premise that there is an "organisation" whose members can then be charged with membership offences under Section 11. If the Home Office concludes that O9A's structure is too diffuse to constitute an "organisation" in the statutory sense, the proscription mechanism becomes legally uncertain even if the substantive test of concern in terrorism is met. This structural problem does not appear to have been definitively addressed in any published government document, but it is widely cited by counter-extremism researchers as the most likely non-political reason for the non-decision.[^26] ### Parliamentary Campaign for Proscription: Timeline -March 2020: HOPE not hate formally called for O9A proscription in its *State of Hate 2020* report, characterising O9A as "an incubator of terrorism."[^26] +March 2020: HOPE not hate formally called for O9A proscription in its *State of Hate 2020* report, characterising O9A as "an incubator of terrorism."[^27] -March 2020: [[Yvette Cooper]], chair of the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]], called on the Home Secretary to "immediately" refer O9A to the proscription review group, following the New Statesman investigation that documented O9A materials being held under restricted access at the [[British Library]].[^27] +March 2020: [[Yvette Cooper]], chair of the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]], called on the Home Secretary to "immediately" refer O9A to the proscription review group, following the New Statesman investigation that documented O9A materials being held under restricted access at the [[British Library]].[^28] -19 April 2021: HOPE not hate published "Government misses opportunity to proscribe Order of Nine Angles" on the same day the Home Office announced the proscription of Atomwaffen Division; [[The Base]] followed in July 2021.[^28] Hope not Hate CEO Nick Lowles stated: "The government's counter-terrorism strategy against the far-right threat remains deeply troubling." The statement argued that O9A had been recommended for proscription over a year earlier and that its influence on proscribed groups including Atomwaffen Division made the omission incoherent.[^29] +19 April 2021: HOPE not hate published "Government misses opportunity to proscribe Order of Nine Angles" on the same day the Home Office announced the proscription of Atomwaffen Division; [[The Base]] followed in July 2021.[^29] Hope not Hate CEO Nick Lowles stated: "The government's counter-terrorism strategy against the far-right threat remains deeply troubling." The statement argued that O9A had been recommended for proscription over a year earlier and that its influence on proscribed groups including Atomwaffen Division made the omission incoherent.[^30] -13 July 2021: Parliamentary debate, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism" (HC Deb), featuring extended discussion of O9A. [[Stephanie Peacock]] (Labour, Barnsley East) and [[Stephen Doughty]] (Labour, Cardiff South and Penarth) both called on the Home Secretary to proscribe O9A. The minister's response was the standard formula: the government "will not provide any commentary on which groups are or are not being considered for proscription by the review group" and that "the proscription review process is robust and working as it should."[^30] +13 July 2021: Parliamentary debate, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism" (HC Deb), featuring extended discussion of O9A. [[Stephanie Peacock]] (Labour, Barnsley East) and [[Stephen Doughty]] (Labour, Cardiff South and Penarth) both called on the Home Secretary to proscribe O9A. The minister's response was the standard formula: the government "will not provide any commentary on which groups are or are not being considered for proscription by the review group" and that "the proscription review process is robust and working as it should."[^31] -October 2021: Peacock renewed her call for proscription in response to the Danyal Hussein conviction, citing his contact with an O9A-associated individual as evidence that O9A's influence was translating into direct harm on British streets.[^16] +October 2021: Peacock renewed her call for proscription in response to the Danyal Hussein conviction, citing his contact with an O9A-associated individual as evidence that O9A's influence was translating into direct harm on British streets.[^17] -18 July 2023: CONTEST 2023, the fourth iteration of the UK counter-terrorism strategy, identified extreme right-wing terrorism as accounting for approximately 22 per cent of UK attacks since 2018 and approximately 25 per cent of MI5's caseload. It listed proscribed far-right organisations including Feuerkrieg Division, Atomwaffen Division, [[Sonnenkrieg Division]], and The Base, but did not name O9A in accessible sections as either proscribed or under active review.[^31] +18 July 2023: CONTEST 2023, the fourth iteration of the UK counter-terrorism strategy, identified extreme right-wing terrorism as accounting for approximately 22 per cent of UK attacks since 2018 and approximately 25 per cent of MI5's caseload. It listed proscribed far-right organisations including Feuerkrieg Division, Atomwaffen Division, [[Sonnenkrieg Division]], and The Base, but did not name O9A in accessible sections as either proscribed or under active review.[^32] -15 September 2023: The Home Office Proscription Factsheet described the proscription review process and criteria in general terms but made no reference to O9A.[^32] +15 September 2023: The Home Office Proscription Factsheet described the proscription review process and criteria in general terms but made no reference to O9A.[^33] -2 July 2025: The [[House of Commons]] debated the draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025, which proscribed three new organisations: [[Maniac Murder Cult]] (a US-based accelerationist group with documented O9A and 764 connections), [[Palestine Action]], and the [[Russian Imperial Movement]]. The Order was approved by 385 votes to 26 after a division. O9A was not included. During the debate, the parliamentary chair of HOPE not hate again urged the government to consider O9A proscription; the minister's response was the standard formula that the government does not comment on groups under or not under consideration. The Order bears SI number 9780348273373.[^33] +2 July 2025: The [[House of Commons]] debated the draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025, which proscribed three new organisations: [[Maniac Murder Cult]] (a US-based accelerationist group with documented O9A and 764 connections), [[Palestine Action]], and the [[Russian Imperial Movement]]. The Order was approved by 385 votes to 26 after a division. O9A was not included. During the debate, the parliamentary chair of HOPE not hate again urged the government to consider O9A proscription; the minister's response was the standard formula that the government does not comment on groups under or not under consideration. The Order bears SI number 9780348273373.[^34] No proscription of O9A has been announced as of mid-2026. The government's consistent refusal to explain the non-decision stands in contrast to the public reasoning given for other proscriptions. When National Action was proscribed in December 2016, [[Amber Rudd]] made a public statement characterising it as "a racist, antisemitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology." No equivalent statement characterising O9A as below the threshold, or as failing the statutory test on structural grounds, has been published. @@ -146,25 +146,31 @@ No proscription of O9A has been announced as of mid-2026. The government's consi The gap between O9A's legal status and that of its downstream networks is substantial. The following proscribed organisations have documented O9A connections: -Sonnenkrieg Division (proscribed February 2020): explicitly modelled on O9A philosophy and Atomwaffen Division; five members convicted of terrorism charges in the UK.[^34] +Sonnenkrieg Division (proscribed February 2020): explicitly modelled on O9A philosophy and Atomwaffen Division; five members convicted of terrorism charges in the UK.[^35] -Atomwaffen Division (proscribed April 2021): ideologically shaped by O9A through Tempel ov Blood and Joshua Caleb Sutter; considered O9A texts required reading.[^29] +Atomwaffen Division (proscribed April 2021): ideologically shaped by O9A through Tempel ov Blood and Joshua Caleb Sutter; considered O9A texts required reading.[^30] -The Base (proscribed July 2021): structurally influenced by O9A's nexion model; [[Rinaldo Nazzaro]] incorporated O9A aesthetics and doctrine.[^29] +The Base (proscribed July 2021): structurally influenced by O9A's nexion model; [[Rinaldo Nazzaro]] incorporated O9A aesthetics and doctrine.[^30] -[[Combat 18]] (banned in Germany in January 2020; not proscribed in the United Kingdom): the organisation in which David Myatt, O9A's attributed founder, served as "ideological heavyweight."[^35] The Order of 2020, S.I. 2020/200, added only the Sonnenkrieg Division among far-right groups.[^28] +[[Combat 18]] (banned in Germany in January 2020; not proscribed in the United Kingdom): the organisation in which David Myatt, O9A's attributed founder, served as "ideological heavyweight."[^36] The Order of 2020, S.I. 2020/200, added only the Sonnenkrieg Division among far-right groups.[^29] ### New Zealand Designation -[[New Zealand]] designated O9A as a terrorist organisation in 2025, making it one of the few countries to have taken formal legal action against the organisation itself rather than merely prosecuting individual adherents. The OpenSanctions database records the NZ listing.[^36] +[[New Zealand]] designated O9A as a terrorist organisation in 2025, making it one of the few countries to have taken formal legal action against the organisation itself rather than merely prosecuting individual adherents. The OpenSanctions database records the NZ listing.[^37] ### O9A Texts and the British Library -A specific detail from the March 2020 New Statesman investigation: O9A materials were being held in a secure, supervised section of the British Library, accessible only under controlled conditions. This is a standard British Library procedure for materials assessed as potentially harmful rather than a formal legal restriction, but it was cited in the Yvette Cooper proscription call as evidence of the state's implicit recognition of O9A's dangerous character while formal proscription remained absent.[^27] +A specific detail from the March 2020 New Statesman investigation: O9A materials were being held in a secure, supervised section of the British Library, accessible only under controlled conditions. This is a standard British Library procedure for materials assessed as potentially harmful rather than a formal legal restriction, but it was cited in the Yvette Cooper proscription call as evidence of the state's implicit recognition of O9A's dangerous character while formal proscription remained absent.[^28] ### O9A and the 764 Ecosystem -O9A's influence on 764 is documented but operates at one remove. 764 is not an O9A nexion and its members do not generally identify as O9A adherents. The connection works through three channels: first, aesthetic adoption, as 764 groups took on O9A visual symbolism and nomenclature; second, structural parallel, as the insight roles doctrine of committing crimes as spiritual progression mirrors 764's content economy in which criminal acts are required for advancement; third, distribution pipeline, as *Iron Gates* and other O9A texts circulated through Terrorgram channels that overlapped with the 764 radicalization environment. The ISD characterized O9A materials as having "directly influenced the operational practices of 764."[^37] +O9A's influence on 764 is documented but operates at one remove. 764 is not an O9A nexion and its members do not generally identify as O9A adherents. The connection works through three channels: first, aesthetic adoption, as 764 groups took on O9A visual symbolism and nomenclature; second, structural parallel, as the insight roles doctrine of committing crimes as spiritual progression mirrors 764's content economy in which criminal acts are required for advancement; third, distribution pipeline, as *Iron Gates* and other O9A texts circulated through Terrorgram channels that overlapped with the 764 radicalization environment. The ISD characterized O9A materials as having "directly influenced the operational practices of 764."[^38] + +### Parliament and Prosecutions + +On June 24, 2020, Stephen Doughty tabled a written question asking when the Home Secretary planned to proscribe the Order of Nine Angles. The Home Office answered on June 29, 2020: "The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters, including whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription."[^39] + +In November 2025 sentencing remarks at the [[Central Criminal Court]] recorded that a defendant had, on June 28, 2024, "joined, via Telegram, the Order of the 9 Angles or 'ONA Middle school'," which the judge described as "a group connected to extreme right-wing views and satanism."[^40] ### Footnotes @@ -183,25 +189,28 @@ O9A's influence on 764 is documented but operates at one remove. 764 is not an O [^13]: ITV News Tyne Tees. "Neo-Nazi teenager convicted of preparing to commit terrorist acts." November 20, 2019. https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2019-11-20/neo-nazi-teenager-convicted-of-preparing-to-commit-terrorist-acts; Enfield Independent (PA). "Nazi terrorist named after judge rejects anonymity bid." 2021. https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/national/19002125.nazi-terrorist-named-judge-rejects-anonymity-bid/ [^14]: ITV News London. "Teenage Satanist neo-Nazi avoids jail after admitting 14 terror offences." November 2, 2020. https://www.itv.com/news/london/2020-11-02/teenage-satanist-neo-nazi-harry-vaughan-sentenced-for-terror-offences; Far-Right Criminals. "Harry Vaughan: Neo-Nazi teenager sentenced." November 2, 2020. https://far-rightcriminals.com/2020/11/02/harry-vaughan-neo-nazi-teenager-sentenced/ [^15]: Crown Prosecution Service. "Youngest British terrorist sentenced for neo-Nazi manuals stash." February 2021. https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/youngest-british-terrorist-sentenced-neo-nazi-manuals-stash -[^16]: GB News. "Campaigners renew call to ban Nazi-occultist group following Satanist murders of two sisters." 2021. https://www.gbnews.com/news/campaigners-renew-call-to-ban-nazi-occultist-group-following-satanist-murders-of-two-sisters/149664; Stephanie Peacock MP website. https://www.stephaniepeacock.org.uk/stephanie_calls_on_home_secretary_to_proscribe_murderous_nazi_occultist_group/ -[^17]: GOV.UK. "Ben John's sentence increased following personal intervention by the Solicitor General." January 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ben-johns-sentence-increased-following-personal-intervention-by-the-solicitor-general--3; ITV News Central. "White supremacist Ben John told to read books by Judge who spared him jail imprisoned upon appeal." January 19, 2022. https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-01-19/white-supremacist-ben-john-told-to-read-books-by-judge-who-spared-him-jail-imprisoned-upon-appeal -[^18]: ITV News Wales. "Neo-Nazi, 20, from Cardiff jailed for being member of far-right terror group." January 26, 2023. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-01-26/dangerous-neo-nazi-jailed-for-being-a-member-of-far-right-terror-group; Tell MAMA. "Neo-Nazi Luca Benincasa jailed for terrorism offences and child abuse images." 2023. https://tellmamauk.org/neo-nazi-luca-benincasa-jailed-for-terrorism-offences-and-child-abuse-images/ -[^19]: R v Ashley Podsiad Sharp, Sentencing Remarks, Sheffield Crown Court, 31 August 2023. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/R-v-Ashley-Podsiad-Sharp.pdf; ITV News Calendar. "Leeds Prison officer Ashley Podsiad-Sharp jailed over 'white supremacist murder manual'." August 31, 2023. https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-08-31/prison-officer-had-white-supremacist-murder-manual -[^20]: Metropolitan Police. "Man convicted of terrorism offences after schedule 7 stop." https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-convicted-of-terrorism-offences-after-schedule-7-stop-501766; Metropolitan Police. "Man jailed for offences under the Terrorism Act." https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-jailed-for-offences-under-the-terrorism-act-503818; Counter Terrorism Policing. "Man convicted of terrorism offences after schedule 7 stop." https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/man-convicted-of-terrorism-offences-after-schedule-7-stop/ -[^21]: R v Cameron Finnigan, Sentencing Remarks, Central Criminal Court, 16 January 2025. Mr Justice Jay. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/R-v-Finnigan.pdf; Sussex Police. "Man sentenced for terror offences." January 2025. https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/sussex/news/court-results/man-sentenced-for-terror-offences/ -[^22]: U.S. Department of Justice, USAO-SDNY. "Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting To Murder Fellow Service Members In Deadly Ambush." Press Release, March 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-us-army-soldier-sentenced-45-years-prison-attempting-murder-fellow-service -[^23]: Patrik Hermansson. "The Rapewaffen Telegram Channel." *Hope Not Hate,* June 23, 2020. https://hopenothate.org.uk/2020/06/23/the-rapewaffen-telegram-channel/ -[^24]: Section 3, Terrorism Act 2000. https://www.lawglobalhub.com/section-3-terrorism-act-2000-uk/; Home Office Factsheet: Proscription, September 15, 2023. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/15/factsheet-proscription/ -[^25]: Northumbria Journal of Law and Practice. "The law relating to Proscription of terrorist organisations." https://www.northumbriajournals.co.uk/index.php/sjppar/article/download/873/1276/2703 -[^26]: HOPE not hate. "Order of Nine Angles: An Incubator of Terrorism. State of Hate 2020." https://hopenothate.org.uk/chapter/order-of-nine-angles-an-incubator-of-terrorism/ -[^27]: New Statesman. "A Nazi-satanist cult is fuelling far-right groups - overlooked by the UK authorities," March 2020. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2020/03/nazi-satanist-cult-fuelling-far-right-terrorist-groups-overlooked-uk-authorities-order-nine-angles -[^28]: The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2020, S.I. 2020/200, art. 2, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/200/made; Home Office, "Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations," updated July 7, 2026, GOV.UK. -[^29]: HOPE not hate. "Government misses opportunity to proscribe Order of Nine Angles," April 19, 2021. https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/04/19/atomwaffen-order-nine-angles/; Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021, UK Statutory Instrument 2021/9780348229288. -[^30]: Hansard, HC Deb, 13 July 2021, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism." https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-13/debates/673D4D8F-D90C-450B-B7E8-26B63018E5D3/PreventionAndSuppressionOfTerrorism -[^31]: Counter-Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) 2023. Home Office / GOV.UK, 18 July 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1186413/CONTEST_2023_English_updated.pdf -[^32]: Home Office. "Factsheet: Proscription." 15 September 2023. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/15/factsheet-proscription/ -[^33]: Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025. SI 9780348273373. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348273373; Hansard, HC Deb, 2 July 2025, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism." https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-07-02/debates/6C9338E8-E516-494A-81A2-B3FEF549DD48/PreventionAndSuppressionOfTerrorism -[^34]: Counter Terrorism Policing. "Neo-Nazi Group Sonnenkrieg Division Proscribed." https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/news/neo-nazi-group-sonnenkrieg-division-proscribed-counter-terrorism-police/; Middlebury CTEC. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Sonnenkrieg Division." https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-2 -[^35]: The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2020, S.I. 2020/200. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/200/contents/made -[^36]: OpenSanctions. "Order of Nine Angles (O9A)." https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/nz-terr-order-of-nine-angles-o9a/ -[^37]: Rise to Peace. "The 764 Network and the Architecture of Digital Nihilism." February 2026. https://www.risetopeace.org/2026/02/11/the-764-network-and-the-architecture-of-digital-nihilism/fellows/ +[^16]: Institute for Strategic Dialogue. "The Order of Nine Angles." August 2022. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/O9A-ISD-External-August2022.pdf +[^17]: GB News. "Campaigners renew call to ban Nazi-occultist group following Satanist murders of two sisters." 2021. https://www.gbnews.com/news/campaigners-renew-call-to-ban-nazi-occultist-group-following-satanist-murders-of-two-sisters/149664; Stephanie Peacock MP website. https://www.stephaniepeacock.org.uk/stephanie_calls_on_home_secretary_to_proscribe_murderous_nazi_occultist_group/ +[^18]: GOV.UK. "Ben John's sentence increased following personal intervention by the Solicitor General." January 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ben-johns-sentence-increased-following-personal-intervention-by-the-solicitor-general--3; ITV News Central. "White supremacist Ben John told to read books by Judge who spared him jail imprisoned upon appeal." January 19, 2022. https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-01-19/white-supremacist-ben-john-told-to-read-books-by-judge-who-spared-him-jail-imprisoned-upon-appeal +[^19]: ITV News Wales. "Neo-Nazi, 20, from Cardiff jailed for being member of far-right terror group." January 26, 2023. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-01-26/dangerous-neo-nazi-jailed-for-being-a-member-of-far-right-terror-group; Tell MAMA. "Neo-Nazi Luca Benincasa jailed for terrorism offences and child abuse images." 2023. https://tellmamauk.org/neo-nazi-luca-benincasa-jailed-for-terrorism-offences-and-child-abuse-images/ +[^20]: R v Ashley Podsiad Sharp, Sentencing Remarks, Sheffield Crown Court, 31 August 2023. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/R-v-Ashley-Podsiad-Sharp.pdf; ITV News Calendar. "Leeds Prison officer Ashley Podsiad-Sharp jailed over 'white supremacist murder manual'." August 31, 2023. https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-08-31/prison-officer-had-white-supremacist-murder-manual +[^21]: Metropolitan Police. "Man convicted of terrorism offences after schedule 7 stop." https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-convicted-of-terrorism-offences-after-schedule-7-stop-501766; Metropolitan Police. "Man jailed for offences under the Terrorism Act." https://news.met.police.uk/news/man-jailed-for-offences-under-the-terrorism-act-503818; Counter Terrorism Policing. "Man convicted of terrorism offences after schedule 7 stop." https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/man-convicted-of-terrorism-offences-after-schedule-7-stop/ +[^22]: R v Cameron Finnigan, Sentencing Remarks, Central Criminal Court, 16 January 2025. Mr Justice Jay. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/R-v-Finnigan.pdf; Sussex Police. "Man sentenced for terror offences." January 2025. https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/sussex/news/court-results/man-sentenced-for-terror-offences/ +[^23]: U.S. Department of Justice, USAO-SDNY. "Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting To Murder Fellow Service Members In Deadly Ambush." Press Release, March 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-us-army-soldier-sentenced-45-years-prison-attempting-murder-fellow-service +[^24]: Patrik Hermansson. "The Rapewaffen Telegram Channel." *Hope Not Hate,* June 23, 2020. https://hopenothate.org.uk/2020/06/23/the-rapewaffen-telegram-channel/ +[^25]: Section 3, Terrorism Act 2000. https://www.lawglobalhub.com/section-3-terrorism-act-2000-uk/; Home Office Factsheet: Proscription, September 15, 2023. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/15/factsheet-proscription/ +[^26]: Northumbria Journal of Law and Practice. "The law relating to Proscription of terrorist organisations." https://www.northumbriajournals.co.uk/index.php/sjppar/article/download/873/1276/2703 +[^27]: HOPE not hate. "Order of Nine Angles: An Incubator of Terrorism. State of Hate 2020." https://hopenothate.org.uk/chapter/order-of-nine-angles-an-incubator-of-terrorism/ +[^28]: New Statesman. "A Nazi-satanist cult is fuelling far-right groups - overlooked by the UK authorities," March 2020. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2020/03/nazi-satanist-cult-fuelling-far-right-terrorist-groups-overlooked-uk-authorities-order-nine-angles +[^29]: The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2020, S.I. 2020/200, art. 2, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/200/made; Home Office, "Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations," updated July 7, 2026, GOV.UK. +[^30]: HOPE not hate. "Government misses opportunity to proscribe Order of Nine Angles," April 19, 2021. https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/04/19/atomwaffen-order-nine-angles/; Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021, UK Statutory Instrument 2021/9780348229288. +[^31]: Hansard, HC Deb, 13 July 2021, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism." https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-13/debates/673D4D8F-D90C-450B-B7E8-26B63018E5D3/PreventionAndSuppressionOfTerrorism +[^32]: Counter-Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST) 2023. Home Office / GOV.UK, 18 July 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1186413/CONTEST_2023_English_updated.pdf +[^33]: Home Office. "Factsheet: Proscription." 15 September 2023. https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/15/factsheet-proscription/ +[^34]: Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025. SI 9780348273373. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348273373; Hansard, HC Deb, 2 July 2025, "Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism." https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-07-02/debates/6C9338E8-E516-494A-81A2-B3FEF549DD48/PreventionAndSuppressionOfTerrorism +[^35]: Counter Terrorism Policing. "Neo-Nazi Group Sonnenkrieg Division Proscribed." https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/news/neo-nazi-group-sonnenkrieg-division-proscribed-counter-terrorism-police/; Middlebury CTEC. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Sonnenkrieg Division." https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-2 +[^36]: The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2020, S.I. 2020/200. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/200/contents/made +[^37]: OpenSanctions. "Order of Nine Angles (O9A)." https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/nz-terr-order-of-nine-angles-o9a/ +[^38]: Rise to Peace. "The 764 Network and the Architecture of Digital Nihilism." February 2026. https://www.risetopeace.org/2026/02/11/the-764-network-and-the-architecture-of-digital-nihilism/fellows/ +[^39]: House of Commons, written question UIN 64196, tabled June 24, 2020 by Stephen Doughty, answered June 29, 2020 by the Home Office. https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1217642 +[^40]: *R v Declan George Candiani*, sentencing remarks of HHJ Nigel Lickley KC, Central Criminal Court, November 28, 2025. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/R-v-Declan-Candiani.pdf diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia).md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia).md index 7b66fd29..6e4f9d66 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia).md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia).md @@ -12,17 +12,18 @@ tags: summary: "First-run cinema at 1529-1531 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, which cancelled a February 1975 midnight showing of R.C. Horsch's Black Mass after reported pressure from the Archdiocese." location: "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- The Arcadia Theatre was a cinema at 1529-1531 Chestnut Street in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]], [[Philadelphia]], recorded by the Athenaeum of Philadelphia with a seating capacity of 500 and with the Sablosky Corporation and Frank DeLong among its clients. In February 1975 it cancelled a midnight booking of *[[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]]*, a film about a satanic rite by Ray Hoersch, later [[R.C. Horsch]], after what *The Philadelphia Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]].[^1][^2] ### Black Mass -"Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch" was to show *Black Mass* at midnight at the Arcadia. The *Inquirer* reported on February 28, 1975, that the showing "was cancelled after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese, according to the Bandbox's [[Art Carduner]], who gave the film a new home" at the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]].[^2] A joint statement of sixteen Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Cardinal [[John Krol]], called the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film."[^3] +"Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch" was to show *Black Mass* at midnight at the Arcadia. The *Inquirer* reported on February 28, 1975, that the showing "was cancelled after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese, according to the Bandbox's [[Art Carduner]], who gave the film a new home" at the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]].[^2] The *Inquirer*'s news story of the same date reported the film as scheduled at a center-city theater and one in Germantown, and that the center-city house called the report "a mistake."[^3] A joint statement of sixteen Catholic, Protestant and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Cardinal [[John Krol]], called the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film."[^4] ### Footnotes [^1]: Philadelphia Architects and Buildings, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, "Arcadia Theatre," 1529-1531 Chestnut St. (clients "Sablosky Corporation; DeLong, Frank"; "Seating capacity: 500"). https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/8403 [^2]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ -[^3]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^3]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ +[^4]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bandbox Theater.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bandbox Theater.md index 666d5308..89a6929f 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bandbox Theater.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bandbox Theater.md @@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ tags: summary: "Art-house cinema at 20-22 East Armat Street in Germantown, owned by Art Carduner from 1966 to 1975, which screened R.C. Horsch's condemned film Black Mass in 1975." location: "Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- The Bandbox Theater, also written Band Box, was a cinema at 20-22 East Armat Street in the [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] section of [[Philadelphia]], recorded with a seating capacity of 499. [[Art Carduner]] bought it, then shuttered, in 1966 and ran it as a house for foreign and art films until 1975. It screened films of Ray Hoersch, later [[R.C. Horsch]], in 1969 and 1975.[^1][^2] ### Hoersch -In late 1969, when the city's [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections|Department of Licenses and Inspections]] closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] on Sansom Street, the Bandbox ran the Vietnam documentary *[[In the Year of the Pig]]*, which Cinema 16 had under contract.[^3] In February 1975 the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] on Chestnut Street cancelled a midnight booking of Hoersch's *[[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]]* after what the *Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and a joint statement of sixteen religious leaders led by Cardinal [[John Krol]] condemned the film. Carduner gave it a midnight screening at the Bandbox on Saturday, March 1, 1975, as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Hoersch attending.[^4][^5] +In late 1969, when the city's [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections|Department of Licenses and Inspections]] closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] on Sansom Street, the Bandbox ran the Vietnam documentary *[[In the Year of the Pig]]*, which Cinema 16 had under contract.[^3] In February 1975 the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] on Chestnut Street cancelled a midnight booking of Hoersch's *[[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]]* after what the *Inquirer* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and a joint statement of sixteen religious leaders led by Cardinal [[John Krol]] condemned the film. Carduner gave it a midnight screening at the Bandbox on Saturday, March 1, 1975, as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, with Hoersch attending.[^4][^5] The *Inquirer* column of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing at the Bandbox and reported that Hoersch would attend the opening.[^4] The *Inquirer*'s news story of the same date reported the film as scheduled at a center-city theater and one in Germantown; the center-city house called the report "a mistake," and the Germantown theater said it was not yet known whether the film would be shown there.[^6] ### Footnotes @@ -28,3 +28,4 @@ In late 1969, when the city's [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspecti [^3]: *The Distant Drummer,* no. 65, December 25, 1969, p. 8, Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/473 [^4]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ [^5]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^6]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md index 6442b133..9142f7fb 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md @@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ relations: role: "shareholder, 30 percent in 1977, divested 1978" start: 1972 end: 1978 - fn: 3 + fn: 4 - type: owned with: "[[First American Bank]]" role: "secret owner through nominees" - fn: 7 + fn: 8 --- BCCI was a financial institution that became embroiled in a major scandal involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and covert operations. Its collapse had far-reaching implications and was a significant focus of [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" investigation.[^1] The [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]] of 1992 described it as "a $23 billion criminal bank operating in some 73 countries."[^2] @@ -43,92 +43,95 @@ Danny Casolaro was investigating the BCCI scandal as part of his broader "The Oc [[Bill Turner]], a friend and confidante of Danny Casolaro, claimed to have seen papers from Casolaro that connected [[Oliver North]] and BCCI.[^1] +Beaty and Gwynne wrote that the Swiss banker [[Bruce Rappaport]] was involved with the [[National Bank of Oman]], which channeled millions of dollars supplied by the CIA and by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan for the Afghan freedom fighters, and that the Bank of Oman was a major BCCI affiliate holding a large chunk of its stock.[^3] + ### Founding and Bank of America -According to the Senate report, Abedi's first choice of a Western partner, [[American Express]], "insisted on having a major say in BCCI's management, which Abedi would not tolerate." He turned instead to [[Bank of America]], for which BCCI offered "a potentially lucrative entry to Arab oil wealth, at a tiny capitalization cost of just $2.5 million." After what Abedi called "an historic lunch" in [[San Francisco]], the American bank agreed to be a passive partner; Abedi told *Euromoney* in 1978: "Bank of America agreed to become a shareholder, but we made it a condition that we would establish the management style." BCCI began with 3 million dollars in total capital. Bank of America officials sat on its board: Yves Lamarche, formerly head of its [[Middle East]] operations; J.D. Van Oenen; P.C. Twitchen; and, from Iran, [[Roy P. M. Carlson|Roy Carlson]], who later became president of the [[National Bank of Georgia]] when it was secretly owned by BCCI. The ruling family of [[Abu Dhabi]], whose initial cash investment of 500,000 dollars was acknowledged to the Senate subcommittee for the first time on May 14, 1992, provided deposits; the Middle Eastern royal shareholders were given "hold harmless agreements" against loss, and insiders called the board "RAF," for "rent-a-face."[^3] +According to the Senate report, Abedi's first choice of a Western partner, [[American Express]], "insisted on having a major say in BCCI's management, which Abedi would not tolerate." He turned instead to [[Bank of America]], for which BCCI offered "a potentially lucrative entry to Arab oil wealth, at a tiny capitalization cost of just $2.5 million." After what Abedi called "an historic lunch" in [[San Francisco]], the American bank agreed to be a passive partner; Abedi told *Euromoney* in 1978: "Bank of America agreed to become a shareholder, but we made it a condition that we would establish the management style." BCCI began with 3 million dollars in total capital. Bank of America officials sat on its board: Yves Lamarche, formerly head of its [[Middle East]] operations; J.D. Van Oenen; P.C. Twitchen; and, from Iran, [[Roy P. M. Carlson|Roy Carlson]], who later became president of the [[National Bank of Georgia]] when it was secretly owned by BCCI. The ruling family of [[Abu Dhabi]], whose initial cash investment of 500,000 dollars was acknowledged to the Senate subcommittee for the first time on May 14, 1992, provided deposits; the Middle Eastern royal shareholders were given "hold harmless agreements" against loss, and insiders called the board "RAF," for "rent-a-face."[^4] -A Bank of America record of September 30, 1977, listed BCCI's majority owner as [[ICIC]], its Cayman affiliate, with 50.1 percent; Bank of America held 30 percent, Majid Al-Futaim of [[Dubai]] 4 percent, and the Abu Dhabi ruling family 3.4 percent. A Bank of America executive vice president, Alvin C. Rice, wrote in a memorandum of May 10, 1976: "We are just not operating on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation that make the whole effort and exercise worthwhile," and later told journalists that BCCI believed regulatory obstacles could be fixed through "baksheesh." By early 1978 an examiner of the Comptroller of the Currency in London concluded that Bank of America was "substantially at risk from BCCI." Bank of America sold its stake to ICIC, announcing on January 30, 1978, that "the close co-operation that has developed between the two banks will be maintained"; over the following decade it kept correspondent relationships with BCCI and, the report found, colluded "in at least one of BCCI's purchases of foreign banks through nominees in [[South America]]."[^3] +A Bank of America record of September 30, 1977, listed BCCI's majority owner as [[ICIC]], its Cayman affiliate, with 50.1 percent; Bank of America held 30 percent, Majid Al-Futaim of [[Dubai]] 4 percent, and the Abu Dhabi ruling family 3.4 percent. A Bank of America executive vice president, Alvin C. Rice, wrote in a memorandum of May 10, 1976: "We are just not operating on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation that make the whole effort and exercise worthwhile," and later told journalists that BCCI believed regulatory obstacles could be fixed through "baksheesh." By early 1978 an examiner of the Comptroller of the Currency in London concluded that Bank of America was "substantially at risk from BCCI." Bank of America sold its stake to ICIC, announcing on January 30, 1978, that "the close co-operation that has developed between the two banks will be maintained"; over the following decade it kept correspondent relationships with BCCI and, the report found, colluded "in at least one of BCCI's purchases of foreign banks through nominees in [[South America]]."[^4] ### Chronology -1972: [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] organizes BCCI with the intention of forming the Third World's first multinational bank.[^4] +1972: [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] organizes BCCI with the intention of forming the Third World's first multinational bank.[^5] -1975: Using [[Abbas Gokal]] as a front, BCCI attempts to acquire [[Chelsea National Bank]] in [[New York City]]. Regulators reject the bid due to concerns about BCCI's involvement.[^4] +1975: Using [[Abbas Gokal]] as a front, BCCI attempts to acquire [[Chelsea National Bank]] in [[New York City]]. Regulators reject the bid due to concerns about BCCI's involvement.[^5] -1976: BCCI opens its [[Cayman Islands]] subsidiary ICIC, which becomes BCCI's repository for loans to privileged insiders. ICIC Holdings and ICIC (Overseas) Ltd. were incorporated on April 6, 1976.[^4][^5] +1976: BCCI opens its [[Cayman Islands]] subsidiary ICIC, which becomes BCCI's repository for loans to privileged insiders. ICIC Holdings and ICIC (Overseas) Ltd. were incorporated on April 6, 1976.[^5][^6] -1977: [[Eugene Holley]] introduces [[Bert Lance]] to Abedi.[^4] +1977: [[Eugene Holley]] introduces [[Bert Lance]] to Abedi.[^5] -1978: [[Ghaith R. Pharaon]] finalizes his acquisition of National Bank of Georgia from Bert Lance with Abedi's help. Abedi pays off Lance's $3.5-million bank loan. BCCI orchestrates a hostile bid for [[Financial General Bankshares]] of [[Washington, D.C.]] with Lance's help; on January 30, 1978, the BCCI officer [[Abdus Sami]] advised Abedi to spread ownership among "4 persons of substance" to keep each below 5 percent.[^6] [[Joseph E. Vaez]] submits a report on BCCI characterizing it as dangerously out of control. The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] files suit against BCCI, Abedi, Lance, and others in connection with the purchase of Financial General Bankshares stock.[^4][^7] +1978: [[Ghaith R. Pharaon]] finalizes his acquisition of National Bank of Georgia from Bert Lance with Abedi's help. Abedi pays off Lance's $3.5-million bank loan. BCCI orchestrates a hostile bid for [[Financial General Bankshares]] of [[Washington, D.C.]] with Lance's help; on January 30, 1978, the BCCI officer [[Abdus Sami]] advised Abedi to spread ownership among "4 persons of substance" to keep each below 5 percent.[^7] [[Joseph E. Vaez]] submits a report on BCCI characterizing it as dangerously out of control. The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] files suit against BCCI, Abedi, Lance, and others in connection with the purchase of Financial General Bankshares stock.[^5][^8] -1979: The [[Soviet Union]] invades [[Afghanistan]], making [[Pakistan]] a key strategic priority for the [[United States]].[^4] +1979: The [[Soviet Union]] invades [[Afghanistan]], making [[Pakistan]] a key strategic priority for the [[United States]].[^5] -1981: Regulators approve the sale of Financial General to Middle Eastern investors connected with BCCI, based on [[Clark Clifford]]'s assurances of no link between BCCI and Financial General Bankshares. The Federal Reserve later found that BCCI owned at least 25 percent of the holding company, [[Credit and Commerce American Holdings]], when it acquired [[First American Bank|First American]] in 1982.[^4][^7] +1981: Regulators approve the sale of Financial General to Middle Eastern investors connected with BCCI, based on [[Clark Clifford]]'s assurances of no link between BCCI and Financial General Bankshares. The Federal Reserve later found that BCCI owned at least 25 percent of the holding company, [[Credit and Commerce American Holdings]], when it acquired [[First American Bank|First American]] in 1982.[^5][^8] -1982: Lance introduces Abedi to [[Jimmy Carter]]. BCCI illegally acquires [[Independence Bank of Encino]] using [[Ghaith Pharaon]] as a front man. BCCI helps Adnan Khashoggi finance arms sales to [[Iran]] as part of the [[Reagan Administration]]'s Iran-Contra Affair. BCCI suffers over $440 million in losses from options trading through its subsidiary [[Capcom]], according to Beaty and Gwynne; the Senate report, citing [[Price Waterhouse]], dated the Capcom losses to 1985 and put them at 500 million dollars.[^4][^8] +1982: Lance introduces Abedi to [[Jimmy Carter]]. BCCI illegally acquires [[Independence Bank of Encino]] using [[Ghaith Pharaon]] as a front man. BCCI helps Adnan Khashoggi finance arms sales to [[Iran]] as part of the [[Reagan Administration]]'s Iran-Contra Affair. BCCI suffers over $440 million in losses from options trading through its subsidiary [[Capcom]], according to Beaty and Gwynne; the Senate report, citing [[Price Waterhouse]], dated the Capcom losses to 1985 and put them at 500 million dollars.[^5][^9] -1986: The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] issues a report stating that BCCI has owned First American Bank since 1982.[^4] +1986: The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] issues a report stating that BCCI has owned First American Bank since 1982.[^5] -1987: Pharaon becomes a partner in [[David L. Paul]]'s [[CenTrust Savings Bank]] of [[Miami]]. First American Bank buys the National Bank of Georgia from Ghaith Pharaon for $227 million, according to Beaty and Gwynne; the Senate report gives 220 million dollars.[^4][^9] +1987: Pharaon becomes a partner in [[David L. Paul]]'s [[CenTrust Savings Bank]] of [[Miami]]. First American Bank buys the National Bank of Georgia from Ghaith Pharaon for $227 million, according to Beaty and Gwynne; the Senate report gives 220 million dollars.[^5][^10] -1988: Clifford and [[Robert Altman]] sell their stock in First American to [[Mohammed Hammoud]]. Abedi's heart attack ends his direct control of BCCI, and [[Swaleh Naqvi]] becomes chief executive. [[Amjad Awan]] tells an undercover agent that BCCI owns First American and National Bank of Georgia. On October 8, American Customs agents of [[Operation C-Chase]] arrest BCCI bankers at a staged wedding in [[Tarpon Springs, Florida|Tarpon Springs]], with arrests in London and Paris, on money laundering charges.[^4][^10] +1988: Clifford and [[Robert Altman]] sell their stock in First American to [[Mohammed Hammoud]]. Abedi's heart attack ends his direct control of BCCI, and [[Swaleh Naqvi]] becomes chief executive. [[Amjad Awan]] tells an undercover agent that BCCI owns First American and National Bank of Georgia. On October 8, American Customs agents of [[Operation C-Chase]] arrest BCCI bankers at a staged wedding in [[Tarpon Springs, Florida|Tarpon Springs]], with arrests in London and Paris, on money laundering charges.[^5][^11] -1989: [[Jack Blum]] visits Manhattan District Attorney [[Robert Morgenthau]] to persuade him to take on the BCCI case.[^4] +1989: [[Jack Blum]] visits Manhattan District Attorney [[Robert Morgenthau]] to persuade him to take on the BCCI case.[^5] -1990: BCCI pleads guilty to money laundering in Tampa, Florida, in January, forfeiting $14 million. A Tampa jury convicts the BCCI officers on July 29, and they are sentenced on November 30, Awan and Akbar Bilgrami to twelve years each. The first Price Waterhouse audit reveals a $1.7 billion black hole in the bank's accounts. A second Price Waterhouse audit details thousands of irregular transactions and confirms BCCI's control of First American. The [[Bank of England]] agrees to let BCCI move its headquarters and records to Abu Dhabi.[^4][^10][^11] +1990: BCCI pleads guilty to money laundering in Tampa, Florida, in January, forfeiting $14 million. A Tampa jury convicts the BCCI officers on July 29, and they are sentenced on November 30, Awan and Akbar Bilgrami to twelve years each. The first Price Waterhouse audit reveals a $1.7 billion black hole in the bank's accounts. A second Price Waterhouse audit details thousands of irregular transactions and confirms BCCI's control of First American. The [[Bank of England]] agrees to let BCCI move its headquarters and records to Abu Dhabi.[^5][^11][^12] -1991: [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] acquires 77 percent control of BCCI. The [[Federal Reserve]] orders BCCI to sell illegally acquired shares in First American Bank. Regulators worldwide seize BCCI offices on July 5, placing over 75 percent of the bank's assets in government hands. On July 29 a New York State grand jury indicts BCCI, Abedi, and Naqvi for fraud, bribery, grand larceny, and money laundering, and the [[Federal Reserve Board]] fines BCCI $200 million for illegally acquiring control of First American Bank, National Bank of Georgia, and CenTrust Savings. Clifford and Altman resign from First American. BCCI's liquidators plead guilty and agree to forfeit $550 million.[^4][^7][^12] +1991: [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] acquires 77 percent control of BCCI. The [[Federal Reserve]] orders BCCI to sell illegally acquired shares in First American Bank. Regulators worldwide seize BCCI offices on July 5, placing over 75 percent of the bank's assets in government hands. On July 29 a New York State grand jury indicts BCCI, Abedi, and Naqvi for fraud, bribery, grand larceny, and money laundering, and the [[Federal Reserve Board]] fines BCCI $200 million for illegally acquiring control of First American Bank, National Bank of Georgia, and CenTrust Savings. Clifford and Altman resign from First American. BCCI's liquidators plead guilty and agree to forfeit $550 million.[^5][^8][^13] -1992: [[Khalid bin Mahfouz]] is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. [[Kamal Adham]] pleads guilty in New York and agrees to cooperate with Morgenthau and the [[Department of Justice|Justice Department]]. Clifford and Altman are indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and a federal grand jury.[^4] +1992: [[Khalid bin Mahfouz]] is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. [[Kamal Adham]] pleads guilty in New York and agrees to cooperate with Morgenthau and the [[Department of Justice|Justice Department]]. Clifford and Altman are indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and a federal grand jury.[^5] ### Closure -Through late 1990 and the spring of 1991, according to the Senate report, BCCI, Abu Dhabi and the Bank of England worked on a plan to reconstitute the bank as three institutions based in London, Abu Dhabi and [[Hong Kong]], while all of them, with Price Waterhouse, "worked together to keep what they knew about BCCI secret," including from Morgenthau. The Federal Reserve "had been fully alerted to the state of affairs at BCCI for the first time not by the Bank of England, but by the Manhattan District Attorney." In March 1991 the Bank of England commissioned Price Waterhouse to investigate under Section 41 of the Banking Act; its draft report of June 22, 1991, the [[Sandstorm Report]], in which BCCI was code-named "Sandstorm," found "fraud on a significant scale." One week later the Bank of England alerted the [[Serious Fraud Office]], and four days after that, on July 5, 1991, BCCI was closed internationally.[^11] The Senate report concluded that "the pressure from a single, local prosecutor's office that would not relent when it found evidence of global criminality, proved sufficient to shut down a $23 billion criminal bank operating in some 73 countries," since the Bank of England "had reason to know that the New York District Attorney was only a few weeks away from indicting BCCI."[^2][^11] The British inquiry into the Bank's supervision, the [[Bingham Report]], found the closure "an appropriate course of action."[^13] +Through late 1990 and the spring of 1991, according to the Senate report, BCCI, Abu Dhabi and the Bank of England worked on a plan to reconstitute the bank as three institutions based in London, Abu Dhabi and [[Hong Kong]], while all of them, with Price Waterhouse, "worked together to keep what they knew about BCCI secret," including from Morgenthau. The Federal Reserve "had been fully alerted to the state of affairs at BCCI for the first time not by the Bank of England, but by the Manhattan District Attorney." In March 1991 the Bank of England commissioned Price Waterhouse to investigate under Section 41 of the Banking Act; its draft report of June 22, 1991, the [[Sandstorm Report]], in which BCCI was code-named "Sandstorm," found "fraud on a significant scale." One week later the Bank of England alerted the [[Serious Fraud Office]], and four days after that, on July 5, 1991, BCCI was closed internationally.[^12] The Senate report concluded that "the pressure from a single, local prosecutor's office that would not relent when it found evidence of global criminality, proved sufficient to shut down a $23 billion criminal bank operating in some 73 countries," since the Bank of England "had reason to know that the New York District Attorney was only a few weeks away from indicting BCCI."[^2][^12] The British inquiry into the Bank's supervision, the [[Bingham Report]], found the closure "an appropriate course of action."[^14] ### Prosecutions and Forfeiture -On July 29, 1991, the day of Morgenthau's indictment, the Federal Reserve announced a 200 million dollar civil penalty against BCCI and related banks and sought to bar Abedi, Naqvi, Hasan Mahmood Kazmi, Adham, Faisal Saud Al-Fulaij, [[A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil|A. R. Khalil]], Sayed Jawhary, Pharaon and Khusro Elley from American banking. It found that BCCI had acquired CCAH shares in its customers' names through loans "with side agreements that the customer would not be required to repay," and that BCCI "resorted to these arrangements because BCCI was told it could not receive the necessary approvals from the Federal Reserve Board to acquire a bank in the United States."[^7] By December 1991 BCCI's liquidators had pleaded guilty to the first six counts of the New York indictment "as part of an agreement concerning BCCI's assets in the United States," and a superseding information was filed in the federal court in Washington on December 19, 1991.[^2][^8] British prosecutions followed: [[Syed Ziauddin Ali Akbar]], head of the treasury division, was sentenced in 1993 and Abbas Gokal of the [[Gulf Group]] in 1997.[^14] +On July 29, 1991, the day of Morgenthau's indictment, the Federal Reserve announced a 200 million dollar civil penalty against BCCI and related banks and sought to bar Abedi, Naqvi, Hasan Mahmood Kazmi, Adham, Faisal Saud Al-Fulaij, [[A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil|A. R. Khalil]], Sayed Jawhary, Pharaon and Khusro Elley from American banking. It found that BCCI had acquired CCAH shares in its customers' names through loans "with side agreements that the customer would not be required to repay," and that BCCI "resorted to these arrangements because BCCI was told it could not receive the necessary approvals from the Federal Reserve Board to acquire a bank in the United States."[^8] By December 1991 BCCI's liquidators had pleaded guilty to the first six counts of the New York indictment "as part of an agreement concerning BCCI's assets in the United States," and a superseding information was filed in the federal court in Washington on December 19, 1991.[^2][^9] British prosecutions followed: [[Syed Ziauddin Ali Akbar]], head of the treasury division, was sentenced in 1993 and Abbas Gokal of the [[Gulf Group]] in 1997.[^15] -BCCI's Washington defense was coordinated in part by former federal prosecutors. [[Lawrence Wechsler]] recruited [[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]] "to coordinate the bank's defense" shortly after the October 1988 Tampa indictment, and the Senate report stated that "the full extent of Barcella's activities on behalf of BCCI remains unknown."[^15] The Senate subcommittee could not determine what, if any, services [[Paul Laxalt]] performed for the bank, although Barcella had tried in 1988 to persuade Laxalt, his firm's lead partner, to meet BCCI's chief executive in London.[^15] +BCCI's Washington defense was coordinated in part by former federal prosecutors. [[Lawrence Wechsler]] recruited [[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]] "to coordinate the bank's defense" shortly after the October 1988 Tampa indictment, and the Senate report stated that "the full extent of Barcella's activities on behalf of BCCI remains unknown."[^16] The Senate subcommittee could not determine what, if any, services [[Paul Laxalt]] performed for the bank, although Barcella had tried in 1988 to persuade Laxalt, his firm's lead partner, to meet BCCI's chief executive in London.[^16] -A 1992 press account gave a different date, stating that BCCI hired Barcella in 1990.[^16] Barcella and Wechsler represented the bank in the meetings at which Tampa prosecutors agreed to a plea in January 1990.[^17] [[Robert Parry]] wrote that Barcella and his firm earned more than $2 million from BCCI, and that the Laxalt and BCCI links were omitted from the public report on the October Surprise investigation.[^18] +A 1992 press account gave a different date, stating that BCCI hired Barcella in 1990.[^17] Barcella and Wechsler represented the bank in the meetings at which Tampa prosecutors agreed to a plea in January 1990.[^18] [[Robert Parry]] wrote that Barcella and his firm earned more than $2 million from BCCI, and that the Laxalt and BCCI links were omitted from the public report on the October Surprise investigation.[^19] -On December 9, 1992, BCCI's court-appointed liquidators sued Khalid bin Mahfouz, Haroon Kahlon and the [[National Commercial Bank]] in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, seeking more than 10.5 billion dollars trebled. The court enjoined bin Mahfouz and Kahlon from moving assets in the United States on December 10, 1992, issued a preliminary injunction against bin Mahfouz on February 12, 1993, and on July 26, 1993 conditionally dismissed the action on forum non conveniens grounds in favor of a parallel English suit for the same amount.[^19] +On December 9, 1992, BCCI's court-appointed liquidators sued Khalid bin Mahfouz, Haroon Kahlon and the [[National Commercial Bank]] in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, seeking more than 10.5 billion dollars trebled. The court enjoined bin Mahfouz and Kahlon from moving assets in the United States on December 10, 1992, issued a preliminary injunction against bin Mahfouz on February 12, 1993, and on July 26, 1993 conditionally dismissed the action on forum non conveniens grounds in favor of a parallel English suit for the same amount.[^20] ### Congressional Inquiries and CIA Accounts -A CIA memorandum, undated and approved for release in August 2003, refers to a [[House October Surprise Task Force|House task force]] "formed to investigate allegations that officials from the Reagan campaign sought to delay release of the hostages in Iran until after the 1980 election," a body the House created on February 5, 1992.[^20][^21] The memorandum states that the [[House Banking Committee]] had subpoenaed First American for all of its records pertaining to CIA accounts in its investigation of BCCI, and that the agency did not then hold any accounts at First American.[^20] The agency had briefed two cleared committee staffers on the First American accounts and had provided the committee with intelligence reports on BCCI, and it had indicated a desire to cooperate "so long as it would not require access to operational information." The committee nonetheless sent a letter to the ADCI asserting its right to review all records and interview CIA officers "regardless of the sensitivity of the information."[^20] +A CIA memorandum, undated and approved for release in August 2003, refers to a [[House October Surprise Task Force|House task force]] "formed to investigate allegations that officials from the Reagan campaign sought to delay release of the hostages in Iran until after the 1980 election," a body the House created on February 5, 1992.[^21][^22] The memorandum states that the [[House Banking Committee]] had subpoenaed First American for all of its records pertaining to CIA accounts in its investigation of BCCI, and that the agency did not then hold any accounts at First American.[^21] The agency had briefed two cleared committee staffers on the First American accounts and had provided the committee with intelligence reports on BCCI, and it had indicated a desire to cooperate "so long as it would not require access to operational information." The committee nonetheless sent a letter to the ADCI asserting its right to review all records and interview CIA officers "regardless of the sensitivity of the information."[^21] -The agency had also tried to obtain the help of the [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]] to act as a surrogate for the Banking Committee in reviewing sensitive operational information, but the Banking Committee had refused to accept any role for it.[^20] The memorandum proposed points to be made to the committee, including that the agency was "prepared to resist demands for access by the Banking Committee to sensitive operational information, and will, as a last resort, seek to protect this type of information from disclosure by requesting that the President invoke Executive Privilege." The agency was also prepared to ask the Department of Justice "to seek a Temporary Restraining Order that would relieve First American Bank from having to comply with the Banking Committee subpoena."[^20] +The agency had also tried to obtain the help of the [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]] to act as a surrogate for the Banking Committee in reviewing sensitive operational information, but the Banking Committee had refused to accept any role for it.[^21] The memorandum proposed points to be made to the committee, including that the agency was "prepared to resist demands for access by the Banking Committee to sensitive operational information, and will, as a last resort, seek to protect this type of information from disclosure by requesting that the President invoke Executive Privilege." The agency was also prepared to ask the Department of Justice "to seek a Temporary Restraining Order that would relieve First American Bank from having to comply with the Banking Committee subpoena."[^21] -The memorandum records a request from the October Surprise Task Force for information on official and unofficial arms sales to Iran of U.S. origin or U.S. content from November 1977 through August 1985, including field reporting and operational strategies. It states that a "similar concern could also arise with the October Surprise Task Force investigation," and that the agency would "attempt to work out a compromise that would satisfy the Task Force's desire for information while protecting intelligence sources and methods."[^20] +The memorandum records a request from the October Surprise Task Force for information on official and unofficial arms sales to Iran of U.S. origin or U.S. content from November 1977 through August 1985, including field reporting and operational strategies. It states that a "similar concern could also arise with the October Surprise Task Force investigation," and that the agency would "attempt to work out a compromise that would satisfy the Task Force's desire for information while protecting intelligence sources and methods."[^21] ### Liquidation -The liquidators, [[Touche Ross]], reported a year into the liquidation that the true picture of BCCI's activities had been distorted by practices such as "loan parking" and "artificial fund transfers."[^8] The Abu Dhabi shareholders, who held 77.4 percent of BCCI at its closure, agreed a 1.8 billion dollar compensation package for creditors in November 1994, which received its last legal clearance, from a court in Luxembourg, in December 1995. An agreement with the liquidators in May 1996 allowed an initial payment of 1.55 billion dollars, a first dividend of 20 percent to more than 250,000 creditors, with 10 to 20 percent more to follow; by October 1997, 80 percent of small depositors in the [[United Arab Emirates]] had been repaid in full.[^22] In 2005 the liquidators abandoned their suit against the Bank of England, [[Three Rivers District Council v Bank of England]].[^23] +The liquidators, [[Touche Ross]], reported a year into the liquidation that the true picture of BCCI's activities had been distorted by practices such as "loan parking" and "artificial fund transfers."[^9] The Abu Dhabi shareholders, who held 77.4 percent of BCCI at its closure, agreed a 1.8 billion dollar compensation package for creditors in November 1994, which received its last legal clearance, from a court in Luxembourg, in December 1995. An agreement with the liquidators in May 1996 allowed an initial payment of 1.55 billion dollars, a first dividend of 20 percent to more than 250,000 creditors, with 10 to 20 percent more to follow; by October 1997, 80 percent of small depositors in the [[United Arab Emirates]] had been repaid in full.[^23] In 2005 the liquidators abandoned their suit against the Bank of England, [[Three Rivers District Council v Bank of England]].[^24] ### Footnotes [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. [^2]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 9, "BCCI and Law Enforcement: District Attorney of New York." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/09ny.htm -[^3]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 3, "The Origin and Early Years of BCCI." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/03hist.htm -[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. _The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI_. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 11-14. -[^5]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 4, "BCCI's Criminality." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/04crime.htm -[^6]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 6, "BCCI in the United States: Initial Entry and FGB and NBG Takeovers." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/06early.htm -[^7]: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, press release, July 29, 1991. https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/files/19910729.pdf -[^8]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 4, "BCCI's Criminality" (Price Waterhouse and Touche Ross findings). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/04crime.htm -[^9]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 7, "BCCI in the United States: Part Two." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/07later.htm -[^10]: United States v. Awan, 966 F.2d 1415 (11th Cir. 1992). https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/966/966.F2d.1415.90-4114.html -[^11]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 12, "The Regulators." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/12reg.htm -[^12]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 1, "Executive Summary." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/01exec.htm -[^13]: House of Commons, "BCCI (Bingham Report)," *Hansard,* October 22, 1992. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1992/oct/22/bcci-bingham-report -[^14]: "BCCI official gets six years for fraud charges," United Press International, September 28, 1993. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/09/28/BCCI-official-gets-six-years-for-fraud-charges/3315749188800/; "Gokal sentenced to 14 years for BCCI fraud," *The Irish Times,* May 9, 1997. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/gokal-sentenced-to-14-years-for-bcci-fraud-1.70650 -[^15]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 17, "BCCI's Lawyers and Lobbyists." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/17law.htm -[^16]: "Head of Iran Hostage Probe Linked to Arms Deal," *Hartford Courant*, May 29, 1992. https://www.courant.com/1992/05/29/head-of-iran-hostage-probe-linked-to-arms-deal/ -[^17]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 8, "BCCI and Law Enforcement: The Justice Department and the U.S. Customs Service." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/08just.htm -[^18]: Parry, Robert. "October Surprise X-Files (Part 8): Lies Spun into History." *Consortium News*, 1996. https://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile8.html -[^19]: *BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg), Societe Anonyme v. Mahfouz*, 828 F. Supp. 92 (D.D.C. July 26, 1993) (Green, J.), Civ. A. No. 92-2763. https://static.case.law/f-supp/828/cases/0092-01.json -[^20]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum, undated, "BCCI and October Surprise Task Force," approved for release August 2003. CIA Reading Room document 0000984226. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-0000984226 -[^21]: U.S. House of Representatives, October Surprise Task Force, *Joint Report of the Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980*, H. Rept. 102-1102, January 3, 1993, Legislative History (task force formed February 5, 1992 under H. Res. 258). https://archive.org/details/6199732-Joint-Report-of-the-October-Surprise-Task-Force -[^22]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ -[^23]: Three Rivers District Council and Others v. The Governor and Company of the Bank of England [2006] EWHC 816 (Comm). https://web.archive.org/web/20260203100053/https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2006/816.html +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 311. +[^4]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 3, "The Origin and Early Years of BCCI." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/03hist.htm +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. _The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI_. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 11-14. +[^6]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 4, "BCCI's Criminality." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/04crime.htm +[^7]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 6, "BCCI in the United States: Initial Entry and FGB and NBG Takeovers." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/06early.htm +[^8]: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, press release, July 29, 1991. https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/files/19910729.pdf +[^9]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 4, "BCCI's Criminality" (Price Waterhouse and Touche Ross findings). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/04crime.htm +[^10]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 7, "BCCI in the United States: Part Two." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/07later.htm +[^11]: United States v. Awan, 966 F.2d 1415 (11th Cir. 1992). https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/966/966.F2d.1415.90-4114.html +[^12]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 12, "The Regulators." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/12reg.htm +[^13]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 1, "Executive Summary." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/01exec.htm +[^14]: House of Commons, "BCCI (Bingham Report)," *Hansard,* October 22, 1992. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1992/oct/22/bcci-bingham-report +[^15]: "BCCI official gets six years for fraud charges," United Press International, September 28, 1993. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/09/28/BCCI-official-gets-six-years-for-fraud-charges/3315749188800/; "Gokal sentenced to 14 years for BCCI fraud," *The Irish Times,* May 9, 1997. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/gokal-sentenced-to-14-years-for-bcci-fraud-1.70650 +[^16]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 17, "BCCI's Lawyers and Lobbyists." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/17law.htm +[^17]: "Head of Iran Hostage Probe Linked to Arms Deal," *Hartford Courant*, May 29, 1992. https://www.courant.com/1992/05/29/head-of-iran-hostage-probe-linked-to-arms-deal/ +[^18]: Kerry and Brown, *The BCCI Affair,* ch. 8, "BCCI and Law Enforcement: The Justice Department and the U.S. Customs Service." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/08just.htm +[^19]: Parry, Robert. "October Surprise X-Files (Part 8): Lies Spun into History." *Consortium News*, 1996. https://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile8.html +[^20]: *BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg), Societe Anonyme v. Mahfouz*, 828 F. Supp. 92 (D.D.C. July 26, 1993) (Green, J.), Civ. A. No. 92-2763. https://static.case.law/f-supp/828/cases/0092-01.json +[^21]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum, undated, "BCCI and October Surprise Task Force," approved for release August 2003. CIA Reading Room document 0000984226. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-0000984226 +[^22]: U.S. House of Representatives, October Surprise Task Force, *Joint Report of the Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980*, H. Rept. 102-1102, January 3, 1993, Legislative History (task force formed February 5, 1992 under H. Res. 258). https://archive.org/details/6199732-Joint-Report-of-the-October-Surprise-Task-Force +[^23]: "BCCI small depositors paid in UAE," United Press International, October 11, 1997. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1997/10/11/BCCI-small-depositors-paid-in-UAE/2814876542400/ +[^24]: Three Rivers District Council and Others v. The Governor and Company of the Bank of England [2006] EWHC 816 (Comm). https://web.archive.org/web/20260203100053/https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2006/816.html diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies.md index 803407f5..e68e92a9 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies.md @@ -25,27 +25,27 @@ relations: role: "sole bidder and awardee, firm fixed price order HHM402-08-C-0072 (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications)" start: 2008-09-22 end: 2010-12-21 - fn: 12 + fn: 17 - type: investigated with: "[[Marc Cecotti]]" reverse: true start: 2021-12-08 end: 2023-06-20 role: "filed FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records mentioning AAWSAP and BAASS (2008 to 2012); one responsive document, 'BAASS Goals 2011/2012', released June 20, 2023 under case 2022-HQFO-00386" - fn: 10 + fn: 15 - type: subject_of with: "[[Department of Homeland Security]]" start: 2023-06-20 role: "the Office of the Chief Information Officer's search for BAASS and AAWSAP records dated 2008 to 2012 returned one document, released in full without exemptions" - fn: 10 + fn: 15 - type: employed_by with: "[[Colm Kelleher]]" reverse: true role: "deputy administrator, 2008 to 2011 (offering circular); deputy administrator running day-to-day AAWSAP operations (Micah Hanks Program description, May 2023)" start: 2008 end: 2011 - fn: 2 -updated: 2026-10-12 + fn: 4 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) was a subsidiary of [[Robert Bigelow]]'s aerospace and real estate enterprise, established as a scientific research and contracting organization to pursue anomalous phenomena investigation, including unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). It was the primary contractor for the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]]'s [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program|AATIP]]-related research program (formally designated the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program, AAWSAP) from 2008 to approximately 2010.[^1] @@ -58,41 +58,41 @@ In 1996, Bigelow purchased the [[Sherman family]]'s ranch in northeastern [[Utah ### AAWSAP Contract -In 2008, the Defense Intelligence Agency awarded a firm fixed price order to BAASS, with a one-year base period and one option year, to conduct the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program. The contract was secured through the advocacy of Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and two colleagues, Senators [[Ted Stevens]] (R-Alaska) and [[Daniel Inouye]] (D-Hawaii), who obtained the funding as an earmark. The contract specified research into advanced aerospace threats including potential foreign developments - the framework that allowed UAP investigation to be packaged as a defense intelligence requirement rather than a paranormal inquiry.[^1] +In 2008, the Defense Intelligence Agency awarded a firm fixed price order to BAASS, with a one-year base period and one option year, to conduct the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program. The contract was secured through the advocacy of Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and two colleagues, Senators [[Ted Stevens]] (R-Alaska) and [[Daniel Inouye]] (D-Hawaii), who obtained the funding as an earmark. The [[New York Times]] reported on December 16, 2017 that Reid said he summoned Stevens and Inouye to a secure room in the Capitol and that the Times named both as supporters of the program.[^2] A DIA information memo of about December 2010 names Reid and Inouye: the program "was first sponsored in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Defense Supplemental Appropriation Act by Senators Reid and Inouye with a $10 [million] add."[^3] The contract specified research into advanced aerospace threats including potential foreign developments - the framework that allowed UAP investigation to be packaged as a defense intelligence requirement rather than a paranormal inquiry.[^1] BAASS employed approximately 50 full-time researchers and contracted hundreds more to staff the program. The chief scientist was [[Hal Puthoff]], the physicist who had directed the original [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] remote viewing program in the 1970s and maintained decades of research interest in advanced propulsion and UAP physics. BAASS investigators conducted site visits to UAP encounter locations, collected witness testimony, analyzed materials, and commissioned studies on advanced propulsion, exotic physics, and human physiological effects from UAP encounters.[^1] -[[Colm Kelleher]], a biochemist who had led the National Institute for Discovery Science team at Skinwalker Ranch, is described in the September 29, 2017 offering circular of [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] as having served from 2008 to 2011 as "Deputy Administrator of a United States Government funded threat assessment program focused on advanced aerospace technology." The circular does not name BAASS, the program or the agency.[^2] The description of a May 2023 episode of [[The Micah Hanks Program]], published by [[The Debrief]], states that in 2008 Kelleher became deputy administrator of BAASS, "where he led the day-to-day operations in executing the AAWSAP contract with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)."[^3] In written testimony to the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets for its hearing of September 9, 2025, [[George Knapp]] described Kelleher as the principal manager of AAWSAP in Las Vegas, said that Kelleher worked for Bigelow, and said that BAASS was awarded the DIA contract.[^4] The Black Vault's AAWSAP archive describes [[James Lacatski]] as the director of the program.[^5] +[[Colm Kelleher]], a biochemist who had led the National Institute for Discovery Science team at Skinwalker Ranch, is described in the September 29, 2017 offering circular of [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] as having served from 2008 to 2011 as "Deputy Administrator of a United States Government funded threat assessment program focused on advanced aerospace technology." The circular does not name BAASS, the program or the agency.[^4] The description of a May 2023 episode of [[The Micah Hanks Program]], published by [[The Debrief]], states that in 2008 Kelleher became deputy administrator of BAASS, "where he led the day-to-day operations in executing the AAWSAP contract with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)."[^5] In written testimony to the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets for its hearing of September 9, 2025, [[George Knapp]] described Kelleher as the principal manager of AAWSAP in Las Vegas, said that Kelleher worked for Bigelow, and said that BAASS was awarded the DIA contract.[^6] The Black Vault's AAWSAP archive describes [[James Lacatski]] as the director of the program.[^7] ### Skinwalker Ranch and Anomalous Phenomena -BAASS investigators conducted detailed ongoing research at Skinwalker Ranch during the contract period. The ranch had been the site of continued anomalous events since NIDS's initial investigation, and BAASS deployed instrumented observation posts, camera systems, and resident researchers. The scope of reported phenomena at the ranch - which Colm Kelleher and George Knapp documented in *[[Hunt for the Skinwalker]]* (Paraview Pocket Books, 2005) - included UAP, cattle mutilations, poltergeist-type effects, and what researchers described as a "hitchhiker effect," in which phenomena reportedly followed investigators home.[^1] +BAASS investigators conducted detailed ongoing research at Skinwalker Ranch during the contract period. The ranch had been the site of continued anomalous events since NIDS's initial investigation, and BAASS deployed instrumented observation posts, camera systems, and resident researchers. The scope of reported phenomena at the ranch - which Colm Kelleher and George Knapp documented in *[[Hunt for the Skinwalker]]* (Paraview Pocket Books, 2005) - included UAP, cattle mutilations, poltergeist-type effects, and what researchers described as a "hitchhiker effect," in which phenomena reportedly followed investigators home.[^1] AARO wrote that the contractor team "also conducted UAP and paranormal research at a property owned by the private sector organization."[^8] A 101-page BAASS report dated June 21, 2010 and titled "Utah Ranch Database Analysis" is reported by Basterfield to examine a CAPELLA database of ranch events up to June 2010.[^9] ### Reports and DIRD Studies -BAASS produced a series of Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs) - technical reports on advanced aerospace science topics relevant to UAP propulsion and performance. Hal Puthoff and other contributors addressed topics including warp drives, traversable wormholes, high-frequency gravitational wave communications, and exotic materials. The reports, produced between 2009 and 2010, were contracted at $25,000 each from subject matter experts in theoretical physics and advanced engineering. Several were later declassified and released as part of the post-2017 UAP transparency process.[^1] +BAASS produced a series of Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs) - technical reports on advanced aerospace science topics relevant to UAP propulsion and performance. Hal Puthoff and other contributors addressed topics including warp drives, traversable wormholes, high-frequency gravitational wave communications, and exotic materials. The reports, produced between 2009 and 2010, were contracted at $25,000 each from subject matter experts in theoretical physics and advanced engineering.[^1] The DIA list of titles credits Hal Puthoff with "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering" and [[Eric Davis]] with "Traversable Wormholes, Stargates, and Negative Energy" and "Antigravity for Aerospace Applications."[^10] DIA released 37 of the 38 reports under FOIA in response to a March 25, 2022 letter.[^11] -A document titled "BAASS Ten Month Report," 530 pages, dated July 30, 2009, circulated online from May 30, 2025, when researchers including [[Jonathan Davies]] received an email from the [[Phenomainon]] website announcing a function called PhenomGPT through which two BAASS files could be retrieved. A second file, 141 pages, carries the title "BAASS Summary Report on BAASS' UAP Analysis Capabilities" and the date November 23, 2010. [[Keith Basterfield]] wrote on June 5, 2025 that he used no images from these documents and gave no links, and noted that Appendix 1 of James Lacatski, Colm Kelleher and George Knapp's [[Skinwalkers at the Pentagon]] (2021) lists "BAASS July 2009 Ten Month report" (530 pages) and "Summary Report on BAASS UAP Analysis Capabilities" (141 pages) among the BAASS deliverables lodged with the Defense Intelligence Agency.[^6] +A document titled "BAASS Ten Month Report," 530 pages, dated July 30, 2009, circulated online from May 30, 2025, when researchers including [[Jonathan Davies]] received an email from the [[Phenomainon]] website announcing a function called PhenomGPT through which two BAASS files could be retrieved. A second file, 141 pages, carries the title "BAASS Summary Report on BAASS' UAP Analysis Capabilities" and the date November 23, 2010. [[Keith Basterfield]] wrote on June 5, 2025 that he used no images from these documents and gave no links, and noted that Appendix 1 of James Lacatski, Colm Kelleher and George Knapp's [[Skinwalkers at the Pentagon]] (2021) lists "BAASS July 2009 Ten Month report" (530 pages) and "Summary Report on BAASS UAP Analysis Capabilities" (141 pages) among the BAASS deliverables lodged with the Defense Intelligence Agency.[^9] -Basterfield wrote on June 28, 2025, citing page 3 of the Ten Month Report, that the first BAASS monthly report (for September 22 to October 2008) records two employees, "Robert Bigelow and senior analyst [[John Schuessler]] (In September 2008, a BAASS administrator was hired, but shortly thereafter resigned.)"[^7] +Basterfield wrote on June 28, 2025, citing page 3 of the Ten Month Report, that the first BAASS monthly report (for September 22 to October 2008) records two employees, "Robert Bigelow and senior analyst [[John Schuessler]] (In September 2008, a BAASS administrator was hired, but shortly thereafter resigned.)"[^12] -Basterfield wrote on July 7, 2025, quoting the Ten Month Report, that its description of Project Campus gives the objective as "to stimulate, motivate and encourage the senior levels of the academic community within the [[United States]] to involve themselves in study and research of very advanced aerial spacecraft that is presently considered phenomenological." As a "test case" BAASS approached senior management at the [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]], which "responded positively"; BAASS proposed ten scenarios, including announcements by the [[United States Air Force]] or other officials that unidentified aerial phenomena were real and extraterrestrial, for the university to study with regard to "the media, economy, department of defense, political groups, science, the general public, religion, public health and academia." The report states: "Dr. Smith and four others have expressed strong interest in submitting a specific proposal to BAASS by August 2009."[^8] +Basterfield wrote on July 7, 2025, quoting the Ten Month Report, that its description of Project Campus gives the objective as "to stimulate, motivate and encourage the senior levels of the academic community within the [[United States]] to involve themselves in study and research of very advanced aerial spacecraft that is presently considered phenomenological." As a "test case" BAASS approached senior management at the [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]], which "responded positively"; BAASS proposed ten scenarios, including announcements by the [[United States Air Force]] or other officials that unidentified aerial phenomena were real and extraterrestrial, for the university to study with regard to "the media, economy, department of defense, political groups, science, the general public, religion, public health and academia." The report states: "Dr. Smith and four others have expressed strong interest in submitting a specific proposal to BAASS by August 2009."[^13] -According to Basterfield's quotation, BAASS also sought proposals from [[Battelle Memorial Institute]], Southwestern Research Institute, the [[Center for American Progress]] and [[Sandia National Laboratories]] for a study budgeted at 400,000 dollars. The request for proposals states: "For the purpose of the proposed study we take the presence of such advanced exotic aerospace craft as a given." It asks whether "by 2050 there will be confirmation to the public by the U.S. government and its military authorities" of craft "beyond those of our own most advanced military craft," what format such a confirmation should take and what its effects would be on the military and "the U.S. body politic in the areas of commerce, religion, academia and so forth," and what steps could be taken to "soften the societal blow." As of the report date: "BAASS has not received a reply from CAP or SWRI regarding the RFP. Sandia National Laboratories volunteered that they did not have the expertise for the project and Battelle Memorial Institute declined the RFP."[^8] +According to Basterfield's quotation, BAASS also sought proposals from [[Battelle Memorial Institute]], Southwestern Research Institute, the [[Center for American Progress]] and [[Sandia National Laboratories]] for a study budgeted at 400,000 dollars. The request for proposals states: "For the purpose of the proposed study we take the presence of such advanced exotic aerospace craft as a given." It asks whether "by 2050 there will be confirmation to the public by the U.S. government and its military authorities" of craft "beyond those of our own most advanced military craft," what format such a confirmation should take and what its effects would be on the military and "the U.S. body politic in the areas of commerce, religion, academia and so forth," and what steps could be taken to "soften the societal blow." As of the report date: "BAASS has not received a reply from CAP or SWRI regarding the RFP. Sandia National Laboratories volunteered that they did not have the expertise for the project and Battelle Memorial Institute declined the RFP."[^13] ### Medical Effects Research -BAASS research included investigation of physiological effects reported by individuals claiming proximity to UAP, building on a database of cases with reported biological effects. [[Kit Green]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] neurophysiologist who had overseen the original SRI remote viewing program from 1972, contributed to this aspect of the research, applying forensic neurological analysis to reported injury patterns. The physiological effects research represented a continuity between the 1970s government anomalous phenomena programs and the AATIP-era research.[^9] +BAASS research included investigation of physiological effects reported by individuals claiming proximity to UAP, building on a database of cases with reported biological effects. [[Kit Green]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] neurophysiologist who had overseen the original SRI remote viewing program from 1972, contributed to this aspect of the research, applying forensic neurological analysis to reported injury patterns. The physiological effects research represented a continuity between the 1970s government anomalous phenomena programs and the AATIP-era research.[^14] ### Termination and Legacy -The BAASS contract was not renewed after its initial two-year period. The AAWSAP program transitioned to a smaller successor effort designated AATIP, directed by [[Luis Elizondo]] within the [[Pentagon]]'s [[Washington Headquarters Services]]. BAASS's accumulated research and case files remained with the program's intelligence customers. Robert Bigelow later sold Skinwalker Ranch to a new ownership group in 2016.[^1] +The BAASS contract was not renewed after its initial two-year period. AARO wrote that "AAWSAP/AATIP was terminated in 2012 upon the completion of its deliverables due to DIA and DoD concerns about the project."[^8] The AAWSAP program transitioned to a smaller successor effort designated AATIP, directed by [[Luis Elizondo]] within the [[Pentagon]]'s [[Washington Headquarters Services]]. BAASS's accumulated research and case files remained with the program's intelligence customers. Robert Bigelow later sold Skinwalker Ranch to a new ownership group in 2016.[^1] ### Department of Homeland Security Records, Case 2022-HQFO-00386 -[[Marc Cecotti]] submitted a [[Freedom of Information Act]] request to the [[Department of Homeland Security]] on December 8, 2021 for "a copy of all records, including but not limited to e-mails, reports, memorandum, presentations, mentioning: 'Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program' or the acronym 'AAWSAP' 'Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies' or the acronym 'BAASS.'" with a record-search date range of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012. The department's final response, dated June 20, 2023 and signed by Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, was assigned case number 2022-HQFO-00386. It states: "Following a search of the Office of the Chief Information officer (OCIO), we are granting your request under FOIA ... After carefully reviewing the responsive document, we have determined that it is appropriate for public release. The documents are enclosed in their entirety; DHS has claimed no deletions or exemptions."[^10] +[[Marc Cecotti]] submitted a [[Freedom of Information Act]] request to the [[Department of Homeland Security]] on December 8, 2021 for "a copy of all records, including but not limited to e-mails, reports, memorandum, presentations, mentioning: 'Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program' or the acronym 'AAWSAP' 'Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies' or the acronym 'BAASS.'" with a record-search date range of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2012. The department's final response, dated June 20, 2023 and signed by Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, was assigned case number 2022-HQFO-00386. It states: "Following a search of the Office of the Chief Information officer (OCIO), we are granting your request under FOIA ... After carefully reviewing the responsive document, we have determined that it is appropriate for public release. The documents are enclosed in their entirety; DHS has claimed no deletions or exemptions."[^15] -Cecotti posted the letter and its enclosure on [[X]] on June 20, 2023, writing: "According to Skinwalkers at the Pentagon, AAWSAP officials tried to find alternative locations to house the program and attempts were made to transfer it to the Dept of Homeland Security in 2011. I went after DHS records, this is what they found."[^10] +Cecotti posted the letter and its enclosure on [[X]] on June 20, 2023, writing: "According to Skinwalkers at the Pentagon, AAWSAP officials tried to find alternative locations to house the program and attempts were made to transfer it to the Dept of Homeland Security in 2011. I went after DHS records, this is what they found."[^15] The enclosure is a single page headed "BAASS Goals 2011/2012." It has no author, date or letterhead on its face. Its text reads in full: @@ -116,71 +116,74 @@ Area 3 NOTE: Unclassified separate organization 1. Create an open organization for collection of data on AAV performance. -2. Liaison with civilian groups for AAV data collection.[^10] +2. Liaison with civilian groups for AAV data collection.[^15] -Basterfield transcribed the page on June 22, 2023 and set beside it the nine areas of work in BAASS's original proposal to the DIA as listed in *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon* (global data collection; contact with people who know of novel technologies; a laboratory program with Skinwalker Ranch as a "living lab"; oral history; use of Bigelow space platforms; existing DIA data; biological effects; remote sensing; expert analysis and synthesis), of which the DIA approved areas 1 to 4, 6 and 9 for the first year. His comments on the DHS page were: "Area 1:1. Analyze recovered AAV technolgy - to my knowledge, no such recovered material ever found its way to AAWSAP, and therefore none was ever analyzed"; and "Areas 2:1 and 2:2. These read very much like the current goals of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)." On November 30, 2023 he called it "a very overlooked BAASS document."[^11] +Basterfield transcribed the page on June 22, 2023 and set beside it the nine areas of work in BAASS's original proposal to the DIA as listed in *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon* (global data collection; contact with people who know of novel technologies; a laboratory program with Skinwalker Ranch as a "living lab"; oral history; use of Bigelow space platforms; existing DIA data; biological effects; remote sensing; expert analysis and synthesis), of which the DIA approved areas 1 to 4, 6 and 9 for the first year. His comments on the DHS page were: "Area 1:1. Analyze recovered AAV technolgy - to my knowledge, no such recovered material ever found its way to AAWSAP, and therefore none was ever analyzed"; and "Areas 2:1 and 2:2. These read very much like the current goals of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)." On November 30, 2023 he called it "a very overlooked BAASS document."[^16] ### Solicitation and award -The Defense Intelligence Agency published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008, listing twelve technical areas: lift, propulsion, control, armament (radio-frequency and directed energy), spatial and temporal translation, signature reduction, materials, configuration and structure, power generation, human effects, human interface, and technology integration. A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states that DIA "received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in response to the RFP," determined the proposal responsive, and signed the contract on September 22, 2008.[^12] A second DIA memorandum describes BAASS as "the only bid, headquartered in [[North Las Vegas]], Nevada." The November 17, 2009 talking points describe the award to "the sole bidder" as covering "unclassified research in 11 technical areas" with technical reports due July 31, 2009.[^13][^14] The solicitation number is HHM402-08-R-0211, and the awarded contract number appears on DIA's own forms as HHM402-08-C-0072.[^15][^16] Block 6 of the order form gives the solicitation issue date as September 1, 2008, block 8 gives an offer due date of September 10, 2008, and the order incorporates the BAASS proposal dated September 3, 2008; the DIA talking paper dates the request for proposals August 18, 2008.[^12][^15] +The Defense Intelligence Agency published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008, listing twelve technical areas: lift, propulsion, control, armament (radio-frequency and directed energy), spatial and temporal translation, signature reduction, materials, configuration and structure, power generation, human effects, human interface, and technology integration. A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states that DIA "received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in response to the RFP," determined the proposal responsive, and signed the contract on September 22, 2008.[^17] A second DIA memorandum describes BAASS as "the only bid, headquartered in [[North Las Vegas]], Nevada." The November 17, 2009 talking points describe the award to "the sole bidder" as covering "unclassified research in 11 technical areas" with technical reports due July 31, 2009.[^3][^18] The solicitation number is HHM402-08-R-0211, and the awarded contract number appears on DIA's own forms as HHM402-08-C-0072.[^11][^19] Block 6 of the order form gives the solicitation issue date as September 1, 2008, block 8 gives an offer due date of September 10, 2008, and the order incorporates the BAASS proposal dated September 3, 2008; the DIA talking paper dates the request for proposals August 18, 2008.[^17][^19] -The award document is a Standard Form 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items) issued by the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base]] (issuing office code HHQ402, administered by ZD50). It names "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, LLC, 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas NV 89119" as contractor (CAGE 54JU7) and designates the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office at [[Fort Meade|Fort George G. Meade]], Maryland as the paying office. Block 26 of this copy gives the total award amount as 21,948,810 dollars. The copy of the same Standard Form 1449 reproduced at the front of the modification P00001 package (block 3 award date September 22, 2008, block 6 solicitation issue date September 1, 2008) gives the total award amount in block 26 as 10,000,000 dollars.[^17] The contract type is firm fixed price, with a base year of September 22, 2008 to September 29, 2009 and an option year of September 22, 2009 to September 21, 2010; the order incorporates BAASS's proposal dated September 3, 2008. The line items are monthly status reports, project management plans for the tasks listed as 3.a.1 through 3.a.12, research reports for the same tasks, a "Comprehensive Integrated Threat Assessment," travel, and other direct costs; the unit prices and line amounts are redacted under FOIA Exemption 4.[^15] The statement of work (section 5.1) required the contractor to provide a work facility with a Top Secret facility clearance granted by the [[Defense Security Service]], and states that cleared facilities "are not required at contract inception."[^16] Modification P00001 refers to the order as dated September 22, 2008.[^17] +The award document is a Standard Form 1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items) issued by the [[Virginia Contracting Activity]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base]] (issuing office code HHQ402, administered by ZD50). It names "Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, LLC, 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas NV 89119" as contractor (CAGE 54JU7) and designates the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office at [[Fort Meade|Fort George G. Meade]], Maryland as the paying office. Block 26 of this copy gives the total award amount as 21,948,810 dollars. The copy of the same Standard Form 1449 reproduced at the front of the modification P00001 package (block 3 award date September 22, 2008, block 6 solicitation issue date September 1, 2008) gives the total award amount in block 26 as 10,000,000 dollars.[^20] The contract type is firm fixed price, with a base year of September 22, 2008 to September 29, 2009 and an option year of September 22, 2009 to September 21, 2010; the order incorporates BAASS's proposal dated September 3, 2008. The line items are monthly status reports, project management plans for the tasks listed as 3.a.1 through 3.a.12, research reports for the same tasks, a "Comprehensive Integrated Threat Assessment," travel, and other direct costs; the unit prices and line amounts are redacted under FOIA Exemption 4.[^19] The statement of objectives dated July 18, 2008 (section 5.1) required the contractor to provide a work facility with a Top Secret facility clearance granted by the [[Defense Security Service]], and states that cleared facilities "are not required at contract inception."[^11] Modification P00001 refers to the order as dated September 22, 2008.[^20] -DIA's response letter in case FOIA-00269-2018, which released a single six-page document, is dated June 26, 2023; its response letter in case FOIA-00349-2018, a request that cited contract HHM402-08-R-0211, is dated October 13, 2022 and covers nine documents (36 pages).[^15][^16] Two documents (13 pages) were withheld in full under 10 U.S.C. 424 and 41 U.S.C. 2102(a)(1) (contract source selection information).[^16] +DIA's response letter in case FOIA-00269-2018, which released a single six-page document, is dated June 26, 2023; its response letter in case FOIA-00349-2018, a request that cited contract HHM402-08-R-0211, is dated October 13, 2022 and covers nine documents (36 pages).[^11][^19] Two documents (13 pages) were withheld in full under 10 U.S.C. 424 and 41 U.S.C. 2102(a)(1) (contract source selection information).[^11] ### Payments, funding and modifications -A DIA contract status briefing dated December 16, 2008 for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 states that "equal amount monthly payments to contractor have commenced and allow for research subcontracts to be put into place quickly," that the technical approaches were "established, traditional techniques within intended scope of contract," and that the effort was "on track, on schedule, and within cost." It records that the first contract status brief was given on November 10, that Senator Harry Reid raised the subject in a meeting on November 13, and that BAASS submitted program management plans for the twelve technical areas on November 21, 2008.[^18] +A DIA contract status briefing dated December 16, 2008 for contract HHM402-08-C-0072 states that "equal amount monthly payments to contractor have commenced and allow for research subcontracts to be put into place quickly," that the technical approaches were "established, traditional techniques within intended scope of contract," and that the effort was "on track, on schedule, and within cost." It records that the first contract status brief was given on November 10, that Senator Harry Reid raised the subject in a meeting on November 13, and that BAASS submitted program management plans for the twelve technical areas on November 21, 2008.[^21] -A briefing of August 24, 2009 states that BAASS was "in full compliance," had delivered 12 project management plans and 26 detailed research reports ("twice minimum requirement") by June 30, 2009, that DIA should proceed with option year 1 "subject to available funding," and that 12 million dollars for continuation had been submitted in the fiscal 2010 defense budget. It records that the contracting officer would extend the contract through September 30 to use fiscal 2010 funds in option year 1 at no additional cost to the government, and that BAASS had indicated it was "willing to operate 'at risk' in option year 1 until FY10 funding arrives."[^19] A later briefing states that the 12 million dollars "also covers BAASS overhead, staff, facilities, IT, security, databases, etc."[^20] +A briefing of August 24, 2009 states that BAASS was "in full compliance," had delivered 12 project management plans and 26 detailed research reports ("twice minimum requirement") by June 30, 2009, that DIA should proceed with option year 1 "subject to available funding," and that 12 million dollars for continuation had been submitted in the fiscal 2010 defense budget. It records that the contracting officer would extend the contract through September 30 to use fiscal 2010 funds in option year 1 at no additional cost to the government, and that BAASS had indicated it was "willing to operate 'at risk' in option year 1 until FY10 funding arrives."[^22] A later briefing states that the 12 million dollars "also covers BAASS overhead, staff, facilities, IT, security, databases, etc."[^23] The modifications released in FOIA-00349-2018 are: -Modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009 (signed September 4, 2009): extended the period of performance to September 30, 2009, revised the option year to October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, and exercised option year 1 "subject to availability of funds" under FAR 52.217-9, with a modification amount of 0.00 dollars. The contractor address on this form is 1899 W Brooks Ave, North Las Vegas.[^17] +Modification P00001, effective September 2, 2009 (signed September 4, 2009): extended the period of performance to September 30, 2009, revised the option year to October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, and exercised option year 1 "subject to availability of funds" under FAR 52.217-9, with a modification amount of 0.00 dollars. The contractor address on this form is 1899 W Brooks Ave, North Las Vegas.[^20] -Modification P00002, effective February 2, 2010: provided funding (amount redacted) for the exercise of option year 1, removed the availability-of-funds clause of P00001, and directed BAASS to "identify impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1" and to identify "technical risks of reduced funding."[^21] +Modification P00002, effective February 2, 2010: provided funding (amount redacted) for the exercise of option year 1, removed the availability-of-funds clause of P00001, and directed BAASS to "identify impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1" and to identify "technical risks of reduced funding."[^24] -Modifications P00003 and P00004, both distributed May 18, 2010: administrative changes concerning the contracting officer's representative.[^21] +Modifications P00003 and P00004, both distributed May 18, 2010: administrative changes concerning the contracting officer's representative.[^24] -Modification P00005, September 28, 2010: extended the period of performance from September 21, 2010 to December 21, 2010 under FAR 52.217-8, with no funding required.[^21] +Modification P00005, September 28, 2010: extended the period of performance from September 21, 2010 to December 21, 2010 under FAR 52.217-8, with no funding required.[^24] -DIA's October 30, 2009 memorandum lists 26 technical reports delivered in fiscal 2009. It states that eight reviews were performed by other authors listed in its table and five by outside reviewers, among them three research staff members at Sandia National Laboratories, and that "based on draft budget guidance, [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] apparently will fund the contract's option year one at $12 million."[^14] A 2010 memorandum to the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics]] states that the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act "included a $12 million add for the project," that twelve additional reports were produced and delivered, and that one of the 26 reports, "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering," was published in March 2010.[^14] +DIA's October 30, 2009 memorandum lists 26 technical reports delivered in fiscal 2009. It states that eight reviews were performed by other authors listed in its table and five by outside reviewers, among them three research staff members at Sandia National Laboratories, and that "based on draft budget guidance, [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] apparently will fund the contract's option year one at $12 million."[^3] A 2010 memorandum to the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics]] states that the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act "included a $12 million add for the project," that twelve additional reports were produced and delivered, and that one of the 26 reports, "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering," was published in March 2010.[^3] ### Counterintelligence notation -Talking points prepared for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Reid contain the entry "August 2008: DIA learned of counter-intelligence concerns with Bigelow Aerospace, the parent company of Bigelow Aerospace Advance Space Studies. These concerns do not appear to be directly related to Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Application Program (AAWSAP)." The next entry reads "September 2008: DIA awarded the contract to the sole bidder." The document does not state the nature of the concerns. The talking points are attached to a memorandum signed by [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper Jr.]], [[Under Secretary of Defense]] for Intelligence, recommending against a Special Access Program; it states that the program manager and his leadership "saw no justification for Special Access protections based on the content of the FY09 deliverables or the anticipated FY10 work."[^13] +Talking points prepared for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Reid contain the entry "August 2008: DIA learned of counter-intelligence concerns with Bigelow Aerospace, the parent company of Bigelow Aerospace Advance Space Studies. These concerns do not appear to be directly related to Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Application Program (AAWSAP)." The next entry reads "September 2008: DIA awarded the contract to the sole bidder." The document does not state the nature of the concerns. The talking points are attached to a memorandum signed by [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper Jr.]], [[Under Secretary of Defense]] for Intelligence, recommending against a Special Access Program; it states that the program manager and his leadership "saw no justification for Special Access protections based on the content of the FY09 deliverables or the anticipated FY10 work."[^18] The redactions leave the nature of the concerns and the component that learned of them unstated. ### Appropriation as described in DIA papers -The talking points state that "Senators Reid and Inouye co-sponsored a $10M earmark in the July 2008 supplemental" and that "a $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010," and record that Reid met a DIA analyst "at a technical conference" in early 2008. They list that a Reid staff member, [[Robert T. Herbert|Bob Herbert]], made "multiple phone calls" between July and October 2009 to [[Marcel Lettre]] (listed as "PDASDILA"), asking about the status of the response to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter, and that DIA met Herbert on November 4, 2009, who "relayed the Senator's impatience."[^13] +The talking points state that "Senators Reid and Inouye co-sponsored a $10M earmark in the July 2008 supplemental" and that "a $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010," and record that Reid met a DIA analyst "at a technical conference" in early 2008. They list that a Reid staff member, [[Robert T. Herbert|Bob Herbert]], made "multiple phone calls" between July and October 2009 to [[Marcel Lettre]] (listed as "PDASDILA"), asking about the status of the response to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter, and that DIA met Herbert on November 4, 2009, who "relayed the Senator's impatience."[^18] ### Foundations at the contractor's address -The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3962948) and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3974535), both with a March 2024 [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] ruling date as 501(c)(3) organizations, list their address as 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, the contractor address on the 2008 order. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 report contributions of 62,000 dollars to each, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, expenses of 105 and 8,158 dollars, and year-end assets of 61,895 and 53,953 dollars. The returns list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and Colm Kelleher and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors.[^22] +The [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3962948) and the [[Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation]] Inc (EIN 93-3974535), both with a March 2024 [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] ruling date as 501(c)(3) organizations, list their address as 4640 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, the contractor address on the 2008 order. Their Forms 990-PF for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 report contributions of 62,000 dollars to each, all from Robert Thomas Bigelow, expenses of 105 and 8,158 dollars, and year-end assets of 61,895 and 53,953 dollars. The returns list Robert Thomas Bigelow as president and director and as treasurer and director, [[Donna Stauch]] as secretary and director, and Colm Kelleher and [[Jody Erickson]] as directors.[^25] ### Footnotes [^1]: Lacatski, James T., Kelleher, Colm A., and Knapp, George. *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon: An Insider's Account of the Secret Government UAP Program*. RTMA, 2021. Elizondo, Luis. *IMMINENT: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs*. Morrow, 2024. -[^2]: To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, Form 253G2 offering circular, September 29, 2017, biography of Dr. Colm Kelleher. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417050693/ -[^3]: Micah Hanks, "Colm Kelleher: AAWSAP and the Skinwalker Enigma," The Debrief, May 25, 2023, description of The Micah Hanks Program episode. https://thedebrief.org/colm-kelleher-aawsap-and-the-skinwalker-enigma/ -[^4]: George Knapp, written testimony, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, hearing "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection," Serial No. 119-44, September 9, 2025. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/George-Knapp-Written-Testimony.pdf ; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-119hhrg61718/html/CHRG-119hhrg61718.htm -[^5]: John Greenewald, The Black Vault, AAWSAP documentation archive. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/?p=16063 -[^6]: Keith Basterfield, "More BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge," June 5, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/more-baass-aawsap-documents-emerge.html . Lacatski, James T., Kelleher, Colm A., and Knapp, George. *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon*. RTMA, 2021, Appendix 1 (as described by Basterfield). -[^7]: Keith Basterfield, "There was a BAASS AAWSAP administrator before Robert Bigelow," June 28, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/there-was-baass-aawsap-administrator.html . -[^8]: Keith Basterfield, "The BAASS 'Project Campus,'" July 7, 2025, quoting the BAASS Ten Month Report (July 30, 2009). https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-baass-project-campus.html . -[^9]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. -[^10]: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, final response letter of June 20, 2023, case 2022-HQFO-00386, to Marc Cecotti, signed Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, and one-page enclosure "BAASS Goals 2011/2012," as posted by Marc Cecotti on X, June 20, 2023. https://x.com/MC05A/status/1671217484685246478 ; images https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa762X0AA4b7W.jpg (letter) and https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa76yXwAE4d8N.png (enclosure). -[^11]: Keith Basterfield, "Was the Department of Homeland Security keen to take on the AAWSAP?," June 22, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/was-department-of-homeland-security.html ; "Lockheed Martin and BAASS," November 30, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/11/lockheed-martin-and-baass.html . -[^12]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Talking Paper, "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009, released by DIA to The Black Vault. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf -[^13]: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, final packet for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Harry Reid, including the memorandum signed by James R. Clapper Jr. and the talking points. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf -[^14]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Info Memo U-10-2552CE to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, "Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program," 2010; and Info Memo U-429-09 of October 30, 2009, "Review of Advanced Aerospace Contract Deliverables." https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-429-09-DWO-IM.pdf -[^15]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008, released with a DIA letter dated June 26, 2023 in FOIA-00269-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf -[^16]: DIA letter U-22-8017/IMO-2 (FOIA) of October 13, 2022 and attached records (statement of work sections 5.1 and 9; modifications), FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf ; document index with release notes: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/ -[^17]: Modification P00001 (Standard Form 30), effective September 2, 2009, with the attached copy of Standard Form 1449 for order HHM402-08-C-0072. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf -[^18]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Contract Status," contract HHM402-08-C-0072, December 16, 2008. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf -[^19]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf -[^20]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Contract Status," 2009 (undated), slide on option year 1 deliverables. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_Briefing.pdf -[^21]: Modifications P00002 (February 2, 2010), P00003 and P00004 (May 18, 2010) and P00005 (September 28, 2010), contract HHM402-08-C-0072, in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf -[^22]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Form 990-PF, The Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3962948, object ID 202403379349100410) and The Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3974535, object ID 202413379349100411), tax period ended January 31, 2024, in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API records for the same EINs. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json and https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933974535.json +[^2]: Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean, "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program," *The New York Times*, December 16, 2017 (New York Times News Service text: https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2017/12/16/are-ufos-real-a-pentagon-program-tried-to-find-out). +[^3]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Info Memo U-10-2552CE to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, "Advanced Aerospace Threat and Identification Program," 2010; and Info Memo U-429-09 of October 30, 2009, "Review of Advanced Aerospace Contract Deliverables." https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-429-09-DWO-IM.pdf +[^4]: To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, Form 253G2 offering circular, September 29, 2017, biography of Dr. Colm Kelleher. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417050693/ +[^5]: Micah Hanks, "Colm Kelleher: AAWSAP and the Skinwalker Enigma," The Debrief, May 25, 2023, description of The Micah Hanks Program episode. https://thedebrief.org/colm-kelleher-aawsap-and-the-skinwalker-enigma/ +[^6]: George Knapp, written testimony, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, hearing "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection," Serial No. 119-44, September 9, 2025. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/George-Knapp-Written-Testimony.pdf ; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-119hhrg61718/html/CHRG-119hhrg61718.htm +[^7]: John Greenewald, The Black Vault, AAWSAP documentation archive. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/?p=16063 +[^8]: All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, *Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)*, Volume I, 2024, p. 23 (termination) and p. 34 (Utah property). https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDF +[^9]: Keith Basterfield, "More BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge," June 5, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/more-baass-aawsap-documents-emerge.html . Lacatski, James T., Kelleher, Colm A., and Knapp, George. *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon*. RTMA, 2021, Appendix 1 (as described by Basterfield). +[^10]: Defense Intelligence Agency letter U-18-2148/FAC-2A1, January 16, 2019, enclosing the 38-title list of Defense Intelligence Reference Documents. https://archive.org/download/aatip-list/aatip-list.pdf +[^11]: DIA letter U-22-8017/IMO-2 (FOIA) of October 13, 2022 and attached records (statement of work sections 5.1 and 9; modifications), FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf ; document index with release notes: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/ +[^12]: Keith Basterfield, "There was a BAASS AAWSAP administrator before Robert Bigelow," June 28, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/there-was-baass-aawsap-administrator.html . +[^13]: Keith Basterfield, "The BAASS 'Project Campus,'" July 7, 2025, quoting the BAASS Ten Month Report (July 30, 2009). https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-baass-project-campus.html . +[^14]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^15]: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, final response letter of June 20, 2023, case 2022-HQFO-00386, to Marc Cecotti, signed Jimmy Wolfrey, Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management, and one-page enclosure "BAASS Goals 2011/2012," as posted by Marc Cecotti on X, June 20, 2023. https://x.com/MC05A/status/1671217484685246478 ; images https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa762X0AA4b7W.jpg (letter) and https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa76yXwAE4d8N.png (enclosure). +[^16]: Keith Basterfield, "Was the Department of Homeland Security keen to take on the AAWSAP?," June 22, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/06/was-department-of-homeland-security.html ; "Lockheed Martin and BAASS," November 30, 2023, https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2023/11/lockheed-martin-and-baass.html . +[^17]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Talking Paper, "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009, released by DIA to The Black Vault. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf +[^18]: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, final packet for the Deputy Secretary of Defense's November 17, 2009 meeting with Senator Harry Reid, including the memorandum signed by James R. Clapper Jr. and the talking points. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf +[^19]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, signed September 22, 2008, released with a DIA letter dated June 26, 2023 in FOIA-00269-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf +[^20]: Modification P00001 (Standard Form 30), effective September 2, 2009, with the attached copy of Standard Form 1449 for order HHM402-08-C-0072. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_FY10.pdf +[^21]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Contract Status," contract HHM402-08-C-0072, December 16, 2008. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf +[^22]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf +[^23]: Defense Intelligence Agency, briefing "Contract Status," 2009 (undated), slide on option year 1 deliverables. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_Briefing.pdf +[^24]: Modifications P00002 (February 2, 2010), P00003 and P00004 (May 18, 2010) and P00005 (September 28, 2010), contract HHM402-08-C-0072, in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf +[^25]: Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt Organization Search e-file data, Form 990-PF, The Robert Thomas Bigelow Educational Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3962948, object ID 202403379349100410) and The Robert Thomas Bigelow Medical Foundation Inc (EIN 93-3974535, object ID 202413379349100411), tax period ended January 31, 2024, in https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/990/xml/2024/2024_TEOS_XML_12A.zip ; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API records for the same EINs. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933962948.json and https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/organizations/933974535.json diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Future Enterprises.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Future Enterprises.md index 84e958c2..ed2e5d89 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Future Enterprises.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Future Enterprises.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ aliases: - Future Enterprises - Future Enterprises Inc. created: 2026-05-17 -updated: 2026-05-17 +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - Organization - CIA @@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ tags: category: "Private Organization" summary: "Washington D.C.-area computer training company associated with The Finders that provided CIA employee software training in the 1980s, cited by investigators as evidence of a direct CIA-Finders organizational link." location: "Washington, D.C." +relations: + - type: contractor_to + with: "[[Central Intelligence Agency]]" + start: 1980 + end: 1989 + role: computer training of CIA employees during the 1980s + fn: 1 --- Future Enterprises was a Washington D.C.-area computer training company associated with [[The Finders]] that provided software training to [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] employees during the 1980s. The existence of this business relationship was confirmed publicly in 1993 by CIA spokesman David Christian, who stated: "CIA sent some employees to a company called Future Enterprises, Inc. for computer training in the nineteen eighties." Christian denied that the company was a CIA front or that it was "in any sense owned or operated by anyone for the CIA."[^1] @@ -24,23 +31,25 @@ Future Enterprises was a Washington D.C.-area computer training company associat [[Robert Garder Terrell]], a certified public accountant and former IRS appeals officer who served as The Finders' principal spokesman and financial manager, was associated with Future Enterprises as a computer trainer. The CIA's characterization of his role was "part-time accountant." Terrell's own accounts described computer training work.[^1] -Vice president Joseph Marinich confirmed in contemporaneous reporting that CIA employees received training at the company during the 1980s.[^1] +[[Joseph Marinich]], president of Future Enterprises, confirmed in contemporaneous reporting that the company had once had a contract to train CIA employees in computers. Marinich denied that he or his firm had any involvement with the Finders or acted as a front company for the cult on behalf of the CIA, and said that when the February 1987 reports broke he learned that his tax accountant, Terrell, was a member of the group.[^2] The copy of the U.S. News article enclosed in the FBI file attributes the statement about computer training to a CIA official who asked not to be named.[^2] -An MPD report filed February 19, 1987 by Sgt. John H. Stitcher Jr. described a CIA official confirming that the agency was sending personnel to "a Finders Corp., Future Enterprises, for training in computer operations." The phrase "Finders Corp." in this document represented a direct institutional identification of Future Enterprises as a Finders corporate entity, though the CIA's public position maintained the connection was incidental.[^2] +An MPD report filed February 19, 1987 by Sgt. John H. Stitcher Jr. described a CIA official confirming that the agency was sending personnel to "a Finders Corp., Future Enterprises, for training in computer operations." The phrase "Finders Corp." in this document represented a direct institutional identification of Future Enterprises as a Finders corporate entity, though the CIA's public position maintained the connection was incidental.[^3] ### Infrastructure Context -The physical infrastructure of The Finders' properties and the technical capabilities implied by the Future Enterprises training relationship were related in investigators' assessments. The warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE and the Glover Park duplex both contained extensive networked computer equipment with satellite dish antennas. [[Ramon J. Martinez|U.S. Customs Agent Ramon J. Martinez]] found [[Stuart Miles Silverstone]] inside a satellite-equipped computer room at the Glover Park duplex during the February 1987 raids. Telex messages on the group's systems referenced international contacts and included what Martinez described as communications relating to children in multiple countries.[^2] +The physical infrastructure of The Finders' properties and the technical capabilities implied by the Future Enterprises training relationship were related in investigators' assessments. The warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE and the Glover Park duplex both contained extensive networked computer equipment with satellite dish antennas. [[Ramon J. Martinez|U.S. Customs Agent Ramon J. Martinez]] found [[Stuart Miles Silverstone]] inside a satellite-equipped computer room at the Glover Park duplex during the February 1987 raids. Telex messages on the group's systems referenced international contacts and included what Martinez described as communications relating to children in multiple countries.[^3] Whether CIA employees who received computer training at Future Enterprises had any operational contact with The Finders' broader activities through this arrangement has not been established in accessible primary sources. ### The 1993 DOJ Investigation -The Future Enterprises connection was a central element of the 1993 Department of Justice and FBI reinvestigation of The Finders, prompted by congressional pressure from Representatives Tom Lewis (R-FL) and [[Charlie Rose]] (D-NC). Reporter Paul M. Rodriguez of the *Washington Times* published the key investigative article on December 17, 1993, citing the MPD document identifying Future Enterprises as "Finders Corp."[^1] The *U.S. News & World Report* contemporaneous investigation also cited the CIA training relationship as one of three documented overlaps between The Finders and the intelligence community, alongside [[Isabelle Pettie]]'s CIA employment and [[George Pettie|George Pettie's]] work for [[Air America]].[^1] +The Future Enterprises connection was a central element of the 1993 Department of Justice and FBI reinvestigation of The Finders, prompted by congressional pressure from Representatives Tom Lewis (R-FL) and [[Charlie Rose]] (D-NC). Reporter Paul M. Rodriguez of the *Washington Times* published the key investigative article on December 17, 1993, citing the MPD document identifying Future Enterprises as "Finders Corp."[^1] The *U.S. News & World Report* contemporaneous investigation also cited the CIA training relationship as one of three documented overlaps between The Finders and the intelligence community, alongside [[Isabelle Pettie]]'s CIA employment and [[George Pettie|George Pettie's]] work for [[Air America]].[^1] A December 22, 1993 memorandum from [[Larry A. Potts]] lists Future Enterprises among the entities checked in the FBI inquiry, and the FBI's 1993 indices search lists Future Enterprises, Inc. among eight names with two index references.[^4] The DOJ inquiry concluded without criminal charges. The CIA maintained its characterization of the training relationship as an incidental procurement arrangement. ### Footnotes [^1]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." *U.S. News & World Report*, December 27, 1993 / January 3, 1994. Also: Rodriguez, Paul M. "CIA tied to cult accused of abuse; Justice probes links to Finders." *Washington Times*, December 17, 1993. -[^2]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. Also: FBI Vault, "The Finders," vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). +[^2]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." *U.S. News & World Report*, December 27, 1993. Text as enclosed in FBI WMFO teletype dated December 23, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04 +[^3]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. Also: FBI Vault, "The Finders," vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). +[^4]: Potts, Larry A., memorandum dated December 22, 1993, and FBI indices search, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04 diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Mellon Family.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Mellon Family.md index 04135daa..310a7704 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Mellon Family.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Mellon Family.md @@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ relations: - type: member_of with: "[[Paul Mellon]]" reverse: true - role: "son of Andrew W. Mellon; major in the Office of Strategic Services in Europe" + role: "son of Andrew W. Mellon; major in the Office of Strategic Services in England, 1943 to 1945" start: 1943 end: 1945 - fn: 2 + fn: 5 - type: funded with: "[[Galileo Project]]" role: "the Richard King Mellon Foundation granted 575,000 dollars on April 26, 2024 for a third observatory station in Allegheny or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; Christopher Mellon 'was instrumental in stewarding this grant'" start: 2024-04-26 - fn: 3 + fn: 11 created: 2026-10-03 -updated: 2026-10-03 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- The Mellon family of [[Pittsburgh]] includes the persons named below. A 2003 *Roll Call* "Heard on the Hill" item by [[Ed Henry]] on the hiring of [[Christopher Mellon]] by the [[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] described him as "of that Mellon family," a descendant of Judge Thomas Mellon whose "great-grandfather started the [[Gulf Oil]] Co."[^1] @@ -41,27 +41,32 @@ The Mellon family of [[Pittsburgh]] includes the persons named below. A 2003 *Ro ### Paul Mellon, David K. E. Bruce and the Office of Strategic Services -Ailsa Mellon married [[David K. E. Bruce]]; after the marriage Bruce "became a confidant and art adviser to his father-in-law," according to a review of Nelson D. Lankford's biography *The Last American Aristocrat*. The review adds that Bruce "began a diplomatic career through his friendship with William 'Wild Bill' Donovan, the founder of the OSS (later the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]])," and served as ambassador to France and Britain and on a special mission to China.[^4] Bruce's appointments from the [[United States Department of State]]'s Office of the Historian listing were ambassador to France (1949 to 1952), under secretary of state (1952 to 1953), ambassador to Germany (1957 to 1959) and to the [[United Kingdom]] (1961 to 1969), chief of the United States Liaison Office in China (1973 to 1974) and permanent representative to [[NATO]] (1974 to 1976).[^9] Paul Mellon studied at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] (M.A. 1938), enrolled at St. John's College in Annapolis after returning to the United States in 1940, joined the [[United States Army]] six months later, received cavalry training and a commission at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas, and "subsequently served with the OSS ([[Office of Strategic Services]]) in Europe, attaining the rank of Major." In 1945 he and his wife Mary founded the [[Bollingen Foundation]], which published works including the *I Ching* and closed in 1969; the National Gallery of Art states that the Mellons' interest in the work of [[Carl Jung]] had taken them to Europe in the late 1930s.[^2] +Ailsa Mellon married [[David K. E. Bruce]]; after the marriage Bruce "became a confidant and art adviser to his father-in-law," according to a review of Nelson D. Lankford's biography *The Last American Aristocrat*. The review adds that Bruce "began a diplomatic career through his friendship with William 'Wild Bill' Donovan, the founder of the OSS (later the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]])," and served as ambassador to France and Britain and on a special mission to China.[^3] Bruce's appointments from the [[United States Department of State]]'s Office of the Historian listing were ambassador to France (1949 to 1952), under secretary of state (1952 to 1953), ambassador to Germany (1957 to 1959) and to the [[United Kingdom]] (1961 to 1969), chief of the United States Liaison Office in China (1973 to 1974) and permanent representative to [[NATO]] (1974 to 1976).[^4] Paul Mellon studied at [[Clare College, Cambridge]] (M.A. 1938), enrolled at St. John's College in Annapolis after returning to the United States in 1940, joined the [[United States Army]] six months later, received cavalry training and a commission at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas, and "subsequently served with the OSS ([[Office of Strategic Services]]) in Europe, attaining the rank of Major." In 1945 he and his wife Mary founded the [[Bollingen Foundation]], which published works including the *I Ching* and closed in 1969; the National Gallery of Art states that the Mellons' interest in the work of [[Carl Jung]] had taken them to Europe in the late 1930s.[^2] + +Paul Mellon enlisted as an Army private when the United States entered the war, joined the cavalry, and rose to the rank of major in the Office of Strategic Services.[^5] The [[Frick Collection]] research directory gives his Army service as 1941 to 1943 and his work overseas with the Office of Strategic Services as 1943 to 1945; the [[Yale Center for British Art]] states that after two years at Fort Riley, Kansas, he served in the Office of Strategic Services in England.[^6] The obituary calls Jung his friend and former analyst.[^5] The *Public Domain Review* essay on his collecting of William Blake states that wartime service "forced an end to the relationship with Jung," and describes a scheme from early 1945 "for Mellon to enlist Jung's help with psychological propaganda against the retreating German army." Germany's surrender made the mission redundant, and Mellon was back in [[Virginia]] by August 1945. The essay states that "almost immediately" afterward the Mellons established the Bollingen Foundation, under the direction of [[Jack Barrett]], with the goal of publishing Jung's collected works in English translation.[^7] Mellon also established the Bollingen Prize for poetry, the first of which went to [[Ezra Pound]] while Pound was under indictment for treason.[^5] ### Richard Mellon Scaife -[[Richard Mellon Scaife]], an heir to the Mellon banking, oil and aluminum fortunes and publisher of the *[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]*, spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" of an estimated net worth of 1.4 billion dollars on conservative causes and sat on the boards of the [[Heritage Foundation]] and the [[Hoover Institution]]. He was a major underwriter of the *American Spectator* magazine's "Arkansas Project" on [[Bill Clinton]] in the 1990s. He died July 4, 2014, at 82.[^5] The Mellon heiress [[Cordelia Scaife May]] met [[John Tanton]] in 1978 and gave 50,000 dollars to start the [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]], according to [[Nicholas Kulish]] and [[Mike McIntire]] of the *[[New York Times]]*.[^10] +[[Richard Mellon Scaife]], an heir to the Mellon banking, oil and aluminum fortunes and publisher of the *[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]*, spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" of an estimated net worth of 1.4 billion dollars on conservative causes and sat on the boards of the [[Heritage Foundation]] and the [[Hoover Institution]]. He was a major underwriter of the *American Spectator* magazine's "Arkansas Project" on [[Bill Clinton]] in the 1990s. He died July 4, 2014, at 82.[^8] The Mellon heiress [[Cordelia Scaife May]] met [[John Tanton]] in 1978 and gave 50,000 dollars to start the [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]], according to [[Nicholas Kulish]] and [[Mike McIntire]] of the *[[New York Times]]*.[^9] ### Christopher Mellon -*Roll Call* reported on February 12, 2003 that Senator [[Jay Rockefeller]] had hired Christopher Mellon as minority staff director of the Intelligence Committee, writing: "It's starting to look like [[Rockefeller family|the Rockefellers]] and Mellons are taking over the [[United States Senate|Senate]] Select Intelligence Committee." The same item said he had spent a decade on intelligence issues for Senator [[William S. Cohen]], followed Cohen to the [[Pentagon]] when Cohen became Secretary of Defense, and had until recently served under Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]].[^1] [[Politico]]'s [[Bryan Bender]] described Mellon in 2021 as "a scion of the [[Pennsylvania]] oil and banking family."[^6] +*Roll Call* reported on February 12, 2003 that Senator [[Jay Rockefeller]] had hired Christopher Mellon as minority staff director of the Intelligence Committee, writing: "It's starting to look like [[Rockefeller family|the Rockefellers]] and Mellons are taking over the [[United States Senate|Senate]] Select Intelligence Committee." The same item said he had spent a decade on intelligence issues for Senator [[William S. Cohen]], followed Cohen to the [[Pentagon]] when Cohen became Secretary of Defense, and had until recently served under Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]].[^1] [[Politico]]'s [[Bryan Bender]] described Mellon in 2021 as "a scion of the [[Pennsylvania]] oil and banking family."[^10] -Christopher Mellon was a paid adviser to [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] from 2017, per Bender, and its annual report for 2020 states he resigned from the advisory board in November 2020 (see the page on the company). On October 30, 2021 he became a research affiliate of [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Galileo Project]]. On April 26, 2024 the Galileo Project announced a grant of 575,000 dollars from the [[Richard King Mellon Foundation]] for a third instrument station in Allegheny or [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland County]], Pennsylvania, stating that Christopher Mellon "was instrumental in stewarding this grant"; the press release quotes him: "It is exciting and deeply gratifying to see the Richard King Mellon Foundation continue to support cutting edge science here in Western Pennsylvania."[^3][^7] The foundation's EIN, as listed by [[ProPublica]]'s Nonprofit Explorer, is 25-1127705.[^8] +Christopher Mellon was a paid adviser to [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] from 2017, per Bender, and its annual report for 2020 states he resigned from the advisory board in November 2020 (see the page on the company). On October 30, 2021 he became a research affiliate of [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Galileo Project]]. On April 26, 2024 the Galileo Project announced a grant of 575,000 dollars from the [[Richard King Mellon Foundation]] for a third instrument station in Allegheny or [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland County]], Pennsylvania, stating that Christopher Mellon "was instrumental in stewarding this grant"; the press release quotes him: "It is exciting and deeply gratifying to see the Richard King Mellon Foundation continue to support cutting edge science here in Western Pennsylvania."[^11][^12] The foundation's EIN, as listed by [[ProPublica]]'s Nonprofit Explorer, is 25-1127705.[^13] ### Footnotes [^1]: Henry, Ed. "Unholy Alliance?" *Roll Call,* February 12, 2003. https://rollcall.com/2003/02/12/unholy-alliance/ [^2]: "Paul Mellon: A Legacy." National Gallery of Art press release, 1999 (Internet Archive copy). https://www.nga.gov/press/archive/mellon-legacy-1999.html -[^3]: "Richard King Mellon Foundation awards $575,000 to Galileo Project." The Galileo Project, Harvard University, April 26, 2024. https://galileo.hsites.harvard.edu/news/richard-king-mellon-foundation-awards-575000-galileo-project (Internet Archive copy). -[^4]: Review of Lankford, Nelson D., *The Last American Aristocrat: The Biography of David K. E. Bruce, 1898-1977.* *Kirkus Reviews,* August 19, 1996. https://kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nelson-d-lankford/the-last-american-aristocrat. The review gives the Donovan friendship and the ambassadorships. -[^5]: "Richard Mellon Scaife, 82, billionaire publisher." *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* July 5, 2014. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20140705_Richard_Mellon_Scaife__82__billionaire_publisher.html -[^6]: Bender, Bryan. "The Hidden History of How Washington Embraced UFOs." *Politico Magazine,* May 28, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/28/ufos-secret-history-government-washington-dc-487900 -[^7]: The Galileo Project. "The Galileo Project Welcomes Christopher Mellon and Luis Elizondo as Research Affiliates," October 30, 2021. https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/galileo/files/mellon-elizondo_announcement_final_2.pdf (Internet Archive copy). -[^8]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search, "Richard King Mellon Foundation" (listed as "Richard King Mellon Foundation Dtd 01-01-47," Ligonier, Pennsylvania). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/search.json?q=Richard+King+Mellon+Foundation -[^9]: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. "David Kirkpatrick Este Bruce (1898-1977)." https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/bruce-david-kirkpatrick-este -[^10]: Kulish, Nicholas, and Mike McIntire. "Why an Heiress Spent Her Fortune Trying to Keep Immigrants Out." *The New York Times,* August 14, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/us/anti-immigration-cordelia-scaife-may.html (as read for the vault page on the Federation for American Immigration Reform). +[^3]: Review of Lankford, Nelson D., *The Last American Aristocrat: The Biography of David K. E. Bruce, 1898-1977.* *Kirkus Reviews,* August 19, 1996. https://kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nelson-d-lankford/the-last-american-aristocrat. The review gives the Donovan friendship and the ambassadorships. +[^4]: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. "David Kirkpatrick Este Bruce (1898-1977)." https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/bruce-david-kirkpatrick-este +[^5]: "Philanthropist Paul Mellon Dead at 91," *Seattle Times*, February 3, 1999. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990203/2942169/philanthropist-paul-mellon-dead-at-91----son-of-industrialist-used-fortune-to-contribute-to-arts +[^6]: "Mellon, Paul," Frick Collection research directory, https://research.frick.org/directory/detail/1001; "Paul Mellon: Founder," Yale Center for British Art, https://britishart.yale.edu/stories/paul-mellon-founder +[^7]: "William Blake and Paul Mellon: The Life of the Mind," *Public Domain Review*. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/william-blake-and-paul-mellon-the-life-of-the-mind +[^8]: "Richard Mellon Scaife, 82, billionaire publisher." *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* July 5, 2014. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20140705_Richard_Mellon_Scaife__82__billionaire_publisher.html +[^9]: Kulish, Nicholas, and Mike McIntire. "Why an Heiress Spent Her Fortune Trying to Keep Immigrants Out." *The New York Times,* August 14, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/us/anti-immigration-cordelia-scaife-may.html (as read for the vault page on the Federation for American Immigration Reform). +[^10]: Bender, Bryan. "The Hidden History of How Washington Embraced UFOs." *Politico Magazine,* May 28, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/28/ufos-secret-history-government-washington-dc-487900 +[^11]: "Richard King Mellon Foundation awards $575,000 to Galileo Project." The Galileo Project, Harvard University, April 26, 2024. https://galileo.hsites.harvard.edu/news/richard-king-mellon-foundation-awards-575000-galileo-project (Internet Archive copy). +[^12]: The Galileo Project. "The Galileo Project Welcomes Christopher Mellon and Luis Elizondo as Research Affiliates," October 30, 2021. https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/galileo/files/mellon-elizondo_announcement_final_2.pdf (Internet Archive copy). +[^13]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search, "Richard King Mellon Foundation" (listed as "Richard King Mellon Foundation Dtd 01-01-47," Ligonier, Pennsylvania). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/search.json?q=Richard+King+Mellon+Foundation diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/National Bank of Oman.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/National Bank of Oman.md index 95d1f559..968cd2c6 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/National Bank of Oman.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/National Bank of Oman.md @@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ summary: "Oman's first incorporated bank, founded in 1973, in which BCCI bought start: 1973 location: "Muscat, Oman" created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 relations: - type: owned with: "[[W.J. Towell & Co.]]" @@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ In its chapter on BCCI and intelligence, where it also called the bank "the Bank The same chapter recorded dealings between the bank and [[Bruce Rappaport]]: "The National Bank of Oman and its CEO, Case Zawawi, also did business with Bruce Rappaport." [[Jerry Townsend]], president of Colonial Shipping in [[Atlanta]], who said he had worked as a Soviet analyst for the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and was employed by Rappaport from 1981 to 1990, told the subcommittee that Rappaport had business relations in Oman with Zawawi at the bank, and that Rappaport once flew [[Zubin Mehta]] and the London Philharmonic to Oman to entertain the Sultan. The report cited a 1985 *[[New York Times]]* article on a [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] company, [[Tetra Tech]], "operated by a former CIA agent," which "helps manage several key Omani government agencies," and listed BCCI loans outstanding on March 3, 1991, to Omani borrowers, among them 8 million dollars to Oman Aviation Service, 13 million to Oman Flour Mills, 13 million to the Oman Development Bank, 16 million to Oman Building and Contracting Services, and 14 million to the Sultanate of Oman.[^3] +Jonathan Beaty and S. C. Gwynne wrote that Bruce Rappaport was involved with the National Bank of Oman, which channeled millions of dollars supplied by the CIA and by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan for the Afghan freedom fighters, and that the Bank of Oman was a major affiliate of BCCI, which held a large chunk of its stock.[^6] + ### Footnotes [^1]: "About National Bank of Oman," National Bank of Oman SAOG. https://www.nbo.om/en/Pages/About-Us/About-National-Bank-of-Oman.aspx @@ -78,3 +80,4 @@ The same chapter recorded dealings between the bank and [[Bruce Rappaport]]: "Th [^3]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 11, "BCCI, the CIA and Foreign Intelligence," section "Oman." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/11intel.htm [^4]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 4, "BCCI's Criminality." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/04crime.htm [^5]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 21, "Capcom: A Case Study of Money Laundering." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/21capcom.htm +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 311. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.md index 9c3e7ccb..3e00adc9 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.md @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ summary: "Roman Catholic see erected in 1808 and made an archdiocese in 1875, wh start: 1808-04-08 location: "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 relations: - type: head_of with: "[[Michael Egan (bishop)|Michael Egan]]" @@ -43,15 +43,22 @@ The western part of Pennsylvania was separated as the Diocese of [[Pittsburgh]] John Krol, born in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] in 1910, was appointed archbishop of Philadelphia on February 11, 1961, was made a cardinal by [[Pope Paul VI]] on June 26, 1967, and retired on February 11, 1988. He died at his home in Philadelphia on March 3, 1996.[^2][^3] +### Movie Boycott of 1934 + +On May 23, 1934, [[Dennis Dougherty|Cardinal Dougherty]] called on the area's 800,000 Catholics to boycott motion picture theaters, and declared it sinful for them to enter one.[^4] Over 300,000 Catholics signed pledges to stay away from the movies, and ticket sales fell about 20 percent.[^4] Dougherty did not release anyone from the pledge, and he never officially ended the boycott.[^4] In June 1934 the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] agreed to stronger self-censorship and set up the [[Production Code Administration]], headed by the Catholic layman [[Joseph Breen]].[^4] The Catholic movie-review body that followed, the [[Legion of Decency]], grew in influence during the same years.[^4] + ### Black Mass -In late February 1975 a midnight run of *Black Mass*, a film of a satanic mass by the Philadelphia filmmaker Ray Hoersch, later R.C. Horsch, was cancelled at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] "after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese," according to [[Art Carduner]] of the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]], which screened it instead on March 1.[^4] Sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Krol, signed a statement calling the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urging "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film in the Philadelphia area."[^5] Horsch said in an interview recorded in 2013 that the archdiocese had the run cancelled after one screening.[^6] +In late February 1975 a midnight run of *Black Mass*, a film of a satanic mass by the Philadelphia filmmaker Ray Hoersch, later R.C. Horsch, was cancelled at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] "after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese," according to [[Art Carduner]] of the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]], which screened it instead on March 1.[^5] The *Inquirer* of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing there.[^5] Sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Krol, signed a statement calling the film "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and urging "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film in the Philadelphia area."[^6] The statement was issued on Thursday, February 27, 1975, and the *Inquirer* reported the next morning that the film had been reported booked at a center-city theater and one in Germantown, that the center-city house said the report "was a mistake," and that the Germantown theater said it was not yet known whether the film would be shown there.[^7] United Methodist Bishop [[James M. Ault]] of the Philadelphia Area was named among those opposing it.[^8] Horsch said in an interview recorded in 2013 that the archdiocese had the run cancelled after one screening.[^9] ### Footnotes [^1]: Loughlin, James. "Archdiocese of Philadelphia," *The Catholic Encyclopedia,* vol. 11, New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11793b.htm [^2]: "Cardinal Krol laid to rest," United Press International, March 8, 1996. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/03/08/Cardinal-Krol-laid-to-rest/8760826261200/ [^3]: Weil, Martin. "Cardinal John Krol Dies; Philadelphia Archbishop," *The Washington Post,* March 4, 1996. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/03/04/cardinal-john-krol-dies/8d845f35-61a2-4b44-934a-0bdc39ca14df/ -[^4]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ -[^5]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ -[^6]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio at 30:51 to 32:04, republishing interviews recorded in 2013. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^4]: "Dougherty's Movie Boycott," Catholic Historical Research Center, Philadelphia, February 6, 2019, citing Cardinal Dougherty, "Letter to Priests of the Archdiocese," May 25, 1934 (MC78-.1934.05.25). https://chrc-phila.org/doughertys-movie-boycott/ +[^5]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ +[^6]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^7]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ +[^8]: "U.M. bishop joins those against satanist movie," Religious News Service, *The United Methodist Reporter* (Louisiana edition), March 14, 1975, p. 3. https://archive.org/details/louisianaunitedm1975unit +[^9]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio at 30:51 to 32:04, republishing interviews recorded in 2013. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Finders.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Finders.md index f504fb11..659d453e 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Finders.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Finders.md @@ -3,82 +3,125 @@ title: The Finders aliases: - The Finders - Finders + - The Finders group + - The Finders cult created: 2026-05-17 -updated: 2026-05-17 +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - Organization - CIA - ChildTrafficking + - FBIVault + - Tallahassee - 1970s - 1980s + - 1990s - WashingtonDC category: "Private Organization" -summary: "The Finders was a Washington D.C.-based communal group led by Marion Pettie that came to public attention in 1987 when members were arrested transporting malnourished children, with a subsequent federal investigation abruptly closed after the CIA acknowledged an interest in the group." +summary: "The Finders was a Washington D.C. communal group led by Marion Pettie whose members were arrested in 1987 transporting malnourished children, and whose federal investigation closed after the CIA acknowledged an interest." location: "Washington, D.C." start: 1970-01-01 +relations: + - type: founded + with: "[[Marion Pettie]]" + reverse: true + start: 1971 + role: founder and Game Caller + fn: 4 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Metropolitan Police Department]]" + reverse: true + start: 1987-02-05 + fn: 2 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]" + reverse: true + start: 1987-02-06 + end: 1995-05-09 + fn: 3 + - type: investigated + with: "[[United States Customs Service]]" + reverse: true + start: 1987-02-04 + end: 1987-04-13 + fn: 2 --- -The Finders was a Washington D.C.-based communal group led by former [[U.S. Air Force]] Master Sergeant [[Marion Pettie]] that came to public attention on February 4, 1987, when two of its members were arrested in Tallahassee, Florida while transporting six malnourished children in a van. The ensuing investigation uncovered extensive computer networks with satellite communications, international files referencing operations in multiple countries, and documents describing methods for obtaining children. A federal inquiry was opened, then abruptly closed after the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] acknowledged an interest in the group. The case was partially reopened in 1993 following congressional pressure, then closed again without criminal charges. In November 2019, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] released several hundred pages of investigative records through its online Vault repository under FOIA case number 1372462-0.[^2][^3][^4] +The Finders was a Washington D.C.-based communal group led by former [[U.S. Air Force]] Master Sergeant [[Marion Pettie]] that came to public attention on February 4, 1987, when two of its members were arrested in [[Tallahassee, Florida]] while transporting six malnourished children in a van. The ensuing investigation uncovered extensive computer networks with satellite communications, international files referencing operations in multiple countries, and documents describing methods for obtaining children. A federal inquiry was opened, then abruptly closed after the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] acknowledged an interest in the group. The case was partially reopened in 1993 following congressional pressure, then closed again without criminal charges. In November 2019, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] released several hundred pages of investigative records through its online Vault repository under FOIA case number 1372462-0.[^1][^2][^3] ### Origins and Structure -The Finders coalesced in the late 1960s around Marion Pettie, who had been hosting open-house gatherings at his Washington D.C. residence since at least the 1940s. The formal communal structure took shape around 1971 at Pettie's home in the Glover Park neighborhood.[^5] Pettie described no formal membership requirements: "Nobody signs anything."[^5] Members pooled finances into what [[Robert Garder Terrell]] called the "Invisible Bank," with some members contributing life savings to the communal fund.[^5] +The Finders coalesced in the late 1960s around Marion Pettie, who had been hosting open-house gatherings at his Washington D.C. residence since at least the 1940s. The formal communal structure took shape around 1971 at Pettie's home in the [[Glover Park]] neighborhood.[^4] Pettie described no formal membership requirements: "Nobody signs anything."[^4] A group of about 40 people lived in the Glover Park house, a Northeast Washington warehouse and a farm in rural Virginia.[^5] Hippies and peace activists had visited Pettie Farm, a 90-acre property in [[Madison County, Virginia|Madison County]], from about 1968, and four visitors between 1968 and 1973 recalled a leader in his forties, "a charismatic and wealthy man"; about 1982 neighbors saw the hippie followers replaced by men in business suits and women in professional clothes.[^5] Pettie originally based his teachings on the writings of [[Carlos Castaneda]], according to cult experts quoted at the time.[^5] Former followers called him "The Student," "The Stroller," "The Game Caller" or "The Pathfinder," and said he lectured at the Glover Park house on "the New Age way of living" and Eastern mysticism.[^6] Members pooled finances into what [[Robert Garder Terrell]] called the "Invisible Bank," with some members contributing life savings to the communal fund.[^4] -The group blended Taoist philosophy with New Age and Human Potential Movement concepts. Members were typically well-educated professionals who rejected conventional employment as an obstacle to what Pettie called spontaneity. Pettie functioned as the "Game Caller," a title the children in the group also used for him, directing members on assignments called "projects" that could range from mundane tasks to international travel, and exercising final authority over communal life.[^5][^6] His stated life philosophy, offered to journalist Eddie Dean in 1996, was "to know everything and do nothing."[^5] +Terrell told Washington City Paper that under the original arrangement money put into the group could be retrieved, and that Pettie later introduced what he called "The Last Man's Club," under which it could not.[^4] Terrell testified in a later suit over the group's partnership assets that the group "deteriorated during the two decades he was a member" and shifted "from an idealistic utopian community to more of a militarylike organization where following orders became more" central to it.[^4] -Beginning around 1980, children were raised communally rather than by biological parents. The group believed this practice replicated what members described as original Native American child-rearing. Children were not enrolled in conventional schools and were separated from their parents for months during group-organized trips described as educational adventures. Neighbors reported seeing dozens of children at the Virginia farm during summer periods, sometimes naked or appearing distressed.[^7] +The group blended Taoist philosophy with New Age and Human Potential Movement concepts. Members were typically well-educated professionals who rejected conventional employment as an obstacle to what Pettie called spontaneity. Pettie functioned as the "Game Caller," a title the children in the group also used for him, directing members on assignments called "projects" that could range from mundane tasks to international travel, and exercising final authority over communal life.[^4][^7] His stated life philosophy, offered to journalist Eddie Dean in 1996, was "to know everything and do nothing."[^4] Terrell gave the same formulation in his 2009 memoir, quoting Pettie: "Know everything and do nothing until your knowledge is called for by the people that you're loyal to."[^7] + +The Finders' own communal life was described by Pettie to [[U.S. News & World Report]] in December 1993 as a communal, holistic-living and learning arrangement of some 20 members, who did freelance journalism, research and "competitor intelligence" for mostly foreign clients and worked, he said, for no foreign governments.[^8] Washington City Paper put the peak membership of the 1980s at nearly three dozen people.[^4] + +Former members told the Washington Post in February 1987 that a number of the older members had left careers and families to join, that some members used up to 20 aliases, and that in the early 1980s Pettie's second-in-command died at the Glover Park house of untreated appendicitis, after which the group became more secretive and members stopped seeing relatives and friends outside it.[^6] Beginning around 1980, children were raised communally rather than by biological parents. The group believed this practice replicated what members described as original Native American child-rearing. Children were not enrolled in conventional schools and were separated from their parents for months during group-organized trips described as educational adventures. Neighbors reported seeing as many as a dozen children at the Virginia farm in summer, and a Glover Park neighbor recalled that the children often went without clothes in summer.[^5][^9] ### Properties The group maintained several interconnected properties: -- 3918-3920 W Street NW, Glover Park, Washington D.C.: Two attached red brick buildings containing approximately eight apartments, renting rooms at five dollars per night. Women and children lived here. A duplex portion contained a satellite communications setup.[^5][^2] +- 3918-3920 W Street NW, Glover Park, Washington D.C.: Two attached red brick buildings containing approximately eight apartments, renting rooms at five dollars per night. Women and children lived here. A duplex portion contained a satellite communications setup.[^2][^4] - 1307 Fourth Street NE, Washington D.C.: A 10,000-square-foot warehouse owned of record by Robert Garder Terrell. Men lived here. The space contained a large library, two kitchens, a sauna, a hot tub, a video production room, extensive computer equipment, and satellite dish antennas on the roof.[^2][^3] -- The Farm, Nethers, Madison County, Virginia: Approximately 90 acres near Shenandoah National Park and Old Rag Mountain. Neighbors reported vans arriving at night with children who were sometimes heard crying.[^5][^7] +- The Farm, Nethers, Madison County, Virginia: Approximately 90 acres near [[Shenandoah National Park]] and Old Rag Mountain. Neighbors reported vans arriving at night with children who were sometimes heard crying.[^4][^9] + +Residents of [[Culpeper, Virginia]] told U.S. News in 1993 that the Finders had operated an office there from time to time, containing computer terminals and clocks showing different time zones around the world.[^8] ### Membership The active membership roster circulated during the 1987 investigations listed: [[Ronald L. Alleman]]; [[Mary Grogan]]; [[Christian Herbst]]; [[Kristin Knauth]]; [[Theodore G. Reiss]]; [[Allen Schoen]]; [[Stuart Miles Silverstone]] (operating under the alias Steve Learner); [[Randolph Winn]]; and [[Steve Usdin]]. Former members included [[Patricia H. Livingston]], [[Carolyn Said]], and others who maintained contact with the group.[^2] -Robert Garder Terrell, a former [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] appeals officer and certified public accountant, served as the group's principal spokesman and financial manager. He was associated with [[Future Enterprises]], a computer training company that conducted business with the CIA.[^2][^3] +Robert Garder Terrell, a former [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] appeals officer and certified public accountant, served as the group's principal spokesman and financial manager. He was associated with [[Future Enterprises]], a computer training company that conducted business with the CIA.[^2][^3] Washington City Paper reported that Terrell left the group in 1991 and later testified in a suit seeking to liquidate the group's partnership.[^4] ### John J. Cox and General Scientific -An unsigned investigative memo of unknown provenance, circulated among researchers in the mid-1990s and described by journalist Wendell Minnick in the publication Unclassified (Winter 1995) as a document of "unknown origin" in which "some of the data has been independently verified," claims that in 1979 Pettie recruited John J. Cox, described as a computer specialist and founder of General Scientific, a firm specializing in classified defense contracts. The memo alleges Cox trained several Finders members in computer programming and communications, and took two or more of them to Costa Rica and Panama in 1980-81.[^11] +An unsigned investigative memo of unknown provenance, circulated among researchers in the mid-1990s and described by journalist [[Wendell Minnick]] in the publication Unclassified (Winter 1995) as a document of "unknown origin" in which "some of the data has been independently verified," claims that in 1979 Pettie recruited [[John J. Cox]], described as a computer specialist and founder of [[General Scientific Corporation|General Scientific]], a firm specializing in classified defense contracts. The memo alleges Cox trained several Finders members in computer programming and communications, and took two or more of them to Costa Rica and Panama in 1980-81.[^10] -A separate and partially contradicting account appears in MPD Intelligence documents included in the 2019 FBI Vault release, which describe The Finders as having "attempted to infiltrate General Scientific Corporation, Rockville, Maryland," framing the relationship as an infiltration effort rather than Cox recruiting into the group.[^3] The December 1993 Secretary of State query generated during the DOJ reinvestigation listed General Scientific Corporation, Rockville, Maryland as one of several entity names associated with the Finders.[^3] Cox appears in supplemental Finders membership documents listed as a former member, without aliases or biographical detail. He has not given any known public interview, and his specific role - whether as founder, employee, or point of contact - has not been established in independently accessible primary sources.[^11] +A separate and partially contradicting account appears in MPD Intelligence documents included in the 2019 FBI Vault release, which describe The Finders as having "attempted to infiltrate General Scientific Corporation, Rockville, Maryland," framing the relationship as an infiltration effort rather than Cox recruiting into the group.[^3] The December 1993 Secretary of State query generated during the DOJ reinvestigation listed General Scientific Corporation, Rockville, Maryland as one of several entity names associated with the Finders.[^3] Cox appears in supplemental Finders membership documents listed as a former member, without aliases or biographical detail.[^10] ### Marion Pettie's Background and Intelligence Connections -Marion Pettie was born in 1920 and grew up in Culpeper, Virginia, where his family had lived for ten generations. He dropped out of school after ninth grade. He served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1956.[^5] His wife, [[Isabelle Pettie]], was a CIA employee; FBI Vault documents confirm her employment, though the precise dates cited across sources vary, with estimates ranging from approximately 1952 to 1961, and the Stitcher MPD report citing 1950 to 1971.[^3] She was listed as a staff stenographer but was issued passports to North Korea, North Vietnam, and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, travel that would not ordinarily be approved for an employee in that category.[^3] Pettie confirmed in a 1993 interview with U.S. News & World Report that his wife "once worked for the Central Intelligence Agency."[^4] +Marion Pettie was born in 1920 and grew up in Culpeper, Virginia, where his family had lived for ten generations. He dropped out of school after ninth grade. He served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1956.[^4] Terrell's memoir gives the birth year as 1920 in Culpeper and records that Pettie left home at thirteen and changed his name as a teenager from Marion Buford Pettie to Marion David Pettie.[^7] -Pettie's son [[George Pettie]] worked for [[Air America]], the CIA proprietary airline that operated in Southeast Asia during the [[Vietnam War]] and was documented to have transported narcotics from the [[Golden Triangle]].[^4] George Pettie had broken contact with his father by 1985 and was operating a home inspection business in Northern Virginia at the time of the 1987 investigations. In a 1987 interview he described the circa-1971 Glover Park gatherings as "the beginning of a new life" for his father and followers.[^5] +Pettie's own account, as Terrell recorded it, described his Air Force service as chauffeur work for the Secretary of the Air Force, and said that General [[Ira Eaker]] offered him a chance to attend intelligence school in Germany.[^7] An anonymous three-page investigative memo circulated among researchers in the 1990s alleged that in 1946 Pettie served as chauffeur to General Eaker, then commanding general of Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean, and that publisher [[Charles Marsh]] subsequently arranged for Pettie to receive counterintelligence training.[^11] The memo further alleged that Colonel [[Leonard N. Weigner]] of the USAF directed Pettie to retire from active service and surround himself with what Weigner called "kooks," to provide cover for intelligence recruitment and infiltration of counterculture movements. Weigner died in September 1990; his [[Washington Post]] obituary confirmed a career in Air Force intelligence and the CIA.[^4] The memo's author is not identified. -Marion Pettie consistently denied CIA employment in public interviews, stating: "The reason the CIA wouldn't hire me is that they wouldn't have the control factor over me."[^5] He acknowledged studying intelligence agencies since the 1930s and described himself as Taoist by inclination. His open houses in Washington from the 1930s onward drew intelligence figures, diplomats, and journalists, though Pettie described these gatherings as self-financed social events rather than operational meetings.[^5] +His wife, [[Isabelle Pettie]], was a CIA employee; FBI Vault documents confirm her employment, though the precise dates cited across sources vary, with estimates ranging from approximately 1952 to 1961, and the Stitcher MPD report citing 1950 to 1971.[^3] She was listed as a staff stenographer but was issued passports to North Korea, North Vietnam, and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, travel that would not ordinarily be approved for an employee in that category.[^3] In his December 1993 interview with U.S. News & World Report, Pettie said that the CIA's interest in the Finders might stem from the fact that his "late wife once worked for the agency."[^8] -An anonymous three-page investigative memo circulated among researchers in the 1990s alleged a more formal intelligence relationship: that in 1946 Pettie served as chauffeur to General [[Ira Eaker]], then commanding general of Army Air Forces in the Mediterranean, and that publisher [[Charles Marsh]] subsequently arranged for Pettie to receive counterintelligence training. The memo further alleged that Colonel [[Leonard N. Weigner]] of the USAF directed Pettie to retire from active service and surround himself with what Weigner called "kooks," to provide cover for intelligence recruitment and infiltration of counterculture movements. Weigner died in September 1990; his Washington Post obituary confirmed a career in Air Force intelligence and the CIA.[^5] These claims are unverified and the memo's authorship is unknown. +Pettie's son [[George Pettie]] worked for [[Air America]], the CIA proprietary airline that operated in Southeast Asia during the [[Vietnam War]] and was documented to have transported narcotics from the [[Golden Triangle]].[^8] Pettie told U.S. News that his son had worked for "a CIA proprietary firm, Air America."[^8] George Pettie had not spoken to his father in two years and owned a home inspection business in Northern Virginia at the time of the 1987 investigations. He told the Washington Post that his father, then 66, retired from the Air Force in 1956 as a master sergeant and had done little formal work since, and that around 1971 Pettie gathered his followers at the W Street house: "That was the beginning of a new life for him." He said the group was like an extended family of people who had dropped out of professional careers, that he did not know of members practicing satanism or abusing children, and that he would not want to be a child there, "without a reliable day-in-day-out parent figure."[^5] + +Marion Pettie consistently denied CIA employment in public interviews, stating: "The reason the CIA wouldn't hire me is that they wouldn't have the control factor over me."[^4] In the 1993 U.S. News interview he said the group had never been connected to the CIA, and that the group had never been involved in child abuse, pornography, Satanism, or animal slaughter.[^8] He acknowledged studying intelligence agencies since the 1930s and described himself as Taoist by inclination. His open houses in Washington from the 1930s onward drew intelligence figures, diplomats, and journalists, though Pettie described these gatherings as self-financed social events rather than operational meetings.[^4] + +Pettie gave an account of his connection with [[Timothy Leary]] in which Leary sent people to his communal property in [[Virginia]] during the 1960s, and Leary gave Pettie LSD.[^4] + +Marion Pettie died on October 24, 2003, in Culpeper, Virginia. Terrell's memoir dates his death to October 2003 and records that Terrell took Pettie the first draft of the book on his deathbed, where Pettie told him that what Terrell had written "sounds more like me than I sound like myself."[^7] ### The Tallahassee Arrest, February 4, 1987 -At Myers Park in Tallahassee, Florida, on February 4, 1987, local police received reports of two well-dressed men with six visibly dirty and malnourished children living out of a van. The men were identified as [[Douglas Ammerman]], age 27, and [[James Michael Holwell]], age 23, both from Washington D.C.[^2][^8] +At Myers Park in Tallahassee, Florida, on February 4, 1987, local police received reports of two well-dressed men with six visibly dirty and malnourished children living out of a van. The men were identified as [[Douglas Ammerman]], age 27, and [[James Michael Holwell]], age 23, both from Washington D.C.[^2][^12] -The six children ranged in age from approximately two to seven years. They were described by police and medical personnel as bug-bitten, dirty, underfed, and on a raw food diet dispensed only as behavioral reward. The children appeared unfamiliar with modern technology including telephones, televisions, and toilets, and demonstrated unfamiliarity with the names of rooms in a house. When questioned about their origins, the children stated they were being taken to a special school in Mexico for brilliant children. They indicated they had been "weaned from their mothers" and were "under the control of the game caller." One child stated that the group would go to people's houses, babysit, and eat whatever was available and "do what those people wanted" but would not elaborate further.[^1][^2] +The arrest followed an anonymous telephone call to Tallahassee police about two well-dressed men supervising six disheveled children in a park. Customs records identify the van as a Dodge bearing Virginia plates, in which the eight persons appeared to be living, and one of the men produced a business card stating that its bearer knew his constitutional rights and intended to remain silent.[^13][^14] Holwell gave police the name Michael Houlihan.[^15] The six children ranged in age from approximately two to seven years. They were described by police and medical personnel as bug-bitten, dirty, underfed, and on a raw food diet dispensed only as behavioral reward. The children appeared unfamiliar with modern technology including telephones, televisions, and toilets, and demonstrated unfamiliarity with the names of rooms in a house. When questioned about their origins, the children stated they were being taken to a special school in Mexico for brilliant children. They indicated they had been "weaned from their mothers" and were "under the control of the game caller." One child stated that the group would go to people's houses, babysit, and eat whatever was available and "do what those people wanted" but would not elaborate further.[^1][^2] -Florida HRS physician Dr. Moorer found physical evidence consistent with possible sexual abuse in two of the six children. A subsequent psychiatric examination by Dr. Nahman Greenberg found "no signs of recent sexual or physical abuse."[^8] Items found in the van included a TRS-80 computer, twenty floppy computer disks, a telephone connection device, and a Chinese-English dictionary.[^2] +Florida HRS physician Dr. Moorer found physical evidence consistent with possible sexual abuse in two of the six children.[^12] Nathan Greenberg, an Illinois psychologist retained by Florida's social service agency, concluded that the evidence was insufficient to say whether the children had been sexually abused and found no evidence of recent physical harm; Tallahassee police then dropped their description of the group as a satanic cult while standing by their statement that two children appeared to have been sexually abused.[^16] Items found in the van included a TRS-80 computer, twenty floppy computer disks, a telephone connection device, and a Chinese-English dictionary.[^2] -Douglas Ammerman and James Michael Holwell were charged with misdemeanor child abuse; Holwell faced an additional count of resisting arrest without violence. Bond was initially set at $100,000 each, reduced to $20,000 on February 19. Five women identifying as the children's mothers arrived in Tallahassee from Washington around February 12: Kristin Knauth, [[Judy Evans]], [[Paula Arico]], Carolyn Said, and Patricia H. Livingston.[^8] +Douglas Ammerman and James Michael Holwell were charged with misdemeanor child abuse; Holwell faced an additional count of resisting arrest without violence. Bond was initially set at $100,000 each, reduced to $20,000 on February 19, and the Washington Post reported the two as held on a total bond of $10,000 by March.[^12][^17] Five women identifying as the children's mothers arrived in Tallahassee from Washington around February 12: Kristin Knauth, [[Judy Evans]], [[Paula Arico]], Carolyn Said, and Patricia H. Livingston.[^12] A Tallahassee investigator later told U.S. News of the D.C. police: "They dropped this case," adding that they had done so "like a hot rock."[^18] + +The arrest ran on the front page of the [[Tallahassee Democrat]], whose reporter Jan Pudlow covered the case.[^19] ### Custody Proceedings and Outcomes -Florida state awarded temporary custody of all six children on February 5, 1987. On February 28, Judge Victor Cawthon awarded temporary custody of all six to the mothers pending a final hearing. On March 11, 1987, Cawthon ruled that three of the children be returned to their mothers unconditionally, while three older children were declared state dependents and placed under state supervision. Two mothers, directed by Pettie not to hire lawyers and not to respond to court proceedings, returned to Washington D.C. and forfeited their custody proceedings; their children became the state dependents. On June 1, 1987, a Florida judge sent two of the three state-dependent children to foster homes. The final disposition, as documented in press coverage, left four children returned to mothers and two in foster care.[^8] +Florida state awarded temporary custody of all six children on February 5, 1987. On February 28, Judge Victor Cawthon awarded temporary custody of all six to the mothers pending a final hearing. Terrell said on February 10 that the mothers did not plan to go to Florida and, "as of right now, we're not planning to defend ourselves."[^16] In March 1987 Cawthon awarded custody of the three youngest children to their mothers; the Washington Post reported that two others were declared dependent but allowed to remain with their mothers in Tallahassee, and that one child, whose mother was not present, remained in foster care.[^17] Skeptical Inquirer described the March 11 ruling differently: three children returned unconditionally and three older children declared state dependents, two of whose mothers, directed by Pettie not to hire lawyers or respond to the proceedings, returned to Washington and forfeited their cases.[^12] On June 1, 1987, a Florida judge sent two of the children to foster homes.[^12] The final disposition, as documented in press coverage, left four children returned to mothers and two in foster care.[^12] -All charges against Ammerman and Holwell were dropped for lack of evidence, and both were released on March 17-18, 1987.[^8] +Leon County Circuit Judge George Reynolds dismissed the charges against Ammerman and Holwell on March 17, 1987, on the motion of assistant public defender Michael Minerva that the evidence was insufficient; Ammerman and Holwell were released on March 17-18, 1987. The prosecution did not challenge the summary of the depositions, and Tallahassee police Lt. Roy Dickey said the arrests had been justified on the information then available and that a follow-up investigation indicated "the facts of the case were not as they seemed."[^17] Authorities told the Post that the reports of child pornography and satanic rituals were unfounded and attributable in part to confusion over the members' life style.[^17] ### The Washington Raids, February 5-6, 1987 -The white van used to transport the children was registered to the 1307 Fourth Street NE warehouse. Metropolitan Police in Washington D.C. already had preexisting information from an informant about The Finders' practices. Search warrants were secured for the warehouse and the Glover Park property, and Virginia State Police separately raided the Madison County farm on February 6.[^2] +The white van used to transport the children was registered to the 1307 Fourth Street NE warehouse. [[Metropolitan Police Department|Metropolitan Police]] Detective James Bradley of the Intelligence Division had opened an investigation of the two addresses in December 1986 on information from an informant who described a cult called the Finders operating businesses from a warehouse at 1307 Fourth Street NE and housing children at 3918 and 3920 W Street NW, with "blood rituals," sexual orgies involving children, and an unsolved murder in which the group might be involved; on December 15 a detective had observed a clearing behind the W Street house with round stones gathered in a circle, which a former resident later said had been laid in 1972 as part of a garden.[^5][^13][^14] On February 5 Customs Special Agent Walter Kreitlow in Tallahassee asked Customs headquarters to run the names and van through the Child Pornography and Protection Unit database, and Bradley, who consulted Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Benner, obtained the warrants that day.[^13] The FBI's Washington Field Office opened a kidnapping case (7-1685) on February 6, and its own 1993 review of the file recorded that no evidence of child sexual exploitation, kidnapping or related crimes was observed or obtained in the searches.[^20] Search warrants were secured for the warehouse and the Glover Park property, and [[Virginia State Police]] separately raided the Madison County farm on February 6.[^2] U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova said that day that authorities were investigating "the crime of kidnaping" and that the inquiry was "not limited to that as the evidence evolves."[^14] -U.S. Customs Special Agent [[Ramon J. Martinez]] was the principal federal investigator at the Washington D.C. properties. His reports, filed February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987, constitute the primary documentary record of what investigators found.[^2][^3] +U.S. Customs Special Agent [[Ramon J. Martinez]] was the principal federal investigator at the Washington D.C. properties. His reports, filed February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987, constitute the primary documentary record of what investigators found.[^2][^3] A [[Walter Kreitlow|Customs Service report from Tallahassee]] dated February 12, 1987 documented the Tallahassee end of the inquiry.[^21] ### Warehouse Findings @@ -88,23 +131,26 @@ At the warehouse, investigators found: - A large library including books on mind control and psychological operations - A video screening room with production capability - Sauna and hot tub facilities -- Files referencing international contacts and activities in London, Germany, the Bahamas, Japan, [[Hong Kong]], Malaysia, Africa, and Costa Rica +- Files referencing international contacts and activities in London, Germany, the Bahamas, Japan, [[Hong Kong]], Malaysia, Africa, and [[Costa Rica]] - A file labeled "Pentagon Break-In" (see below) -- Photographs of unidentified individuals including nude images and images of children +- Photographs of unidentified individuals including nude images and images of children, among them one of a child "on display" and "appearing to accent the child's genitals" in Martinez's words[^13] - Documents describing "explicit sexual conduct" between members - Documents with what Martinez described as "detailed instructions for obtaining children for unspecified purposes," including methods described as: impregnation of female members, purchasing, trading, and kidnapping[^2][^3] +- A file identified as "Palestinian," files by member name and by "project" name that appeared to Martinez to be commercial operations under front names, and a large amount of data on child care organizations[^13] +- A video room that appeared to Martinez to be set up as an indoctrination center, training areas for children, an altar in a residential area of the warehouse, and many jars of urine and feces[^13] +- A photograph album, presented to Martinez by an MPD officer, of adults and children in white sheets in what Martinez called a "blood ritual" centered on the execution of at least two goats[^13] -Martinez documented that files contained printouts of messages transmitted through an MCI telex account to networked computer terminals across the United States and in foreign locations. Among the telex messages, Martinez identified what he described as a purchase order for two children in Hong Kong to be arranged through a contact at the Chinese Embassy.[^2][^3] No second investigator present at the raid independently confirmed this specific document in accessible records.[^8] +At the W Street duplex the telexes found with Silverstone, according to Martinez, included one expressing interest in "bank secrecy" situations, and other documents showed interests in high-technology transfers to the United Kingdom, terrorism, explosives and the evasion of law enforcement, together with a set of instructions that appeared to be broadcast over a computer network advising participants to move "the children" and keep them moving through different jurisdictions.[^13] Martinez documented that files contained printouts of messages transmitted through an MCI telex account to networked computer terminals across the United States and in foreign locations. Among the telex messages, Martinez identified what he described as a purchase order for two children in Hong Kong to be arranged through a contact at the Chinese Embassy there.[^2][^22] Washington Field Office agents who reviewed the file in 1993 recorded no evidence of kidnapping or child sexual exploitation from the searches.[^20] -Additional documents referenced bank secrecy practices, technology transfers to the United Kingdom, and currency movement across multiple international jurisdictions. Martinez's overall assessment was that the files indicated "international trafficking in children, high tech transfer to the United Kingdom, and international transfer of currency."[^2] +Additional documents referenced bank secrecy practices, technology transfers to the United Kingdom, and currency movement across multiple international jurisdictions. Martinez's overall assessment was that the files indicated "international trafficking in children, high tech transfer to the United Kingdom, and international transfer of currency."[^2][^3] U.S. News & World Report quoted the same Customs memorandum in 1993.[^23] ### The "Pentagon Break-In" File -Among the documents observed at the warehouse, Martinez noted in his April 13, 1987 report the existence of a file entitled "Pentagon Break-In." His report records only the title; he did not describe the file's contents, and his subsequent loss of access to the seized materials - after the FBI transferred jurisdiction and classified the case - prevented any follow-up examination. No investigator, journalist, or FOIA release has produced a description of what the file contained. It is unknown whether the title referred to a literal unauthorized entry, surveillance of Pentagon personnel, an exercise or game, or something else. The file is mentioned in secondary sources only as a notation from Martinez's memo.[^2][^3] +Among the documents observed at the warehouse, Martinez noted in his April 13, 1987 report the existence of a file entitled "Pentagon Break-In." His report records only the title, in a list of files that also included "Palestinian," and gives no description of the contents; the April 1987 report records that the investigation had by then passed out of Customs' hands.[^2][^3][^13] ### The Babysitter and Tutor Advertisement Method -Martinez's April 13, 1987 report documented information provided by an MPD officer regarding an intelligence-gathering method used by the group: "the group would respond to local newspaper advertisements for babysitters, tutors, etc. and then a member of the Finders would gather as much information as possible about the habits, identity, occupation, etc., of the family." Evidence of this activity was found among the warehouse documents, described in the FBI file summary as "intelligence files on private families." The specific newspapers targeted, the geographic scope, the volume of families targeted, and the period over which this was conducted are not established in available records. The 1993 DOJ reinvestigation did not examine this method independently.[^2][^3] +Martinez's April 13, 1987 report documented information provided by an MPD officer regarding an intelligence-gathering method used by the group: "the group would respond to local newspaper advertisements for babysitters, tutors, etc. and then a member of the Finders would gather as much information as possible about the habits, identity, occupation, etc., of the family." The officer's account was relayed to Martinez, who recorded that the use to which the information was to be put was unknown; the FBI file summary describes the material as "intelligence files on private families."[^2][^3][^13] ### Glover Park and Stuart Miles Silverstone @@ -112,105 +158,136 @@ At the Glover Park duplex, investigators found Stuart Miles Silverstone inside a ### Virginia Farm -Virginia State Police found at the Madison County farm what they described as evidence of cult or ritual activity. This characterization was subsequently disputed; photographs later described in some sources as showing ritual activity appear to depict livestock butchering. No criminal charges resulted from the farm search.[^7] +Virginia State Police searched the Finders' Madison County land on February 6 and over the weekend of February 7-8, and found goat skins, a goat's head, computer equipment and documents; spokesman Charles Vaughan did not comment on their significance. The affidavit supporting the search included photographs from a scrapbook titled "The Execution of Henrietta and Igor," showing three white-robed men and several children dismembering two goats, one captioned "Ben finds Henrietta's Womb."[^15] On February 10 state police dug up a 30-by-12-foot plot on the farm after tips that bodies were buried there and found nothing; Vaughan said "the investigation is becoming routine."[^16] A Washington educator who said he had worked closely with Pettie described the ceremonies as slaughter of goats in white robes, "a very Alice-in-Wonderland kind of fun," and a former member said the goats had been vicious and the group decided to eat them, the robes and staging being meant to impress on the children the seriousness of killing an animal.[^15][^16] A Culpeper lawyer said Finders members sent him profane letters and slashed his car's tires when he represented a former member in a divorce three years earlier, and that the harassment stopped after he obtained a court order.[^15] Virginia State Police described what they found at the farm as evidence of cult or ritual activity. This characterization was subsequently disputed; photographs later described in some sources as showing ritual activity appear to depict livestock butchering.[^14] No criminal charges resulted from the farm search.[^9] ### CIA Involvement and Investigation Suppression On February 6, 1987, the FBI took over the investigation and took possession of computers and floppy disks seized from Finders properties. The FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence Division directed the Metropolitan Police Department to classify all MPD reports related to The Finders as Secret, and further directed MPD not to advise the FBI's own Washington Field Office of what had occurred.[^2][^3] -MPD Sgt. [[John H. Stitcher Jr.]] filed a report on February 19, 1987, titled "Re: Finders involvement with the CIA," marked Confidential and Do Not Disseminate. The report documented a conversation with a CIA special agent (name redacted in released versions) that included several significant admissions. When Stitcher asked whether the investigation was "treading on anyone's toes," the CIA agent responded "Sort of." The CIA agent stated the agency had "had someone working on the case since it first broke." The report confirmed Isabelle Pettie's CIA employment and documented that travel by at least one Finders member to Moscow, North Korea, and Vietnam during 1969-1971 had been conducted with CIA awareness and facilitation. Large sections of the released version of the report remain redacted.[^3] +MPD Sgt. [[John H. Stitcher Jr.]] filed a report on February 19, 1987, titled "Re: Finders involvement with the CIA," marked Confidential and Do Not Disseminate. The report documented a conversation with a CIA special agent that included several significant admissions. When Stitcher asked whether the investigation was "treading on anyone's toes," the CIA agent responded "Sort of." The CIA agent stated the agency had had someone on the case since it first broke in the news. The report confirmed Isabelle Pettie's CIA employment and documented that travel by at least one Finders member to Moscow, North Korea, and Vietnam during 1969-1971 had been conducted with CIA awareness and facilitation. Large sections of the released version of the report remain redacted.[^3][^24] -A separate MPD Intelligence Division report dated April 13, 1987 - distinct from Stitcher's February report and labeled Secret - concluded that "the Finders organization is and has been utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency as a disinformation service." This is among the most direct official characterizations in any government document of the relationship between the group and the CIA.[^3] +The report's text as quoted in a later FBI teletype also states that the CIA "apparently has a vested interest" in the group, and that the CIA had not contacted any of the investigating agencies while it was working on the case.[^24] -In late March or early April 1987, Martinez met with Stitcher, who told him the investigation "had become a CIA internal matter." A November 1, 1993 DOJ summary notes that Stitcher had been contacted by an unnamed party and "told him to step away from the Finders case." Martinez's April 13, 1987 report concluded: "The MPD report has been classified SECRET... FBI had withdrawn from the investigation... FBI Foreign Counter Intelligence Division had directed MPD not to advise the FBI Washington Field Office... No further information will be available. No further action will be taken."[^2] +A separate MPD Intelligence Division report dated April 13, 1987, distinct from Stitcher's February report and labeled Secret, concluded that "the Finders organization is and has been utilized by the CIA as a disinformation service spreading nonessential, non-critical information to various organizations throughout the United States and overseas." This is among the most direct official characterizations in any government document of the relationship between the group and the CIA.[^3][^24] The same report quotes its author as saying: "I do not think that child abuse was a planned tactic of this group."[^24] -Stitcher died on May 28, 1993, from septic shock, at age 48. He was working as a security guard at the Australian Embassy at the time of his death. His death came approximately five months before the DOJ formally initiated its 1993 reinvestigation, rendering him unavailable for interview. The FBI's 1993-1994 inquiry notes specifically record his death and his unavailability as a witness.[^3] +When Martinez went to the MPD on April 2, 1987 to review the seized documents, a source there who spoke to him on an "off the record" basis said that the MPD report had been classified secret, that the FBI had directed MPD not to advise the FBI's Washington Field Office, and that the investigation of the Finders had become a CIA internal matter.[^2][^25] The same source told Martinez that all passport data had been turned over to the State Department, which advised MPD that all travel and use of the passports by their holders, including travel to Moscow, North Korea and North Vietnam from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, was within the law and that no action would be taken; and that the FBI had withdrawn from the investigation several weeks earlier.[^13] Martinez's April 13, 1987 report concluded: "No further information will be available. No further action will be taken."[^25] A 1993 FBI memorandum records that Stitcher, by then deceased, had been contacted by an unidentified party who "had told him to step away from the Finders case."[^26] + +Terrell later wrote that once the news broke, the CIA issued a public denial that the group was connected with it, while the press treated the denial with skepticism.[^27] Stitcher died on May 28, 1993, from septic shock, at age 48. He was working as a security guard at the Australian Embassy at the time of his death. His death came approximately five months before the DOJ formally initiated its 1993 reinvestigation, rendering him unavailable for interview. The FBI's 1993-1994 inquiry notes specifically record his death and his unavailability as a witness.[^3] In 1994, the U.S. Customs Service proposed to remove Martinez from his position for what it described as improper disclosure of case information. The penalty was mitigated by letter of December 7, 1994 to a five-day suspension without pay and reassignment from Special Agent to Physical Security Specialist, GS-080-13.[^3] ### Future Enterprises and the Computer Training Connection -Future Enterprises was a private company that provided computer training to CIA employees during the 1980s. In a 1993 public statement, CIA spokesman David Christian confirmed: "CIA sent some employees to a company called Future Enterprises, Inc. for computer training in the nineteen eighties." Christian denied any CIA ownership of or organizational relationship with the company, characterizing the Finders connection as involving one member who worked as a "part-time accountant."[^4] +Future Enterprises was a private company that provided computer training to CIA employees during the 1980s. In a 1993 public statement, CIA spokesman [[David Christian]] confirmed: "CIA sent some employees to a company called Future Enterprises, Inc. for computer training in the nineteen eighties." Christian denied any CIA ownership of or organizational relationship with the company, characterizing the Finders connection as involving one member who worked as a "part-time accountant."[^8][^28] The copy of the U.S. News article enclosed in the FBI file attributes the statement about computer training to a CIA official who asked not to be named.[^8] -Robert Garder Terrell, described in sources as a former IRS appeals officer and the warehouse's owner of record, was that member. Vice president Joseph Marinich confirmed in contemporaneous reporting that CIA employees had received training at the company during the 1980s.[^4] An MPD report dated February 19, 1987 cited a CIA agent confirming the agency was sending personnel to "a Finders Corp., Future Enterprises, for training in computer operations," using language that directly identified Future Enterprises as a Finders corporate entity.[^4] +Robert Garder Terrell, described in sources as a former IRS appeals officer and the warehouse's owner of record, was that member. [[Joseph Marinich]], president of Future Enterprises, confirmed in contemporaneous reporting that the company had once had a contract to train CIA employees in computers. Marinich denied that he or his firm had any involvement with the Finders or acted as a front company for the cult on behalf of the CIA, and said that when the February 1987 reports broke he learned that his tax accountant, Terrell, was a group member.[^8][^28] + +An MPD report dated February 19, 1987 cited a CIA agent confirming the agency was sending personnel to "a Finders Corp., Future Enterprises, for training in computer operations," using language that directly identified Future Enterprises as a Finders corporate entity.[^3][^28] Current and former members said Terrell's work for Future Enterprises was separate from the group's other activities.[^8] ### The 1993 Congressional and DOJ Investigation -The case was revived in 1993 when [[Henry "Skip" Clements]], a private consultant in Stuart, Florida, obtained copies of Martinez's customs reports. Clements, who had become involved in investigating child abuse networks following his child's victimization at the Glendale Montessori School in Stuart, provided the documents to U.S. Representatives [[Tom Lewis]] (R-FL) and [[Charlie Rose]] (D-NC). Lewis made public statements questioning whether the government had protected The Finders at the expense of the children: "Could our own government have something to do with this Finders organization and turned their backs on these children?"[^4] +The case was revived in 1993 when [[Henry "Skip" Clements]], a private consultant in Stuart, Florida, obtained copies of Martinez's customs reports. Clements, who had become involved in investigating child abuse networks following his child's victimization at the Glendale Montessori School in Stuart, provided the documents to U.S. Representatives [[Tom Lewis]] (R-FL) and [[Charlie Rose]] (D-NC).[^8][^29] Lewis made public statements questioning whether the government had protected The Finders at the expense of the children: "Could our own government have something to do with this Finders organization and turned their backs on these children?"[^8] U.S. News described Rose as chairman of the House Administration Committee.[^8] -Congressional pressure, combined with the prospect of a CBS 48 Hours segment that was in active preparation on the case and which was ultimately never broadcast, prompted the Department of Justice to reopen the matter. No CBS staff member or producer has publicly explained why the segment was killed. An October 26, 1993 memo from Acting Assistant Attorney General John C. Keeney tasked FBI Assistant Director Larry A. Potts with a preliminary inquiry into the CIA interference allegations.[^3] +Congressional pressure, combined with the prospect of a CBS 48 Hours segment that was in active preparation on the case and which was ultimately never broadcast, prompted the Department of Justice to reopen the matter. No CBS staff member or producer has publicly explained why the segment was killed. An October 26, 1993 memo from Acting Assistant Attorney General [[John C. Keeney]] to FBI Assistant Director [[Larry A. Potts]] requested a preliminary inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse by a group known as the "Finders" and into what role, if any, the United States intelligence community had played.[^3][^30] -The Washington Times published what became the key investigative piece in the reopening: reporter Paul M. Rodriguez, a four-time [[Pulitzer Prize]] nominee, published "CIA tied to cult accused of abuse; Justice probes links to Finders" on December 17, 1993.[^3] U.S. News & World Report followed on December 27, 1993 with "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation" by Gordon Witkin, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez, which contained the interview with Marion Pettie confirming his wife's CIA employment and his son's Air America service, as well as CIA spokesman Christian's formal statement.[^4] +The Washington Times published what became the key investigative piece in the reopening: reporter Paul M. Rodriguez, a four-time [[Pulitzer Prize]] nominee, published "CIA tied to cult accused of abuse; Justice probes links to Finders" on December 17, 1993.[^11][^31] The article reported that a Justice Department special task force was investigating whether the CIA had used the group as a front organization to provide computer training to intelligence agents in the 1980s.[^31] U.S. News & World Report followed on December 27, 1993 with "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation" by Gordon Witkin, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez, which contained the interview with Marion Pettie about his wife and son, as well as CIA officials' description of allegations about links between the agency and the Finders as "hogwash."[^8] -The DOJ and FBI concluded their inquiry in late 1993 and early 1994. A November 16, 1993 memo from Tallahassee Police Chief Mel Tucker stated that no outside agency had contacted anyone in his department to influence the investigation.[^8] No criminal charges resulted and the case was again closed. +The FBI's Washington Metropolitan Field Office opened the matter as a preliminary inquiry (file 31C-WF-189911) captioned "Finders Group; White Slave Traffic Act - Sexual Exploitation of Children; Obstruction of Justice." Tallahassee Police Chief Melvin Tucker told FBI agents from the Jacksonville Division on November 16, 1993 that no outside agency, inside or outside the intelligence community, had contacted anyone in his department to influence the investigation, that the evidence had been returned to its owners or destroyed, and that he had been asked for all reports on the group by Representative Charlie Rose and by CBS News 48 Hours.[^20] A December 22, 1993 Potts memorandum lists Future Enterprises among the entities checked in the inquiry.[^30] In May 1994 the Criminal Division's Deputy Assistant Attorney General asked the FBI to locate the confidential source whose information Detective Bradley used in his February 5, 1987 warrant affidavits, to find out what a CIA Office of Security file on a CIA staff employee who had been the agency's point of contact for authorities during the 1987 investigation actually contained, and to obtain the CIA's report of that employee's February 1987 conversation with an MPD detective; the field office contacted the CIA Office of General Counsel on May 13, 17 and 23, 1994, and was told the request would be acted on. A further lead sent to the Miami Division concerned a claim, passed on from Stuart, Florida, that unnamed individuals had entered the two Finders properties and "cleared out evidence" before the February 1987 searches.[^32] On September 23, 1994, FBI supervisors met Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kevin DeGregory and Criminal Division attorneys at the Main Justice Building; DeGregory said it did not appear that any additional investigation remained for the FBI, and noted that a Congressman, whose name is withheld in the released copy, had asked to meet him and that he would not do so until he had further reviewed the matter. On December 13, 1994 a Justice Department attorney told the FBI that DeGregory had completed his review and wanted further investigation, and the field office reopened the matter on January 27, 1995.[^32] All requested investigation but one reinterview had been completed by June 1994; that interview was done on January 30, 1995, and on May 9, 1995 the field office closed its file, recording that the matter remained open at FBI headquarters pending a Justice Department decision and that there were no outstanding leads.[^32] No criminal charges resulted. -Lewis introduced a resolution requiring the U.S. Customs Service to reinstate its Child Pornography and Protection Unit, citing data that child abuse arrests and convictions had fallen by half since its dismantling, though the resolution's fate in the 103rd Congress has not been established in accessible records.[^12] +Lewis's "Dear Colleague" letter of January 25, 1993, a copy of which is in the FBI file, asked members to cosponsor "the Lewis bill to reestablish child pornography unit," in the text a Concurrent Resolution calling on Customs to reestablish its Child Pornography and Protection Unit, which Customs had integrated into its Smuggling Investigations Division in February 1992. He wrote that Customs' own figures, for 1988 through 1992, showed "a dramatic and inexcusable decline": since the unit's peak year of 1990, arrests and convictions had been "nearly halved" (110 arrests in 1990 and 57 in 1992) and employee-hours had fallen to barely one-fourth of earlier levels (100,524 in 1990, 27,435 in 1992).[^33] ### Connection to John David Norman's Odyssey Network The two men arrested in Tallahassee were found carrying an address book. According to FBI file notes cited in secondary sources, individuals named in that address book included one person appearing in an FBI Buffalo field office file concerning [[NAMBLA]] members suspected of murder connections, and two persons appearing in FBI Dallas field office file 145-0 relating to [[John David Norman]]'s [[Odyssey Foundation]] child prostitution investigation.[^1][^2] -John David Norman (October 13, 1927 - May 22, 2011) was convicted multiple times between 1960 and 1998 on child molestation and child pornography charges. He founded the Odyssey Foundation in Dallas in the mid-1960s as a front for procuring teenage boys for prostitution and distributing child pornography nationally. The address-book overlaps represent the primary documented connection between The Finders and Norman's network.[^9] +John David Norman (October 13, 1927 to May 22, 2011) was convicted multiple times between 1960 and 1998 on child molestation and child pornography charges. He founded the Odyssey Foundation in Dallas in the mid-1960s as a front for procuring teenage boys for prostitution and distributing child pornography nationally. The address-book overlaps represent the primary documented connection between The Finders and Norman's network.[^34] ### Intelligence Program Context -The group's formation between 1969 and 1971 falls within the operational period of [[Operation CHAOS]] (codename MHCHAOS), the CIA domestic counterintelligence program run from August 1967 to March 1974 under the Counterintelligence Staff headed by [[James Angleton]]. CHAOS used civilian infiltrators through Project MERRIMAC to penetrate antiwar and counterculture organizations, and a separate mechanism to compile dossiers on tens of thousands of Americans connected to dissident groups. Most CHAOS records were destroyed under DCI Helms's orders in 1973. No surviving primary source directly names The Finders in CHAOS operational files.[^3][^14] +The group's formation between 1969 and 1971 falls within the operational period of [[Operation CHAOS]] (codename MHCHAOS), the CIA domestic counterintelligence program run from August 1967 to March 1974 under the Counterintelligence Staff headed by [[James Angleton]]. CHAOS used civilian infiltrators through Project MERRIMAC to penetrate antiwar and counterculture organizations, and a separate mechanism to compile dossiers on tens of thousands of Americans connected to dissident groups. Most CHAOS records were destroyed under DCI Helms's orders in 1973. No surviving primary source directly names The Finders in CHAOS operational files.[^3][^35] -The April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division report's characterization of the group as a CIA "disinformation service" describes a function consistent with CHAOS-era methodology: a civilian group embedded within the counterculture milieu, gathering intelligence on private families through placement of tutor and babysitter advertisements, and maintaining a layer of separation from official CIA operations. The group's ideological profile placed it squarely within the demographic CHAOS targeted. Its formation timing coincides with CHAOS at its 1971 peak staffing of 52 personnel.[^3][^14] +The April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division report's characterization of the group as a CIA "disinformation service" describes a function consistent with CHAOS-era methodology: a civilian group embedded within the counterculture milieu, gathering intelligence on private families through placement of tutor and babysitter advertisements, and maintaining a layer of separation from official CIA operations. The group's ideological profile placed it squarely within the demographic CHAOS targeted. Its formation timing coincides with CHAOS at its 1971 peak staffing of 52 personnel.[^3][^35] One element complicates a straightforward CHAOS attribution: the entity that classified the 1987 MPD investigation as Secret and directed MPD not to brief the FBI's Washington Field Office was the FBI's Foreign Counterintelligence Division, not a domestic surveillance unit. This suggests the CIA framed whatever relationship it had with the group as a foreign rather than domestic counterintelligence matter, which would place it in a different institutional compartment from CHAOS proper.[^3] -The group also operated through the same years as [[Project MKUltra]] and its successor programs. The warehouse library's mind control literature, the communal behavioral conditioning structure the group called "projects," and the documented separation of children from their parents for months at a time have been noted by researchers examining the case in relation to documented CIA behavioral modification research. MKUltra Subproject 136, funded in August 1961, explicitly sought methods to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis. No primary source links The Finders to any specific MKUltra subproject.[^15] +The group also operated through the same years as [[Project MKUltra]] and its successor programs. The warehouse library's mind control literature, the communal behavioral conditioning structure the group called "projects," and the documented separation of children from their parents for months at a time have been noted by researchers examining the case in relation to documented CIA behavioral modification research. MKUltra Subproject 136, funded in August 1961, was a project titled "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception" whose proposal stated that an attempt would be made to induce dissociative states, from abaissement de niveau mental to multiple personality in so-called mediums, using hypnosis; the writer S. Dovey wrote that it sought to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis.[^36] No primary source links The Finders to any specific MKUltra subproject.[^36] ### Ted Gunderson's Investigation -[[Ted Gunderson]], a former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles, Memphis, and Dallas field offices who retired from the bureau in 1979, obtained copies of the Martinez customs reports and made them widely available before any official release, hosting them on his website and distributing them to journalists and researchers. Gunderson authored a pamphlet titled "U.S. Customs Service Report on the Finders" and made public assertions regarding CIA orchestration of child trafficking networks.[^3] He died on July 31, 2011. +[[Ted Gunderson]], a former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles, Memphis, and Dallas field offices who retired from the bureau in 1979, obtained copies of the Martinez customs reports and made them widely available before any official release, hosting them on his website and distributing them to journalists and researchers. Gunderson authored a pamphlet titled "U.S. Customs Service Report on the Finders" and made public assertions regarding CIA orchestration of child trafficking networks.[^2][^37] He died on July 31, 2011. ### Connections Drawn in Secondary Literature -Nebraska attorney and former state senator [[John DeCamp]], who published "The Franklin Cover-Up" (1992) about the [[Franklin Credit Union Scandal]] - a separate and contemporaneous case involving allegations of a child prostitution network connected to Omaha credit union operator [[Lawrence King Jr.]] - drew explicit connections between the Franklin case and The Finders in the second edition of his book (1996), characterizing both as CIA-connected child exploitation networks. Nick Bryant's "The Franklin Scandal" (Trine Day, 2009) similarly opens with a prologue titled "The Finders of Lost Children" and incorporates U.S. Customs documentation from the Finders investigation as supporting evidence. +Nebraska attorney and former state senator [[John DeCamp]], who published "The Franklin Cover-Up" (1992) about the [[Franklin Credit Union Scandal]], a separate and contemporaneous case involving allegations of a child prostitution network connected to Omaha credit union operator [[Lawrence King Jr.]], drew explicit connections between the Franklin case and The Finders in the second edition of his book (1996), characterizing both as CIA-connected child exploitation networks. Nick Bryant's "The Franklin Scandal" (Trine Day, 2009) similarly opens with a prologue titled "The Finders of Lost Children" and incorporates U.S. Customs documentation from the Finders investigation as supporting evidence.[^38] -No publicly available government record establishes a documented operational or investigative link between the Franklin Credit Union investigation and the Finders investigation. The two were run as separate FBI matters. The "CIA internal matter" termination documented in the 1987 U.S. Customs Service report regarding The Finders has no documented equivalent in the Franklin investigation's public record. DeCamp's and Bryant's connections between the two cases are secondary-source assertions, not corroborated in the documentary evidence available from either case.[^16] +No publicly available government record establishes a documented operational or investigative link between the Franklin Credit Union investigation and the Finders investigation. The two were run as separate FBI matters. The "CIA internal matter" termination documented in the 1987 U.S. Customs Service report regarding The Finders has no documented equivalent in the Franklin investigation's public record. DeCamp's and Bryant's connections between the two cases are secondary-source assertions, not corroborated in the documentary evidence available from either case.[^38] ### Media Coverage and the Satanic Panic Context -Initial coverage broke in the Washington Post on February 7, 1987, through a series of articles by Marc Fisher and John Mintz describing cult rituals and the warehouse contents.[^1] D.C. Police Chief Maurice T. Turner announced on February 10, 1987 that police had found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.[^1] +Initial coverage broke in the Washington Post on February 7, 1987, in an article by Saundra Saperstein and Victoria Churchville quoting court documents that described the Finders as a "cult" that allegedly conducted "brainwashing" and used children "in rituals," and in a companion profile by Marc Fisher and John Mintz; Mintz and Fisher followed on Sunday, February 8, with "Ex-Finders Tell of Games, Complex Beliefs."[^5][^6][^14] D.C. Police Chief [[Maurice T. Turner]] told a news conference on Monday, February 9, 1987 that the Metropolitan Police Department had "not uncovered any evidence of criminal wrongdoing by members of the group," while adding that seized documents were still under review.[^1][^15] The Sunday Washington Post ran two Page One stories on the Finders in February 1987, one headlined "Cult Member Defends 2 Men in Child Abuse Case," in which Terrell told the paper: "We are all in a state right now where we are afraid. We've been made almost dysfunctional by the reports."[^39] -The case emerged during the height of what social scientists later termed the "satanic panic," a period characterized by widespread allegations of ritual abuse at daycare centers and by organized cults. The FBI's own supervisory special agent Kenneth Lanning, who had written the bureau's primary analytical report on child sexual exploitation, published a 1992 monograph concluding that there was no credible evidence for organized satanic cult abuse as a phenomenon. This institutional position, circulated widely within law enforcement before the 1993 reopening of the Finders case, shaped how federal investigators framed the evidence.[^13] Washington City Paper journalist Eddie Dean conducted the definitive long-form profile of Pettie in a May 24, 1996 piece titled "Finders' Keeper," based on direct interview with Pettie in Culpeper, Virginia. It remains the most substantial journalistic account based on primary access to the group's founder.[^5] +The case emerged during the height of what social scientists later termed the "satanic panic," a period characterized by widespread allegations of ritual abuse at daycare centers and by organized cults. The FBI's own supervisory special agent [[Kenneth Lanning]], who had written the bureau's primary analytical report on child sexual exploitation, published a January 1992 monograph in which he wrote that allegations of murder and abuse as part of organized satanic cults had "little or no corroborative evidence."[^40] This institutional position, circulated widely within law enforcement before the 1993 reopening of the Finders case, shaped how federal investigators framed the evidence.[^40] Washington City Paper journalist Eddie Dean conducted a long-form profile of Pettie in a May 24, 1996 piece titled "Finders' Keeper," based on direct interview with Pettie in Culpeper, Virginia. It remains the most substantial journalistic account based on primary access to the group's founder. Minnick, the author of the Unclassified piece, told Dean: "The Finders would love you to think they're a CIA front, but I would say they're really nothing."[^4][^41] ### The 2019 FBI Document Release -In November 2019, the FBI released several hundred pages of documents about The Finders through its FBI Vault online repository (vault.fbi.gov/the-finders), organized in four parts, under FOIA case number 1372462-0. The FBI described The Finders as among the most-requested topics in its Vault system.[^3] +In November 2019, the FBI released several hundred pages of documents about The Finders through its FBI Vault online repository (vault.fbi.gov/the-finders), organized in four parts, under FOIA case number 1372462-0. The FBI described The Finders as among the most-requested topics in its Vault system.[^3] The CIA's own FOIA case log for April 2019 lists under F-2019-01304 a request for "Records on 'The Finders,' cult based out of Culpeper, VA, led by Marion David Pettie," dated April 8, 2019.[^42] A separate June 10, 2013 request to the CIA for "all records regarding The Finders cult" was declined in a final response of August 6, 2013 (F-2013-01931), which stated that the Agency's mission is foreign intelligence, that Section 103(d)(1) of the National Security Act gives it "no police, subpoena, law-enforcement powers, or internal security functions," and that Executive Order 12333 places domestic intelligence collection generally with the FBI.[^43] -The released documents confirmed the classification of MPD reports as Secret, the direction not to brief the FBI's own Washington Field Office, the Stitcher CIA report, and the April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division conclusion that the group had been "utilized by the Central Intelligence Agency as a disinformation service." They did not resolve whether the CIA maintained a formal operational relationship beyond the Future Enterprises training connection, whether the Hong Kong telex represented a genuine trafficking order, or whether child trafficking as described in Martinez's reports occurred.[^3][^8] +U.S. News also reported in December 1993 that law enforcement sources said some of the Finders were listed in the FBI's classified counterintelligence files.[^44] The released documents confirmed the classification of MPD reports as Secret, the direction not to brief the FBI's own Washington Field Office, the Stitcher CIA report, and the April 13, 1987 MPD Intelligence Division conclusion that the group had been "utilized by the CIA as a disinformation service." They did not resolve whether the CIA maintained a formal operational relationship beyond the Future Enterprises training connection, whether the Hong Kong telex represented a genuine trafficking order, or whether child trafficking as described in Martinez's reports occurred.[^3][^12] When the FBI assembled its released file, the documents included diagrams by Ted Gunderson relating to the McMartin preschool tunnel allegations, placed near the beginning of the first document batch alongside more substantive investigative materials including the Martinez customs reports and the Stitcher MPD report. The placement prompted commentary among researchers about whether the sequencing was incidental or designed to contextualize the Finders material within the broader satanic panic framework.[^3] ### Dissolution and Continued Activity -On March 11, 1987, Robert Garder Terrell announced that The Finders were "breaking up" after approximately seventeen years. He gave a follow-up statement to the [[Associated Press]] on March 23, 1987 confirming dissolution: "You won't hear from the Finders again until the year 2000."[^5][^2] +On March 11, 1987, Robert Garder Terrell announced that The Finders were "breaking up" after approximately seventeen years. He gave a follow-up statement to the [[Associated Press]] on March 23, 1987 confirming dissolution: "You won't hear from the Finders again until the year 2000."[^2][^4] -On October 22, 1991, MPD Intelligence officers observed activity at the former Fourth Street NE warehouse, which the group did not sell until 1994. Officers documented "numerous well-dressed males, who operate rental cars and expensive luxury type models" entering the building at late-night and early-morning hours. Officers also observed adult males with a young male child entering the building. A van operator stopped by officers claimed to have "baby sat children for diplomats" and acknowledged the neighborhood was "not fit for babysitting activity." The MPD report, included in the FBI Vault release (pages 147-148 of the released materials), noted "possible child pornography." No follow-up federal investigation of this incident was documented in accessible records.[^3] +On October 22, 1991, MPD Intelligence officers observed activity at the former Fourth Street NE warehouse, which the group did not sell until 1994. Officers documented "numerous well-dressed males, who operate rental cars and expensive luxury type models" entering the building at late-night and early-morning hours. Officers also observed adult males with a young male child entering the building. A van operator stopped by officers claimed to have "baby sat children for diplomats" and acknowledged the neighborhood was "not fit for babysitting activity." The MPD report, included in the FBI Vault release (pages 147-148 of the released materials), noted "possible child pornography."[^3] -Marion Pettie died on October 24, 2003, in Culpeper, Virginia.[^5] - -In 2018, Robert Garder Terrell gave his first public interview in over twenty-five years to journalist Derrick Broze of The Conscious Resistance Network, followed by another in 2021. Both were incorporated into Broze's documentary "Who Will Find What The Finders Hide?" released in March 2019.[^10] Terrell denied all criminal allegations throughout. +In 2018, Robert Garder Terrell gave his first public interview in over twenty-five years to journalist Derrick Broze of The Conscious Resistance Network, followed by another in 2021. Both were incorporated into Broze's documentary "Who Will Find What The Finders Hide?" released in March 2019.[^45] Terrell denied all criminal allegations throughout. ### Footnotes [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar. -[^2]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. -[^3]: FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019, four parts). Also cited: MintPress News, "Losing Finders" series, 2019-2021. https://www.mintpressnews.com/losing-finders-buried-documents-link-infamous-cult-to-cia/277756/. -[^4]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993 / January 3, 1994. -[^5]: Dean, Eddie. "Finders' Keeper." Washington City Paper, May 24, 1996. https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/287890/finders-keeper/. -[^6]: Fisher, Marc and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. -[^7]: Fisher, Marc and John Mintz. "Officials Describe 'Cult Rituals' in Child Abuse Case." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. -[^8]: Sword, Autumn. "Were 'The Finders' a CIA-Fronted Satanic Cult?" Skeptical Inquirer, February 28, 2023. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/were-the-finders-a-cia-fronted-satanic-cult/. Also: Washington Post, "Fla. Judge Sends 2 Finders Children to Foster Homes," June 1, 1987. -[^9]: Norman, John David. See also [[John David Norman]]. -[^10]: Broze, Derrick, and Jeremy Martin. "Who Will Find What The Finders Hide?" Documentary. The Conscious Resistance Network, March 2019. https://theconsciousresistance.com/thefinders/. -[^11]: Minnick, Wendell L. "The Finders: The CIA and the Cult of Marion David Pettie." Unclassified, No. 35, Winter 1995. Unsigned "Investigative Leads" memo, no author or date, circulated mid-1990s. -[^12]: Rodriguez, Paul M. "CIA tied to cult accused of abuse; Justice probes links to Finders." Washington Times, December 17, 1993. -[^13]: Lanning, Kenneth V. "Investigator's Guide to Allegations of 'Ritual' Child Abuse." National Center for Missing and Exploited Children / NCAVC, FBI Academy, January 1992. ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf. -[^14]: Church Committee. *Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans*, Book II. S. Rept. 94-755, 94th Congress, 2d Session, April 26, 1976. -[^15]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar. Also: *Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification*, Joint Senate Hearing, August 3, 1977. -[^16]: DeCamp, John W. *The Franklin Cover-Up*. AWT Inc., 1992. Second edition 1996. Bryant, Nick. *The Franklin Scandal*. Trine Day, 2009. FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). +[^2]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service Reports, February 7, 1987 and April 13, 1987, as reproduced in Ted Gunderson's compilation. Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. +[^3]: FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019, four parts). Parts 1 to 4 at https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04. Also cited: MintPress News, "Losing Finders" series, 2019-2021. https://www.mintpressnews.com/losing-finders-buried-documents-link-infamous-cult-to-cia/277756/. +[^4]: Dean, Eddie. "Finders' Keeper." Washington City Paper, May 24, 1996. https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/287890/finders-keeper/. +[^5]: Fisher, Marc, and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/07/finders-group-has-its-roots-in-popular-60s-hippie-refuge/2d6b5d9d-904f-4acd-a371-f560fca68b39/. +[^6]: Mintz, John, and Marc Fisher. "Ex-Finders Tell of Games, Complex Beliefs." Washington Post, February 8, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/08/ex-finders-tell-of-games-complex-beliefs/dcb48101-8d06-4777-a8e3-fcf46fd7ed0f/. +[^7]: Terrell, Tobe. *The Gamecaller*. Old Rag Publishing, Gainesville, Florida, 2009. Memoir by a former member, covering Pettie's background (birth in Culpeper in 1920, name change, Air Force chauffeur service, Eaker intelligence school), the Leary and Sandstone connections, and Pettie's death in October 2003. +[^8]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993. Text as enclosed in FBI WMFO teletype dated December 23, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. +[^9]: Saperstein, Saundra, and Victoria Churchville. "Officials Describe 'Cult Rituals' in Child Abuse Case." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. Fisher, Marc, and John Mintz. "Finders Group Has Its Roots in Popular '60s Hippie Refuge." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. +[^10]: Minnick, Wendell L. "The Finders: The CIA and the Cult of Marion David Pettie." Unclassified, No. 35, Winter 1995. Unsigned "Investigative Leads" memo, no author or date, circulated mid-1990s. +[^11]: Rodriguez, Paul M. "CIA tied to cult accused of abuse; Justice probes links to Finders." Washington Times, December 17, 1993. +[^12]: Sword, Autumn. "Were 'The Finders' a CIA-Fronted Satanic Cult?" Skeptical Inquirer, February 28, 2023. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/were-the-finders-a-cia-fronted-satanic-cult/. Also: Washington Post, "Fla. Judge Sends 2 Finders Children to Foster Homes," June 1, 1987. +[^13]: Martinez, Ramon J. U.S. Customs Service, Report of Investigation, "Finders," Memo to File dated February 7, 1987, and Report of Investigation (Continuation) on the April 2, 1987 contact at the Metropolitan Police Department. https://archive.org/details/report_of_investigation_finders. +[^14]: Saperstein, Saundra, and Victoria Churchville. "Officials Describe 'Cult Rituals' in Child Abuse Case." Washington Post, February 7, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/07/officials-describe-cult-rituals-in-child-abuse-case/11f05df1-48e0-41f7-b46d-249c0bd2bc39/. +[^15]: Churchville, Victoria, and Marc Fisher. "D.C. Police: Finders Odd, Not Criminal." Washington Post, February 10, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/02/10/dc-police-finders-odd-not-criminal/7571c820-de20-4800-9781-711a8351f52f/. +[^16]: Fisher, Marc. "Finding Truth About Finders Proves to Be No Simple Matter." Washington Post, February 11, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/02/11/finding-truth-about-finders-proves-to-be-no-simple-matter/01c16d17-c301-4894-951f-b87052c9fd4f/. +[^17]: Stevenson, Douglas. "Two Finders Released." Washington Post, March 18, 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/03/18/two-finders-released/35b2bc13-e56d-4c72-a587-97fe83f9b7da/. +[^18]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly," U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993 (Tallahassee investigator quoted; text as in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4). +[^19]: Tallahassee Democrat, February 1987 coverage of the Myers Park arrest, reproduced in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4 (clipping citing the Tallahassee Democrat's Page One and reporter Jan Pudlow). +[^20]: FBI Washington Metropolitan Field Office teletype on the 1987 file review and 1993 interviews (including the November 16, 1993 interview of Tallahassee Police Chief Melvin Tucker), FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4 and Part 3. https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04. +[^21]: FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4 (U.S. Customs Service report of Walter Kreitlow, Tallahassee, dated February 12, 1987 per the Kreitlow page). +[^22]: Martinez, Ramon J. Customs telex summary as reproduced in Gunderson compilation, archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders (passage on the Hong Kong purchase order and the Chinese Embassy contact). +[^23]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly: Cops, spies and a very odd investigation." U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993. Text as enclosed in FBI WMFO teletype dated December 23, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. +[^24]: FBI WMFO teletype to FBIHQ and Miami, November 24, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4, quoting Sergeant J.H. Stitcher's MPD report of February 19, 1987 and the MPD Intelligence Division overview report of April 13, 1987. +[^25]: U.S. Customs Service Report of Investigation, Continuation, dated April 13, 1987 (signed by Ramon J. Martinez), FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 2 of 4, passages on the MPD report and the CIA internal matter. +[^26]: FBI memorandum, WMFO, 1993 (undated in the released copy), FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, copy at https://archive.org/details/the.finders.fbi.foia. +[^27]: Terrell, Tobe. *The Gamecaller*. Old Rag Publishing, Gainesville, Florida, 2009 (passage on the CIA public denial and the rumor mill after the 1987 news broke). The writer's characterization of press skepticism is Terrell's own. +[^28]: FBI Vault "Future Enterprises, Inc.," FBI file reproduced at https://archive.org/details/future-enterprises-inc, and MPD report of February 19, 1987 as quoted in the FBI Vault release. +[^29]: FBI WFO communication, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Section 1 (WFO file), reporting an October 1993 meeting with Congressman Rose on the Finders matter. +[^30]: Potts, Larry A., memorandum dated December 22, 1993, FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4 (listing of entities examined, including Future Enterprises). Keeney memorandum dated October 26, 1993 appears in the FBI WMFO communication of November 1993 in the same release. +[^31]: Rodriguez, Paul M., Washington Times, December 17, 1993, as reproduced in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. +[^32]: FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 3: FBIHQ and WMFO teletypes of May 10 to May 24, 1994 (file 31C-WF-189911); FBI airtel of September 1994 recording the September 23, 1994 meeting with Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kevin DeGregory; airtel of December 1994; FD-302 of January 31, 1995; WMFO closing memorandum of May 9, 1995. https://archive.org/details/the-finders-part-01-of-04. +[^33]: Lewis, Tom. "Help End Child Pornography and Exploitation: Cosponsor the Lewis Bill to Reestablish Child Pornography Unit," "Dear Colleague" letter, House of Representatives, January 25, 1993, reproduced in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. +[^34]: Norman, John David. See also [[John David Norman]]. Court records of convictions 1960-1998 as summarized on that page. +[^35]: Church Committee. *Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans*, Book II. S. Rept. 94-755, 94th Congress, 2d Session, April 26, 1976. +[^36]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar. Also: *Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification*, Joint Senate Hearing, August 3, 1977; proposal "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," CIA Subproject 136 file, 1961. +[^37]: Gunderson, Ted, compilation of Martinez customs reports, Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/ted-gunderson-fbi-the-finders. Gunderson's pamphlet text includes the author's own commentary; the Martinez passages are cited as reproduced. +[^38]: DeCamp, John W. *The Franklin Cover-Up*. AWT Inc., 1992. Second edition 1996. Bryant, Nick. *The Franklin Scandal*. Trine Day, 2009. FBI Vault, "The Finders," FOIA case number 1372462-0, vault.fbi.gov/the-finders (released November 2019). +[^39]: Fisher, Marc and John Mintz, "Cult Member Defends 2 Men in Child Abuse Case," Washington Post, Sunday, February 1987, Page One, as clipped in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4. +[^40]: Lanning, Kenneth V. "Investigator's Guide to Allegations of 'Ritual' Child Abuse." National Center for Missing and Exploited Children / NCAVC, FBI Academy, January 1992. ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf. +[^41]: Dean, Eddie. "Finders' Keeper." Washington City Paper, May 24, 1996. https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/287890/finders-keeper/ (quotation of Wendell Minnick). +[^42]: CIA Reading Room, document 06835030, FOIA case log April-June 2019, entry F-2019-01304, "Records on 'The Finders,' cult based out of Culpeper, VA, led by Marion David Pettie," dated April 8, 2019. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-06835030. +[^43]: Central Intelligence Agency, Information and Privacy Coordinator, final response to FOIA request F-2013-01931, August 6, 2013. CIA Reading Room document 06089249. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-06089249. +[^44]: Witkin, Gordon, Peter Cary, and Angel Martinez. "Through a glass, very darkly," U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 1993 (law enforcement sources quoted; text as in FBI Vault "The Finders," FOIA 1372462-0, Part 1 of 4). +[^45]: Broze, Derrick, and Jeremy Martin. "Who Will Find What The Finders Hide?" Documentary. The Conscious Resistance Network, March 2019. https://theconsciousresistance.com/thefinders/. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Terrorgram Collective.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Terrorgram Collective.md index 384cb039..d4c84cdc 100644 --- a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Terrorgram Collective.md +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/Terrorgram Collective.md @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ tags: - FashFront summary: "International accelerationist neo-Nazi Telegram network linked to attacks in several countries, whose members were prosecuted in the US, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark and Australia." created: 2026-05-21 -updated: 2026-05-22 +updated: 2026-10-15 start: 2019 location: "Telegram (online)" --- @@ -121,11 +121,13 @@ The "Wisconsin murder-for-hire plot" referenced in Humber's indictment and in DO The Terrorgram Collective's genealogical connection to Atomwaffen Division and the Order of Nine Angles runs through both personnel and doctrine. Althorpe had served as an AWD propagandist before joining Terrorgram's founding efforts. Nippak had produced AWD videos before creating Terrorgram content. Brandon Russell used multiple Terrorgram pseudonyms to distribute accelerationist content from prison. [[Taylor Parker-Dipeppe]], who briefly took over some FKD organizational functions following KAPO's 2020 intervention with FKD's teenage Commander, was also documented in the AWD-to-Terrorgram ecosystem. -[[Joshua Caleb Sutter]] and [[Tempel ov Blood]]'s 2017 infiltration of AWD carried O9A ideology (treating murder as spiritual service, transgressive violence as initiatory progression) into the broader accelerationist space. [[Martinet Press]] O9A texts including *[[Iron Gates]]* circulated through Terrorgram channels reaching audiences with no prior direct AWD or O9A connection.[^13] +[[Joshua Caleb Sutter]] and [[Tempel ov Blood]]'s 2017 infiltration of AWD carried O9A ideology (treating murder as spiritual service, transgressive violence as initiatory progression) into the broader accelerationist space.[^13] [[Martinet Press]] O9A texts including *[[Iron Gates]]* circulated through Terrorgram channels reaching audiences with no prior direct AWD or O9A connection. The [[Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism]] at the [[Middlebury Institute of International Studies]] wrote that the Martinet Press books "gained significant purchase from which to disseminate its hyper violent content across the burgeoning Telegram accelerationist ecosystem."[^14] + +Europol's TE-SAT 2023 (covering 2022) records that Terrorgram released two propaganda pieces in 2022, The Hard Reset (July) and White Terror (October), and that the perpetrator of the October 12, 2022 Bratislava attack named it as a source of inspiration.[^15] TE-SAT 2024 states in a footnote that the UK Home Office proscribed the Terrorgram collective on April 26, 2024.[^16] ### FKD/InJekt Division Bridge -When Feuerkrieg Division reemerged on Telegram in May 2021, a co-leader established himself as a central figure in the Terrorgram community and as a core organizer of two coalition structures: the [[United Acceleration Front]] and the [[National Socialist Coalition]]. FKD partnered specifically with [[InJekt Division]], a Texas-based group founded by [[Coleman Thomas Blevins]] (arrested May 2021 for a Walmart mass-shooting threat, sentenced to 60 months). The [[Middlebury Institute CTEC]] and [[Tech Against Terrorism]] documented 21 distinct entities within this coalition network, all operating through Terrorgram channels, establishing the infrastructure link between the FKD era and the 764/CVLT era.[^14] +When Feuerkrieg Division reemerged on Telegram in May 2021, a co-leader established himself as a central figure in the Terrorgram community and as a core organizer of two coalition structures: the [[United Acceleration Front]] and the [[National Socialist Coalition]]. FKD partnered specifically with [[InJekt Division]], a Texas-based group founded by [[Coleman Thomas Blevins]] (arrested May 2021 for a Walmart mass-shooting threat, sentenced to 60 months). The [[Middlebury Institute CTEC]] and [[Tech Against Terrorism]] documented 21 distinct entities within this coalition network, all operating through Terrorgram channels, establishing the infrastructure link between the FKD era and the 764/CVLT era.[^17] Noah Licul, one of the three individuals receiving SDGT designations alongside Terrorgram in January 2025, had been previously identified as active in FKD-linked chats in Croatia circa 2019-2020, representing a documented named individual who participated in both FKD-adjacent networks and subsequently Terrorgram. @@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ United States: SDGT designation of Terrorgram Collective and three individuals ( Australia: Counter-terrorism financing sanctions imposed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs under section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 in February 2025, making Terrorgram the first entirely online entity subjected to Australian CT financing sanctions. Formally listed as a terrorist organization under Division 102 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 via Criminal Code (Terrorist Organisation, Terrorgram) Regulations 2025, F2025L00762. Penalties up to 25 years imprisonment. -Canada: Listed as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code via Regulations Amending the Regulations Establishing a List of Entities, SOR/2025-263, published in the Canada Gazette, Part 2, Vol. 159, No. 26, December 17, 2025. Order in Council P.C. 2025-914, December 8, 2025. Listed alongside [[764 Network|764]], [[Maniac Murder Cult]], and Islamic State-Mozambique.[^15] +Canada: Listed as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code via Regulations Amending the Regulations Establishing a List of Entities, SOR/2025-263, published in the Canada Gazette, Part 2, Vol. 159, No. 26, December 17, 2025. Order in Council P.C. 2025-914, December 8, 2025. Listed alongside [[764 Network|764]], [[Maniac Murder Cult]], and Islamic State-Mozambique.[^18] ### Status After Arrests @@ -145,11 +147,11 @@ The Terrorgram Collective's inner organizational core was effectively dismantled Violence attributed to Terrorgram-inspired individuals continued post-arrests. The network's content, once released, proved impossible to fully remove from the accelerationist ecosystem. -[[FashFront]], a neo-Nazi web forum launched in mid-2025 at fashfront.st, emerged as the most developed successor infrastructure. It modeled itself on Iron March's forum architecture while maintaining a companion Telegram channel and [[Odysee]] video distribution. With 941 registered users as of late 2025, including former Iron March members and at least one identified former AWD cell leader ([[Ryan Hatfield]], alias "Ryan Arthur"), FashFront represented the most significant consolidation of post-Terrorgram accelerationist organizing infrastructure as of May 2026. No law enforcement action against FashFront or its administrators has been publicly announced.[^16][^17] +[[FashFront]], a neo-Nazi web forum launched in mid-2025 at fashfront.st, emerged as the most developed successor infrastructure. It modeled itself on Iron March's forum architecture while maintaining a companion Telegram channel and [[Odysee]] video distribution. With 941 registered users as of late 2025, including former Iron March members and at least one identified former AWD cell leader ([[Ryan Hatfield]], alias "Ryan Arthur"), FashFront represented the most significant consolidation of post-Terrorgram accelerationist organizing infrastructure as of May 2026. No law enforcement action against FashFront or its administrators has been publicly announced.[^19][^20] ### Platform Migration After the September 2024 Indictment Unsealing -The unsealing of the Terrorgram indictment on September 9, 2024, combined with the August 24, 2024 arrest of [[Pavel Durov|Telegram CEO Pavel Durov]] and Telegram's resulting announcement of law-enforcement cooperation, produced a documented migration wave. The [[Counter Extremism Project]] documented white supremacist Telegram channels immediately discussing the need for alternative platforms with better encryption. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue monitored a large number of neo-Nazi accelerationist groups migrating to a new decentralized, encrypted platform (which ISD declined to name); within 24 hours of ISD's September 25, 2024 monitoring period, users in those channels had posted calls for three political assassinations and multiple race-war declarations.[^18] +The unsealing of the Terrorgram indictment on September 9, 2024, combined with the August 24, 2024 arrest of [[Pavel Durov|Telegram CEO Pavel Durov]] and Telegram's resulting announcement of law-enforcement cooperation, produced a documented migration wave. The [[Counter Extremism Project]] documented white supremacist Telegram channels immediately discussing the need for alternative platforms with better encryption. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue monitored a large number of neo-Nazi accelerationist groups migrating to a new decentralized, encrypted platform (which ISD declined to name); within 24 hours of ISD's September 25, 2024 monitoring period, users in those channels had posted calls for three political assassinations and multiple race-war declarations.[^21] ### Footnotes @@ -165,9 +167,12 @@ The unsealing of the Terrorgram indictment on September 9, 2024, combined with t [^10]: "Terrorgram: Exporting Terrorism" (Raw Investigates), Raw Story, March 7, 2025. https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/terrorgram-terrorism/ [^11]: ProPublica / PBS FRONTLINE. "After Downfall, Terrorgram Still Inspires Violence." April 18, 2025. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-assassionation-plot-nikita-casap-terrorgram-wisconsin-frontline; DOJ OPA. "Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction and Attempting to Destroy an Energy Facility in Nashville." September 9, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-pleads-guilty-attempting-use-weapon-mass-destruction-and-attempting-destroy-energy [^12]: U.S. Department of Justice, OPA. "Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Pleads Guilty." August 8, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-transnational-terrorist-group-pleads-guilty-soliciting-hate-crimes-soliciting-murder -[^13]: ARC Research. "The Three Phases of Terrorgram." https://www.accresearch.org/accreports/the-three-phases-of-terrorgram; Rolling Stone. "The Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers." 2021. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-satanist-neo-nazi-plot-to-murder-u-s-soldiers-1352629/ -[^14]: Middlebury Institute CTEC / Tech Against Terrorism. "Militant Accelerationism Coalitions: A Case Study in Neo-Fascist Accelerationist Coalition Building Online." 2022. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/militant-accelerationism-coalitions-case-study; ADL. "Feuerkrieg Division." https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/feuerkrieg-division-fkd -[^15]: UK Home Secretary. Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024, S.I. 2024/569. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348260656/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780348260656_en_001.pdf; Australia. Criminal Code (Terrorist Organisation, Terrorgram) Regulations 2025, F2025L00762. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00762/asmade; Government of Canada. "Government of Canada Lists Four New Terrorist Entities." December 10, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/12/government-of-canada-lists-four-new-terrorist-entities0.html; Canada Gazette, Part 2, Vol. 159, No. 26. SOR/2025-263. December 17, 2025. https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2025/2025-12-17/html/sor-dors263-eng.html -[^16]: ISD Global. "Dismantling Digital Terror: Lessons Learned from the Collapse of Terrorgram." https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/dismantling-digital-terror-lessons-learned-from-the-collapse-of-terrorgram/ -[^17]: Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. "New Neo-Nazi Web Forum 'Fash Front' Reinvigorating Violent Accelerationist Movement." 2025. https://globalextremism.org/post/fash-front/ -[^18]: ISD Global. "Neo-Nazi accelerationists seek new digital refuge amid looming Telegram crackdown." September 2024. https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/neo-nazi-accelerationists-seek-new-digital-refuge-amid-looming-telegram-crackdown/; Counter Extremism Project. "Extremist Content Online: White Supremacist Telegram Channels Identify Need for Alternative Platform After State Department's Terrorgram Collective Designation." 2025. https://www.counterextremism.com/press/extremist-content-online-white-supremacist-telegram-channels-identify-need-alternative +[^13]: Rolling Stone. "The Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers." 2021. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-satanist-neo-nazi-plot-to-murder-u-s-soldiers-1352629/ +[^14]: Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Order of Nine Angles." September 29, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-order-nine +[^15]: Europol. European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2023. https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/European%20Union%20Terrorism%20Situation%20and%20Trend%20report%202023.pdf +[^16]: Europol. TE-SAT 2024, note 66. https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/TE-SAT%202024.pdf +[^17]: Middlebury Institute CTEC / Tech Against Terrorism. "Militant Accelerationism Coalitions: A Case Study in Neo-Fascist Accelerationist Coalition Building Online." 2022. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/ctec-publications/militant-accelerationism-coalitions-case-study; ADL. "Feuerkrieg Division." https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/feuerkrieg-division-fkd +[^18]: UK Home Secretary. Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024, S.I. 2024/569. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348260656/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780348260656_en_001.pdf; Australia. Criminal Code (Terrorist Organisation, Terrorgram) Regulations 2025, F2025L00762. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00762/asmade; Government of Canada. "Government of Canada Lists Four New Terrorist Entities." December 10, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2025/12/government-of-canada-lists-four-new-terrorist-entities0.html; Canada Gazette, Part 2, Vol. 159, No. 26. SOR/2025-263. December 17, 2025. https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2025/2025-12-17/html/sor-dors263-eng.html +[^19]: ISD Global. "Dismantling Digital Terror: Lessons Learned from the Collapse of Terrorgram." https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/dismantling-digital-terror-lessons-learned-from-the-collapse-of-terrorgram/ +[^20]: Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. "New Neo-Nazi Web Forum 'Fash Front' Reinvigorating Violent Accelerationist Movement." 2025. https://globalextremism.org/post/fash-front/ +[^21]: ISD Global. "Neo-Nazi accelerationists seek new digital refuge amid looming Telegram crackdown." September 2024. https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/neo-nazi-accelerationists-seek-new-digital-refuge-amid-looming-telegram-crackdown/; Counter Extremism Project. "Extremist Content Online: White Supremacist Telegram Channels Identify Need for Alternative Platform After State Department's Terrorgram Collective Designation." 2025. https://www.counterextremism.com/press/extremist-content-online-white-supremacist-telegram-channels-identify-need-alternative diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md index 47951591..ae2cb8ec 100644 --- a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ --- created: 2025-07-22 -updated: 2026-10-09 +updated: 2026-10-15 title: Project MKUltra aliases: - MKULTRA @@ -29,19 +29,19 @@ relations: start: 1961 end: 1962 role: "two New School projects, Subprojects 134 and 137, per the Everett file; the CIA copy sent to the school in 1977 carries the school's name in red insertions on both memoranda" - fn: 3 + fn: 5 - type: funded with: "[[Frank Haronian]]" start: 1961-07 end: 1962-08 role: "investigator, Subproject 134, cost $22,000.00" - fn: 6 + fn: 8 - type: participant_in with: "[[Harvard University]]" reverse: true role: "two research projects with Harvard involvement, disclosed by the University in October 1977" start: 1977-10 - fn: 26 + fn: 28 --- Project MKUltra was a classified research and operational program of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] authorized on April 13, 1953, by Director [[Allen Dulles]] and directed by [[Sidney Gottlieb]], chief of the agency's [[Technical Services Division]]. The program systematically administered [[LSD]] and other drugs, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychological coercion to human subjects who had not consented to the experiments - including psychiatric patients, prisoners, drug addicts, sex workers, military personnel, and ordinary members of the public. It ran across approximately 150 subprojects funded through [[Society for the Investigation of Human Ecology|cut-out foundations]] and direct institutional contracts, and it killed at least one CIA officer. [[Richard Helms]] ordered the destruction of nearly all MKULTRA records in December 1972-January 1973; approximately 20,000 surviving documents, discovered misfiled in a financial records annex during a 1977 FOIA search, form the primary documentary record of the program.[^1] @@ -66,25 +66,27 @@ MKULTRA was already under way before Dulles gave it structure. Under the code na The 149 surviving subprojects funded research at some 80 institutions, including 44 colleges and universities, using 185 private researchers, stabilized at roughly 20 percent of the Technical Services Division's annual research budget. Subproject 35 funneled money through [[Charles Geschickter]]'s [[Geschickter Fund for Medical Research]] to build a research wing (the Gorman Annex) at [[Georgetown University Hospital]] with $375,000 in CIA construction funds, providing access to patients as subjects; Subproject 47 tested large LSD doses on volunteers at the [[Atlanta Federal Penitentiary]] through [[Emory University]]; Subproject 42 covered White's safehouse operations; and Subproject 58 covered [[James Moore]]'s work at the [[University of Delaware]] on psilocybin and other natural psychedelics.[^2] +Subproject 136 was approved on August 23, 1961. The memorandum to the Comptroller of that date records $8,579.00 of MKUltra funds obligated.[^3] The memorandum for the record describes the project as support for an investigator's research on an "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," and the attached proposal states that "special attention will be given to disassociative states, which tend to accompany spontaneous ESP experiences" and that such states "can be induced and controlled to some extent with hypnosis and drugs," with an attempt "to induce a number of states of this kind, using hypnosis" ranging "from the abaissement de niveau mental to multiple personality in so-called mediums." Its data sources include "special groups such as psychotics, children and mediums."[^4] + ### Subprojects 134 and 137 and the New School -The New School Archives hold a file titled "Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 1977-1978" in the [[John R. Everett]] records, Box 7, Folder 29. Its description states that the folder "contains a report of two projects conducted at the [[New School for Social Research|New School]] in 1962 that received funding through MKUltra; the first attempted to discern relationships between body type and personality characteristics, and the second concerned graphology and psychopathologies." The description adds: "It appears that the researchers for at least one of these projects was unaware of CIA sponsorship." The correspondence concerns the release of "universities' involvement."[^3] The description gives no subproject numbers. +The New School Archives hold a file titled "Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 1977-1978" in the [[John R. Everett]] records, Box 7, Folder 29. Its description states that the folder "contains a report of two projects conducted at the [[New School for Social Research|New School]] in 1962 that received funding through MKUltra; the first attempted to discern relationships between body type and personality characteristics, and the second concerned graphology and psychopathologies." The description adds: "It appears that the researchers for at least one of these projects was unaware of CIA sponsorship." The correspondence concerns the release of "universities' involvement."[^5] The description gives no subproject numbers. -Two released subproject files match the two descriptions. Subproject 134 was a $22,000 project recommended in a memorandum of June 9, 1961, whose addressee and signatory are redacted. The memorandum recommends funding "despite the superficiality of the proposal and the questionable products which have issued from previous research," says that three redacted doctors "can strengthen the research accomplished through monitorship and close guidance," and says: "This work fits into our indirect assessment requirement and will contribute to the Wechsler-Bellevue work in which Dr." [redacted] "is engaging." The stated purpose was "exploratory research upon the relation of component physique (body typing) to patterns of personality characteristics." The proposal, a letter covering September 1, 1961 to August 31, 1962, describes a "constitutional psychology" study building on a pilot project that used Sheldon's somatotyping, and the author writes of "devoting my full attention to this project as soon as my present contract expires at the end of June." The attached pilot report describes fifty adult male Protestant theological students and ministers, photographed and somatotyped by Sheldon or his assistants, and tested on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and other measures. A reviewer's comments, signed Ph.D. and redacted, call the report "poorly organized," note "more variables (60 to 70) than subjects," and recommend "a larger number of subjects, better representative of the general population."[^4] +Two released subproject files match the two descriptions. Subproject 134 was a $22,000 project recommended in a memorandum of June 9, 1961, whose addressee and signatory are redacted. The memorandum recommends funding "despite the superficiality of the proposal and the questionable products which have issued from previous research," says that three redacted doctors "can strengthen the research accomplished through monitorship and close guidance," and says: "This work fits into our indirect assessment requirement and will contribute to the Wechsler-Bellevue work in which Dr." [redacted] "is engaging." The stated purpose was "exploratory research upon the relation of component physique (body typing) to patterns of personality characteristics." The proposal, a letter covering September 1, 1961 to August 31, 1962, describes a "constitutional psychology" study building on a pilot project that used Sheldon's somatotyping, and the author writes of "devoting my full attention to this project as soon as my present contract expires at the end of June." The attached pilot report describes fifty adult male Protestant theological students and ministers, photographed and somatotyped by Sheldon or his assistants, and tested on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and other measures. A reviewer's comments, signed Ph.D. and redacted, call the report "poorly organized," note "more variables (60 to 70) than subjects," and recommend "a larger number of subjects, better representative of the general population."[^6] -A table of Human Ecology Fund grants for 1960 to 1963, compiled by the anthropologist David H. Price from the Fund's 1961-1963 report, lists "Physique and psychological functioning," investigator Frank Haronian, psychology, $39,000. A 1964 paper by A. A. Sugerman and Frank Haronian on body type is cited in later sport-psychology reviews. Haronian's grant is the only entry in the table whose title concerns physique. A draft memorandum for the record of May 29, 1961 says the investigator, who appears in it as "Mr." with the name redacted, "is neither cleared nor witting of true Sponsor," that the status page lists the contractor "as a grantee of the" redacted body, and that a redacted doctor will receive "additional data which will be useful in advancing his own research program (MKULTRA, Subproject 77)," the Wechsler-scale factor study.[^5][^6] Haronian's later publications are in pastoral psychology and religion and health journals.[^7] The 1964 paper by Sugerman and Haronian states that the study "was partly supported by a grant to Frank Haronian from the Human Ecology Fund."[^8] The investigator of Subproject 134 was Haronian.[^8][^9] The release redacts his name, and the Fund's table gives $39,000 where the file shows $22,000 initially.[^10] +A table of Human Ecology Fund grants for 1960 to 1963, compiled by the anthropologist David H. Price from the Fund's 1961-1963 report, lists "Physique and psychological functioning," investigator Frank Haronian, psychology, $39,000. A 1964 paper by A. A. Sugerman and Frank Haronian on body type is cited in later sport-psychology reviews. Haronian's grant is the only entry in the table whose title concerns physique. A draft memorandum for the record of May 29, 1961 says the investigator, who appears in it as "Mr." with the name redacted, "is neither cleared nor witting of true Sponsor," that the status page lists the contractor "as a grantee of the" redacted body, and that a redacted doctor will receive "additional data which will be useful in advancing his own research program (MKULTRA, Subproject 77)," the Wechsler-scale factor study.[^7][^8] Haronian's later publications are in pastoral psychology and religion and health journals.[^9] The 1964 paper by Sugerman and Haronian states that the study "was partly supported by a grant to Frank Haronian from the Human Ecology Fund."[^10] The investigator of Subproject 134 was Haronian.[^10][^11] The release redacts his name, and the Fund's table gives $39,000 where the file shows $22,000 initially.[^12] -The subproject's status page records it as initiated in July 1961, at a cost of $22,000.00, with actual work expected to commence in September 1961.[^6] An invoice memorandum of July 12, 1961 asked that the check be forwarded by July 24, 1961, and said that additional funds were anticipated for the project.[^11] A February 1963 accounting for the grant period from September 1, 1961 to August 31, 1962 records a receipt of $22,000.00 against Treasurer's Check No. 184788, dated August 11, 1961 (receipt signed August 16, 1961). Its expenditures include $10,800.00 for the "Salary of Principal Investigator" and total $18,827.50. The balance of $3,172.50 was to be applied to the next year's grant.[^12] The revised proposal planned preparation from September to November 1961, testing and data collection from December 1961 to May 1962, and analysis from June to August 1962, with at least 100 subjects and possibly as many as 150; the budget's stipend line was $10,800.[^13] +The subproject's status page records it as initiated in July 1961, at a cost of $22,000.00, with actual work expected to commence in September 1961.[^8] An invoice memorandum of July 12, 1961 asked that the check be forwarded by July 24, 1961, and said that additional funds were anticipated for the project.[^13] A February 1963 accounting for the grant period from September 1, 1961 to August 31, 1962 records a receipt of $22,000.00 against Treasurer's Check No. 184788, dated August 11, 1961 (receipt signed August 16, 1961). Its expenditures include $10,800.00 for the "Salary of Principal Investigator" and total $18,827.50. The balance of $3,172.50 was to be applied to the next year's grant.[^14] The revised proposal planned preparation from September to November 1961, testing and data collection from December 1961 to May 1962, and analysis from June to August 1962, with at least 100 subjects and possibly as many as 150; the budget's stipend line was $10,800.[^15] -Frank Haronian received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the New School for Social Research in 1963; he had been a school psychologist in the Somerville, New Jersey, school district from 1950.[^14] +Frank Haronian received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the New School for Social Research in 1963; he had been a school psychologist in the Somerville, New Jersey, school district from 1950.[^16] -Subproject 137 was a $2,000 project for a graphology lexicon. The memorandum for the record of August 24, 1961 states that its purpose was "to support the work of Dr." [redacted] "in completing a psycholexicon on handwriting," that she "has an international reputation for her work in graphology and speech," that "She is advanced in years and her health is failing," and that her manuscript was "now eighty percent complete." It states that the Technical Services Division "continues to approach the problem of handwriting identification and analysis in a number of ways" in support of its "general requirement to further the Agency's capability for the indirect assessment of personality," that the project "will be funded through the" [redacted] "for security and cover purposes," and that the investigator was "neither cleared nor witting of Agency sponsorship." The proposal states that "no compendium of terms exists for student or layman which deals with the history and evolution of handwriting, its psychology and psychopathology." A $2,000 treasurer's check dated September 11, 1961 was paid to a redacted institution. A memorandum of February 1963 states that the investigator "died in 1962 and did not send in an accounting," that her brother wrote that the manuscript was "almost finished," and that "The Fund will receive its usual acknowledgement in the publication of the manuscript." The accounting for the advance was approved on March 10, 1964 over the signature "Sidney Gottlieb, DC/TSD," and a certification states that the recipient "died in 1962 without rendering an accounting" and that "a manuscript has been published and value received."[^15] +Subproject 137 was a $2,000 project for a graphology lexicon. The memorandum for the record of August 24, 1961 states that its purpose was "to support the work of Dr." [redacted] "in completing a psycholexicon on handwriting," that she "has an international reputation for her work in graphology and speech," that "She is advanced in years and her health is failing," and that her manuscript was "now eighty percent complete." It states that the Technical Services Division "continues to approach the problem of handwriting identification and analysis in a number of ways" in support of its "general requirement to further the Agency's capability for the indirect assessment of personality," that the project "will be funded through the" [redacted] "for security and cover purposes," and that the investigator was "neither cleared nor witting of Agency sponsorship." The proposal states that "no compendium of terms exists for student or layman which deals with the history and evolution of handwriting, its psychology and psychopathology." A $2,000 treasurer's check dated September 11, 1961 was paid to a redacted institution. A memorandum of February 1963 states that the investigator "died in 1962 and did not send in an accounting," that her brother wrote that the manuscript was "almost finished," and that "The Fund will receive its usual acknowledgement in the publication of the manuscript." The accounting for the advance was approved on March 10, 1964 over the signature "Sidney Gottlieb, DC/TSD," and a certification states that the recipient "died in 1962 without rendering an accounting" and that "a manuscript has been published and value received."[^17] -The curriculum vitae in the proposal (name redacted) lists the invention of a "Graphodyne" for measuring writing speed and pressure, a 1928 diploma, a 1948 research appointment at an institute of psychosomatic and psychiatric research "in conjunction with" an institute of psychoanalysis, and faculty membership from 1949. The graphologist [[Klara G. Roman]] (1881-1962) invented an instrument called the graphodyne, graduated in 1928, was called to Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago by Franz Alexander, and taught at the New School from 1948. Her posthumous Encyclopedia of the Written Word, published in 1968, thanks "The Handwriting Institute and The Human Ecology Fund," and the Fund's 1961-1963 report, as tabulated by Price, lists a $2,000 grant to "Roman, Klara G." The released CIA file does not name her.[^16] +The curriculum vitae in the proposal (name redacted) lists the invention of a "Graphodyne" for measuring writing speed and pressure, a 1928 diploma, a 1948 research appointment at an institute of psychosomatic and psychiatric research "in conjunction with" an institute of psychoanalysis, and faculty membership from 1949. The graphologist [[Klara G. Roman]] (1881-1962) invented an instrument called the graphodyne, graduated in 1928, was called to Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago by Franz Alexander, and taught at the New School from 1948. Her posthumous Encyclopedia of the Written Word, published in 1968, thanks "The Handwriting Institute and The Human Ecology Fund," and the Fund's 1961-1963 report, as tabulated by Price, lists a $2,000 grant to "Roman, Klara G." The released CIA file does not name her.[^18] -The copy of the two files that the CIA sent to the New School on September 7, 1977 carries red insertions of the school's name. On the draft memorandum dated May 29, 1961 for Subproject 134 (page image 134-12), the insertion reads "New School for Social Research" in the first paragraph, where the researcher appears only as "Mr." with the name blacked out.[^5] On the memorandum for the record dated August 24, 1961 for Subproject 137 (page image 137-10), the insertion reads "New School for Social Research, New York City" beside the blacked-out name of the investigator, who is referred to as "her" in the text.[^17] The cover letter of September 7, 1977, signed by [[A. R. Cinquegrana]] of the Office of General Counsel, states that "the name of the School has been reinserted wherever it appears in the original documents" and that the names of all other institutions, individuals and CIA employees remain deleted.[^9] The New School copy does not restore any individual's name. The Subproject 134 status page (New School copy PDF p. 10) shows the contractor and "grantee of the" fields still blacked out.[^6] +The copy of the two files that the CIA sent to the New School on September 7, 1977 carries red insertions of the school's name. On the draft memorandum dated May 29, 1961 for Subproject 134 (page image 134-12), the insertion reads "New School for Social Research" in the first paragraph, where the researcher appears only as "Mr." with the name blacked out.[^7] On the memorandum for the record dated August 24, 1961 for Subproject 137 (page image 137-10), the insertion reads "New School for Social Research, New York City" beside the blacked-out name of the investigator, who is referred to as "her" in the text.[^19] The cover letter of September 7, 1977, signed by [[A. R. Cinquegrana]] of the Office of General Counsel, states that "the name of the School has been reinserted wherever it appears in the original documents" and that the names of all other institutions, individuals and CIA employees remain deleted.[^11] The New School copy does not restore any individual's name. The Subproject 134 status page (New School copy PDF p. 10) shows the contractor and "grantee of the" fields still blacked out.[^8] -[[John D. Marks]] writes that the Human Ecology grantees' Wechsler scores fed John Gittinger's assessment system: "At Gittinger's urging, other Human Ecology grantees gave the Wechsler battery to their experimental subjects and sent him the scores." He adds that the Society "wound up funding handwriting research and a publication in West Germany" and that Gittinger "went on to hire a resident graphologist." Marks writes: "In 1961 the Society changed its name to the Human Ecology Fund, but for convenience sake it will be called the Society throughout the book."[^18] +[[John D. Marks]] writes that the Human Ecology grantees' Wechsler scores fed John Gittinger's assessment system: "At Gittinger's urging, other Human Ecology grantees gave the Wechsler battery to their experimental subjects and sent him the scores." He adds that the Society "wound up funding handwriting research and a publication in West Germany" and that Gittinger "went on to hire a resident graphologist." Marks writes: "In 1961 the Society changed its name to the Human Ecology Fund, but for convenience sake it will be called the Society throughout the book."[^20] ### Subproject 68: Ewen Cameron and the Allan Memorial Institute @@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ Cameron died in 1967 before the program's public disclosure. A class action suit White recruited prostitutes to bring men to the safe houses. The men - drawn from populations unlikely to file credible complaints - were served drinks spiked with LSD. CIA observers watched through one-way mirrors, recording behavioral responses for Gottlieb's files. The operational theory was that LSD's effects as an interrogation adjunct should be tested in conditions approximating actual field use rather than controlled laboratory settings. -Midnight Climax ran for approximately eight years before White's retirement in 1963 ended the San Francisco operation. White's personal diaries, discovered by journalist John Marks during FOIA research, described the operation with enthusiasm. The program administered LSD to an unknown number of men who were never informed of the experiment and never consented to it. Some were given doses that produced lasting psychological effects.[^19] +Midnight Climax ran for approximately eight years before White's retirement in 1963 ended the San Francisco operation. White's personal diaries, discovered by journalist John Marks during FOIA research, described the operation with enthusiasm. The program administered LSD to an unknown number of men who were never informed of the experiment and never consented to it. Some were given doses that produced lasting psychological effects.[^21] ### Frank Olson @@ -119,11 +121,11 @@ Olson experienced a severe adverse reaction. In the nine days following the retr Director Dulles was briefed on the circumstances. The CIA paid Olson's family $750,000 in a private settlement and secured their silence. The program was concealed. -When the MKULTRA documents surfaced in 1977, Olson's family learned for the first time that he had been non-consensually dosed with LSD nine days before his death. In 1994, Olson's son Eric arranged an exhumation; forensic pathologist James Starrs found cranial injuries inconsistent with the fall, suggesting Olson had been struck before going through the window. The New York County District Attorney opened a homicide investigation; it was never prosecuted due to insufficient surviving evidence. The question of whether Olson was murdered - and if so by whom - remained unresolved at Gottlieb's death in 1999.[^20] +When the MKULTRA documents surfaced in 1977, Olson's family learned for the first time that he had been non-consensually dosed with LSD nine days before his death. In 1994, Olson's son Eric arranged an exhumation; forensic pathologist James Starrs found cranial injuries inconsistent with the fall, suggesting Olson had been struck before going through the window. The New York County District Attorney opened a homicide investigation; it was never prosecuted due to insufficient surviving evidence. The question of whether Olson was murdered - and if so by whom - remained unresolved at Gottlieb's death in 1999.[^22] ### Additional Fatalities: Blauer and Hoch -Beyond Olson, other deaths traced to the program. [[Harold Blauer]], a professional tennis player, died in 1953 after being injected with the psychedelic MDA during Army-contracted experiments at the [[New York State Psychiatric Institute]], the drug supplied by the [[Army Chemical Corps]] in cooperation with MKULTRA; one researcher later admitted "we didn't know if it was dog piss or what it was we were giving to him." Dr. [[Paul Hoch]], a CIA consultant, gave psychiatric patients intraspinal injections of LSD and [[mescaline]] and then lobotomized them, in one case asking a subject under a local anesthetic to describe his visual experiences as surgeons removed pieces of his brain.[^21] +Beyond Olson, other deaths traced to the program. [[Harold Blauer]], a professional tennis player, died in 1953 after being injected with the psychedelic MDA during Army-contracted experiments at the [[New York State Psychiatric Institute]], the drug supplied by the [[Army Chemical Corps]] in cooperation with MKULTRA; one researcher later admitted "we didn't know if it was dog piss or what it was we were giving to him." Dr. [[Paul Hoch]], a CIA consultant, gave psychiatric patients intraspinal injections of LSD and [[mescaline]] and then lobotomized them, in one case asking a subject under a local anesthetic to describe his visual experiences as surgeons removed pieces of his brain.[^23] ### Military and Prison Subjects @@ -143,19 +145,19 @@ The destruction eliminated the core operational files: individual subject record A partial record survived accidentally. Approximately 20,000 documents - primarily budget requests, financial accountings, and administrative correspondence - had been routed to a TSD financial records annex rather than the main operational files and were overlooked in the destruction. When journalist John Marks filed a Freedom of Information Act request in 1977, an archivist located the misfiled documents. The CIA produced them; they provided sufficient evidence for the 1977 Senate Health Subcommittee hearings and for Marks's subsequent book *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate* (1979) - still the primary investigative account of the program. -Gottlieb testified before the Church Committee in 1975 and the Senate Health Subcommittee on August 3, 1977. He confirmed the program's existence, the records destruction, and the safe house operations. He defended the program as a reasonable response to a genuine Cold War threat and expressed carefully qualified regret for individual outcomes while declining to characterize the overall program as wrong.[^19] +Gottlieb testified before the Church Committee in 1975 and the Senate Health Subcommittee on August 3, 1977. He confirmed the program's existence, the records destruction, and the safe house operations. He defended the program as a reasonable response to a genuine Cold War threat and expressed carefully qualified regret for individual outcomes while declining to characterize the overall program as wrong.[^21] ### 1977 Notifications to Institutions -Director of Central Intelligence [[Stansfield Turner]] wrote to Senator [[Daniel K. Inouye]] on August 2, 1977 that the recovered material identified "185 non-government researchers and assistants" and "80 institutions where work was done or with which these people were affiliated."[^22] He listed the institutions as 44 colleges or universities, 15 research foundations or chemical or pharmaceutical companies and the like, 12 hospitals or clinics, and 3 penal institutions. He gave "all of the names on a classified basis" to the Senate committee and wrote that he had "a legal obligation under the Privacy Act not to publicly disclose the names of the individual researchers without their consent."[^22] He also wrote that he was "working closely with the Attorney General and with the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare on this matter."[^22] +Director of Central Intelligence [[Stansfield Turner]] wrote to Senator [[Daniel K. Inouye]] on August 2, 1977 that the recovered material identified "185 non-government researchers and assistants" and "80 institutions where work was done or with which these people were affiliated."[^24] He listed the institutions as 44 colleges or universities, 15 research foundations or chemical or pharmaceutical companies and the like, 12 hospitals or clinics, and 3 penal institutions. He gave "all of the names on a classified basis" to the Senate committee and wrote that he had "a legal obligation under the Privacy Act not to publicly disclose the names of the individual researchers without their consent."[^24] He also wrote that he was "working closely with the Attorney General and with the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare on this matter."[^24] -General Counsel [[Anthony A. Lapham]] wrote to each notified institution in August 1977. The letter stated that "Your institution is included among the institutions at which some portion of this CIA-sponsored research appears to have been performed or with which one or more individuals performing some aspect of this research were affiliated." It quoted the Director's statement that "this Agency does not intend to reveal to the public the identities of any institutions that knowingly or unknowingly were involved in MKULTRA activities, or the names of individual researchers."[^23] On November 7, 1977, Lapham asked whether each institution had made its correspondence public, and wrote that "Where an institution has itself made public these relationships, there would seem to be little point in our continued refusal to confirm these facts."[^24] On March 17, 1978, Assistant General Counsel Cinquegrana wrote that institutions not responding by April 15, 1978 would be presumed to want their identities protected.[^24] +General Counsel [[Anthony A. Lapham]] wrote to each notified institution in August 1977. The letter stated that "Your institution is included among the institutions at which some portion of this CIA-sponsored research appears to have been performed or with which one or more individuals performing some aspect of this research were affiliated." It quoted the Director's statement that "this Agency does not intend to reveal to the public the identities of any institutions that knowingly or unknowingly were involved in MKULTRA activities, or the names of individual researchers."[^25] On November 7, 1977, Lapham asked whether each institution had made its correspondence public, and wrote that "Where an institution has itself made public these relationships, there would seem to be little point in our continued refusal to confirm these facts."[^26] On March 17, 1978, Assistant General Counsel Cinquegrana wrote that institutions not responding by April 15, 1978 would be presumed to want their identities protected.[^26] -The New York Times reported on October 9, 1977 that the Senate Health Subcommittee had invited the presidents of 20 institutions to testify on September 20 and 21, and that only one accepted, without a scheduled appearance because the others declined.[^25] +The New York Times reported on October 9, 1977 that the Senate Health Subcommittee had invited the presidents of 20 institutions to testify on September 20 and 21, and that only one accepted, without a scheduled appearance because the others declined.[^27] -In October 1977 [[Harvard University]] disclosed that CIA financial records showed Harvard involvement in two research projects conducted under MKULTRA.[^26] The University's general counsel, [[Daniel Steiner]], said the two projects involved no drug experimentation and declined to name the individuals who took part or the nature of their relationship to the University.[^26] The Harvard Crimson noted that the disclosure came the week after [[Stanford University]] made an extensive disclosure of its own MKULTRA connections.[^27] The University had issued guidelines in May 1977 regulating faculty dealings with intelligence agencies; in June 1977 CIA Director Stansfield Turner wrote to President [[Derek Bok]] that the guidelines could violate faculty members' constitutional rights to privacy and free association.[^28] +In October 1977 [[Harvard University]] disclosed that CIA financial records showed Harvard involvement in two research projects conducted under MKULTRA.[^28] The University's general counsel, [[Daniel Steiner]], said the two projects involved no drug experimentation and declined to name the individuals who took part or the nature of their relationship to the University.[^28] The Harvard Crimson noted that the disclosure came the week after [[Stanford University]] made an extensive disclosure of its own MKULTRA connections.[^29] The University had issued guidelines in May 1977 regulating faculty dealings with intelligence agencies; in June 1977 CIA Director Stansfield Turner wrote to President [[Derek Bok]] that the guidelines could violate faculty members' constitutional rights to privacy and free association.[^30] -In February 1978 [[Martin Orne]] identified himself as the unidentified investigator in a January 1978 Harvard statement on CIA funding; his Studies in Hypnosis Project at the [[Massachusetts Mental Health Center]] had received about $30,000 in the early 1960s through the [[Human Ecology Fund]]. Steiner said the University had no record of the second project mentioned in the CIA document.[^29] +In February 1978 [[Martin Orne]] identified himself as the unidentified investigator in a January 1978 Harvard statement on CIA funding; his Studies in Hypnosis Project at the [[Massachusetts Mental Health Center]] had received about $30,000 in the early 1960s through the [[Human Ecology Fund]]. Steiner said the University had no record of the second project mentioned in the CIA document.[^31] ### Lawsuits and Settlements @@ -169,30 +171,32 @@ MKULTRA generated litigation in multiple jurisdictions: [^1]: Marks, John. *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control.* Times Books, 1979 (the foundational investigative account using surviving MKULTRA documents). Kinzer, Stephen. *Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control.* Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Church Committee (U.S. Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities). Final Report, Book I, S. Rept. 94-755, April 26, 1976. [^2]: Earman, John S., CIA Inspector General, "Report of Inspection of MKULTRA/TSD," July 26, 1963 (National Security Archive Document 16); National Security Archive, "CIA Behavior Control Experiments Focus of New Scholarly Collection," December 23, 2024, and "Top Secret Testimony of CIA's MKULTRA Chief, 50 Years Later," October 30, 2025; John D. Marks, *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate*, Chapter 4. -[^3]: New School Archives and Special Collections, John R. Everett records (NS-01-01-02), Series 3, Subject files, File "Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 1977-1978," Box 7, Folder 29. https://findingaids.archives.newschool.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/34220 -[^4]: MKULTRA Subproject 134, Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017393 (58 pages): memorandum of June 9, 1961, proposal letter and pilot report, "Comments on Report." https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017393 ; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/00017393 . Addressee, contractor, consultants and reviewer are redacted. -[^5]: Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017393 (MKULTRA Subproject 134), memorandum draft dated May 29, 1961, page image 134-12. New School Archives copy in NS010102_000027 (John R. Everett records, Box 7, Folder 29), PDF p. 27. https://digital.archives.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/objects/NS010102_000027 -[^6]: MKULTRA Subproject 134, status page (purpose, initiation, contractor and cost), New School copy in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 10. Release DOC_0000017393. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017393 -[^7]: Sugerman, A. Arthur, and Frank Haronian, "Body type and sophistication of body concept," Journal of Personality 32(3), September 1964, doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1964.tb01347.x; Haronian, "Psychosynthesis: A psychotherapist's personal overview," Pastoral Psychology, Fall 1976, doi:10.1007/bf01761144. -[^8]: A. Arthur Sugerman and Frank Haronian, "Body type and sophistication of body concept," Journal of Personality 32(3), September 1964, pp. 380-394, first-page note ("This study was partly supported by a grant to Frank Haronian from the Human Ecology Fund"). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1964.tb01347.x -[^9]: Cinquegrana, A. R., Office of General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency, letter to John R. Everett, September 7, 1977, in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 7. -[^10]: David H. Price, "Buying a Piece of Anthropology, Part 1: Human Ecology and Unwitting Anthropological Research for the CIA," *Anthropology Today* 23(3), June 2007, fig. 4 (source given there: Human Ecology Fund, Report, 1963, pp. 13-42). https://archive.org/details/human_ecology_torture_suicide . -[^11]: Memorandum "Invoice No. 1," MKULTRA Subproject 134, Allotment 2125-1390-3902, July 12, 1961, PDF p. 13; release DOC_0000017393. -[^12]: Accounting for MKULTRA Subproject 134, grant period 9-1-61 to 8-31-62, dated February 1963; New School copy NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 17-18 (accounting, then receipt); release DOC_0000017393. -[^13]: Letter of proposal revision, MKULTRA Subproject 134; New School copy NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 23-26 (budget and schedule at p. 25); release DOC_0000017393. -[^14]: Obituary of Frank J. Haronian Jr., Town Topics (Princeton), October 26, 1994. https://archive.org/details/towntopicsprince4834unse -[^15]: MKULTRA Subproject 137, Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017396 (19 pages): memorandum for the record, August 24, 1961; proposal, budget and curriculum vitae; obligation memorandum, August 28, 1961; invoice, check receipt and certifications; accounting memorandum, February 1963; accounting by individual for advance, approved March 10, 1964. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017396 ; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/00017396 . Names, institutions and signatories other than Gottlieb's are redacted. -[^16]: New School Archives and Special Collections, Maurice Edwards papers documenting the work of graphologist Klara G. Roman (NA-0010-01), biographical note, https://findingaids.archives.newschool.edu/repositories/3/resources/284 ; Roman, *Handwriting: A Key to Personality* (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1954), preface pp. v-vi; *Encyclopedia of the Written Word* (New York: F. Ungar, 1968), acknowledgments; Price 2007 (see note 8). -[^17]: Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017396 (MKULTRA Subproject 137), memorandum for the record, August 24, 1961, page image 137-10. New School copy in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 78. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017396 -[^18]: John D. Marks, *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control* (Times Books, 1979), chapter 9, p. 149 n. (renaming); chapter 10, p. 170 (Wechsler scores) and p. 171 n. (handwriting research and a resident graphologist). -[^19]: "Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification." Joint Hearing before the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Committee on Human Resources, United States Senate, 95th Congress, 1st Session, August 3, 1977. U.S. Government Printing Office. Available: intelligence.senate.gov. -[^20]: Albarelli, H.P. *A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA's Secret Cold War Experiments.* Trine Day, 2009. Starrs, James E. Forensic examination report, Olson exhumation, 1994. -[^21]: Curt Rowlett, "Project Mind Kontrol: Did the U.S. Government Actually Create Programmed Assassins?," Steamshovel Press #16, 1998. -[^22]: Turner, Stansfield, Director of Central Intelligence, letter to Senator Daniel K. Inouye, chairman, Select Committee on Intelligence, August 2, 1977, in NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 96-103 (figures at p. 101; Privacy Act at p. 102; Attorney General passage at p. 103). -[^23]: Lapham, Anthony A., General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency, letter to John R. Everett, August 1977 (stamped August 15, 1977), in NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 94-95. The quoted passage refers to "page 8 of the statement by the Director." -[^24]: Lapham, Anthony A., General Counsel, letter to John R. Everett, November 7, 1977 (PDF p. 3), and Cinquegrana, A. R., Assistant General Counsel, letter to John R. Everett, March 17, 1978 (PDF p. 1), Central Intelligence Agency, in NS010102_000027. -[^25]: Thomas, Jo, "Extent of University Work for C.I.A. Is Hard to Pin Down," New York Times, October 9, 1977, CIA reading room clipping CIA-RDP88-01315R000300390007-3. -[^26]: "A CIA Test Tube," *The Harvard Crimson*, October 1, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/10/1/a-cia-test-tube-padd-harvard/ -[^27]: "Harvard and the CIA," *The Harvard Crimson*, October 5, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/10/5/harvard-and-the-cia-peach-year/ -[^28]: "Harvard: A Threat To Privacy," *The Harvard Crimson*, December 3, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/12/3/harvard-a-threat-to-privacy-pcia/ -[^29]: "CIA Grants Funded Hypnosis Research," *The Harvard Crimson*, February 2, 1978. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1978/2/2/cia-grants-funded-hypnosis-research-pthe/ +[^3]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum for the Comptroller, "MKULTRA, Subproject 136," August 23, 1961, p. 3 of the compiled document. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^4]: "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," proposal in the CIA Subproject 136 file, 1961, pp. 3, 5 and 6 of the proposal (compiled document pp. 15, 17, 18); memorandum for the record, August 23, 1961, p. 10. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^5]: New School Archives and Special Collections, John R. Everett records (NS-01-01-02), Series 3, Subject files, File "Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 1977-1978," Box 7, Folder 29. https://findingaids.archives.newschool.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/34220 +[^6]: MKULTRA Subproject 134, Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017393 (58 pages): memorandum of June 9, 1961, proposal letter and pilot report, "Comments on Report." https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017393 ; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/00017393 . Addressee, contractor, consultants and reviewer are redacted. +[^7]: Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017393 (MKULTRA Subproject 134), memorandum draft dated May 29, 1961, page image 134-12. New School Archives copy in NS010102_000027 (John R. Everett records, Box 7, Folder 29), PDF p. 27. https://digital.archives.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/objects/NS010102_000027 +[^8]: MKULTRA Subproject 134, status page (purpose, initiation, contractor and cost), New School copy in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 10. Release DOC_0000017393. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017393 +[^9]: Sugerman, A. Arthur, and Frank Haronian, "Body type and sophistication of body concept," Journal of Personality 32(3), September 1964, doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1964.tb01347.x; Haronian, "Psychosynthesis: A psychotherapist's personal overview," Pastoral Psychology, Fall 1976, doi:10.1007/bf01761144. +[^10]: A. Arthur Sugerman and Frank Haronian, "Body type and sophistication of body concept," Journal of Personality 32(3), September 1964, pp. 380-394, first-page note ("This study was partly supported by a grant to Frank Haronian from the Human Ecology Fund"). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1964.tb01347.x +[^11]: Cinquegrana, A. R., Office of General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency, letter to John R. Everett, September 7, 1977, in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 7. +[^12]: David H. Price, "Buying a Piece of Anthropology, Part 1: Human Ecology and Unwitting Anthropological Research for the CIA," *Anthropology Today* 23(3), June 2007, fig. 4 (source given there: Human Ecology Fund, Report, 1963, pp. 13-42). https://archive.org/details/human_ecology_torture_suicide . +[^13]: Memorandum "Invoice No. 1," MKULTRA Subproject 134, Allotment 2125-1390-3902, July 12, 1961, PDF p. 13; release DOC_0000017393. +[^14]: Accounting for MKULTRA Subproject 134, grant period 9-1-61 to 8-31-62, dated February 1963; New School copy NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 17-18 (accounting, then receipt); release DOC_0000017393. +[^15]: Letter of proposal revision, MKULTRA Subproject 134; New School copy NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 23-26 (budget and schedule at p. 25); release DOC_0000017393. +[^16]: Obituary of Frank J. Haronian Jr., Town Topics (Princeton), October 26, 1994. https://archive.org/details/towntopicsprince4834unse +[^17]: MKULTRA Subproject 137, Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017396 (19 pages): memorandum for the record, August 24, 1961; proposal, budget and curriculum vitae; obligation memorandum, August 28, 1961; invoice, check receipt and certifications; accounting memorandum, February 1963; accounting by individual for advance, approved March 10, 1964. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017396 ; https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/00017396 . Names, institutions and signatories other than Gottlieb's are redacted. +[^18]: New School Archives and Special Collections, Maurice Edwards papers documenting the work of graphologist Klara G. Roman (NA-0010-01), biographical note, https://findingaids.archives.newschool.edu/repositories/3/resources/284 ; Roman, *Handwriting: A Key to Personality* (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1954), preface pp. v-vi; *Encyclopedia of the Written Word* (New York: F. Ungar, 1968), acknowledgments; Price 2007 (see note 8). +[^19]: Central Intelligence Agency release DOC_0000017396 (MKULTRA Subproject 137), memorandum for the record, August 24, 1961, page image 137-10. New School copy in NS010102_000027, PDF p. 78. https://archive.org/details/DOC_0000017396 +[^20]: John D. Marks, *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control* (Times Books, 1979), chapter 9, p. 149 n. (renaming); chapter 10, p. 170 (Wechsler scores) and p. 171 n. (handwriting research and a resident graphologist). +[^21]: "Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification." Joint Hearing before the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Committee on Human Resources, United States Senate, 95th Congress, 1st Session, August 3, 1977. U.S. Government Printing Office. Available: intelligence.senate.gov. +[^22]: Albarelli, H.P. *A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA's Secret Cold War Experiments.* Trine Day, 2009. Starrs, James E. Forensic examination report, Olson exhumation, 1994. +[^23]: Curt Rowlett, "Project Mind Kontrol: Did the U.S. Government Actually Create Programmed Assassins?," Steamshovel Press #16, 1998. +[^24]: Turner, Stansfield, Director of Central Intelligence, letter to Senator Daniel K. Inouye, chairman, Select Committee on Intelligence, August 2, 1977, in NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 96-103 (figures at p. 101; Privacy Act at p. 102; Attorney General passage at p. 103). +[^25]: Lapham, Anthony A., General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency, letter to John R. Everett, August 1977 (stamped August 15, 1977), in NS010102_000027, PDF pp. 94-95. The quoted passage refers to "page 8 of the statement by the Director." +[^26]: Lapham, Anthony A., General Counsel, letter to John R. Everett, November 7, 1977 (PDF p. 3), and Cinquegrana, A. R., Assistant General Counsel, letter to John R. Everett, March 17, 1978 (PDF p. 1), Central Intelligence Agency, in NS010102_000027. +[^27]: Thomas, Jo, "Extent of University Work for C.I.A. Is Hard to Pin Down," New York Times, October 9, 1977, CIA reading room clipping CIA-RDP88-01315R000300390007-3. +[^28]: "A CIA Test Tube," *The Harvard Crimson*, October 1, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/10/1/a-cia-test-tube-padd-harvard/ +[^29]: "Harvard and the CIA," *The Harvard Crimson*, October 5, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/10/5/harvard-and-the-cia-peach-year/ +[^30]: "Harvard: A Threat To Privacy," *The Harvard Crimson*, December 3, 1977. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1977/12/3/harvard-a-threat-to-privacy-pcia/ +[^31]: "CIA Grants Funded Hypnosis Research," *The Harvard Crimson*, February 2, 1978. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1978/2/2/cia-grants-funded-hypnosis-research-pthe/ diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.md index d9a9d864..b00bdd01 100644 --- a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.md +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.md @@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ relations: start: 2009 end: 2012 role: "counterintelligence and security officer from 2009, in his account, later taking the remnants into his portfolio in the Office of the Secretary of Defense" - fn: 7 + fn: 13 - type: participant_in with: "[[Jay Stratton]]" reverse: true start: 2009 role: "recruiter of Elizondo and author of the AAWSAP report on the 2004 Nimitz encounter, in Elizondo's account" - fn: 7 + fn: 13 - type: investigated with: "[[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]]" reverse: true @@ -68,25 +68,25 @@ relations: start: 2008-09-22 end: 2010-12-21 fn: 4 -updated: 2026-10-03 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) is the name under which the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) program formally called the Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Application Program (AAWSAP) became public in December 2017. The [[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] (AARO) found in 2024 that "the names AAWSAP and AATIP have been used interchangeably for the name of this program, including on official documentation," but that "unlike AAWSAP, AATIP was never an official [[Department of Defense|DoD]] program." [[Luis Elizondo]], who has described himself as the program's later head, presents AATIP as a clandestine [[Pentagon]] program that investigated [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) from 2007 to 2012.[^1][^2] ### Appropriation and contract -AARO's account: "At the direction of [[United States Senate|Senate]] Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] (D-NV), the Defense Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010 appropriated $22 million for the DIA to assess long-term and over-the-horizon foreign advanced aerospace threats to the [[United States]]. In coordination with the [[Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence]], DIA established AAWSAP in 2009, which was also known AATIP. The contract for this DIA-managed program was awarded to a private sector organization." Its stated purpose was "to investigate potential next generation aerospace technologies in 12 specific areas," among them advanced lift, propulsion, unconventional materials and controls, and signature reduction.[^2] The solicitation and statement of work for the contract, HHM402-08-R-0211, are listed with the date August 22, 2008, and the original order with the date September 1, 2008.[^3] The order form (Standard Form 1449) gives a solicitation issue date of September 1, 2008, an offer due date of September 10, 2008 and an award date of September 22, 2008, and a DIA talking paper dates the request for proposals August 18, 2008.[^4][^5] +AARO's account: "At the direction of [[United States Senate|Senate]] Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] (D-NV), the Defense Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010 appropriated $22 million for the DIA to assess long-term and over-the-horizon foreign advanced aerospace threats to the [[United States]]. In coordination with the [[Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence]], DIA established AAWSAP in 2009, which was also known AATIP. The contract for this DIA-managed program was awarded to a private sector organization." Its stated purpose was "to investigate potential next generation aerospace technologies in 12 specific areas," among them advanced lift, propulsion, unconventional materials and controls, and signature reduction.[^2] A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states that DIA "published a request for proposals (RFP) on 18 August 2008" and that "DIA received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS)."[^3] The order form (Standard Form 1449) for HHM402-08-C-0072 gives a solicitation (HHM402-08-R-0211) issue date of September 1, 2008, an offer due date of September 10, 2008 and an award date of September 22, 2008.[^4] -Elizondo wrote that the program was established at the behest of Reid, [[Ted Stevens]] and [[Daniel Inouye]], who funded it (the 22 million dollar figure and the year 2008 appear in the foreword by [[Christopher Mellon]], not in Elizondo's own chapters); that it was run out of DIA under [[James Lacatski]], a rocket scientist; and that its primary contractor was [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] (BAASS), owned by [[Robert Bigelow]], whose chief scientist was [[Hal Puthoff]]. He wrote that he was recruited in early 2009 to handle counterintelligence and security and later took over leadership after Lacatski was forced to step down under internal pressure.[^1] [[Steven Aftergood]] of the [[Federation of American Scientists]] wrote in 2019 that "from 2007 to 2012, the DIA spent $22 million on the activity," which "was apparently initiated at the behest of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with most of the funding directed to a [[Nevada]] constituent of his."[^6] +Elizondo wrote that the program was established at the behest of Reid, [[Ted Stevens]] and [[Daniel Inouye]], who funded it (the 22 million dollar figure and the year 2008 appear in the foreword by [[Christopher Mellon]], not in Elizondo's own chapters); that it was run out of DIA under [[James Lacatski]], a rocket scientist; and that its primary contractor was [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] (BAASS), owned by [[Robert Bigelow]], whose chief scientist was [[Hal Puthoff]]. He wrote that he was recruited in early 2009 to handle counterintelligence and security and later took over leadership after Lacatski was forced to step down under internal pressure.[^1] The [[New York Times]] reported on December 16, 2017 that Reid said he summoned Stevens and Inouye to a secure room in the Capitol after learning that DIA officials wanted to start a UFO research program, that Stevens replied "I've been waiting to do this since I was in the Air Force," and that the Times named Stevens and Inouye, both top members of a defense spending subcommittee, as supporters of the program.[^5] Reid said of the funding, "Stevens knows about it, Inouye knows about it. But that was it, and that's how we wanted it."[^5] A DIA information memo of about December 2010 names Reid and Inouye: the program "was first sponsored in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Defense Supplemental Appropriation Act by Senators Reid and Inouye with a $10 [million] add."[^6] [[Steven Aftergood]] of the [[Federation of American Scientists]] wrote in 2019 that "from 2007 to 2012, the DIA spent $22 million on the activity," which "was apparently initiated at the behest of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with most of the funding directed to a [[Nevada]] constituent of his."[^7] -On June 24, 2009, Reid wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense [[William Lynn]] asking that AAWSAP/AATIP be made a Defense Department [[Special Access Programs|Special Access Program]]. Lynn declined on the recommendation of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper, Jr.]], that such a designation was not justified.[^2] +On June 24, 2009, Reid wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense [[William Lynn]] asking that AAWSAP/AATIP be made a Defense Department [[Special Access Programs|Special Access Program]]. Lynn declined on the recommendation of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper, Jr.]], that such a designation was not justified.[^2] In the Clapper memo: "A $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010. Based on the recommendation from DIA and my staffs review of the technical reports, I recommend against establishing a Special Access Program at this time."[^3] Reid's letter of June 24, 2009 to Lynn states that "much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings."[^8] ### Research -"Although investigating UFO/UAP was not specifically outlined in the contract's statement of work, the selected private sector organization conducted UFO research with the support of the DIA program manager," AARO found: reviews of new cases and of older [[Project Blue Book]] cases, debriefing and investigatory teams, and proposals for laboratories to examine recovered UFO materials. The program also investigated "an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in [[Utah]]," then owned by the head of the contractor, examining reports of "shadow figures" and "creatures" and exploring "remote viewing" and "human consciousness anomalies," and the contractor planned to hire psychics to study "inter-dimensional phenomena" there. "DIA did not seek, nor specifically authorize, this work though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract with the private sector organization."[^2] The Utah property is [[Skinwalker Ranch]].[^1] +"Although investigating UFO/UAP was not specifically outlined in the contract's statement of work, the selected private sector organization conducted UFO research with the support of the DIA program manager," AARO found: reviews of new cases and of older [[Project Blue Book]] cases, debriefing and investigatory teams, and proposals for laboratories to examine recovered UFO materials. The program also investigated "an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in [[Utah]]," then owned by the head of the contractor, examining reports of "shadow figures" and "creatures" and exploring "remote viewing" and "human consciousness anomalies," and the contractor planned to hire psychics to study "inter-dimensional phenomena" there. "DIA did not seek, nor specifically authorize, this work though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract with the private sector organization."[^2] [[Keith Basterfield]] reported in June 2025 a 101-page BAASS report dated June 21, 2010 titled "Utah Ranch Database Analysis," exploring incidents in a CAPELLA database of ranch events.[^9] The Utah property is [[Skinwalker Ranch]].[^1] According to the Times, Reid said that in 2007 Bigelow told him that an official with the Defense Intelligence Agency had approached Bigelow wanting to visit Bigelow's ranch in Utah, where he conducted research.[^5] KLAS-TV reported in February 2023 that Lacatski "was reading about a UFO hotspot named 'Skinwalker Ranch,'" visited the property and pitched a formal investigation, and that "Reid agreed to fund it, and Bigelow landed the contract."[^10] Elizondo's account of the program's work is broader. He wrote that it established five performance characteristics, the [[The Five Observables|Five Observables]] (hypersonic velocity, instantaneous acceleration, low observability, transmedium travel and antigravity), with biological effects as a sixth; that it investigated the 2004 [[Tic Tac|Tic Tac Incident]] involving the [[USS Nimitz]] Carrier Strike Group, the [[USS Roosevelt]] Carrier Strike Group encounters of 2014 and 2015 (including a near collision with an object described as a "sphere encasing a cube"), and the 1977 [[Colares Incidents]] in [[Brazil]]; that it studied the "hitchhiker effect" at Skinwalker Ranch and the medical consequences of encounters, including radiation-like burns, neurological damage and alleged implants.[^1] -The contract produced 38 Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs). DIA provided the list of titles, marked For Official Use Only, to [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] in January 2018 and released it under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] on January 16, 2019. Aftergood described many of the titles as "highly conjectural" and beyond the boundaries of current science, engineering or military intelligence; one, "Traversable Wormholes, Stargates, and Negative Energy," was prepared by [[Eric Davis]].[^6] Elizondo attributes the commissioning of the DIRDs to Puthoff.[^1] AARO found that the contract "produced exploratory papers addressing the 12 scientific areas tasked in the contract's statement of work. These scientific papers were never thoroughly peer reviewed," and that it "has yet to uncover any other substantive UAP case work conducted by AAWSAP/AATIP."[^2] +The contract produced 38 Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRDs). DIA provided the list of titles, marked For Official Use Only, to [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] in January 2018 and released it under the [[Freedom of Information Act]] on January 16, 2019. Aftergood described many of the titles as "highly conjectural" and beyond the boundaries of current science, engineering or military intelligence; one, "Traversable Wormholes, Stargates, and Negative Energy," was prepared by [[Eric Davis]].[^7] The list of titles credits Puthoff with "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering" and Davis with "Traversable Wormholes, Stargates, and Negative Energy" and "Antigravity for Aerospace Applications."[^11] The Black Vault reports that DIA released 37 of the 38 reports in response to a March 25, 2022 letter and withheld a SECRET version of a laser weapons title.[^12] Elizondo attributes the commissioning of the DIRDs to Puthoff.[^1] AARO found that the contract "produced exploratory papers addressing the 12 scientific areas tasked in the contract's statement of work. These scientific papers were never thoroughly peer reviewed," and that it "has yet to uncover any other substantive UAP case work conducted by AAWSAP/AATIP."[^2] ### Termination @@ -98,13 +98,13 @@ AARO's note on program names states: "after AAWSAP was cancelled, the AATIP moni ### Names, offices and dates in Elizondo's account -Elizondo wrote that Stratton told him in early 2009 that he had helped create AAWSAP and that the program reported "directly to the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and to Congress"; that James Lacatski handpicked "a small cadre of intelligence officers" to oversee the contractors; and that the program's backers at DIA included the director, Lieutenant General [[Michael D. Maples]], and Deputy Director [[Robert Cardillo]], whose memoranda "initially referred to the effort in positive terms," some bearing a handwritten note reading "Excited to see the results."[^7] He wrote that Hal Puthoff commissioned the thirty-eight DIRDs on subjects including invisibility cloaking, traversable wormholes and stargates, antigravity, brain/machine interfaces and warp drives, and "made sure these studies could be applied to any conceivable weapon system, not just UAP" as a layer of protection.[^7] AARO's account of the same papers is given above. +Elizondo wrote that Stratton told him in early 2009 that he had helped create AAWSAP and that the program reported "directly to the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and to Congress"; that James Lacatski handpicked "a small cadre of intelligence officers" to oversee the contractors; and that the program's backers at DIA included the director, Lieutenant General [[Michael D. Maples]], and Deputy Director [[Robert Cardillo]], whose memoranda "initially referred to the effort in positive terms," some bearing a handwritten note reading "Excited to see the results."[^13] He wrote that Hal Puthoff commissioned the thirty-eight DIRDs on subjects including invisibility cloaking, traversable wormholes and stargates, antigravity, brain/machine interfaces and warp drives, and "made sure these studies could be applied to any conceivable weapon system, not just UAP" as a layer of protection.[^13] AARO's account of the same papers is given above. -He wrote that the program's position at DIA changed within thirty to forty-five days after a senior official he calls "Devon Woods," formerly of the [[Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]], became a senior director or deputy director at DIA in 2010 on the departure of James Clapper to become Director of National Intelligence, and brought colleagues from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]; that Lacatski then spent most of his time "defending his efforts"; that in the fall of 2009 Elizondo and Stratton had urged Lacatski to drop investigations "that many considered to be dealing with the paranormal," including the work at Skinwalker Ranch, in favor of UAP threats, and Lacatski declined; that in spring 2010 Lacatski told him he was being pressured to stop and was to meet Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn; and that "Woods" told him that day, "It's demonic," in a hallway in the Pentagon.[^8] He identified the Collins Elite as a circle of religious fundamentalists in the Defense Department whose existence he had at first doubted, and wrote that he later learned several members were former colleagues and "even a former supervisor of mine."[^8] +He wrote that the program's position at DIA changed within thirty to forty-five days after a senior official he calls "Devon Woods," formerly of the [[Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]], became a senior director or deputy director at DIA in 2010 on the departure of James Clapper to become Director of National Intelligence, and brought colleagues from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]; that Lacatski then spent most of his time "defending his efforts"; that in the fall of 2009 Elizondo and Stratton had urged Lacatski to drop investigations "that many considered to be dealing with the paranormal," including the work at Skinwalker Ranch, in favor of UAP threats, and Lacatski declined; that in spring 2010 Lacatski told him he was being pressured to stop and was to meet Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn; and that "Woods" told him that day, "It's demonic," in a hallway in the Pentagon.[^14] He identified the Collins Elite as a circle of religious fundamentalists in the Defense Department whose existence he had at first doubted, and wrote that he later learned several members were former colleagues and "even a former supervisor of mine."[^14] -Elizondo wrote that Robert Bigelow "spent much of his own money fronting some of the costs for AAWSAP," which detractors in the Defense Department counted against the program, and that AAWSAP "gained access to a database of civilian eyewitness accounts" whose names had allegedly been stripped before the records were uploaded to Defense Department databases "by someone in AAWSAP's government chain of command," which he wrote would, if true, violate Defense Department regulations and possibly Executive Order 12333; he described the resulting "oversight nightmare" as "largely manufactured by the enemies of AAWSAP at DIA."[^9] He described a physician he calls Will Livingston as a medical advisor to AAWSAP/AATIP and to Bigelow's [[National Institute for Discovery Science]].[^9] +Elizondo wrote that Robert Bigelow "spent much of his own money fronting some of the costs for AAWSAP," which detractors in the Defense Department counted against the program, and that AAWSAP "gained access to a database of civilian eyewitness accounts" whose names had allegedly been stripped before the records were uploaded to Defense Department databases "by someone in AAWSAP's government chain of command," which he wrote would, if true, violate Defense Department regulations and possibly Executive Order 12333; he described the resulting "oversight nightmare" as "largely manufactured by the enemies of AAWSAP at DIA."[^15] He described a physician he calls Will Livingston as a medical advisor to AAWSAP/AATIP and to Bigelow's [[National Institute for Discovery Science]].[^15] -On the end of the contract, he wrote that the original money "was programmed for the years 2008 to 12"; that in 2010 he, Stratton and the engineer he calls John Robert decided to "move the remnants of the effort away from DIA" into his own portfolio of national programs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, with Puthoff, Livingston and Eric Davis as the only contractors retained; that he asked Michael Higgins, then the DIA Director of Operations, to protect Lacatski; that Stratton drafted appropriations language, as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance work, that obtained a further 10 million dollars from Harry Reid, which "another DoD program had absconded" because the bill language was ambiguous; and that [[Neill Tipton]]'s superior John Pede told him the money was "being used to pay for some academic studies."[^10] He wrote that he, Stratton and a few others continued to run AATIP "under the proverbial radar" from his portfolio, that in 2017 Tipton agreed to take over its duties, an arrangement Elizondo documented with emails released in May 2024 after a FOIA appeal, and that the Pentagon spokesperson [[Christopher Sherwood]] denied in 2019 that he had any AATIP responsibilities; AARO's 2024 finding that AATIP was "never an official DoD program" is stated above.[^11] +On the end of the contract, he wrote that the original money "was programmed for the years 2008 to 12"; that in 2010 he, Stratton and the engineer he calls John Robert decided to "move the remnants of the effort away from DIA" into his own portfolio of national programs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, with Puthoff, Livingston and Eric Davis as the only contractors retained; that he asked Michael Higgins, then the DIA Director of Operations, to protect Lacatski; that Stratton drafted appropriations language, as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance work, that obtained a further 10 million dollars from Harry Reid, which "another DoD program had absconded" because the bill language was ambiguous; and that [[Neill Tipton]]'s superior John Pede told him the money was "being used to pay for some academic studies."[^16] He wrote that he, Stratton and a few others continued to run AATIP "under the proverbial radar" from his portfolio, that in 2017 Tipton agreed to take over its duties, an arrangement Elizondo documented with emails released in May 2024 after a FOIA appeal, and that the Pentagon spokesperson [[Christopher Sherwood]] denied in 2019 that he had any AATIP responsibilities; AARO's 2024 finding that AATIP was "never an official DoD program" is stated above.[^17] ### KONA BLUE @@ -112,47 +112,52 @@ After the cancellation, the program's supporters proposed to the [[Department of ### Public disclosure -The program's existence was reported by [[Helene Cooper]], [[Ralph Blumenthal]] and [[Leslie Kean]] in "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program," published by the *[[New York Times]]* on December 16, 2017, after Elizondo's resignation; the article carried two Navy videos, "FLIR1" and "[[GIMBAL]]"; "GOFAST" followed in March 2018.[^1][^6][^12] The Department of Defense stated on April 27, 2020 that it authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos that had been circulating in the public domain after "unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017," and Politico reported in 2021 that [[Washington Headquarters Services]] had approved them "for unlimited distribution" within the government.[^12][^13] The Office of the Secretary of Defense file released to [[The Black Vault]] under the Freedom of Information Act in August 2019 contains an August 23, 2017 email in which [[Luis Elizondo]] asked Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review to "consider our request for unrestricted release"; an August 24, 2017 reply from Russo that if the service-level classification authority verified that removing the metadata made the videos unclassified, "please feel free to move forward with release"; and a DD Form 1910 whose publication-data block reads "Not Applicable. Not for publication. Research and analysis ONLY and info sharing with other USG and industry partners for the purposes of developing a database to help identify, analyze and ultimately defeat UAS threats." Joseph Gradisher, a Navy spokesman, said in 2019 that neither the cognizant Navy offices nor the review office had a record of correspondence responding to a request for unrestricted release of the videos in 2017.[^14] AARO's Historical Record Report, Volume I, dated February 2024 and cleared for publication on March 6, 2024, dates the modern era of UAP investigation from "the standup of" AAWSAP and AATIP in 2009, after a gap of about forty years since the end of Project Blue Book in 1969.[^2] +The program's existence was reported by [[Helene Cooper]], [[Ralph Blumenthal]] and [[Leslie Kean]] in "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program," published by the *New York Times* on December 16, 2017, after Elizondo's resignation; the article carried two Navy videos, "FLIR1" and "[[GIMBAL]]"; "GOFAST" followed in March 2018.[^1][^7][^18] The Department of Defense stated on April 27, 2020 that it authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos that had been circulating in the public domain after "unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017," and Politico reported in 2021 that [[Washington Headquarters Services]] had approved them "for unlimited distribution" within the government.[^18][^19] The Office of the Secretary of Defense file released to [[The Black Vault]] under the Freedom of Information Act in August 2019 contains an August 23, 2017 email in which Luis Elizondo asked Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review to "consider our request for unrestricted release"; an August 24, 2017 reply from Russo that if the service-level classification authority verified that removing the metadata made the videos unclassified, "please feel free to move forward with release"; and a DD Form 1910 whose publication-data block reads "Not Applicable. Not for publication. Research and analysis ONLY and info sharing with other USG and industry partners for the purposes of developing a database to help identify, analyze and ultimately defeat UAS threats." Joseph Gradisher, a Navy spokesman, said in 2019 that neither the cognizant Navy offices nor the review office had a record of correspondence responding to a request for unrestricted release of the videos in 2017.[^20] AARO's Historical Record Report, Volume I, dated February 2024 and cleared for publication on March 6, 2024, dates the modern era of UAP investigation from "the standup of" AAWSAP and AATIP in 2009, after a gap of about forty years since the end of Project Blue Book in 1969.[^2] ### Placement chain and disputed dates -Politico's December 2017 article names the program the "Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program"; the Times placed the program's start in 2007; Politico's same-day article dated the appropriation to 2009; [[Gideon Lewis-Kraus]] wrote that the 22 million dollars were set aside in the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill, with Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies the only bidder on the [[Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program]], and that Luis Elizondo took the program over from 2010. Pentagon spokesperson [[Susan Gough]] told [[The Black Vault]] in June 2019 that AATIP was administered by the Defense Intelligence Agency and that Elizondo "was never assigned to DIA"; Hal Puthoff told the same outlet he had worked under the program as contractor and senior adviser.[^15][^16][^17] +Politico's December 2017 article names the program the "Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program"; the Times placed the program's start in 2007; Politico's same-day article dated the appropriation to 2009; [[Gideon Lewis-Kraus]] wrote that the 22 million dollars were set aside in the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill, with Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies the only bidder on the [[Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program]], and that Luis Elizondo took the program over from 2010. Pentagon spokesperson [[Susan Gough]] told The Black Vault in June 2019 that AATIP was administered by the Defense Intelligence Agency and that Elizondo "was never assigned to DIA"; Hal Puthoff told the same outlet he had worked under the program as contractor and senior adviser.[^21][^22][^23] -The article was placed after an October 4, 2017 meeting arranged by Christopher Mellon between Leslie Kean and Elizondo, Puthoff and [[Jim Semivan]], and after Mellon, a paid adviser to [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]], had shown the story to several outlets; Politico and the Times published on December 16, 2017. The Times carried two videos (FLIR1 and GIMBAL), GOFAST was published in March 2018, and the Department of Defense, in its April 27, 2020 statement, "authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos" that had been "circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017"; Politico (2021) reports that Washington Headquarters Services had approved them "for unlimited distribution" within the government. See [[December 2017 New York Times AATIP Report]] for the sequence, the Pentagon statements of Dana White (2017), Christopher Sherwood (June 1, 2019) and Gough (June 13, 2019), and the denials beside each.[^18][^12] +The article was placed after an October 4, 2017 meeting arranged by Christopher Mellon between Leslie Kean and Elizondo, Puthoff and [[Jim Semivan]], and after Mellon, a paid adviser to [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]], had shown the story to several outlets; Politico and the Times published on December 16, 2017. The Times carried two videos (FLIR1 and GIMBAL), GOFAST was published in March 2018, and the Department of Defense, in its April 27, 2020 statement, "authorized the release of three unclassified Navy videos" that had been "circulating in the public domain after unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017"; Politico (2021) reports that Washington Headquarters Services had approved them "for unlimited distribution" within the government. See [[December 2017 New York Times AATIP Report]] for the sequence, the Pentagon statements of Dana White (2017), Christopher Sherwood (June 1, 2019) and Gough (June 13, 2019), and the denials beside each.[^18][^24] ### Contract number and structure -DIA's own briefings identify the awarded contract as HHM402-08-C-0072; the solicitation, HHM402-08-R-0211, is the number used in the Black Vault's index and in DIA's FOIA response letter. A DIA talking paper of May 4, 2009 states that DIA published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008 and "received only one bid." The order, signed September 22, 2008, is firm fixed price with one base year and one option year and names the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office as paying office; block 26 gives a total award amount of 21,948,810 dollars on the copy released in FOIA-00269-2018 and 10,000,000 dollars on the copy attached to modification P00001. DIA's talking points describe the funding as a 10 million dollar supplemental appropriation sponsored by Senators Reid and Inouye in July 2008 and a 12 million dollar add in the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act.[^4][^5] [[USASpending.gov|USAspending.gov]], which carries contract records from fiscal 2008, returns no award for this contract number or for the contractor, and the first-year payments were "equal amount monthly payments."[^19] +DIA's own briefings identify the awarded contract as HHM402-08-C-0072; the solicitation, HHM402-08-R-0211, is the number used in the Black Vault's index and in DIA's FOIA response letter. A DIA talking paper of May 4, 2009 states that DIA published its request for proposals on August 18, 2008 and "received only one bid." The order, signed September 22, 2008, is firm fixed price with one base year and one option year and names the [[NSA]] Finance and Accounting Office as paying office; block 26 gives a total award amount of 21,948,810 dollars on the copy released in FOIA-00269-2018 and 10,000,000 dollars on the copy attached to modification P00001. DIA's talking points describe the funding as a 10 million dollar supplemental appropriation sponsored by Senators Reid and Inouye in July 2008 and a 12 million dollar add in the fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations Act.[^3][^4] [[USASpending.gov|USAspending.gov]], which carries contract records from fiscal 2008, returns no award for this contract number or for the contractor, and the first-year payments were "equal amount monthly payments."[^25] ### Planned Special Access Program -Attachment 1 to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter proposed program length "FY09 to FY13 (Preliminary)," with funding "FY09 O&M, FY10-FY13 TBD." An August 24, 2009 DIA briefing slide lists as a program management issue that "program will likely become SAP by June 2010."[^20][^21] +Attachment 1 to Reid's June 24, 2009 letter proposed program length "FY09 to FY13 (Preliminary)," with funding "FY09 O&M, FY10-FY13 TBD." An August 24, 2009 DIA briefing slide lists as a program management issue that "program will likely become SAP by June 2010."[^8][^26] ### Funding of the option year -Modification P00002 (February 2, 2010), which funded option year 1, directed the contractor to identify "impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1." The contract was extended without added funds to December 21, 2010 by modification P00005 (September 28, 2010).[^22] +Modification P00002 (February 2, 2010), which funded option year 1, directed the contractor to identify "impacts to deliverables as a result of reduced funding for Option Year 1." The contract was extended without added funds to December 21, 2010 by modification P00005 (September 28, 2010).[^27] ### Footnotes [^1]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024. [^2]: Department of Defense, All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, *Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Volume I,* February 2024, cleared for open publication March 6, 2024, pp. 9-10, 22-24, 34-35. https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDF (read via http://web.archive.org/web/20260903033355id_/https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDF) -[^3]: The Black Vault, "The Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) Documentation," document index listing the bid solicitation notice and statement of work of August 22, 2008, the original order of September 1, 2008, and the amendment of September 2, 2009, contract HHM402-08-R-0211. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/ +[^3]: DIA Talking Paper, May 4, 2009; and OUSD(I) final packet, November 17, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf [^4]: DIA Standard Form 1449, order HHM402-08-C-0072, September 22, 2008 (FOIA-00269-2018). https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf -[^5]: DIA Talking Paper, May 4, 2009; and OUSD(I) final packet, November 17, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf -[^6]: Aftergood, Steven. "More Light on Black Program to Track UFOs," Federation of American Scientists, January 17, 2019. https://fas.org/publication/aatip-list/ -[^7]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 5 to 14 (recruitment) and 58 to 59 (DIRDs at pp. 58 to 59; Maples and Cardillo memoranda at p. 59). Page numbers are those of the printed index where it lists the passage. -[^8]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 59 to 60, 80 to 84 (Collins Elite at pp. 80 to 81; Woods at pp. 60 and 82 to 84; Lynn meeting and "demonic" at pp. 83 to 84). -[^9]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 84 to 86 and 90 (Bigelow at pp. 84 to 86; eyewitness database at p. 85; Will at p. 90). -[^10]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 86 to 89 (funding programmed for 2008 to 2012 at p. 88; Higgins at p. 87; the 10 million dollars, Tipton and Pede at pp. 88 to 89). -[^11]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 192, 202 and 217 (Tipton at p. 192; Sherwood at p. 217); photograph captions on the emails released in May 2024. -[^12]: Greenewald, John, Jr. "Navy Officially Releases UFO/UAP Videos, Calls Them 'Historical.'" The Black Vault, April 27, 2020. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/navy-officially-releases-ufo-uap-videos-calls-them-historical/ -[^13]: U.S. Department of Defense. "Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos," April 27, 2020. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/ (read through the Internet Archive capture, https://web.archive.org/web/2020id_/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/). -[^14]: [[The Black Vault]], FOIA release of Office of the Secretary of Defense case 18-F-0644, August 2019 (emails of August 23 and 24, 2017 between Luis Elizondo and Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review, with the DD Form 1910; the form's text is poorly legible in the scan and is quoted as transcribed in the research notes), https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/18-F-0644.pdf ; Joseph Gradisher quoted in "U.S. Navy Confirms Videos Depict Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Not Cleared for Public Release," The Black Vault, September 2019, https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/u-s-navy-confirms-videos-depict-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-not-cleared-for-public-release/ -[^15]: Lewis-Kraus, Gideon. "How the Pentagon Started Taking U.F.O.s Seriously." *The New Yorker,* May 10, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/10/how-the-pentagon-started-taking-ufos-seriously -[^16]: Greenewald, John, Jr. The Black Vault, June 14, 2019. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/pentagon-reinforces-mr-luis-elizondo-had-no-responsibilities-on-aatip-senator-harry-reids-2009-memo-changes-nothing -[^17]: Bender, Bryan. "The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs." *Politico,* December 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/2018id_/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/16/pentagon-ufo-search-harry-reid-216111 -[^18]: Bender, Bryan. *Politico Magazine,* May 28, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/28/ufos-secret-history-government-washington-dc-487900 -[^19]: USAspending.gov award search by award identifier, recipient name and keyword (HHM402, "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System," "Advanced Space Studies"), fiscal 2008 to 2026, no results; DIA briefing of December 16, 2008. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf -[^20]: Senator Harry Reid to William J. Lynn III, June 24, 2009, Attachment 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/20090624_Reid_to_DEPSECDEF_ref_AAITP_in_SAP.pdf -[^21]: DIA briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf -[^22]: Modifications in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf +[^5]: Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean, "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program," *The New York Times*, December 16, 2017 (New York Times News Service text: https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2017/12/16/are-ufos-real-a-pentagon-program-tried-to-find-out). +[^6]: Defense Intelligence Agency, information memorandum U-10-2552, c. December 2010, p. 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf +[^7]: Aftergood, Steven. "More Light on Black Program to Track UFOs," Federation of American Scientists, January 17, 2019. https://fas.org/publication/aatip-list/ +[^8]: Senator Harry Reid to William J. Lynn III, June 24, 2009, Attachment 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/20090624_Reid_to_DEPSECDEF_ref_AAITP_in_SAP.pdf +[^9]: Keith Basterfield, "More BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge," June 5, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/more-baass-aawsap-documents-emerge.html +[^10]: George Knapp, "Former intelligence official breaks silence on gov't UFO investigations," KLAS-TV (8 News Now), February 2023. https://www.8newsnow.com/mystery-wire/former-intelligence-official-breaks-silence-on-govt-ufo-investigations/ +[^11]: Defense Intelligence Agency letter U-18-2148/FAC-2A1, January 16, 2019. https://archive.org/download/aatip-list/aatip-list.pdf +[^12]: The Black Vault, "The Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) Documentation," document index listing the bid solicitation notice and statement of work of August 22, 2008, the original order of September 1, 2008, and the amendment of September 2, 2009, contract HHM402-08-R-0211. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/ +[^13]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 5 to 14 (recruitment) and 58 to 59 (DIRDs at pp. 58 to 59; Maples and Cardillo memoranda at p. 59). Page numbers are those of the printed index where it lists the passage. +[^14]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 59 to 60, 80 to 84 (Collins Elite at pp. 80 to 81; Woods at pp. 60 and 82 to 84; Lynn meeting and "demonic" at pp. 83 to 84). +[^15]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 84 to 86 and 90 (Bigelow at pp. 84 to 86; eyewitness database at p. 85; Will at p. 90). +[^16]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 86 to 89 (funding programmed for 2008 to 2012 at p. 88; Higgins at p. 87; the 10 million dollars, Tipton and Pede at pp. 88 to 89). +[^17]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (New York: William Morrow, 2024), pp. 192, 202 and 217 (Tipton at p. 192; Sherwood at p. 217); photograph captions on the emails released in May 2024. +[^18]: Greenewald, John, Jr. "Navy Officially Releases UFO/UAP Videos, Calls Them 'Historical.'" The Black Vault, April 27, 2020. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/navy-officially-releases-ufo-uap-videos-calls-them-historical/ +[^19]: U.S. Department of Defense. "Statement by the Department of Defense on the Release of Historical Navy Videos," April 27, 2020. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/ (read through the Internet Archive capture, https://web.archive.org/web/2020id_/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2165713/statement-by-the-department-of-defense-on-the-release-of-historical-navy-videos/). +[^20]: [[The Black Vault]], FOIA release of Office of the Secretary of Defense case 18-F-0644, August 2019 (emails of August 23 and 24, 2017 between Luis Elizondo and Michael Russo of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review, with the DD Form 1910), https://www.theblackvault.com/casefiles/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/18-F-0644.pdf ; Joseph Gradisher quoted in "U.S. Navy Confirms Videos Depict Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Not Cleared for Public Release," The Black Vault, September 2019, https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/u-s-navy-confirms-videos-depict-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-not-cleared-for-public-release/ +[^21]: Lewis-Kraus, Gideon. "How the Pentagon Started Taking U.F.O.s Seriously." *The New Yorker,* May 10, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/10/how-the-pentagon-started-taking-ufos-seriously +[^22]: Greenewald, John, Jr. The Black Vault, June 14, 2019. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/pentagon-reinforces-mr-luis-elizondo-had-no-responsibilities-on-aatip-senator-harry-reids-2009-memo-changes-nothing +[^23]: Bender, Bryan. "The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs." *Politico,* December 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/2018id_/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/16/pentagon-ufo-search-harry-reid-216111 +[^24]: Bender, Bryan. *Politico Magazine,* May 28, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/28/ufos-secret-history-government-washington-dc-487900 +[^25]: USAspending.gov award search by award identifier, recipient name and keyword (HHM402, "Advanced Aerospace Weapon System," "Advanced Space Studies"), fiscal 2008 to 2026, no results; DIA briefing of December 16, 2008. https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ and https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DI_Brief_2008.pdf +[^26]: DIA briefing "Aerospace Contract Status," August 24, 2009. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/Contract_Status_24Aug09.pdf +[^27]: Modifications in FOIA-00349-2018. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Oakland County Child Killer.md b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Oakland County Child Killer.md index 18ccbc99..c8db09ba 100644 --- a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Oakland County Child Killer.md +++ b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Oakland County Child Killer.md @@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ summary: "Unsolved murders of four children in Oakland County, Michigan (1976-19 start: 1976 end: 1977 location: "Oakland County, Michigan" +updated: 2026-10-15 --- ### Overview @@ -27,14 +28,18 @@ Twelve-year-old Mark Stebbins vanished from a shopping center in February 1976; Behind the public facade of sketches and snow patterns, law enforcement focused on two convicted pedophiles who were both tied to [[Francis Shelden]] and cleared by polygraph. Christopher Busch, the son of a [[General Motors]] executive, was arrested in January 1977 alongside an associate named Gregory Greene for sexually assaulting a boy. Greene confessed to police that Busch had killed a boy during a trip to his family cabin, and he identified the victim as Mark Stebbins. Busch was polygraphed and cleared. Kint Gilbert Schultz, another convicted pedophile with ties to Shelden's child porn ring, was also polygraphed and cleared. Both men had been suspected of operating within a larger pedophile ring connected to [[north fox island]], and both were later linked to 8mm child pornography production. The fact that two prime suspects were cleared by polygraph and then largely left alone counted as one of the most controversial aspects of the case.[^1] +### Timeline of the Arrests and Polygraphs + +In January 1977 [[Gregory Greene]] was arrested on child sexual assault charges and told investigators that Christopher Busch had killed one of the four boys. Busch and Greene both passed polygraph examinations. Greene was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, and Busch received probation on the charges against him.[^2] + ### The North Fox Island Connection -The investigation into the Oakland County Child Killer converged with the North Fox Island investigation through multiple persons of interest. [[Francis Shelden]], a wealthy philanthropist and owner of North Fox Island, was identified as the financier of a child pornography ring operating in the Cass Corridor area of Detroit. An informant named Richard Lawson, who had operated within this ring, later told detectives the morder of [[Timothy King]] had been captured in a snuff film financed by Shelden. Lawson identified three suspects: i Jusiah Tazelaar, a schoolteacher linked to North Fox Island by [[Gerald Richards]]; ii) Robert Moore, a child pornographer with a studio in a Cass Corridor bike shop; and iii) Ted Lamborgine, a Ford Motors employee who procured boys for Moore. These leads were never fully exploited by the task force, which instead pivoted to a "serial killer" profile that diverted resources away from the pedophile rings.[^1] +The investigation into the Oakland County Child Killer converged with the North Fox Island investigation through multiple persons of interest. Francis Shelden, a wealthy philanthropist and owner of North Fox Island, was identified as the financier of a child pornography ring operating in the Cass Corridor area of Detroit. An informant named Richard Lawson, who had operated within this ring, later told detectives the morder of Timothy King had been captured in a snuff film financed by Shelden. Lawson identified three suspects: i Jusiah Tazelaar, a schoolteacher linked to North Fox Island by [[Gerald Richards]]; ii) Robert Moore, a child pornographer with a studio in a Cass Corridor bike shop; and iii) Ted Lamborgine, a Ford Motors employee who procured boys for Moore. These leads were never fully exploited by the task force, which instead pivoted to a "serial killer" profile that diverted resources away from the pedophile rings.[^1] ### The Suicide of Christopher Busch -In November 1978, Christopher Busch was found dead in his family home, purtortedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found lying in bed with one arm tucked beneath a pillow, next to a .22 rifle. Crime scene investigators discovered ropes cut to the length required for binding limbs, a hand-drawn portrait of a boy screaming in a parka coat that resembled Mark Stebbins, and a box of shotgun shells. The very next day, the OCCK task force was dissolved and the case golt cold. The timing was remarkable: a prime suspect dead, and the investigation ended. Busch's father, Harold Lee Busch, was a high-level General Motors executive, and accounts emerged in the years that followed of a pedophile ring comprised of GM executives. It has been alleged that offering children up to the upper reches of management was a "kind of ticket" into the elite circles of the company.[^1] +A family blog maintained by the family of one victim describes Busch's death as a suicide in 1978, shortly after the death of one of the boys.[^2] In November 1978, Christopher Busch was found dead in his family home, purtortedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found lying in bed with one arm tucked beneath a pillow, next to a .22 rifle. Crime scene investigators discovered ropes cut to the length required for binding limbs, a hand-drawn portrait of a boy screaming in a parka coat that resembled Mark Stebbins, and a box of shotgun shells. The very next day, the OCCK task force was dissolved and the case golt cold. The timing was remarkable: a prime suspect dead, and the investigation ended. Busch's father, Harold Lee Busch, was a high-level General Motors executive, and accounts emerged in the years that followed of a pedophile ring comprised of GM executives. It has been alleged that offering children up to the upper reches of management was a "kind of ticket" into the elite circles of the company.[^1] ### Renewed Cold Case Investigation @@ -44,3 +49,4 @@ The case lay cold for decades until a Michigan detective named Cory Williams rec ### Footnotes [^1]: Dovey S 2023 'Eye of the Chickenhawk' United States Thehotstar. +[^2]: ClickOnDetroit (WXYZ), "Oakland County Child Killer: 40 years later," timeline of the 1976-77 killings, Greene arrest, polygraphs, convictions and sentences. https://clickondetroit.com/news/defenders/oakland-county-child-killer-40-years-later diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Rolodex Investigation.md b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Rolodex Investigation.md index d92d6ee8..a689a9df 100644 --- a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Rolodex Investigation.md +++ b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Rolodex Investigation.md @@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ title: Rolodex Investigation aliases: - Rolodex Investigation + - Rolodex-onderzoek + - Rolodex Affair - Bell Boys Investigation created: 2026-05-17 updated: 2026-10-15 @@ -13,75 +15,211 @@ tags: - ChildTrafficking - GovernmentCorruption category: "Crime Investigation" -summary: "Dutch inquiry into an Amsterdam brothel and its escort agency, begun in 1997 and reopened in 1998, in which a witness named two chief prosecutors on the owner's rolodex, which was never found." -start: 1997-01-01 -end: 1998-12-31 +summary: "Dutch inquiry into an Amsterdam brothel and escort agency, reopened in 1998, in which a witness named two chief prosecutors on a card file of the owner's clients that was never found." +start: 1997-02 +end: 1999-09-23 location: "Amsterdam, Netherlands" relations: - type: subject_of with: "[[Joris Demmink]]" - role: "named by a witness; official summary says he did not appear in the file" - start: 1997-02 + reverse: true + role: "named in 2012 and 2014 testimony and in 2016 hearing reporting; the government summary states he did not appear in the Rolodex file in any way" + start: 1998-08 + end: 1999-09-23 + fn: 3 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Rijksrecherche]]" + reverse: true + role: "team member; reports on the two chief prosecutors (February 2, 1999) and on two legal officials (June 10 and August 25, 1999)" + start: 1998-08-25 end: 1999-09-21 - fn: 1 + fn: 4 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Leendert de Koter]]" + reverse: true + role: "Amsterdam criminal intelligence detective on the Rolodex probe, per his 2014 testimony" + start: 1997 + end: 1998 + fn: 2 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Fred Teeven]]" + reverse: true + role: "named by De Koter as leading the team's work meetings and knowing the names; Omroep Brabant describes him as a prosecutor with criminal intelligence responsibility" + start: 1997 + end: 1998 + fn: 18 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Henry Hans Holthuis]]" + reverse: true + role: "named by De Koter in 2014 as one of three chief prosecutors; the government summary does not name the two chief prosecutors" + start: 1998-07-17 + end: 1999-06-07 + fn: 17 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Jan Wolter Wabeke]]" + reverse: true + role: "named by De Koter in 2014 as one of three chief prosecutors" + start: 1998-07-17 + end: 1999-06-07 + fn: 17 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Karel Maasdam]]" + reverse: true + role: "named by Nick Davies in 1998 as owner of the Bell Boys agency; the government summary does not name the brothel owner, so the identification rests on Davies" + start: 1997 + end: 1999-02-26 + fn: 8 --- -The Rolodex Investigation was the third assignment of a multidisciplinary team formed in Amsterdam on August 25, 1998 under the responsibility of the Amsterdam chief prosecutor, drawn from the [[Rijksrecherche]], the Bureau Interne Onderzoeken and the Amsterdam youth and vice police. The Dutch government's summary of December 23, 2013 states that the underlying probe of an Amsterdam brothel for homosexual clients with an attached escort agency began in February 1997, was halted for tactical reasons and was reopened in May 1998, after a man under investigation in another sex-offence case (suspected of raping his partner's 14-year-old daughter) began to describe the brothel in detail. On July 17, 1998, that witness named two chief prosecutors, whose names he said he had seen on a rolodex of the brothel owner "A" containing the owner's clients.[^1] The summary states that the rolodex was never found in searches of the suspects' homes and premises. The team's other assignments were an inquiry into a criminal organisation producing child pornography and a corruption inquiry into Amsterdam-Amstelland police staff.[^1] The inventory lists observation reports of the Koninklijke Marechaussee of December 17, 1998 and January 12, 1999.[^1] The start date is given as 1997 by former detective [[Leendert de Koter]], who worked on the probe, and as August 1998 in a March 2014 ministerial letter.[^2][^3] +The Rolodex Investigation was a Dutch criminal inquiry run by a multidisciplinary team formed in [[Amsterdam]] on August 25, 1998, drawn from the [[Rijksrecherche]], the [[Bureau Interne Onderzoeken]] and the Amsterdam youth and vice police. The team's third assignment gave the inquiry its name, after an alleged card file (rolodex) of the owner of a brothel for homosexual clients with an attached escort agency. The government summary says the card file held the owner's clients, and that it was never found in searches of the suspects' homes and premises.[^1] -### Convictions and the Brothel Owner +### The brothel probe, 1997 to 1998 -The brothel owner is identified in the government summary only as "A," with a recruiter identified as "B." The [[Rechtbank Amsterdam]] sentenced them on February 26, 1999, to three years and fifteen months respectively, the latter with six months suspended.[^1] A ministerial letter of July 2015 gives the same sentences for a 1999 conviction without naming either man.[^4] [[Nick Davies]] wrote in 1998 that [[Karel Maasdam]], known as "Alex Privee," was the owner of the [[Bell Boys]] escort agency.[^5] DutchNews reported in April 2016 that "Charles Maasdam, who was sentenced in 1998 for operating a child brothel in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood, is expected to give evidence," and NL Times reported that "Charles Maasdam, who owned a youth brothel in the capital for years, is also set to testify." Records found do not establish whether he is the Karel Maasdam described by Davies.[^6][^7] +The government summary dates the underlying probe of the brothel to February 1997. It states that the probe was halted for tactical reasons, reopened in May 1998 after a pause of several months, and reopened because a suspect in another sex-offence case began describing the brothel's activities in detail, although that case had no apparent connection to the brothel. That suspect was charged with a sex offence against his partner's teenage daughter. The summary refers to him only as "C," and this page does the same.[^1] -### Officials Named +Former detective [[Leendert de Koter]] testified in 2014 that the suspicions against Demmink were part of the Rolodex probe from 1997.[^2] A ministerial letter of March 27, 2014 states that the Rolodex investigation started in August 1998 on a statement by a suspect in another sex-offence case, that the statement did not concern the former secretary-general of the ministry, and that his name did not appear in the start-up information.[^3] The summary dates the brothel probe to 1997 and the team and the Rolodex label to 1998.[^1][^4] -The College of Procurators-General concluded provisionally on March 24, 1999 that the matter traced to the statements of one person, whom the police regarded as unreliable, and that the two chief prosecutors could not be regarded as suspects; it confirmed this on May 26, 1999 after the Rijksrecherche heard them. Two other officials with legal government functions came into view; the summary states that witness statements, wiretaps and observations in the main investigation indicated they were customers of the brothel's homosexual services, and that on September 21, 1999 the College found it had not been shown they committed offences.[^1] The summary states that the former secretary-general of the ministry, [[Joris Demmink]], did not appear in the Rolodex investigation in any way.[^1][^3] +### The July 1998 statement and the rolodex -De Koter testified on March 5, 2014 before an examining magistrate in Utrecht that the Rijksrecherche supplied the names of Demmink and three chief prosecutors, [[Jan Wolter Wabeke]], [[Henry Hans Holthuis]] and [[Wooldrik]], that the suspicion against the four was repeated sexual abuse of minors, that searches at the home of the university professor on whom the probe concentrated found the computer, video recorder and videotapes gone, that a request for an observation team on Demmink and the prosecutors was refused, and that [[Fred Teeven]] knew the names. He said the probe produced no further indications against Demmink.[^2][^8] Jaap Hoek, a former head of the Amsterdam youth and vice police, said he did not remember Demmink's name or chief prosecutors' names in the investigation.[^8] +On July 17, 1998, witness C gave a statement in which he named two chief prosecutors, whose names he said he had seen on the card file of the brothel owner, designated "A," which held the owner's client list. He said that both prosecutors used the brothel's services, which he said included boys under 16. He also described contacts with several officers of the Amsterdam-Amstelland police.[^1] -S. Dovey wrote that the rolodex held the private numbers of three district attorneys, Holthuis, Henk Wooldrik and Wabeke, and that it belonged to a university professor who served as an intermediary for clients of the Bell Boys service.[^9] +### The team and its three assignments -Omroep Brabant reported that De Koter said the request for an observation team on Demmink and the prosecutors was turned down by the head of the national police investigative information service, [[Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg]], while NOS reported that the Openbaar Ministerie did not grant it.[^2][^10] +The team received three assignments. The first was an inquiry into a criminal organisation that produced child pornography and prostituted boys, some under 16, from the home of the brothel owner. The second was an inquiry into corruption by staff of the [[Amsterdam-Amstelland police]]. The third was an inquiry into alleged sexual abuse of boys under 16 by justice officials, in which the organisation of the first assignment was said to be involved. The Rolodex Investigation covered only the third assignment.[^5] The corruption assignment was handled as an integrity inquiry by the police's Bureau Interne Onderzoeken and was closed internally at the time.[^1] -### Witness Testimony and Evidence +Members of the team, and the officers directly involved in leading it, signed confidentiality declarations because of the sensitivity of the facts.[^1] In July 2015 the minister reported that the Amsterdam police could no longer establish whether the corruption inquiry had been carried out, or how many officers it concerned.[^6] -Crucial evidence in the investigation came from a boy prostitute who worked at the Festival Bar and later described these events at a U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing on child sex trafficking on October 4, 2012. The witness provided detailed testimony about Karel Maasdam's operation, stating that Maasdam sold boys to Amsterdam child pornographers, some of whom were involved in snuff films. The witness also claimed to have been introduced to Demmink at the Festival Bar by a university professor and described being instructed to have sex with Demmink inside his government car.[^11] +### Convictions of the brothel owner and recruiter -### Government Vehicle Abuse and Official Complicity +The main case against the owner, designated "A," and a recruiter, designated "B," ended in a judgment of the [[Rechtbank Amsterdam]] on February 26, 1999, which sentenced them to three years and fifteen months respectively, the latter with six months suspended.[^5] A ministerial letter of July 1, 2015 gives the same sentences for a 1999 conviction of the brothel owner and one of his recruiters, without naming either man.[^7] -Further evidence of official complicity emerged from complaints filed by drivers assigned to Demmink's government car. One driver had complained that Demmink had sex with boys in the backseat of his government car in his presence. The driver died shortly after lodging the complaint, which was never followed up on. Similar complaints were made by other drivers.[^12] +[[Nick Davies]] wrote on October 1, 1998 that the owner of the [[Bell Boys]] escort agency was known in Amsterdam as "Alex Privee," that his real name was [[Karel Maasdam]], and that he was a producer of boy pornography and a close friend of [[Lothar Glandorf]], whose Rotterdam operation was the subject of the [[HIK Investigation]].[^8] In the same article Davies described the [[Festival Bar]], one of three bars in the Spuistraat area, as well supplied with boys from [[Poland]], [[Romania]] and the [[Czech Republic]].[^9] -### Outcome +In April 2016 [[DutchNews]] reported that a hearing in Amsterdam would hear that "Charles Maasdam, who was sentenced in 1998 for operating a child brothel in Amsterdam's Oost neighbourhood, is expected to give evidence."[^10] [[NL Times]] reported the same week that the witnesses set to testify included "Charles Maasdam, who owned a youth brothel in the capital for years."[^11] DutchNews dates the sentence to 1998, while the government summary dates the judgment to February 26, 1999.[^1][^10] Whether Charles Maasdam is the Karel Maasdam described by Davies is not established. A detective who investigated the Bell Boys service was reported to have stated that the case was closed with the arrest and sentencing of Karel Maasdam.[^12] -On January 20, 2014, the Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden ordered prosecution of Joris Demmink in an Article 12 Sv complaint by two Turkish complainants, and in 2017 the same court approved the Openbaar Ministerie's request to drop it, finding that no reasonable suspicion of guilt remained for the alleged rapes in Turkey.[^13][^14] The Openbaar Ministerie had earlier stated that no criminal investigation was warranted after orienting inquiries in 2007 and 2011.[^15] In questions of January 30, 2015, the MP Bontes asked whether the earlier answers that Demmink did not appear in the Rolodex file could be wrong in light of two statements under oath in civil witness hearings. The minister had answered on January 21, 2015 that for the second statement, of April 15, 2014, he had asked the chairman of the College of Procurators-General for an assessment, who reported by official message of May 1, 2014 that no information had been found confirming it.[^16] On December 17, 2014 the Rechtbank Rotterdam rejected Demmink's claims against the Algemeen Dagblad over its articles of October 6 and 8, 2012 (ECLI:NL:RBROT:2014:10259).[^17] +### The chief prosecutors and two legal officials -The summary records a probe halted in 1997 that was reopened in May 1998, with the College's conclusions in 1999.[^1] DutchNews wrote that the investigation "ultimately yielded no tangible results"; Omroep Brabant wrote that it yielded no tangible result "althans niet waar het de hooggeplaatste figuren betreft."[^6][^8] A detective who investigated the Bell Boys service stated that the case had been closed with the arrest and sentencing of Karel Maasdam.[^18] +On February 2, 1999 the Rijksrecherche issued two reports on the two chief prosecutors named by C, one of 25 pages and one of 16 pages, addressed to the Amsterdam chief prosecutor and the College of Procurators-General.[^4] On March 18, 1999 the Amsterdam chief prosecutor forwarded those reports to the [[College of Procurators-General]], concluding that the main case against the owner and recruiter had produced no supporting information on which a criminal investigation of either prosecutor could be justified.[^4] -### International Connections and Broader Network +The summary states that the Rijksrecherche then heard the two prosecutors, who were cautioned, and that the interviews produced nothing incriminating.[^1] During the inquiry two other officials with legal government functions also came into view. The summary states that witness statements, wiretaps and observations in the main case indicated that both were customers of the brothel's homosexual services.[^1] The Rijksrecherche reports on the two officials are dated June 10, 1999 and August 25, 1999.[^13] The inventory also lists observation reports of the Koninklijke Marechaussee dated December 17, 1998 and January 12, 1999.[^14] -The Rolodex Investigation revealed connections to international trafficking networks. S. Dovey wrote that a man Dovey describes as Karel Maasdam's bookkeeper told the Dutch current-affairs programme EenVandaag that [[Warwick Spinks]] frequently supplied boys to Demmink and Henry Hans Holthuis.[^9] +### The College's conclusions, 1999 -### Connection to Other Investigations +The College of Procurators-General concluded provisionally on March 24, 1999 that the matter traced back to the statements of a single person, whom the police regarded as unreliable, and that the two chief prosecutors could not be regarded as suspects.[^1] The College confirmed this on May 26, 1999 and wrote to both prosecutors on June 7, 1999 that the matter was closed for them.[^4] -The Rolodex Investigation was one of three major interlinked investigations into child trafficking networks in the Netherlands during the 1990s, along with [[Operation Framework]] (1992-93) and the [[HIK Investigation]] (1994).[^19] +On September 21, 1999 the College found that it had not been shown that the two legal officials had committed criminal offences, and that a further criminal investigation was not justified. It ruled that their superiors must be informed of the findings.[^15] A letter of September 23, 1999 from the College chair to the Amsterdam chief prosecutor concerns the file under the number RR 98/0196.[^15] + +The summary states that the former secretary-general of the ministry did not appear in the Rolodex investigation in any way, and that no information was found showing that he had any involvement with it.[^3] The minister had said the same in 2007.[^16] + +### Testimony of 2014 and the Demmink name + +On March 5, 2014 De Koter testified before an examining magistrate in [[Utrecht]], in a civil pre-trial witness hearing sought by [[Stichting De Roestige Spijker]], which is seeking evidence against [[Joris Demmink]].[^5] De Koter said that the Rijksrecherche supplied the names of Demmink and three chief prosecutors, [[Jan Wolter Wabeke]], [[Henry Hans Holthuis]] and [[Wooldrik]], that the four were already in the Rijksrecherche's records, and that the suspicion against them was repeated sexual abuse of minors.[^5][^17] + +De Koter also said that the probe produced no further indications against Demmink.[^17] He said that a request for an observation team on Demmink and the prosecutors was refused. NOS reported that the Openbaar Ministerie did not grant it.[^5] [[Omroep Brabant]] reported that De Koter named the refusing official as the head of the national police investigative information service at the time, [[Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg]], who is now Amsterdam police chief.[^17] De Koter said that the university professor on whom the probe concentrated had been warned in advance of a search, and that the computer, video recorder and videotapes were gone when officers arrived.[^5] Omroep Brabant gave the professor as Ger van R., a professor at the [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam|Vrije Universiteit]], and wrote that he was said to have played a facilitating role at the gatherings under investigation; NOS gave him as professor Van R., the suspect with whom the investigation began.[^5][^17] + +NOS reported that De Koter said the Rolodex probe began in 1997 under the direction of [[Fred Teeven]], then chief prosecutor of the [[Criminele Inlichtingen Eenheid]], and that Teeven knew the names of Demmink and the three prosecutors.[^18] Omroep Brabant described Teeven at the time as a prosecutor with criminal intelligence responsibility, and noted that he was then State Secretary of Veiligheid en Justitie at the time of the testimony.[^17] [[Jaap Hoek]], a former head of the Amsterdam youth and vice police, testified in the same proceedings that he did not remember Demmink's name, or the names of chief prosecutors, appearing in the investigation.[^19] + +Omroep Brabant wrote that the probe produced no tangible result ("althans niet waar het de hooggeplaatste figuren betreft"), at least where high-ranking figures were concerned.[^19] NOS reported that the Rolodex investigation produced nothing.[^5] + +### Government statements, 2007 to 2015 + +On June 15, 2007 members of the House, Van Velzen and De Wit (both SP) and Teeven (VVD), asked questions about a senior justice official, citing an article in [[De Telegraaf]] of June 13, 2007 on incriminating information against senior officials.[^20] In answers received July 5, 2007, Minister [[Hirsch Ballin]] said that the Rijksrecherche had examined extensively whether the two chief prosecutors had committed crimes, that none had been shown, and that the official whom the article appeared to mean was not named in the Rolodex investigation at all.[^16] The minister also reported that the president of the [[Rechtbank Den Haag]] ruled in summary proceedings on June 25, 2007 that it had not become plausible that the official had committed the offences alleged.[^21] + +In a letter of March 27, 2014 the minister stated that the former secretary-general did not come up in the Rolodex investigation in any way, and that the College's office had confirmed this in a memorandum of March 24, 2014.[^22] The letter also says that the Rolodex file had been released under the [[Wet openbaarheid van bestuur]] (Wob) with a summary and inventory on December 23, 2013.[^22] + +Answers of July 1, 2015 to questions from the House, prompted by a report in the [[Algemeen Dagblad]] of March 21, 2015 headed "Overheid heeft pedofilie jarenlang gedoogd" (roughly, "government tolerated paedophilia for years"), state that the information received from the Openbaar Ministerie and the municipality of Amsterdam did not support that claim.[^7] The same answers list four Wob decisions on the Rolodex file: two dated December 23, 2013, one of December 9, 2014 and one of May 26, 2015.[^23] + +The answers also state that the municipal health worker [[Raphael Beth]], who had told [[Trouw]] on August 3, 1998 about the youth prostitution scene, had no documented report of abuse in the GGD archive.[^24] + +On January 30, 2015 the MP [[Bontes]] submitted written questions. Question 7 asked whether the earlier answers that Demmink did not appear in the Rolodex investigation at all could be wrong, given two statements under oath in civil witness hearings. Question 9 asked whether the state secretary had informed journalists that Demmink had appeared in the Rolodex investigation.[^25] The minister had answered on January 21, 2015 that, after a second witness statement on April 15, 2014 in the same civil witness hearing, he had asked the chairman of the College of Procurators-General for an assessment, who reported by official message (ambtsbericht) of May 1, 2014 that no information had been found confirming the statement.[^26] + +Minister [[Ivo Opstelten]] answered the Bontes questions on February 17, 2015. On the criminal investigation into Demmink's alleged involvement in the rape of two then-minor boys in Turkey in the mid-1990s, he stated that it was "still fully under way"; that the Openbaar Ministerie had opened it in February 2014 after the Gerechtshof's ruling; that the requests for legal assistance to Turkey, including for hearing the witnesses named by the court, had not received a positive response; that at the Openbaar Ministerie's request the examining magistrate of the Rechtbank Den Haag had opened an inquiry the previous year and had travelled to Turkey herself; and that a parallel exploratory fact-finding inquiry was examining all signals of possible sexual abuse by the former secretary-general. On the reports of the military intelligence service on Demmink, who worked at the Ministry of Defence from 1971 to 1982, he referred to the answers of 2007. To the questions whether the earlier answers that Demmink did not appear in the Rolodex investigation could be wrong in light of the two sworn statements, he answered that the Openbaar Ministerie was examining other accusations against the former secretary-general and was including the former detectives' statements in that inquiry, and: "In dat licht onthoud ik mij van commentaar" (in that light I refrain from comment).[^27] He stated that he understood the former official would not appeal the ruling of the Rechtbank Rotterdam in his civil case against the Algemeen Dagblad, and that the legal-assistance costs reimbursed for Demmink between 2007 and 2010, including for a complaint against him and the summary proceedings of June 25, 2007, totalled 16,343.46 euros.[^27] Asked whether the Rotterdam ruling meant that the accusations of contacts with a boy pimp were presumably true, he answered that the court had not concluded that they were true and had not ruled on alleged criminal conduct, and that it had found it could not establish that the Algemeen Dagblad used unreliable sources.[^27] + +On December 17, 2014 the Rechtbank Rotterdam rejected Demmink's claims against the Algemeen Dagblad over its articles of October 6 and 8, 2012.[^28] + +### The 2012 Helsinki Commission hearing + +On October 4, 2012 the [[U.S. Helsinki Commission]] (the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) heard a briefing titled "Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking."[^29] The chairman, [[Chris Smith]], introduced a witness identified in the transcript only by an initial as a victim who had identified Demmink as the man who abused him as a child, and as the primary witness giving detail of the Rolodex affair. An opening statement at the hearing said that Demmink maintains his innocence.[^30] + +The witness's written statement says that he worked as an escort for the same brothel owner, working from the Festival Bar, where a university professor introduced him to Demmink and told him to go outside to meet Demmink in his car. The statement says the witness was a key witness in the Rolodex investigation in 1998, that he was offered police protection, and that the investigation was stopped and never pursued. It also says the professor had a card file of high-ranking officials who were his clients, that the witness accompanied the professor on trips to Poland, and that he was shot at three times in The Hague afterwards.[^31] The witness said that the brothel owner also made child pornography films, that he performed in three of them, and that he knew people who made snuff movies and refused an offer of money to appear in one, because the actor is killed at the end.[^31] Karel Maasdam was stated in Bell Boys victim statements cited in connection with the briefing to have sold boys to Amsterdam child pornographers, some of whom were involved in snuff films.[^32] + +[[Adèle van der Plas]], a lawyer with [[Bakker Schut van der Plas]], who said she represented clients in four cases, among them the two Turkish complainants and a Kurdish businessman, submitted a written statement to the hearing.[^33] She told the Commission that a police officer who worked on the Rolodex case had said the professor was waiting for the police team when it arrived, that video evidence and telephone communication between the suspects disappeared, and that officers were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.[^33] Her statement says that the two Turkish complainants were 11 and 14 at the time of the alleged offences, and that the [[Gay Krant]] withdrew its 2003 accusations against Demmink after a threat of bankruptcy from his lawyer.[^33] + +She also said that Teeven, in a hearing before the Rechtbank Den Haag on April 12, 2007, expressed frustration at the blocking of the investigation, said it had targeted senior officials who abused minors, and said it never led to prosecutions because of what her statement calls "certain contra-actions."[^34] + +### Driver complaints reported in 2014 + +The Algemeen Dagblad reported on March 29, 2014 that [[Tjeerd Postma]], a ministry official, had been told by a driver from the ministry's car pool that during a business trip to [[Brussels]] Demmink had picked up a young boy and had sex with him on the back seat of the service car, while the driver watched in the rear-view mirror. The driver did not file an official complaint.[^35] + +According to [[John Moeleker]], who in 1999 was assigned to reorganise the department, a second driver later filed a formal complaint against Demmink. Moeleker said that the ministry's director of general affairs later told him the driver had died of a heart attack, and that the complaint therefore lapsed. Moeleker said it was remarkable that no one had checked whether the complaint was accurate.[^36] + +The widow of the driver told the AD that her husband had filed a formal complaint, but on behalf of another driver. She said he died of a cardiac arrest on January 25, 2000, and rejected accounts that he died in mysterious circumstances.[^36] An earlier account of the matter held that the driver died shortly after lodging the complaint and that it was never followed up, and that similar complaints were made by other drivers.[^37] [[Hans Vrakking]], a former chief prosecutor in Amsterdam, told [[NRC Handelsblad]] that the driver himself had gone to the [[Binnenlandse Veiligheidsdienst]] (BVD) and said he was troubled that Demmink sometimes had sex with boys in the service car.[^36] [[Harry Borghouts]], then secretary-general of the ministry and later a royal commissioner, denied that the complaint had reached him.[^36] A justice official, [[Rinus Brul]], said he had heard of a complaint letter that had since been lost, and that he had not known at the time that minors were involved.[^36] + +### Turkish complaints and the court record, 2014 to 2017 + +Two Turkish men filed complaints alleging that Demmink raped them in [[Turkey]] in the mid-1990s. In answers of December 4, 2012 the government stated that the Openbaar Ministerie had carried out orienting inquiries in 2007 and 2011, and that neither had established grounds for a criminal investigation.[^38] The [[Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden]] ordered on January 20, 2014, in an Article 12 Sv complaint procedure, that prosecution of Demmink be instituted through a request for further judicial investigation.[^39] The July 2015 answers give the court as the [[Gerechtshof 's-Hertogenbosch]] and the date as January 21, 2014.[^7] The OM began a criminal investigation a month later, and a rechter-commissaris of the Rechtbank Den Haag examined witnesses and documents.[^40] + +On June 30, 2017 the OM asked the court to approve dropping the prosecution.[^41] The Gerechtshof's release of August 18, 2017 states that timelines built from Demmink's own documents and third-party records, checked against the underlying documents, gave no support to the claim that he had been in Turkey in the years concerned, and that there was no beginning of plausibility that he was in Turkey in 1995, 1996 or 1997. The court approved the request.[^39] The OM's release the same day states that Turkey was asked for legal assistance and for witnesses, that hearing witnesses in Turkey proved not possible, and that no reasonable suspicion of guilt remained.[^40] + +### The 2016 Amsterdam hearing + +In April 2016 an Amsterdam court began hearing testimony from nine witnesses into allegations that senior politicians knew about and used underage male prostitutes in the 1980s. DutchNews reported that the main witness, then 43, said that at the age of 15 he had been forced to have sex in the back seat of a car with Demmink, then a senior civil servant at the justice ministry. The witness's lawyer said the aim was to prove that the government knew of child prostitution at the time and let it happen.[^42] + +The same report says that the allegations implicated [[Prince Claus]], [[Onno Rudding]] and [[Ed van Thijn]], citing the Algemeen Dagblad.[^42] NL Times reported that the witnesses were questioned under oath in the Amsterdam court on Monday, April 18, 2016, in a case brought by a former child prostitute holding the Netherlands responsible for a child sexual abuse and child prostitution network in Amsterdam in the 1980s, with nine witnesses that week and the reporting relying on the Algemeen Dagblad reporter Koen Voskuil tweeting from the courtroom.[^11] The first witness, a former child victim, testified under oath that he was abused in an Amsterdam apartment that "belonged to now deceased professor Ger van Roon," and that he saw Ed van Thijn, "top Justice official Joris Demmink" and Onno Rudding there performing sexual acts with boys: "Demmink was there almost every time, Van Thijn at least twice." He also said he saw Prince Claus at a bar "in relation with young boys" and that Prince Claus was in Van Roon's apartment.[^11] The second witness, Raphael Beth, a former Amsterdam GG&GD field worker in the late 1980s, said that about 350 boys worked as child prostitutes in Amsterdam in the 1980s and 1990s, that there were six or seven youth brothels visited weekly, and that "Pedophile-prostitution was tolerated at the time"; the GG&GD ignored his concerns.[^11] The witnesses set for that week also included Ivo Opstelten and Fred Teeven, "who was a prosecutor at the time," and Demmink was to be questioned later.[^11] DutchNews also wrote that the Rolodex inquiry had been leaked in the 1990s after informants told state intelligence authorities that high-ranking justice officials, including Demmink, and prosecutors had been clients of underage prostitution rings, and that the investigation ultimately yielded no tangible results.[^42] + +### Related investigations + +The Rolodex Investigation was described as one of three interlinked investigations into child trafficking networks in the Netherlands during the 1990s, with [[Operation Framework]] (1992 to 1993) and the HIK Investigation (1994).[^43] Davies's 1998 article names the Englishman Warwick Spinks, the target of Operation Framework, as working at Boys For Men in the Spuistraat, the street of the Festival Bar.[^8] + +### Card file accounts and the bookkeeper + +[[S. Dovey]] wrote that the card file held the private numbers of three district attorneys, Holthuis, Henk Wooldrik and Wabeke, and that it belonged to a university professor who served as an intermediary for clients of the Bell Boys service.[^44] The government summary states that the card file was never found.[^1] + +Dovey also wrote that a man Dovey describes as Maasdam's bookkeeper told the Dutch current-affairs programme [[EenVandaag]] that [[Warwick Spinks]] frequently supplied boys to Demmink and to Holthuis.[^44] The claim is attributed to Dovey and to the bookkeeper as Dovey describes him. ### Footnotes -[^1]: "Samenvatting van de aanleiding, het verloop, de resultaten en de besluitvorming in het Rolodex-onderzoek," and "Chronologische inhoudsopgave Rolodex-dossier," December 23, 2013. https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvgs5kjg27kof_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vjigib8p5szh -[^2]: NOS, "Politie onderzocht Demmink in '97," March 5, 2014. https://nos.nl/artikel/619220-politie-onderzocht-demmink-in-97 -[^3]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 33 750 VI, nr. 116, letter of March 27, 2014. https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20140327/brief_regering/document3/f=/vjifeja4nlzk.pdf -[^4]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115, letter of July 1, 2015. https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvi0xeni9vr2l_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vme26leaeuex/f=/vjvdn6hc42z9.pdf -[^5]: Nick Davies, "Paedophile network trafficks young boys across Europe," nickdavies.net, dated October 1, 1998. https://www.nickdavies.net/1998/10/01/paedophile-network-trafficks-young-boys-across-europe/ -[^6]: "Politicians and officials named in court as 'boy brothel' case begins," DutchNews.nl, April 18, 2016. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2016/04/politicians-and-officials-named-in-court-as-boy-brothel-case-begins/ -[^7]: "Forced child prostitution case: Netherlands elite, royalty under microscope," NL Times, April 18, 2016. https://nltimes.nl/node/28758 -[^8]: "Oud-hoofdofficier justitie Jan Wolter Wabeke uit Best genoemd in zedenzaak Joris Demmink," Omroep Brabant, March 5, 2014. https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/1720283/oud-hoofdofficier-justitie-jan-wolter-wabeke-uit-best-genoemd-in-zedenzaak-joris-demmink -[^9]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk.* Thehotstar, 2023. -[^10]: "Oud-hoofdofficier justitie Jan Wolter Wabeke uit Best genoemd in zedenzaak Joris Demmink," Omroep Brabant, March 5, 2014. https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/1720283/oud-hoofdofficier-justitie-jan-wolter-wabeke-uit-best-genoemd-in-zedenzaak-joris-demmink -[^11]: 'Listening To Victims of Child Sex Trafficking', U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing, October 4, 2012; Bell Boys service victim statements -[^12]: Government vehicle abuse complaints and driver testimony; Rob Mostert case and subsequent death -[^13]: Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden, press release, August 18, 2017. https://www.rechtspraak.nl/organisatie-en-contact/organisatie/gerechtshoven/gerechtshof-arnhem-leeuwarden/nieuws/2017/08/beslissing-gerechtshof-over-bewilligingsverzoek-in-de-beklagzaak-tegen-j-demmink -[^14]: Openbaar Ministerie, "OM tevreden met beslissing hof om Demmink niet verder te vervolgen," August 18, 2017. https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuws/2017/08/18/om-tevreden-met-beslissing-hof-om-demmink-niet-verder-te-vervolgen -[^15]: Tweede Kamer, Aanhangsel Handelingen 2012-2013, nr. 691, answers of December 4, 2012. https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-tk-20122013-691-n1.html -[^16]: Tweede Kamer, questions of MP Bontes on the Demmink affair, 2015Z01581, January 30, 2015 (questions 1, 7, 10, 12; footnote 1 on the answers of January 21, 2015). https://berthub.eu/tkconv/getraw/2015D03269 -[^17]: Rechtbank Rotterdam, judgment of December 17, 2014, C/10/419404 / HA ZA 13-226, ECLI:NL:RBROT:2014:10259. https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBROT:2014:10259 -[^18]: Investigation shutdown and cover-up evidence; Detective statements on case closure -[^19]: Summary of interlinked Netherlands investigations, 1992-1998; Dutch police investigation files and media reports +[^1]: "Samenvatting van de aanleiding, het verloop, de resultaten en de besluitvorming in het Rolodex-onderzoek," Ministerie van Veiligheid en Justitie, December 23, 2013, released under the Wob, https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvgs5kjg27kof_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vjigib8p5szh +[^2]: NOS, "Politie onderzocht Demmink in '97," March 5, 2014, on De Koter's testimony about the 1997 start, the Rijksrecherche names and the refused observation request, https://nos.nl/artikel/619220-politie-onderzocht-demmink-in-97 +[^3]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 33 750 VI, nr. 116, letter of the Minister of Veiligheid en Justitie, March 27, 2014, https://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20140327/brief_regering/document3/f=/vjifeja4nlzk.pdf +[^4]: "Chronologische inhoudsopgave Rolodex-dossier," Bijlage 2 to the summary of December 23, 2013, items 11 to 13 and 16 to 22, https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvgs5kjg27kof_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vjigib8p5szh +[^5]: "Samenvatting" (note 1), pp. 1 to 2, on the team's assignments, the confidentiality declarations and the College's 1999 decisions +[^6]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115 (note 7), answer 8, on the corruption inquiry and the Rijksrecherche reports +[^7]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115, answers of the Minister of Veiligheid en Justitie, July 1, 2015, answers 1 and 2, and the answers to the CDA questions on the court and date of the Turkish ruling, https://eerstekamer.nl/9370000/1/j4nvi0xeni9vr2l_j9vvkfvj6b325az/vme26leaeuex/f=/vjvdn6hc42z9.pdf +[^8]: Nick Davies, "Paedophile network trafficks young boys across Europe," previously unpublished, dated October 1, 1998, https://www.nickdavies.net/1998/10/01/paedophile-network-trafficks-young-boys-across-europe/ +[^9]: Nick Davies (note 8), on the three bars in the Spuistraat area +[^10]: "Politicians and officials named in court as 'boy brothel' case begins," DutchNews.nl, April 18, 2016, https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2016/04/politicians-and-officials-named-in-court-as-boy-brothel-case-begins/ +[^11]: "Forced child prostitution case: Netherlands elite, royalty under microscope," NL Times, April 18, 2016, 14:08, https://nltimes.nl/2016/04/18/forced-child-prostitution-case-netherlands-elite-royalty-microscope +[^12]: Statement of a detective who investigated the Bell Boys service, on the closure of the case with the arrest and sentencing of Karel Maasdam +[^13]: "Chronologische inhoudsopgave Rolodex-dossier" (note 4), items 23 and 28, Rijksrecherche reports of June 10, 1999 and August 25, 1999 +[^14]: "Chronologische inhoudsopgave Rolodex-dossier" (note 4), items 7 and 8, Koninklijke Marechaussee observation reports of December 17, 1998 and January 12, 1999 +[^15]: "Chronologische inhoudsopgave Rolodex-dossier" (note 4), items 31 and 32, College decision of September 21, 1999 and letter of September 23, 1999 +[^16]: Tweede Kamer, Aanhangsel Handelingen 2006-2007, nr. 2109, answers of Minister Hirsch Ballin received July 5, 2007, answers 1 to 3, https://repository.overheid.nl/frbr/officielepublicaties/ah-tk/20062007/ah-tk-20062007-2109/1/pdf/ah-tk-20062007-2109.pdf +[^17]: Omroep Brabant, "Oud-hoofdofficier justitie Jan Wolter Wabeke uit Best genoemd in zedenzaak Joris Demmink," March 5, 2014, on the names, the refused observation request, the professor and the role of Teeven, https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/1720283/oud-hoofdofficier-justitie-jan-wolter-wabeke-uit-best-genoemd-in-zedenzaak-joris-demmink +[^18]: NOS (note 2), on De Koter's account of Teeven's role and of the names +[^19]: Omroep Brabant (note 17), on Jaap Hoek's testimony and on the probe's results +[^20]: "Belastende informatie tegen topambtenaren, Seksdossiers in doofpot beland," De Telegraaf, June 13, 2007, as cited in the questions reproduced in note 16 +[^21]: Aanhangsel Handelingen 2006-2007, nr. 2109 (note 16), answers 3 to 5, on the summary-proceedings judgment of the Rechtbank Den Haag of June 25, 2007 +[^22]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 33 750 VI, nr. 116 (note 3), on the College's memorandum of March 24, 2014 and the Wob release +[^23]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115 (note 7), answer 3, on the four Wob decisions +[^24]: Tweede Kamer, Kamerstuk 31 015, nr. 115 (note 7), answer 5, on Raphael Beth and the GGD archive, citing Trouw, August 3, 1998 (question 4) +[^25]: Tweede Kamer, written questions of MP Bontes, 2015Z01581, submitted January 30, 2015, questions 7 and 9, https://berthub.eu/tkconv/getraw/2015D03269 +[^26]: Tweede Kamer, Aanhangsel Handelingen 2014-2015, nr. 1305, note 2 to the questions, quoting the answers of January 21, 2015. https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-tk-20142015-1305.html +[^27]: Tweede Kamer, Aanhangsel Handelingen 2014-2015, nr. 1305, answers of Minister Opstelten received February 17, 2015 to the questions of MP Bontes of January 30, 2015 (answers 1 to 12). https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-tk-20142015-1305.html +[^28]: Rechtbank Rotterdam, judgment of December 17, 2014, C/10/419404 / HA ZA 13-226, ECLI:NL:RBROT:2014:10259. https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBROT:2014:10259 +[^29]: U.S. Helsinki Commission, briefing page "Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking," https://www.csce.gov/briefings/listening-to-victims-of-child-sex-trafficking +[^30]: U.S. Helsinki Commission, hearing transcript "Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking," October 4, 2012, opening remarks, https://www.csce.gov/sites/evo-subsites/csce.house.gov/files/migrated/uploads/2016/02/Transcript-Listening-to-Victims-of-Child-Sex-Trafficking-2012-10-04.pdf +[^31]: Written statement of the witness identified as B, U.S. Helsinki Commission, October 4, 2012, https://www.csce.gov/sites/evo-subsites/csce.house.gov/files/migrated/uploads/2016/02/Mr-B-Testimony.pdf +[^32]: 'Listening to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking,' U.S. Helsinki Commission briefing, October 4, 2012; Bell Boys service victim statements +[^33]: Written statement of Adèle van der Plas, U.S. Helsinki Commission, October 4, 2012, https://www.csce.gov/sites/evo-subsites/csce.house.gov/files/migrated/uploads/2016/02/van-der-Plas-Testimony.pdf +[^34]: Appendix 2 to the written statement of Adèle van der Plas (note 29), report of the hearing of Fred Teeven before the Rechtbank Den Haag, April 12, 2007, in the case Paul H./OM, file number 09/754023-06, described as a closed hearing under oath +[^35]: "Zaak Demmink," Algemeen Dagblad, March 29, 2014, p. 11, on the account of Tjeerd Postma +[^36]: Algemeen Dagblad (note 31), p. 11, on the accounts of John Moeleker, the widow, Hans Vrakking, Harry Borghouts and Rinus Brul +[^37]: Reports of driver complaints about Demmink's government car and the driver's subsequent death +[^38]: Aanhangsel Handelingen Tweede Kamer 2012-2013, nr. 691, answers of December 4, 2012, on the orienting inquiries of 2007 and 2011, https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-tk-20122013-691-n1.html +[^39]: Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden, press release of August 18, 2017, on the order of January 20, 2014 and the timelines, https://www.rechtspraak.nl/organisatie-en-contact/organisatie/gerechtshoven/gerechtshof-arnhem-leeuwarden/nieuws/2017/08/beslissing-gerechtshof-over-bewilligingsverzoek-in-de-beklagzaak-tegen-j-demmink +[^40]: Openbaar Ministerie, "OM tevreden met beslissing hof om Demmink niet verder te vervolgen," August 18, 2017, https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuws/2017/08/18/om-tevreden-met-beslissing-hof-om-demmink-niet-verder-te-vervolgen +[^41]: Openbaar Ministerie, press release of June 30, 2017 on the request to approve dropping prosecution, https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuws/2017/06/30/om-vraagt-bewilliging-van-verzoek-af-te-zien-van-vervolging-demmink +[^42]: DutchNews (note 10), on the nine witnesses, the main witness, the named allegations and the Rolodex inquiry +[^43]: Summary of interlinked Netherlands investigations, 1992 to 1998; Dutch police investigation files and media reports +[^44]: S. Dovey, *Eye of the Chickenhawk*, Thehotstar, 2023, on the card file and on the bookkeeper's account diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Serial Killer.md b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Serial Killer.md index 7cdf4600..54d7f613 100644 --- a/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Serial Killer.md +++ b/40 - EVENTS/CRIME_INVESTIGATIONS/Serial Killer.md @@ -1,37 +1,166 @@ --- tags: - Concept - - Criminal_Profile + - SerialKiller + - CriminalProfile - Psychology - - Law_Enforcement - - Dean_Corll - - John_Wayne_Gacy - - Marc_Dutroux - - Oakland_County + - LawEnforcement + - NetworkCases + - DeanCorll + - JohnWayneGacy + - MarcDutroux + - OaklandCounty category: "Crime Investigation" -summary: "The serial killer profile emerged as a dominant framework in criminal investigations and popular media for understanding cases involving multiple murders." +aliases: + - Serial Killer + - Serial Killers + - Serial Murder + - Serial Murderer + - Serienmörder +summary: "The serial killer profile, promoted by the FBI in the early 1980s, became the default frame for multiple-victim cases that network accounts described as organized." updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Dean Corll]]" + reverse: true + start: 1970 + end: 1973 + role: "case cited as network counterexample" + fn: 14 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[John Wayne Gacy]]" + reverse: true + start: 1972 + end: 1980 + role: "case cited as network counterexample" + fn: 16 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Oakland County Child Killer]]" + reverse: true + start: 1976 + end: 1977 + role: "case cited as network counterexample" + fn: 19 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Marc Dutroux]]" + reverse: true + start: 1996 + role: "case cited as network counterexample" + fn: 21 --- -The serial killer profile emerged as a dominant framework in criminal investigations and popular media for understanding cases involving multiple murders. In the context of the cases examined in the source text, this framework was frequently applied to explain complex criminal operations as the product of individual pathology rather than organized networks. [[Dean Corll]] was nicknamed "The Candyman Killer" and the motive behind his murders was attributed to his modus operandi as a serial killer, which is to say that motive was sought in the psychology of a single individual rather than in the organizations he claimed to work for. Both [[Elmer Wayne Henley]] and [[David Owen Brooks]] independently stated that Corll claimed to belong to an organization based in Dallas that bought, sold, and murdered boys, yet investigators treated these statements as fabrications and focused solely on Corll's individual pathology.[^1] +The serial killer profile emerged as a dominant framework in criminal investigations and popular media for understanding cases involving multiple murders.[^1] In the cases examined on this page, the framework was frequently applied to explain complex criminal operations as the product of individual pathology rather than organized networks. + +### Coinage and Earlier Usage + +The first documented use of the phrase "serial killer" is credited to the Berlin detective [[Ernst Gennat]], who in 1930 wrote about the Düsseldorf child murderer [[Peter Kürten]], setting aside press descriptions of the killer in favor of the plain term Serienmörder.[^2] The earliest English citation in the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] is a 1961 essay by [[Siegfried Kracauer]] on [[Fritz Lang]]'s film M.[^2] The British writer [[John Brophy]] applied the term to [[Jack the Ripper]] in [[The Meaning of Murder]], published in 1966.[^3] + +[[Robert Ressler]], an agent of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]'s [[Behavioral Science Unit]] who was long credited with coining the English term, wrote in his 1992 memoir [[Whoever Fights Monsters]] that he heard the phrase "crimes in series" from a participant at a weeklong conference at a British police academy in the early 1970s, and that after returning to Quantico he began using "serial killer" in his own lectures.[^4] Later research traced the phrase to earlier sources.[^4] + +### The Behavioral Science Unit and the 1983 Hearing + +On July 12, 1983, the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice of the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]], chaired by [[Arlen Specter]], took testimony in a hearing titled Serial Murders. Specter's opening statement described "a rising pattern of serial murders which suggest no justification and no explanation."[^1] The witnesses were the author [[Ann Rule]], a former policewoman who had written extensively on serial murder, [[John Walsh]], the father of a murder victim, [[Pierce Brooks]], a Los Angeles police veteran who was the originator of the [[Violent Criminal Apprehension Program]], and [[Roger L. DePue]], unit chief of the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy.[^5] The hearing summary records the witnesses' view that the serial murderer kills victims with similar profiles, using similar methods, in sequence and often in widely separated geographic areas.[^5] + +The Bureau's written answers to the subcommittee, forwarded under the signature of FBI Director [[William H. Webster]], stated that the FBI believed a system was needed to track and analyze serial murders. The same answers reported that information from law enforcement agencies indicated serial murders were increasing, and described a 1978 research project in which the Behavioral Science Unit and selected consultants set out to analyze the crimes and personalities of "the most notorious serial killers and mass murderers incarcerated in the United States."[^6] + +DePue's prepared statement gave the planned number of interviews with convicted serial murderers as 35 to 50, and in oral testimony he said the unit had interviewed 35 of them.[^7] He testified that the unit's profiling program began in the early 1970s as a spinoff of a course at the National Academy, where officers such as Pierce Brooks discussed unsolved cases.[^7] + +### The Figure of Thirty-Five + +A January 1984 article in the [[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] credited [[Robert O. Heck]], a program manager in Washington's Office of Juvenile Justice, with an estimate that at least thirty-five serial murderers were at large. Heck said he had reached the figure through a survey of unidentified dead bodies reported by medical examiners in cities of 300,000 or more.[^8] + +### VICAP + +Brooks's testimony begins on page 29 of the hearing record, and his paper "VI-CAP: The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program" is printed at page 37.[^9] A progress report by J. B. Howlett, K. A. Hanfland and R. K. Ressler, covering the system's first six months, describes its case criteria as all solved or unsolved homicides, missing-person cases where homicide is suspected, and unidentified bodies where the manner of death is suspected to be homicide. Its staff looked for patterns in criminal method, victimology, physical evidence, suspect description and suspect behavior.[^10] + +### Jenkins and the Construction of the Problem + +In [[Using Murder]] (1994), [[Philip Jenkins]] argued that popular fears and stereotypes had vastly exaggerated the scale of multiple homicide. He placed the issue in public debate, where concern over serial murder served the interests of agencies and of groups who used the subject in arguments over gender, race and sexual orientation.[^11] + +### The 2005 Symposium Definition + +In 2005 the FBI convened a multidisciplinary symposium in San Antonio, Texas. Its monograph defined serial murder as "the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s) in separate events."[^12] The symposium also set aside several popular beliefs, among them that serial killers are "all dysfunctional loners" and that they "all travel and operate interstate."[^12] + +### The Crime Classification Manual + +[[John E. Douglas]], [[Ann W. Burgess]], [[Allen G. Burgess]] and Robert Ressler published the [[Crime Classification Manual]] in 1992 as a standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes, drawn from the FBI's [[National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]].[^13] ### The Lone Killer Narrative -This pattern repeated across multiple investigations. [[John Wayne Gacy]] was convicted as the serial killer of thirty-three victims and sentenced to death, with the official account attributing all murders to his individual psychological profile. The prosecuting attorney who secured his conviction, [[Terry Sullivan]], published an authoritative accounting called The Killer Clown, which entered the annals of true crime in 1983. Despite Gacy's own claims that accomplices such as [[David Cram]], [[Michael Rossi]], and [[Phillip Paske]] were involved in burying bodies and that he worked for a crime syndicate, the serial killer framework prevailed. The similarities between the Gacy and Corll cases are striking: both used handcuff tricks and wooden torture boards, both buried victims in mass graves beneath their properties, and both lived with teenage accomplices who claimed they worked for larger organizations.[^1] +This pattern repeated across multiple investigations. [[Dean Corll]] was nicknamed "The Candyman Killer," and the motive behind his murders was attributed to his modus operandi as a serial killer, which is to say that motive was sought in the psychology of a single individual rather than in the organizations he claimed to belong to. [[Elmer Wayne Henley]] and [[David Owen Brooks]] each stated independently that Corll claimed to belong to an organization based in [[Dallas]] that bought, sold and murdered boys. The writer S. Dovey wrote that investigators treated these statements as fabrications and focused solely on Corll's individual pathology.[^14] + +[[John Wayne Gacy]] was convicted of thirty-three murders and sentenced to death. The writer S. Dovey wrote that the official account attributed all of the murders to his individual psychological profile.[^15] The [[Illinois Supreme Court]]'s 1984 opinion in the appeal records a jury verdict on thirty-three counts, death sentences on twelve murders committed after the death penalty statute took effect, and natural life terms on the remaining murder counts. The opinion also records that in the course of the investigation Gacy admitted killing approximately thirty people, and that 29 bodies were recovered from the crawl space and surrounding ground at his home.[^16] The prosecuting attorney who secured his conviction, [[Terry Sullivan]], published an authoritative accounting called [[The Killer Clown]], which entered the annals of true crime in 1983.[^17] + +At trial, [[David Cram]] testified that Gacy had him dig trenches in the crawl space, purportedly for drainage, and had him spread lime throughout it. [[Michael Rossi]] testified that he helped dig the trenches and supervised newer employees who dug them, and that Gacy had sold him a car previously owned by one of the victims.[^18] According to the writer S. Dovey, Gacy's own claims that [[Phillip Paske]], Cram and Rossi were involved in burying bodies, and that he worked for a crime syndicate, did not alter the serial killer framework. Dovey also wrote that the similarities between the Gacy and Corll cases are striking: both used handcuff tricks and wooden torture boards, both buried victims in mass graves beneath their properties, and both lived with teenage accomplices who claimed they worked for larger organizations.[^15] ### Oakland County and the Profile Trap -The Oakland County Child Killer was dubbed a serial killer by investigators and media, with the task force shifting focus toward the psychological profile of an elusive individual. The investigation gained quick notoriety through an assumption that a serial killer driven by a modus operandi defined by their psychological profile was responsible for the murders. Behind the scenes, however, there were only two prime suspects: [[Kent Gilbert Schultz]] and [[Christopher Busch]], both convicted pedophiles tied to [[Francis Shelden]], who were cleared as suspects based on polygraph tests. The convenient death of Busch by reported suicide one day before the task force was dissolved allowed the case to go cold, with the serial killer narrative remaining intact despite evidence pointing toward organized child pornography networks financed by Shelden.[^1] +ClickOnDetroit's timeline of the [[Oakland County Child Killer]] case describes a serial killer who abducted and held four children between February 1976 and March 1977.[^19] The writer S. Dovey wrote that the task force shifted its focus toward the psychological profile of an elusive individual, and that the investigation gained notoriety through the assumption that a serial killer driven by a modus operandi defined by a psychological profile was responsible for the murders.[^20] + +[[Gregory Greene]] was arrested in January 1977 on child sexual assault charges and told investigators that [[Christopher Busch]] had killed one of the four boys. Busch and Greene both passed polygraph examinations. Greene was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, and Busch received probation on the charges against him.[^19] + +Dovey wrote that the two prime suspects were [[Kent Gilbert Schultz]] and Busch, both convicted pedophiles tied to [[Francis Shelden]], and that both were cleared as suspects on polygraph tests. In Dovey's account, Busch died of a reported suicide one day before the task force was dissolved, the case went cold, and the serial killer narrative remained intact despite evidence pointing toward organized child pornography networks financed by Shelden.[^20] ### Dutroux and Political Function -In the [[Marc Dutroux]] case, the serial killer narrative served a specific political function. In January 1998 [[Regina Louf]] gave up her anonymity as witness X1, in part to protest the stalling of the inquiry, amid a press campaign against her.[^2] She was publicly discredited as a fantasist, and a media narrative was built around Marc Dutroux being a lone serial killer. The writer S. Dovey wrote that the X-witness accounts were all dismissed as a hoax and that on these grounds the witnesses were prevented from testifying at the trials of Marc Dutroux and [[Jean-Michel Nihoul]].[^1] On January 30, 1998 magistrates charged with verifying the witnesses' statements held a press conference at which they stated that no element of proof supported the statements, which also contained many contradictions.[^3] The Zembla programme description of March 11, 2004 states that Dutroux's lawyer asked that X1 be heard at the Arlon trial.[^4] This framing allowed the investigation to focus on an individual perpetrator rather than the network of associates and clients that survivors had described. Judge [[Jean-Marc Connerotte]], who had appealed for victims of a suspected child sex trafficking network to come forward, was replaced as overseeing magistrate after eating a plate of spaghetti at a public function, sparking protests by 300,000 Belgians.[^1] +In the [[Marc Dutroux]] case, the serial killer narrative served a specific political function. In January 1998 [[Regina Louf]] gave up her anonymity as witness X1, in part to protest the stalling of the inquiry, amid a press campaign against her.[^21] The writer S. Dovey wrote that the X-witness accounts were all dismissed as a hoax, that on these grounds the witnesses were prevented from testifying at the trials of Marc Dutroux and [[Jean-Michel Nihoul]], and that X1 was publicly discredited as a fantasist while a media narrative was built around Dutroux as a lone serial killer.[^22] According to Dovey, this framing allowed the investigation to focus on an individual perpetrator rather than on the network of associates and clients that survivors had described. -The source text challenges the serial killer framework directly, noting that Marc Dutroux was not a serial killer in any of the definitions provided by behavioral scientists. He was a profit-driven and rather marginal figure on the periphery of a particularly brutal child sex trafficking network. The application of the serial killer label to Dutroux and similar cases functioned to obscure the organized criminal networks within which these individuals operated, redirecting attention toward individual pathology and away from systemic complicity involving politicians, magistrates, and royalty.[^1] +The [[Zembla]] broadcast of March 11, 2004 stated that Dutroux's lawyer asked that X1 be heard at the trial in [[Arlon]].[^23] On January 30, 1998, magistrates charged with verifying the witnesses' statements in the districts of [[Antwerp]], [[Brussels]], [[Ghent]] and [[Neufchâteau]] held a press conference at which they stated that no element of proof supported the statements, which also contained many contradictions.[^24] The journalist [[Roland Planchar]] wrote in 2004 that a DNA analysis reported on March 17, 2000 did not match Nihoul or any known suspect in the Dutroux case, against an account by X1 that she had been present when Nihoul raped a teenage victim.[^25] Planchar also wrote that for some people, challenging the X witnesses was a way of opposing the idea of a large network around Dutroux, a position the most extreme critics labeled "revisionism," including the lawyer for two of the victims' families. For others, he wrote, the aim was a return to proven facts.[^26] + +The Belgian [[Chamber of Representatives]] inquiry into the conduct of the police and judicial investigations in the Dutroux-Nihoul case issued a first report on April 14, 1997. It stated that the commission had exposed the causes of the failure of the investigation but not yet the reasons, and could not exclude that an eventual protection was one of them.[^27] The commission's supplementary report of February 16, 1998 stated as its general conclusion that there were indications that both Dutroux and Nihoul, separately or together, had engaged in polycriminal activity (fraud, drug trafficking, abduction and rape of children followed by murders, trafficking in human beings, car trafficking) and that the networks they set up had benefited at various levels from an indirect protection arising from individual or collective erosion of the norm or corrupt conduct. The same conclusion stated that the commission had found no indication that these criminal circles enjoyed, within the police, the magistracy, the administration or the political world, protection that could by itself explain the failures, delays and anomalies of the investigations, and that the serious gaps arose chiefly from professional failings and structural defects of the criminal justice system.[^28] On the Nihoul circle in particular, the report stated that it had not acquired proof that Nihoul and [[Annie Bouty]] had enjoyed protection in the fraud files, and that Nihoul's claim of protection by a Brussels investigating judge was found to be untrue.[^29] + +Judge [[Jean-Marc Connerotte]], who had appealed for victims of a suspected child sex trafficking network to come forward, was replaced as overseeing magistrate after eating a plate of spaghetti at a public function, sparking protests by 300,000 Belgians, according to the writer S. Dovey.[^30] Dovey also wrote that Marc Dutroux was not a serial killer in any of the definitions provided by behavioral scientists, that he was a profit-driven and marginal figure on the periphery of a child sex trafficking network, and that the serial killer label obscured networks involving politicians, magistrates and royalty.[^30] + +### Atlanta and the Single-Offender Verdict + +In Atlanta, a 1982 jury convicted [[Wayne Williams]] of the murders of two men, and the state introduced evidence of ten other alleged murders to help establish his identity as the perpetrator of the two.[^31] The [[Supreme Court of Georgia]] affirmed the convictions on December 5, 1983, and addressed the fiber comparisons drawn from the bodies of twelve victims.[^31] In 1985 [[Murray Kempton]], reviewing the CBS film The Atlanta Child Murders, wrote that official Atlanta had announced that the violent deaths of twenty-nine persons, most of them young boys, "had been solved with the conviction of Wayne Williams for the murder of two of them."[^32] + +### Zebra and the Cult Account + +[[Clark Howard]]'s 1979 book Zebra, as summarized by [[Kirkus Reviews]], attributed a series of random San Francisco killings to five men of a squad called the Death Angels, which the book said was sponsored by the Nation of Islam.[^33] [[Maury Terry]]'s [[The Ultimate Evil]] (1987) argued that the Son of Sam shootings in New York were directed by a Yonkers-based cult.[^34] + +### The Official Position + +In January 1992 [[Kenneth V. Lanning]], a supervisory special agent in the Behavioral Science Unit, published an FBI investigator's guide to allegations of "ritual" child abuse. Lanning wrote that "in none of the cases of which I am aware has any evidence of a well-organized satanic cult been found." He wrote that "it is simply too difficult for that many people to commit so many horrendous crimes as part of an organized conspiracy," and that "the more people involved in the crime, the harder it is to get away with it." He described the Jack the Ripper murders as the work of "one disorganized but lucky individual," and he treated the appeal of the conspiracy theory as twofold, offering a simple explanation for a complex problem and a popular account that one bizarre individual could not be responsible.[^35] + +### Two Frames + +The record above contains two frames. In the first, each case is attributed to one offender: Williams, convicted of two of the Atlanta murders; Gacy, convicted of thirty-three; Corll, whose crimes the record attributes to one man's pathology. In the second, the accomplices, buyers and property owners named by witnesses, the polygraph results, and the suspects cleared by testing point toward a network. Lanning's monograph states the FBI's position on the network claims. Dovey's account and the cult theories of Terry and Howard supply a network version of the same cases. In the Belgian material, the parliamentary commission found indications of networks that benefited from indirect protection but none that explained the failures by itself, the magistrates stated in January 1998 that no element of proof supported the witnesses' statements, and a 2004 broadcast reported that the defense had asked that one of them testify. ### Footnotes -[^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. -[^2]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise « Neufchâteau », déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements; translated from the French. https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewPub.html&COLL=S&LEG=2&NR=563&VOLGNR=1&LANG=fr -[^3]: Planchar, Roland. "Des 'X' sans crédit." *La Libre Belgique,* February 16, 2004. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/2004/02/16/des-x-sans-credit-LKLTKQICABBWXKFUTUJNXL6NRY/ -[^4]: BNNVARA Zembla. "De X-dossiers, deel I," broadcast March 11, 2004; programme description in Dutch, translated. https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artikelen/de-x-dossiers-deel-i +[^1]: U.S. Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, Serial Murders, hearing, July 12, 1983, 98th Congress, 1st session, Serial No. J-98-52 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1984), p. 1, opening statement of Sen. Arlen Specter. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/94614NCJRS.pdf +[^2]: Ernst Gennat, "Die Düsseldorfer Sexualverbrechen" (1930), as described in Guinness World Records, "First use of the term 'serial killer'," which also reports the Oxford English Dictionary citation of Siegfried Kracauer (1961) on Fritz Lang's M. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/777673-first-use-of-the-term-serial-killer +[^3]: John Brophy, The Meaning of Murder (1966). Lending copy on the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/meaningofmurder0000john +[^4]: Robert K. Ressler with Tom Shachtman, Whoever Fights Monsters (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992), as quoted in Guinness World Records, "First use of the term 'serial killer'." https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/777673-first-use-of-the-term-serial-killer +[^5]: U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, Serial Murders (1983), chronological list of witnesses and summary of testimony, Office of Justice Programs abstract. https://ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/serial-murders-hearing-senate-subcommittee-juvenile-justice-july-12 +[^6]: Letter of William H. Webster, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, to Sen. Arlen Specter, with enclosure of answers to subcommittee questions, in U.S. Senate, Serial Murders (1983), enclosure, answer to Question 1. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/94614NCJRS.pdf +[^7]: Testimony of Roger L. Depue, unit chief, Behavioral Science Unit, FBI Academy, in U.S. Senate, Serial Murders (1983), pp. 40-46, prepared statement and oral testimony. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/94614NCJRS.pdf +[^8]: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 1984, page 6, article on serial murderers crediting Robert O. Heck, Office of Juvenile Justice, Washington. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140762515/ +[^9]: Testimony of Pierce Brooks (p. 29) and "VI-CAP: The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program" (p. 37), in U.S. Senate, Serial Murders (1983), table of contents. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/94614NCJRS.pdf +[^10]: J. B. Howlett, K. A. Hanfland and R. K. Ressler, "Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP): A Progress Report," Office of Justice Programs abstract. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/violent-criminal-apprehension-program-vicap-progress-report +[^11]: Philip Jenkins, Using Murder: The Social Construction of Serial Homicide (New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1994). https://www.routledge.com/Using-Murder-The-Social-Construction-of-Serial-Homicide/Jenkins/p/book/9780202305257 +[^12]: FBI, Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators, monograph of the 2005 San Antonio symposium, NCJ 223848 (2008), Office of Justice Programs abstract. https://ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/serial-murder-multi-disciplinary-perspectives-investigators +[^13]: John E. Douglas, Ann W. Burgess, Allen G. Burgess and Robert K. Ressler, Crime Classification Manual: A Standard System for Investigating and Classifying Violent Crimes (New York: Lexington Books, 1992), Office of Justice Programs abstract. https://ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/crime-classification-manual +[^14]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^15]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^16]: People v. Gacy, 103 Ill. 2d 1 (1984), Illinois Supreme Court, No. 53212, decided June 6, 1984, judgment affirmed. https://static.case.law/ill-2d/103/cases/0001-01.json +[^17]: Terry Sullivan, The Killer Clown (1983). +[^18]: People v. Gacy, 103 Ill. 2d 1 (1984), testimony of David Cram and Michael Rossi at trial as recited in the opinion. https://static.case.law/ill-2d/103/cases/0001-01.json +[^19]: ClickOnDetroit (WXYZ), "Oakland County Child Killer: 40 years later," timeline of the 1976-77 killings, Greene arrest, polygraphs, convictions and sentences. https://clickondetroit.com/news/defenders/oakland-county-child-killer-40-years-later +[^20]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^21]: Belgian Senate, Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise "Neufchâteau," déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements, translated from the French. https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewPub.html&COLL=S&LEG=2&NR=563&VOLGNR=1&LANG=fr +[^22]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^23]: BNNVARA Zembla, "De X-dossiers, deel I," broadcast March 11, 2004, programme description in Dutch, translated. https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artikelen/de-x-dossiers-deel-i +[^24]: Roland Planchar, "Des 'X' sans crédit," La Libre Belgique, February 16, 2004, reporting the magistrates' press conference of January 30, 1998, translated from the French. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/2004/02/16/des-x-sans-credit-LKLTKQICABBWXKFUTUJNXL6NRY/ +[^25]: Roland Planchar, "Des 'X' sans crédit," La Libre Belgique, February 16, 2004, on the DNA analysis of March 17, 2000, translated from the French. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/2004/02/16/des-x-sans-credit-LKLTKQICABBWXKFUTUJNXL6NRY/ +[^26]: Roland Planchar, "Des 'X' sans crédit," La Libre Belgique, February 16, 2004, on the positions taken on the X witnesses, translated from the French. https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/2004/02/16/des-x-sans-credit-LKLTKQICABBWXKFUTUJNXL6NRY/ +[^27]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the police and judicial investigations in the Dutroux-Nihoul affair, report of Renaat Landuyt and Nathalie de T'Serclaes, Doc. 713/6-96/97, April 14, 1997, chapter conclusion, p. 190, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713006.pdf +[^28]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, supplementary report, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 6, "Conclusions generales," pp. 148-149, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713008.pdf +[^29]: Belgian Chamber of Representatives, supplementary report, Doc. 713/8-96/97, February 16, 1998, section 5.2, "Conclusion: Nihoul et consorts ont-ils beneficie de protections?," p. 143, translated from the French. https://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/49/0713/49K0713008.pdf +[^30]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^31]: Williams v. State, 251 Ga. 749, 312 S.E.2d 40 (1983), Supreme Court of Georgia, decided December 5, 1983. https://static.case.law/ga/251/cases/0749-01.json +[^32]: Murray Kempton, "Misjudgment at Atlanta," review of Abby Mann's The Atlanta Child Murders, The New York Review of Books, March 14, 1985. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1985/03/14/misjudgment-at-atlanta/ +[^33]: Kirkus Reviews, review of Clark Howard, Zebra (release date October 25, 1979). https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/clark-howard-4/zebra-2/ +[^34]: Maury Terry, The Ultimate Evil: The Search for the Sons of Sam (1987). Book thesis attributed to the author. +[^35]: Kenneth V. Lanning, Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse (Quantico: FBI Behavioral Science Unit, January 1992), pp. 19 and passim. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Iran-Contra Affair.md b/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Iran-Contra Affair.md index 1ee25f9c..7cd1adc0 100644 --- a/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Iran-Contra Affair.md +++ b/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Iran-Contra Affair.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ aliases: - Iran/Contra - Iran-Contra scandal created: 2024-04-25 -updated: 2026-10-14 +updated: 2026-10-15 tags: - Event - Political @@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ relations: start: 1987 end: 1988-12 role: "Senate subcommittee on Contra drug links and Noriega" - fn: 22 + fn: 23 - type: participant_in with: "[[Oliver North]]" reverse: true @@ -68,21 +68,21 @@ relations: start: 1985-12 end: 1986-11 role: "national security adviser who authorized the diversion; convicted April 7, 1990, reversed November 15, 1991" - fn: 21 + fn: 22 - type: participant_in with: "[[Richard Secord]]" reverse: true start: 1984 end: 1986-11 role: "retired Air Force general who ran the Enterprise; pleaded guilty November 8, 1989" - fn: 21 + fn: 22 - type: participant_in with: "[[Albert Hakim]]" reverse: true start: 1984 end: 1986-11 role: "Enterprise financial manager; pleaded guilty November 21, 1989" - fn: 21 + fn: 22 - type: participant_in with: "[[William J. Casey]]" reverse: true @@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ relations: start: 1987 end: 1993 role: "14 persons charged, 11 convicted, 2 convictions overturned, 2 pardoned before trial, 1 case dismissed" - fn: 21 + fn: 22 - type: participant_in with: "[[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]" reverse: true @@ -161,17 +161,19 @@ The Joint Chiefs of Staff appear in the independent counsel's record of the Defe Walsh's Final Report (August 4, 1993) states that the Iran operations were carried out with the knowledge of Reagan, Bush, Shultz, Weinberger, Casey, McFarlane and Poindexter, of whom only Weinberger and Shultz dissented, and that "large volumes of highly relevant, contemporaneously created documents were systematically and willfully withheld from investigators by several Reagan Administration officials." Casey, hospitalized with a fatal illness before the Independent Counsel was appointed, was never formally investigated. Walsh observed that the problems were "not those of rogue operations, but rather those of Executive Branch efforts to evade congressional oversight," and that grants of immunity to North, Poindexter and [[Albert Hakim]] by Congress, and the attorney general's discretion under the [[Classified Information Procedures Act]] to refuse to declassify information, undermined prosecutions.[^1] +The House and Senate committees' majority report of November 1987 (H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216) was accompanied by minority views signed by Representatives [[Dick Cheney]], Broomfield, Hyde, Courter, McCollum and DeWine, and by Senators McClure and Hatch. The staff list names [[Michael J. Malbin]] as minority editor and writer. The minority views argued that the Constitution protects the President's ability "to persuade U.S. citizens to engage voluntarily in otherwise legal activity to serve what they consider to be the national interest," and that "to whatever extent the Boland Amendments tried to prohibit such activity, they were clearly unconstitutional." They quoted [[Federalist No. 70]] that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government."[^21] + ### Prosecutions and pardons -After the Independent Counsel's appointment 14 persons were charged, 11 were convicted (two convictions being overturned on appeal), two were pardoned before trial and one case was dismissed when the Bush administration declined to declassify information needed at trial. Pleas: Carl Channell (April 29, 1987) and Richard Miller (May 6, 1987); McFarlane (March 11, 1988); Secord (November 8, 1989, one felony of false statements to Congress); Hakim (November 21, 1989, a misdemeanor of supplementing North's salary, with Lake Resources Inc. pleading to theft of government property); Fiers (July 9, 1991, two misdemeanors); [[Elliott Abrams]] (October 7, 1991, two misdemeanors, including his solicitation of $10 million from the Sultan of [[Brunei]]). Convictions at trial: Clines (September 18, 1990, four tax-related felonies, 16 months); North (May 4, 1989, three counts, vacated July 20, 1990, dismissed September 16, 1991); Poindexter (April 7, 1990, five felony counts, reversed November 15, 1991, certiorari denied December 7, 1992, indictment dismissed in 1993); George (December 9, 1992, two felonies, pardoned before sentencing). The case against Joseph Fernandez was dismissed on November 24, 1989 after Attorney General [[Richard Thornburgh]] blocked the disclosure of classified information ruled relevant to the defense; the Fourth Circuit upheld that ruling on September 6, 1990.[^21] +After the Independent Counsel's appointment 14 persons were charged, 11 were convicted (two convictions being overturned on appeal), two were pardoned before trial and one case was dismissed when the Bush administration declined to declassify information needed at trial. Pleas: Carl Channell (April 29, 1987) and Richard Miller (May 6, 1987); McFarlane (March 11, 1988); Secord (November 8, 1989, one felony of false statements to Congress); Hakim (November 21, 1989, a misdemeanor of supplementing North's salary, with Lake Resources Inc. pleading to theft of government property); Fiers (July 9, 1991, two misdemeanors); [[Elliott Abrams]] (October 7, 1991, two misdemeanors, including his solicitation of $10 million from the Sultan of [[Brunei]]). Convictions at trial: Clines (September 18, 1990, four tax-related felonies, 16 months); North (May 4, 1989, three counts, vacated July 20, 1990, dismissed September 16, 1991); Poindexter (April 7, 1990, five felony counts, reversed November 15, 1991, certiorari denied December 7, 1992, indictment dismissed in 1993); George (December 9, 1992, two felonies, pardoned before sentencing). The case against Joseph Fernandez was dismissed on November 24, 1989 after Attorney General [[Richard Thornburgh]] blocked the disclosure of classified information ruled relevant to the defense; the Fourth Circuit upheld that ruling on September 6, 1990.[^22] -On December 24, 1992 President Bush pardoned Weinberger (indicted June 16, 1992, trial set for January 5, 1993), [[Duane Clarridge]] (indicted November 26, 1991 on seven counts of perjury and false statements, trial set for March 15, 1993), George, Abrams, Fiers and McFarlane. Fernandez, whose case had been dismissed, was not among those pardoned.[^21] +On December 24, 1992 President Bush pardoned Weinberger (indicted June 16, 1992, trial set for January 5, 1993), [[Duane Clarridge]] (indicted November 26, 1991 on seven counts of perjury and false statements, trial set for March 15, 1993), George, Abrams, Fiers and McFarlane. Fernandez, whose case had been dismissed, was not among those pardoned.[^22] ### The Contra network and drug trafficking -The Kerry Committee's report of December 1988 stated that "individuals who provided support for the Contras were involved in drug trafficking, the supply network of the Contras was used by drug trafficking organizations, and elements of the Contras themselves knowingly received financial and material assistance from drug traffickers," and that "in each case, one or another agency of the U.S. government had information regarding the involvement either while it was occurring, or immediately thereafter." It found that the State Department paid funds Congress had authorized for humanitarian assistance to traffickers, "in some cases after the traffickers had been indicted by federal law enforcement agencies on drug charges." It found no evidence that the Contra leadership participated directly in narcotics smuggling, but that the FDN "did move Contra funds through a narcotics trafficking enterprise and money laundering operation," and that "some officials may have turned a blind eye." It concluded that "there are serious questions as to whether or not U.S. officials involved in Central America failed to address the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war effort against Nicaragua," citing the delay in dealing with [[Manuel Noriega]], the premature public announcement of the DEA's [[Barry Seal]] sting of Sandinista officials shortly before a crucial congressional vote on Contra aid, and the case of the Honduran General [[Jose Bueso Rosa|José Bueso-Rosa]], convicted of a plot to assassinate President [[Roberto Suazo Cordova|Roberto Suazo Córdova]] financed by a $40 million cocaine sale, who received a light sentence after U.S. officials intervened.[^22] The Kerry report also described Contra supply contractors paid by the State Department's Nicaraguan Humanitarian Assistance Office, the Contra supply officer [[Mario Calero]]'s agreement with the pilot [[Frank Moss]], and the passage of Contra funds through traffickers.[^22] +The Kerry Committee's report of December 1988 stated that "individuals who provided support for the Contras were involved in drug trafficking, the supply network of the Contras was used by drug trafficking organizations, and elements of the Contras themselves knowingly received financial and material assistance from drug traffickers," and that "in each case, one or another agency of the U.S. government had information regarding the involvement either while it was occurring, or immediately thereafter." It found that the State Department paid funds Congress had authorized for humanitarian assistance to traffickers, "in some cases after the traffickers had been indicted by federal law enforcement agencies on drug charges." It found no evidence that the Contra leadership participated directly in narcotics smuggling, but that the FDN "did move Contra funds through a narcotics trafficking enterprise and money laundering operation," and that "some officials may have turned a blind eye." It concluded that "there are serious questions as to whether or not U.S. officials involved in Central America failed to address the drug issue for fear of jeopardizing the war effort against Nicaragua," citing the delay in dealing with [[Manuel Noriega]], the premature public announcement of the DEA's [[Barry Seal]] sting of Sandinista officials shortly before a crucial congressional vote on Contra aid, and the case of the Honduran General [[Jose Bueso Rosa|José Bueso-Rosa]], convicted of a plot to assassinate President [[Roberto Suazo Cordova|Roberto Suazo Córdova]] financed by a $40 million cocaine sale, who received a light sentence after U.S. officials intervened.[^23] The Kerry report also described Contra supply contractors paid by the State Department's Nicaraguan Humanitarian Assistance Office, the Contra supply officer [[Mario Calero]]'s agreement with the pilot [[Frank Moss]], and the passage of Contra funds through traffickers.[^23] -The National Security Archive's briefing book prints North's notebook for July 12, 1985, in which Secord is quoted as saying that "14 M to finance [the arms in a Honduran warehouse] came from drugs," and North's August 9, 1985 entry that a Honduran DC-6 used for runs out of New Orleans "is probably being used for drug runs into U.S."; the briefing book also notes that DEA agents testified on July 28, 1988 that North had wanted $1.5 million in Cartel money carried by a DEA informant given to the Contras.[^15] The Kerry report states that the pilot [[Floyd Carlton]] testified that Noriega was paid $100,000 to $250,000 for each of four cocaine flights he piloted for the [[Medellin Cartel]], and that the same Panamanian general met North in June 1985 and again in [[London]] on September 22, 1986 to discuss sabotage in Nicaragua; when North proposed a meeting on August 23, 1986, Poindexter replied, "I have nothing against him other than his illegal activities," and Walsh records that the decision was made not to pay Noriega the $1 million.[^15][^22][^23] +The National Security Archive's briefing book prints North's notebook for July 12, 1985, in which Secord is quoted as saying that "14 M to finance [the arms in a Honduran warehouse] came from drugs," and North's August 9, 1985 entry that a Honduran DC-6 used for runs out of New Orleans "is probably being used for drug runs into U.S."; the briefing book also notes that DEA agents testified on July 28, 1988 that North had wanted $1.5 million in Cartel money carried by a DEA informant given to the Contras.[^15] The Kerry report states that the pilot [[Floyd Carlton]] testified that Noriega was paid $100,000 to $250,000 for each of four cocaine flights he piloted for the [[Medellin Cartel]], and that the same Panamanian general met North in June 1985 and again in [[London]] on September 22, 1986 to discuss sabotage in Nicaragua; when North proposed a meeting on August 23, 1986, Poindexter replied, "I have nothing against him other than his illegal activities," and Walsh records that the decision was made not to pay Noriega the $1 million.[^15][^23][^24] Webb wrote that Kerry investigation director [[Jack Blum]] told him: "We were even dumped on by the Iran-Contra Committee. They wouldn't touch this issue with a ten-foot pole," and that during North's July 1987 testimony two men from Baltimore stood with a banner reading "Ask about the cocaine smuggling" before police removed them. Webb also wrote that the plane shot down over Nicaragua was a Fairchild C-123K called The Fat Lady, based at [[Mena, Arkansas]] before Barry Seal sold it, after which it flew weapons for North and the [[FDN]]; that Hasenfus was a former [[Air America]] cargo handler; that congressional records show North was regularly briefed by the CIA on Seal's joint CIA-DEA sting of the Sandinistas and allegedly leaked it to the press shortly before a critical vote on Contra aid; and that the Enterprise's flights from Ilopango reportedly brought cocaine back on return flights, with Hangar No. 4 there used by the CIA until it was turned over to North's operation in 1985. The Committees' account identifies the aircraft only as one belonging to the Enterprise, with a [[Southern Air Transport]] identification card found on the pilot.[^3][^8] @@ -201,6 +203,7 @@ The writer Cheri Seymour wrote that the Iran-Contra Affair was a significant com [^18]: Walsh, Part VIII, note 167 (McMahon, memorandum for the record, March 15, 1985, ER 26,187-88 and ER 92-00116-17). https://irp.fas.org/offdocs/walsh/part_viii.htm [^19]: Walsh, Part VIII, notes 16-18 (Weinberger diary, August 22, 1985, ALZ 0039606-07; Weinberger calendar, LC-007474; Powell, Select Committees deposition, June 19, 1987, p. 5). https://irp.fas.org/offdocs/walsh/part_viii.htm [^20]: Walsh, Part VIII, citing Weinberger diary, November 21, 1985 (ALZ 0039802-03). https://irp.fas.org/offdocs/walsh/part_viii.htm -[^21]: Walsh, *Final Report*, vol. I, "Summary of Prosecutions." https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/summpros.htm -[^22]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations, *Drugs, Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy*, S. Prt. 100-165 (December 1988), "Summary of Findings," chapters on the Contras and on Panama, and the Conclusions. https://archive.org/details/Kerry-Report-Drugs-Contras -[^23]: Walsh, *Final Report*, vol. I, ch. 25, "United States v. Elliott Abrams," section on the September 19 and 20, 1986 meetings. https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_25.htm +[^21]: *Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair,* H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216, November 1987, contents (Section II, "The Minority Report," p. 431), minority views ch. 1, p. 451, ch. 2, p. 460, and staff list. https://archive.org/download/Iran-ContraReport/Report%20of%20the%20Congressional%20Committees%20Investigating%20the%20Iran-Contra%20Affair.pdf +[^22]: Walsh, *Final Report*, vol. I, "Summary of Prosecutions." https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/summpros.htm +[^23]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations, *Drugs, Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy*, S. Prt. 100-165 (December 1988), "Summary of Findings," chapters on the Contras and on Panama, and the Conclusions. https://archive.org/details/Kerry-Report-Drugs-Contras +[^24]: Walsh, *Final Report*, vol. I, ch. 25, "United States v. Elliott Abrams," section on the September 19 and 20, 1986 meetings. https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_25.htm diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Rockefeller Commission 1975.md b/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Rockefeller Commission 1975.md index 0278b5d9..36f7e232 100644 --- a/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Rockefeller Commission 1975.md +++ b/40 - EVENTS/INTELLIGENCE_SCANDALS/Rockefeller Commission 1975.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ aliases: - Rockefeller Commission summary: "Presidential commission on CIA activities within the United States, chaired by Vice President Nelson Rockefeller from January to June 1975; the White House removed its assassination section before publication." created: 2026-06-05 -updated: 2026-09-22 +updated: 2026-10-15 relations: - type: head_of with: "[[Nelson Rockefeller]]" @@ -64,27 +64,27 @@ The commission's most consequential suppression was of its own investigation int By June 5, 1975, commission staff had completed an 86-page section documenting CIA plots against [[Fidel Castro]], [[Rafael Trujillo]] of the [[Dominican Republic]], and briefer references to plots against Lumumba and [[Sukarno]] of Indonesia. Commission staff members including public affairs director [[Peter Clapper]] warned in a May 2, 1975 memorandum that suppressing the assassination findings would appear as a cover-up and damage the commission's credibility.[^18] -The White House removed the entire 86-page section before publication. [[Richard Cheney]], then serving as deputy assistant to the president and deputy to [[Donald Rumsfeld]] as chief of staff, made handwritten edits to the commission's draft report. Cheney's edits removed the section on "Alleged Plans to Assassinate Certain Foreign Leaders," eliminated a provision that would have allowed CIA employees to report improper activities to the CIA's Inspector General, and changed the commission's characterization of several CIA activities from "unlawful" to having "exceeded statutory authority." The White House also suppressed Griswold's footnote recommending public disclosure of the CIA budget.[^19] +The White House removed the entire 86-page section before publication. [[Richard Cheney]], then serving as deputy assistant to the president and deputy to [[Donald Rumsfeld]] as chief of staff, made handwritten edits to the commission's draft report. Cheney's edits removed the section on "Alleged Plans to Assassinate Certain Foreign Leaders," eliminated a provision that would have allowed CIA employees to report improper activities to the CIA's Inspector General, and changed the commission's characterization of several CIA activities from "unlawful" to having "exceeded statutory authority." The White House also suppressed Griswold's footnote recommending public disclosure of the CIA budget.[^19] The archive's account of the edits also says the White House text added recommendations that the commission had not voted, and that one of them, on a civilian agency committee to resolve concerns about CIA overhead photography used for domestic purposes, was among the additions.[^20] In the working copy of the report in the Ford Library file (Document 15), the mail-opening conclusion keeps "were unlawful" and strikes "This was improper under the National Security Act," and the Operation CHAOS conclusion keeps "unlawfully exceeded the CIA's statutory authority" and strikes "These activities were improper."[^20] A White House strategy paper prepared in the office of the deputy assistant to the president in early June 1975 argued that giving the Church Committee the minutes and records of covert action groups "would be an unprecedented act."[^21] -The [[National Security Archive]]'s 2016 posting reproduces the June 5, 1975 commission section on CIA plots to assassinate foreign leaders (Document 19), which was excised from the final report on White House orders. Staff director [[David Belin]] was the main author of the portion on CIA plotting against Fidel Castro, including Operation ZR/RIFLE, and the archive reported that Cheney and White House Counsel [[Philip Buchen]] induced Belin to cancel a press conference on the assassination findings, citing concerns raised by [[Henry A. Kissinger]]. The archive also reported that the commission voted, over its chairman's objection, to include assassination plots in its inquiry; that Cheney's edits replaced the word "unlawful" with language about actions exceeding statutory authority, except for the CIA drug experiments, which the edit called "illegal"; and that Ford's January 1975 remark to newspaper editors had disclosed CIA involvement in assassination plots. The archive's account is its own reading of its documents.[^20] +The [[National Security Archive]]'s 2016 posting reproduces the June 5, 1975 commission section on CIA plots to assassinate foreign leaders (Document 19), which was excised from the final report on White House orders. Staff director [[David Belin]] was the main author of the portion on CIA plotting against Fidel Castro, including Operation ZR/RIFLE, and the archive reported that Cheney and White House Counsel [[Philip Buchen]] induced Belin to cancel a press conference on the assassination findings, citing concerns raised by [[Henry A. Kissinger]]. The archive also reported that the commission voted, over its chairman's objection, to include assassination plots in its inquiry; that Cheney's edits replaced the word "unlawful" with language about actions exceeding statutory authority, except for the CIA drug experiments, which the edit called "illegal"; and that Ford's January 1975 remark to newspaper editors had disclosed CIA involvement in assassination plots. The archive's account is its own reading of its documents.[^22] -Executive Order 11828 required the commission to furnish the Attorney General any evidence it found that might relate to federal offenses, and to present its final report within three months of the order; the transmittal letter is dated June 6, 1975.[^21][^22] +Executive Order 11828 required the commission to furnish the Attorney General any evidence it found that might relate to federal offenses, and to present its final report within three months of the order; the transmittal letter is dated June 6, 1975.[^23][^24] -On October 31, 1975, Ford wrote to [[Frank Church]] urging him to suppress the Church Committee's parallel assassination report. On November 4, 1975, Church rejected Ford's request. The Senate voted to release the Church Committee's "Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders" report on November 20, 1975, revealing publicly what the Rockefeller Commission had withheld.[^23] +On October 31, 1975, Ford wrote to [[Frank Church]] urging him to suppress the Church Committee's parallel assassination report. On November 4, 1975, Church rejected Ford's request. The Senate voted to release the Church Committee's "Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders" report on November 20, 1975, revealing publicly what the Rockefeller Commission had withheld.[^25] -The commission had also encountered obstruction in its attempts to investigate CIA records. CIA denied commission staff access to NSC records. [[Henry Kissinger]] withheld State Department cooperation. The commission was denied access to minutes of the [[40 Committee]] and its predecessor bodies, meaning it could not document the full chain of authorization for covert operations.[^24] +The commission had also encountered obstruction in its attempts to investigate CIA records. CIA denied commission staff access to NSC records. [[Henry Kissinger]] withheld State Department cooperation. The commission was denied access to minutes of the [[40 Committee]] and its predecessor bodies, meaning it could not document the full chain of authorization for covert operations.[^26] ### Rockefeller's Position -In 1955, as special assistant to the president, Nelson Rockefeller chaired the [[Planning Coordination Group]], set up under [[NSC 5412]] as the channel for policy approval of CIA covert operations. In May 1955 [[Charles Geschickter]] asked the CIA to contribute $375,000 toward a research building at Georgetown University Hospital, one-sixth of whose beds were to be reserved for the CIA along with cover for three CIA scientists and "human patients and volunteers for experimental use." The journalist John Marks, working from CIA documents released in 1977, wrote that Allen Dulles personally approved the contribution and then took it to "President Eisenhower's special committee to review covert operations," which assented on the understanding that Geschickter could provide "a reasonable expectation" that the agency would have the space.[^25] The historians Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett identified the committee's chairman as Rockefeller and wrote that he gave the approval. The 1977 Senate hearing took testimony on the CIA's use of hospital construction money without naming him. Rockefeller initially opposed even permitting the commission to investigate assassination plots, and it was only Belin's persistence and the threat of adverse publicity that extended the commission's mandate into that territory.[^26] +In 1955, as special assistant to the president, Nelson Rockefeller chaired the [[Planning Coordination Group]], set up under [[NSC 5412]] as the channel for policy approval of CIA covert operations. In May 1955 [[Charles Geschickter]] asked the CIA to contribute $375,000 toward a research building at Georgetown University Hospital, one-sixth of whose beds were to be reserved for the CIA along with cover for three CIA scientists and "human patients and volunteers for experimental use." The journalist John Marks, working from CIA documents released in 1977, wrote that Allen Dulles personally approved the contribution and then took it to "President Eisenhower's special committee to review covert operations," which assented on the understanding that Geschickter could provide "a reasonable expectation" that the agency would have the space.[^27] The historians Gerard Colby and Charlotte Dennett identified the committee's chairman as Rockefeller and wrote that he gave the approval. The 1977 Senate hearing took testimony on the CIA's use of hospital construction money without naming him. Rockefeller initially opposed even permitting the commission to investigate assassination plots, and it was only Belin's persistence and the threat of adverse publicity that extended the commission's mandate into that territory.[^28] ### Report Structure and Outcome -The commission's final report, submitted to President Ford on June 6, 1975, comprised four main parts with 19 chapters plus seven appendices. The chapters covered CIA legal authority, supervision and control mechanisms, mail intercept programs, Operation CHAOS, domestic surveillance of political activists, CIA files on American citizens, and an examination of allegations regarding the assassination of President Kennedy (where the commission upheld the Warren Commission's single-assassin finding). The report contained 27 recommendations, of which 20 were agency-level reforms recommended for immediate implementation and 7 addressed CIA structure, function, and presidential oversight.[^27] +The commission's final report, submitted to President Ford on June 6, 1975, comprised four main parts with 19 chapters plus seven appendices. The chapters covered CIA legal authority, supervision and control mechanisms, mail intercept programs, Operation CHAOS, domestic surveillance of political activists, CIA files on American citizens, and an examination of allegations regarding the assassination of President Kennedy (where the commission upheld the Warren Commission's single-assassin finding). The report contained 27 recommendations, of which 20 were agency-level reforms recommended for immediate implementation and 7 addressed CIA structure, function, and presidential oversight.[^29] -The Ford administration's response to the report was coordinated by a memorandum dated August 9, 1975, from Kissinger, White House counsel Philip Buchen, and [[Office of Management and Budget]] director [[James Lynn]], which argued for prompt action on the domestic-improprieties recommendations while deferring broader intelligence restructuring questions, explicitly noting that congressional committees were simultaneously investigating related matters and that delay risked losing "the initiative entirely."[^28] +The Ford administration's response to the report was coordinated by a memorandum dated August 9, 1975, from Kissinger, White House counsel Philip Buchen, and [[Office of Management and Budget]] director [[James Lynn]], which argued for prompt action on the domestic-improprieties recommendations while deferring broader intelligence restructuring questions, explicitly noting that congressional committees were simultaneously investigating related matters and that delay risked losing "the initiative entirely."[^30] -The commission's records, totaling approximately 41 cubic feet (82,000 pages), are held at the [[Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library]] in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Materials related to Kennedy assassination allegations and anti-Castro activities from 1960 to 1964 were processed for research access following the [[JFK Records Act]]; significant portions of the collection remain classified.[^29] +The commission's records, totaling approximately 41 cubic feet (82,000 pages), are held at the [[Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library]] in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Materials related to Kennedy assassination allegations and anti-Castro activities from 1960 to 1964 were processed for research access following the [[JFK Records Act]]; significant portions of the collection remain classified.[^31] ### Footnotes @@ -107,13 +107,15 @@ The commission's records, totaling approximately 41 cubic feet (82,000 pages), a [^17]: National Security Archive, NSAEBB, "Gerald Ford White House Altered Rockefeller Commission Report in 1975." Document 3: David W. Belin Memorandum to Members of the Commission, "Scope of Commission Investigation - Assassinations," March 10, 1975. [^18]: National Security Archive, NSAEBB Document 11: Peter Clapper to David Belin, "Public Affairs Considerations in Report," May 2, 1975. [^19]: National Security Archive, NSAEBB Document 15: Richard Cheney, handwritten comments on draft Rockefeller Commission report, circa June 1975. Cheney served as deputy assistant to the president under Rumsfeld at the time of these edits. -[^20]: National Security Archive, Electronic Briefing Book No. 543, edited by John Prados and Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, February 29, 2016, Documents 15, 19 and the introductory essay. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report -[^21]: Executive Order 11828, January 4, 1975, Sections 3 and 6. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-11828-establishing-commission-cia-activities-within-the-united-states -[^22]: Report to the President by the Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States, transmittal letter dated June 6, 1975. https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/LIBRARY/document/0005/1561495.pdf -[^23]: Church Committee, "Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders," Senate Report 94-465, released November 20, 1975. Ford's suppression request sent October 31, 1975; Church's rejection November 4, 1975; Senate vote November 20, 1975. -[^24]: National Security Archive, NSAEBB Document 10: Mason Cargill to File, "CIA denial of access to records of Special Group Augmented re Cuba," April 30, 1975. -[^25]: Marks, John. *The Search for the "Manchurian Candidate": The CIA and Mind Control.* Times Books, 1979, ch. 12, n. 6, as transcribed at https://cryptome.org/mkultra-0005.htm. The Subproject 35 memorandum of November 15, 1954, does not mention the committee: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/32726-document-11-memorandum-director-central-intelligence-project-mkultra-subproject-35 -[^26]: Colby and Dennett, Ch. 18, 44, and Ch. 18 n. 32, citing MKULTRA Subproject 35-10, May 16, 1955. The book calls the body he chaired the "Special Group." For the Planning Coordination Group, its membership and its role as the "normal channel for giving policy approval" to covert operations: Rowland Hughes memorandum to Eisenhower, March 3, 1955, *FRUS 1950-1955, The Intelligence Community,* Document 210, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1950-55Intel/d210. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, *Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification,* joint hearing, August 3, 1977, testimony of Adm. Stansfield Turner and exchange with Sen. Richard Schweiker, https://archive.org/details/project-mkultra-the-cias-program-of-research-in-behavioral-modification -[^27]: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Topic Guide, "Rockefeller Commission Report, June 1975." FRUS 1969-76, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Document 46, Memorandum on implementation of Rockefeller Commission recommendations, August 9, 1975. -[^28]: FRUS 1969-76, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Document 46, August 9, 1975, Kissinger, Buchen, and Lynn to Ford on implementation of Rockefeller Commission recommendations. -[^29]: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Finding Aid, "U.S. President's Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States Files," collection extent approximately 41 cubic feet. +[^20]: Prados, John, and Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, eds. National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 543, February 29, 2016, Document 15 (Richard Cheney, handwritten comments on draft Rockefeller Commission report, c. June 1975; Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Richard Cheney Files, Box 8, working copy of Part I with the June 4, 1975 cover memorandum). https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report +[^21]: Same briefing book, Document 18 (White House, Office of the Deputy Assistant to the President, Richard Cheney, "Briefing Book List on Strategy for Dealing with Intelligence-Political Situation," c. June 4, 1975, Richard Cheney Files, Box 8). https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report +[^22]: National Security Archive, Electronic Briefing Book No. 543, edited by John Prados and Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, February 29, 2016, Documents 15, 19 and the introductory essay. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/intelligence/2016-02-29/gerald-ford-white-house-altered-rockefeller-commission-report +[^23]: Executive Order 11828, January 4, 1975, Sections 3 and 6. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-11828-establishing-commission-cia-activities-within-the-united-states +[^24]: Report to the President by the Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States, transmittal letter dated June 6, 1975. https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/LIBRARY/document/0005/1561495.pdf +[^25]: Church Committee, "Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders," Senate Report 94-465, released November 20, 1975. Ford's suppression request sent October 31, 1975; Church's rejection November 4, 1975; Senate vote November 20, 1975. +[^26]: National Security Archive, NSAEBB Document 10: Mason Cargill to File, "CIA denial of access to records of Special Group Augmented re Cuba," April 30, 1975. +[^27]: Marks, John. *The Search for the "Manchurian Candidate": The CIA and Mind Control.* Times Books, 1979, ch. 12, n. 6, as transcribed at https://cryptome.org/mkultra-0005.htm. The Subproject 35 memorandum of November 15, 1954, does not mention the committee: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/32726-document-11-memorandum-director-central-intelligence-project-mkultra-subproject-35 +[^28]: Colby and Dennett, Ch. 18, 44, and Ch. 18 n. 32, citing MKULTRA Subproject 35-10, May 16, 1955. The book calls the body he chaired the "Special Group." For the Planning Coordination Group, its membership and its role as the "normal channel for giving policy approval" to covert operations: Rowland Hughes memorandum to Eisenhower, March 3, 1955, *FRUS 1950-1955, The Intelligence Community,* Document 210, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1950-55Intel/d210. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, *Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification,* joint hearing, August 3, 1977, testimony of Adm. Stansfield Turner and exchange with Sen. Richard Schweiker, https://archive.org/details/project-mkultra-the-cias-program-of-research-in-behavioral-modification +[^29]: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Topic Guide, "Rockefeller Commission Report, June 1975." FRUS 1969-76, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Document 46, Memorandum on implementation of Rockefeller Commission recommendations, August 9, 1975. +[^30]: FRUS 1969-76, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Document 46, August 9, 1975, Kissinger, Buchen, and Lynn to Ford on implementation of Rockefeller Commission recommendations. +[^31]: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Finding Aid, "U.S. President's Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States Files," collection extent approximately 41 cubic feet. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/Iron Gates.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/Iron Gates.md index aad78595..20889faa 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/Iron Gates.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/Iron Gates.md @@ -10,39 +10,87 @@ tags: - Satanism - Accelerationism - SiegeCulture + - Novel created: 2026-05-21 updated: 2026-10-15 -summary: "Iron Gates is a 2014 Martinet Press novel depicting a post-collapse race war through graphic O9A-doctrine violence, which became required reading in Atomwaffen Division and was distributed through Terrorgram channels into the wider accelerationist ecosystem." +aliases: + - "Iron Gates - Tempel ov Blood" +summary: "Iron Gates is a 2014 novel issued under the Martinet Press imprint with a Tempel ov Blood copyright notice, which Hope not Hate called a horrific fiction that divided Atomwaffen Division members." date: 2014 location: "United States" --- -*[[Iron Gates]]* is a novel published in 2014 by [[Martinet Press]], the publishing arm of [[Tempel ov Blood]], the primary American [[nexion]] (cell) of the [[Order of Nine Angles]] (O9A). Authored under the collective O9A identity rather than an individual author name, the book depicts a post-collapse race war and mass genocide through graphic ultraviolent content, including scenes of extreme sexual violence, torture, and mass killing, framed within O9A's [[Insight Roles]] doctrine as spiritually meaningful transgression. It became required reading within [[Atomwaffen Division]] following [[Joshua Caleb Sutter]]'s 2017 infiltration of AWD's leadership, and through [[Terrorgram Collective]] channels it reached the broader accelerationist ecosystem, making it the most widely distributed and cited of the Martinet Press catalog.[^1] +*[[Iron Gates]]* is a novel issued in 2014 under the imprint of [[Martinet Press]], the publishing arm of [[Tempel ov Blood]], the American [[nexion]] of the [[Order of Nine Angles]] (O9A). The imprint page names no individual author, gives the ISBN-13 as 978-0692306581, and carries the notice "© Copyright by Tempel ov Blood (2014)."[^1] The press's own announcement called it a "sci-fi horror / post-apocalyptic novel" set "seventy years after a worldwide nuclear conflagration."[^2] It became required reading within [[Atomwaffen Division]] (AWD) following [[Joshua Caleb Sutter]]'s 2017 infiltration of AWD's leadership, and through [[Terrorgram Collective]] channels it reached the broader accelerationist ecosystem, making it the most widely distributed and cited of the Martinet Press catalog.[^3] [[Rolling Stone]] described the press's titles as "books authored by an American O9A 'nexion,' called the Tempel ov Blood, and distributed by Martinet Press, a publishing house run by Joshua Caleb Sutter."[^3] The Southern Poverty Law Center wrote in February 2018 that it was "written by a member of the U.S.-based Tempel ov Blood."[^4] -### Content and O9A Doctrine +### Publication -*Iron Gates* deploys ultraviolent narrative content in service of O9A's core ideological arguments: that transgression against social norms is a form of spiritual initiation, that a race war is both desirable and inevitable, and that the committed initiate should view acts of extreme violence as spiritually necessary rather than morally illegible. The novel's scenes of mass killing, child abuse, and sexual violence are not incidental to its purpose; they function as the O9A equivalent of doctrinal instruction, normalizing the contemplation and enactment of Insight Roles through narrative immersion. +The Amazon listing for the Martinet Press paperback, as captured on November 25, 2018, gives 404 pages and "Martinet Press (October 18, 2014)" as the publisher and date; the Goodreads record gives 406 pages and October 18, 2014 as the first-published date.[^5] The press's own posts date the announcement to July 28, 2014 and the "AVAILABLE NOW" notice to October 29, 2014.[^2][^6] -The book was the O9A's most effective tool for reaching audiences beyond the organization's dedicated occultist base, including AWD members who had come to O9A through the [[Siege Culture|Siege]] accelerationist tradition rather than through genuine interest in occultism. Its extreme content generated significant attention from researchers and journalists covering AWD and O9A, and its circulation contributed substantially to academic and law enforcement recognition of Tempel ov Blood as an operational radicalization resource rather than merely an ideological curiosity.[^2] +The press announced the book as a "forthcoming horror title," with a sample download and a warning that it was "not suitable for readers under 18."[^6] A post dated October 29, 2014 lists it as "AVAILABLE NOW."[^2] The press's About page describes its aim as "publishing texts that reflect the darkness that is endemic to real antinomian spirituality."[^7] -### Publication and Distribution History +### Content -*Iron Gates* was issued in 2014 under the Martinet Press imprint, with the notice "© Copyright by Tempel ov Blood (2014)" on its imprint page, several years before the 2017 AWD infiltration that gave it its widest audience.[^3] Vice described [[Jillian Hoy]] as the director of the press in August 2021, and Rolling Stone wrote in June 2022 that Joshua Caleb Sutter co-founded it with her.[^1][^4] The FBI paid Sutter more than $140,000 between 2003 and at least 2021, for intelligence work that included infiltrating AWD, while he ran Martinet Press.[^5][^6] +[[Vice]] wrote that the book "opens with a scene of a child being murdered."[^8] The [[Anti-Defamation League]] describes it as "a dystopian novel containing graphic depictions of killing, torture, rape, and child sexual abuse," and says that Tempel ov Blood texts "instruct followers to read these books to desensitize and motivate themselves to commit such acts in real life."[^9] The [[Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism]] at the [[Middlebury Institute of International Studies]] wrote that the press's books "contain graphic scenes depicting child sexual abuse, physical and sexual violence, and more, with the goal of desensitizing its audience against extreme abuses of others."[^10] -An open letter posted online by a former Atomwaffen member, quoted by USA Today, states that [[John Cameron Denton]] and others in AWD "started to promote 'Iron Gates'" and that it was "REQUIRED READING to join AWD."[^7] Rolling Stone reported that RapeWaffen, the Telegram channel where [[Ethan Phelan Melzer]] contacted O9A adherents, assigned a reading list of *Iron Gates*, *Liber 333* and *Bluebird*.[^1] +[[Ariel Koch]] of the [[Reichman University]] International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, quoted by [[USA Today]], summarized the plot as the story of "'The Organization,' a blood-thirsty guerrilla force that paves its way for domination by ruthless violence and indoctrination."[^11] The violence in the novel is framed within O9A's [[Insight Roles]] doctrine of transgression as initiation. -Following AWD's internal adoption of *Iron Gates* as required reading, the text was distributed through Terrorgram Collective's [[Telegram]] channels to an accelerationist audience far larger than either Martinet Press or AWD's own networks could reach independently. Through this secondary distribution the book reached individuals with no prior AWD or O9A connection who encountered it as part of a broader diet of accelerationist propaganda. +The book was the O9A's most effective tool for reaching audiences beyond the organization's dedicated occultist base, including AWD members who had come to O9A through the [[Siege Culture|Siege]] accelerationist tradition rather than through genuine interest in occultism. Its extreme content generated significant attention from researchers and journalists covering AWD and O9A, and its circulation contributed substantially to academic and law enforcement recognition of Tempel ov Blood as an operational radicalization resource rather than merely an ideological curiosity.[^12] + +### Atomwaffen Division + +The Southern Poverty Law Center reported in February 2018 that satanic texts were "providing the most fodder for debate" in neo-Nazi circles reacting to Atomwaffen Division, naming The Devil's Notebook, Hostia and *Iron Gates* as the three texts in question, and quoted the novel's Amazon description and an Amazon reviewer who called the author "my good comrade Ryan."[^4] The Institute for Strategic Dialogue wrote that by 2018 AWD's ideology "had become increasingly influenced by O9A beliefs under new leadership, with the group adding two core O9A texts to its required reading list."[^13] + +[[Nick Lowles]] and colleagues at [[HOPE not hate]] wrote in 2020 that the Atomwaffen Division (AWD) endorsement of "Liber 333 and especially Iron Gates, a horrific fiction that graphically depicts the murder of a child in its opening pages, has proved particularly divisive, with several AWD members quitting in protest in 2018."[^14] + +An open letter by a former member, quoted by USA Today, said that [[John Cameron Denton]], posting under the online alias "Rape," and others in AWD "started to promote 'Iron Gates,'" and called the book "REQUIRED READING to join AWD."[^11] [[Mapping Militants]] wrote that the group "added Satanic texts to its required reading list," including *Iron Gates*, which it described as "a graphically violent apocalyptic novel published by the Tempel ov Blood, a U.S.-based affiliate of O9A."[^15] + +[[Ali Winston]] reported in the same article that the reading list of RapeWaffen, the Telegram channel through which [[Ethan Phelan Melzer]] contacted O9A adherents, included *Iron Gates*, *Liber 333* and *Bluebird*.[^3] Lowles told Rolling Stone: "In the 21st century, people don’t have the Turner Diaries anymore, they have Iron Gates and Liber 333."[^3] + +The Southern District of New York announced on March 3, 2023 that Melzer, who pleaded guilty on June 24, 2022, had sent details of his unit to members and associates of O9A and, "in particular, a sub-group of O9A known as the 'RapeWaffen Division.'" He was sentenced to 45 years in prison.[^16] + +### Publisher and Informant + +Vice identified the apparent informant as Joshua Caleb Sutter, who had married [[Jillian Hoy]], "the director of Martinet Press," and reported that the FBI had paid a man involved in the press more than $100,000 since 2003.[^8] Mapping Militants wrote that Sutter and his wife co-led Tempel ov Blood and that "the couple also operates the extreme-right Martinet Press, which publishes neo-Nazi ideological texts."[^17] + +The defense motion in [[United States v. Cole]] in the [[Western District of Washington]] described the informant as "a convicted felon" who "currently owns and operates a publishing company that distributes white supremacist writings," and put his payments at "over $140,000" since 2003.[^18] The motion gives "$78,133.20 plus an expense advance of $4,378.60, since February 7, 2018," a sum that "almost entirely coincides with his work on the investigation into Mr. Cole and Atomwaffen." Rolling Stone wrote that Sutter had co-founded the press "with Hoy."[^3] The government's response of August 20, 2021 described the total as "approximately $140,000, which included both compensation and reimbursement for expenses."[^19] The court denied the motion on August 30, 2021, finding that the payments did not impugn the informant's credibility.[^20] + +Rolling Stone reported on July 6, 2022 that Sutter, "the FBI informant and leading O9A proselytizer, is a free man and still selling Satanist books."[^21] [[Bellingcat]] counted at least 19 Martinet Press titles for sale on [[Amazon]] in June 2023.[^22] + +### Distribution + +The Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism wrote that Martinet Press used its position in AWD to "disseminate its hyper violent content across the burgeoning Telegram accelerationist ecosystem," and that its books became "required readings for recruits."[^10] Following AWD's internal adoption of the book as required reading, the text was distributed through Terrorgram Collective channels on [[Telegram]] to an accelerationist audience far larger than either Martinet Press or AWD's own networks could reach independently, and through this secondary distribution the book reached individuals with no prior AWD or O9A connection.[^10] ### Legal and Policy Status -*Iron Gates* has been the subject of law enforcement attention in multiple jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, distributing the text has been prosecuted under terrorism statutes as distributing material useful to terrorist purposes, consistent with the UK's broader approach to O9A material. In the United States, *Iron Gates* has been cited in multiple federal prosecutions as evidence of a defendant's ideological commitments and radicalization state, including cases arising from AWD and Tempel ov Blood activities.[^2] +On June 24, 2020, [[Stephen Doughty]] tabled a written question asking the Home Secretary when she planned to proscribe the Order of Nine Angles. The Home Office answered on June 29, 2020: "The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters, including whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription."[^23] + +In the United Kingdom, distributing the text has been prosecuted under terrorism statutes as distributing material useful to terrorist purposes, consistent with the UK's broader approach to O9A material. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue recorded that police who searched the house of a 16-year-old from Cornwall in 2019 found a copy of *Iron Gates*; in February 2021 the teenager, reported to have led the British branch of Feuerkrieg Division, pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism-related charges.[^13] In a separate case, sentencing remarks dated November 28, 2025 recorded that a defendant had been found guilty of possessing two documents likely to be useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism, and that on June 28, 2024 he had joined, via Telegram, a group the judge called "the Order of the 9 Angles or 'ONA Middle school'," which the judge described as "connected to extreme right-wing views and satanism."[^24] + +In the United States, *Iron Gates* has been cited in multiple federal prosecutions as evidence of a defendant's ideological commitments and radicalization state, including cases arising from AWD and Tempel ov Blood activities.[^12] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Ali Winston. "The Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers." *Rolling Stone,* June 5, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-satanist-neo-nazi-plot-to-murder-u-s-soldiers-1352629/ -[^2]: ICCT. "Siege Culture After Siege: Anatomy of a Neo-Nazi Terrorist Doctrine." https://icct.nl/sites/default/files/2022-12/siege-culture-neo-nazi-terrorist-doctrine.pdf -[^3]: Tempel ov Blood, *Iron Gates* (Martinet Press, 2014), imprint page, ISBN 978-0692306581. Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/tempel-ov-blood-iron-gates-text -[^4]: Matthew Gault. "FBI Bankrolled Publisher of Occult Neo-Nazi Books, Feds Claim." *Vice* (Motherboard), August 25, 2021. https://www.vice.com/en/article/fbi-bankrolled-publisher-of-occult-neo-nazi-books-feds-claim/ -[^5]: Ali Winston, reporting on Joshua Caleb Sutter drawn from the *United States v. Cole* filings, 2021. -[^6]: Defense motion to suppress evidence, *United States v. Cole*, No. 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 194 (W.D. Wash., August 13, 2021), pp. 2 and 8-9. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.194.0.pdf -[^7]: Will Carless and Kevin Johnson. "The FBI informant who helped white supremacists, Joshua Caleb Sutter." *USA Today,* June 9, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2022/06/09/fbi-informant-white-supremacist-atomwaffen/7237901001/ +[^1]: Tempel ov Blood, *Iron Gates* (Martinet Press, 2014), imprint page, ISBN-13 978-0692306581, ISBN-10 0692306587. Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/tempel-ov-blood-iron-gates-text +[^2]: Martinet Press, "New Book: Iron Gates," October 29, 2014. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20180827050101/https://martinetpress.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/new-book-iron-gates/ +[^3]: Ali Winston. "The Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers." *Rolling Stone,* June 5, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-satanist-neo-nazi-plot-to-murder-u-s-soldiers-1352629/ +[^4]: Hatewatch Staff. "Atomwaffen and the SIEGE parallax: how one neo-Nazi's life's work is fueling a younger generation." Southern Poverty Law Center, February 22, 2018. https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/02/22/atomwaffen-and-siege-parallax-how-one-neo-nazi%E2%80%99s-life%E2%80%99s-work-fueling-younger-generation (Wayback capture of December 27, 2024). +[^5]: Amazon.com listing for *Iron Gates* (ISBN 0692306587), Wayback capture of November 25, 2018: https://web.archive.org/web/20181125012801/https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Gates-Tempel-ov-Blood/dp/0692306587 ; Goodreads record for *Iron Gates*, ISBN 9780692306581, 406 pages, first published October 18, 2014: https://www.goodreads.com/book/isbn/9780692306581 +[^6]: Martinet Press, "Forthcoming Novel: Iron Gates," July 28, 2014. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20140923120337/http://martinetpress.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/forthcoming-novel-iron-gates/ +[^7]: Martinet Press, "About." https://martinetpress.wordpress.com/about/ +[^8]: Matthew Gault. "FBI Bankrolled Publisher of Occult Neo-Nazi Books, Feds Claim." *Vice* (Motherboard), August 25, 2021. https://www.vice.com/en/article/fbi-bankrolled-publisher-of-occult-neo-nazi-books-feds-claim/ +[^9]: Anti-Defamation League. "Satanic Neo-Nazism." Page dated June 20, 2025. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/satanic-neo-nazism +[^10]: Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies. "Dangerous Organizations and Bad Actors: Order of Nine Angles." September 29, 2023. https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/academics/centers-initiatives/ctec/publications/dangerous-organizations-and-bad-actors-order-nine +[^11]: Will Carless and Kevin Johnson. "The FBI informant who helped white supremacists, Joshua Caleb Sutter." *USA Today,* June 9, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2022/06/09/fbi-informant-white-supremacist-atomwaffen/7237901001/ +[^12]: ICCT. "Siege Culture After Siege: Anatomy of a Neo-Nazi Terrorist Doctrine." https://icct.nl/sites/default/files/2022-12/siege-culture-neo-nazi-terrorist-doctrine.pdf +[^13]: Institute for Strategic Dialogue. "The Order of Nine Angles." August 2022, pp. 3-6. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/O9A-ISD-External-August2022.pdf +[^14]: Nick Lowles et al. "State of Hate 2020: Far Right Terror Goes Global." HOPE not hate, 2020, p. 39. https://hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/state-of-hate-2020-final.pdf +[^15]: Stanford University, Mapping Militant Organizations. "Atomwaffen Division/National Socialist Order" profile, 2020. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/atomwaffen-division. The profile attributes the Denton reading-list passage to a 2018 Southern Poverty Law Center article. +[^16]: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. "Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting To Murder Fellow Service Members In Deadly Ambush." March 3, 2023. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-us-army-soldier-sentenced-45-years-prison-attempting-murder-fellow-service +[^17]: Stanford University, Mapping Militant Organizations. "Tempel ov Blood." https://mappingmilitants.org/node/534/ +[^18]: Defense motion to suppress evidence, *United States v. Cole*, No. 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 194 (W.D. Wash., August 13, 2021). https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.194.0.pdf +[^19]: Government response, *United States v. Cole*, No. 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 200 (W.D. Wash., August 20, 2021). https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.200.0.pdf +[^20]: Order denying motion to suppress and request for Franks hearing, *United States v. Cole*, No. 2:20-cr-00032-JCC, Dkt. 211 (W.D. Wash., August 30, 2021). https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365/gov.uscourts.wawd.284365.211.0.pdf +[^21]: Ali Winston. "Plea Deal in the Satanist Neo-Nazi Plot to Murder U.S. Soldiers." *Rolling Stone,* July 6, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/neo-nazi-1378280/ +[^22]: Bellingcat. "The Mainstream Publishers, Distributors and Bookshops Selling Satanist Neo-Nazi Books." June 30, 2023. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/06/30/the-mainstream-publishers-distributors-and-bookshops-selling-satanist-neo-nazi-books +[^23]: House of Commons, written question UIN 64196, tabled June 24, 2020 by Stephen Doughty, answered June 29, 2020 by the Home Office. https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1217642 +[^24]: *R v Declan George Candiani*, sentencing remarks of HHJ Nigel Lickley KC, Central Criminal Court, November 28, 2025. https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/R-v-Declan-Candiani.pdf diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Dissociative Identity Disorder.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Dissociative Identity Disorder.md index a71e5d28..300079b4 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Dissociative Identity Disorder.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Dissociative Identity Disorder.md @@ -1,27 +1,159 @@ --- +aliases: + - DID +category: "Psychology & Behavioral Science" tags: - Concept - Psychology - Trauma - MKUltra - Memory -category: "Psychology & Behavioral Science" -summary: "Dissociative identity disorder, abbreviated as DID, emerged as a clinical concept describing a condition in which trauma induces dissociative states leading to the development of multiple distinct personalities within a single individual." + - Dissociation + - MultiplePersonalityDisorder + - RecoveredMemory + - Hypnotism + - FalseMemory + - DSM +summary: "Dissociative identity disorder, a DSM-5 diagnosis coded 300.14 (F44.81), was called multiple personality disorder until DSM-IV renamed it in 1994, and its record runs from Pierre Janet and Morton Prince to 1990s memory litigation." updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Bennett Braun]]" + reverse: true + role: "psychiatrist whose treatment of patients under the multiple personality diagnosis at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center ended in malpractice settlements" + start: 1991 + end: 2024-03 + fn: 10 + - type: subject_of + with: "[[Project MKUltra]]" + reverse: true + role: "Subproject 136, approved August 1961, funded an ESP research project whose proposal included inducing dissociative states and multiple personality in mediums with hypnosis and drugs" + start: 1961-08-23 + fn: 28 --- -Dissociative identity disorder, abbreviated as DID, emerged as a clinical concept describing a condition in which trauma induces dissociative states leading to the development of multiple distinct personalities within a single individual. The condition is examined in the context of survivors of organized child abuse networks, particularly in the Belgian investigation into the [[Marc Dutroux|Dutroux]] affair. Survivors such as [[Regina Louf]], designated as witness X1, reported experiences consistent with dissociative identity disorder, including the emergence of alternative personality states through prolonged trauma.[^1] +Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a dissociative disorder that the DSM-5 defines by "the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession" together with "recurrent episodes of amnesia."[^1] Before the 1994 rename the clinical literature called it [[Multiple Personality Disorder]]. The condition sits at the center of three bodies of material on this site: the Belgian [[Marc Dutroux|Dutroux]] affair and the testimony of survivors such as [[Regina Louf]], the [[Project MKUltra]] files, and the therapy cases of the 1980s and 1990s that produced the [[False Memory Syndrome]] debate. Its clinical history runs back to the nineteenth century, and its diagnostic validity remains contested in the literature. -The clinical understanding of DID intersected with intelligence research programs. Project [[Project MKUltra|MKUltra's]] Subproject 136, approved in August 1961, sought to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis to create multiple personalities. Researchers understood that trauma could produce similar dissociative states in children, resulting in the development of alternative personalities that could be compartmentalized and activated independently. This understanding formed the basis for experiments that applied both chemical and psychological methods to achieve behavioral modification.[^1] +### Nineteenth-century origins -The text notes that both DID and false memory syndrome explanations converge on at least one significant point. Both frameworks agree that [[Hypnotism|hypnotism]] can be used to access repressed memories, or implant false ones, within splits of the human personality. This shared understanding placed the debate over memory reliability at the center of legal proceedings involving abuse survivors. Proponents of [[False Memory Syndrome]] argued that recovered memories required validation with real world evidence before being taken seriously, while advocates for survivors pointed to corroborating evidence gathered to validate X-witness memories.[^1] +[[Pierre Janet]] published *L'Automatisme psychologique* in Paris in 1889 through [[Félix Alcan]]. Its principal subjects were four persons whom Janet identified by the first names Léonie, Lucie, Rose and Marie.[^2] In the book Janet wrote of "le dédoublement simultané de la personnalité," the simultaneous splitting of the personality, which he presented as a little known alteration of human consciousness.[^2] -In the Belgian context, the writer S. Dovey wrote that Regina Louf was publicly discredited as a fantasist who suffered from false memory syndrome after her identity as X1 was leaked to the press.[^1] Louf gave up her anonymity as witness X1 in January 1998.[^2] The Zembla programme of March 11, 2004 described most of the media as depicting her as a disturbed fantasist, as the Belgian judiciary had also done.[^3] A media narrative was built around Marc Dutroux being a lone serial killer, and the X-witness accounts were dismissed as a hoax. On these grounds, X-witnesses were prevented from testifying at the trials of Marc Dutroux and [[Jean-Michel Nihoul]] in 2004. The dismissal of DID as an explanatory framework allowed the investigation to focus on individual pathology rather than the organized networks that survivors had described.[^1] +[[Morton Prince]], a professor at the [[Tufts University School of Medicine|Tufts College Medical School]], published *The Dissociation of a Personality: A Biographical Study in Abnormal Psychology* in 1906 through [[Longmans, Green and Co.]] The patient at the center of the book appears under the pseudonym Miss Beauchamp, and her secondary personality, named Sally, is the subject of much of the text. Prince wrote that "the disintegration resulting in multiple personality is only a functional dissociation of that complex organization which constitutes a normal self."[^3] He proposed that the material of the secondary group could be called a co-consciousness: "Sally may therefore be termed a co-consciousness, or a subconsciousness."[^4] -The clinical literature on DID distinguishes between trauma-induced dissociation and iatrogenic dissociation induced through therapeutic techniques. The text suggests that both mechanisms may have been present in the cases examined, with organized abuse networks deliberately inducing dissociative states through systematic trauma, while subsequent therapeutic interventions may have shaped the specific content of recovered memories. The intersection of deliberate trauma induction and therapeutic memory recovery created complex evidentiary challenges for investigators and courts.[^1] +### Diagnostic history + +The fourth edition of the [[Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders]], published in 1994 by the [[American Psychiatric Association]], renamed the condition from multiple personality disorder to dissociative identity disorder.[^5] The third edition (1980) had listed multiple personality among its dissociative disorders, together with psychogenic amnesia, psychogenic fugue, depersonalization disorder and atypical dissociative disorder.[^6] The DSM-5 places it among the dissociative disorders and gives its criteria in two parts: the identity disruption described above, and recurrent amnesia.[^1] The same section lists "dissociative states secondary to brainwashing or thought reform" among the examples of other specified dissociative disorder.[^7] A separate passage in the DSM-5 section on conditions for further study describes an "identity disturbance due to prolonged and intense coercive persuasion," with brainwashing, thought reform, and recruitment by sects or terror organizations among its examples.[^8] + +### Early clinical studies and the Chicago cases + +A 1986 study by [[Frank W. Putnam]] and colleagues reviewed 100 recent cases in which clinicians completed a 386-item questionnaire about patients treated for multiple personality disorder. The authors reported "a clinical syndrome characterized by a core of depressive and dissociative symptoms and a childhood history of significant trauma, primarily child abuse."[^9] + +[[Bennett Braun]], a psychiatrist at [[Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center]] in [[Chicago]], treated patients for multiple personality disorder. The [[American Bar Association|ABA Journal]] reports that two patients sued Braun and the hospital after his treatment led them to believe in memories of satanic ritual abuse, and that one case settled for $10 million and the other for $7.5 million. Rush did not admit wrongdoing as part of either settlement. According to the same article, Braun lost his medical license for two years after hearings before the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, and he died in March 2024 at the age of 83.[^10] + +The FMSF Newsletter of December 1997 reported, citing a front-page story by Pam Belluck in [[The New York Times]] of November 6, 1997, that the family in *Burgus v. Braun* (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Nos. 91L8493) accepted $10.6 million on the day trial was expected to begin, six years after filing. The newsletter gave the division as $3.5 million from Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's, based on charges concerning the treatment of the patient's children, and $7.3 million from Braun and the psychiatrist [[Elva Poznanski]]. It reported that the defendants made no admission of negligence, and that Braun called the settlement a "travesty" reached over his objections and said any hypnosis he used was for pain control.[^11] The psychologist and lawyer [[R. Christopher Barden]], one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, wrote in [[Psychiatric Times]] in 2014 that a family accepted a $10.6 million settlement for treatment with Braun in November 1997.[^12] The ABA Journal gives $10 million for the same case. + +The FMSF Newsletter of January/February 1998 listed the closing of the Rush-Presbyterian dissociative disorders unit among the events of the preceding months.[^13] The December 1999 issue reported that Braun surrendered his license for two years in a plea agreement with the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation on a nine-count complaint that included implanting memories of satanic ritual abuse, with a five-year probation if he returned to practice, and that 11 former patients had sued him.[^14] + +### Sybil + +[[Flora Rheta Schreiber]]'s 1973 book *Sybil* was a widely read account of a patient treated by the psychiatrist [[Cornelia Wilbur]].[^15] In 2011 the journalist [[Debbie Nathan]] published *Sybil Exposed* with the [[Free Press]], which argued that the account was substantially fabricated.[^16] [[Laura Miller]], reviewing the book in [[Salon]], described Wilbur's treatment as a heavy regimen of drugs and electroshock, followed by hypnosis, and wrote that the patient had sent her doctor a letter saying the multiple personality material was invented, which Wilbur treated as a defensive maneuver.[^17] + +### The false memory debate and the FMSF + +The [[False Memory Syndrome Foundation]] (FMSF) was formed in 1992 by [[Pamela Freyd]] and [[Peter Freyd]], according to a 2020 history in [[International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation|ISSTD]] News by [[Kate McMaugh]] and [[Warwick Middleton]].[^18] The article lists the foundation's Scientific and Professional Advisory Board as including [[Ralph Underwager]], [[Hollida Wakefield]], [[Aaron T. Beck]], [[Elizabeth Loftus]], [[James Randi]], [[John Hochman]], [[Rosalind Cartwright]] and [[Jennifer Freyd]]. It states that Underwager was forced to resign from the board after a *Paidika* interview he gave with his wife, and that the foundation announced its closure at the end of 2019.[^18] + +The foundation's own newsletter printed the board in each issue. The list dated December 1, 1997 includes [[Martin Orne]], [[Emily Carota Orne]], [[David F. Dinges]] and Rosalind Cartwright, the last with the affiliation Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago.[^19] The March/April 2000 issue reported Martin Orne's death on February 11, 2000, called him a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, and stated that he and his wife Emily had been instrumental in founding the foundation and had conceived the professional advisory board; it recorded that in 1991 he had brought together several families who had turned to him.[^20] An issue of February 5, 1993 thanked "members of the FMSF Advisory Board, M. Orne and E. Loftus" for comments.[^21] + +The 1984 paper by Martin Orne, David F. Dinges and Emily Carota Orne addressed the differential diagnosis of multiple personality in the forensic context.[^22] The 2000 newsletter also reported that in the Hillside Strangler case Orne demonstrated that [[Kenneth Bianchi]] was feigning multiple personalities.[^20] + +### Belgian cases + +The writer [[S. Dovey]] wrote that Louf was publicly discredited as a fantasist who suffered from false memory syndrome after her identity as X1 was leaked to the press.[^23] Louf gave up her anonymity as witness X1 in January 1998.[^24] Dovey wrote that Louf's accounts described alternative personality states emerging through prolonged abuse, and that the X-witness accounts were dismissed as a hoax.[^23] Dovey also wrote that a media narrative built around Dutroux as a lone serial killer led to the X-witness accounts being dismissed, and that the X witnesses were prevented from testifying at the trials of Dutroux and [[Jean-Michel Nihoul]] in 2004.[^23] + +The Dutch broadcaster [[Zembla]] reported on March 11, 2004 that most media had depicted Louf as a disturbed fantasist, as the Belgian judiciary had also done. The same programme reported that the Belgian gendarmerie had been able to confirm much of what witness X1 said.[^25] + +Dovey wrote that both DID and false memory syndrome explanations agree that [[Hypnotism|hypnotism]] can be used to access repressed memories, or implant false ones, within splits of the human personality. Dovey wrote that proponents of the false memory explanation argued that recovered memories required validation with real world evidence, while advocates for survivors pointed to corroborating evidence gathered for the X-witness accounts.[^23] Dovey wrote that the dismissal of DID as an explanatory framework allowed the investigation to focus on individual pathology rather than on the organized networks that survivors had described.[^23] Dovey wrote that the clinical literature distinguishes trauma-induced dissociation from iatrogenic dissociation, and that the cases may have involved both, with organized abuse networks inducing dissociative states and later therapy shaping the content of recovered memories.[^23] + +### Intelligence research and dissociation + +Three [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] documents of August 1961 concern MKUltra Subproject 136. A memorandum to the Comptroller dated August 23, 1961 states that the subproject "has been approved" and that "$8,579.00 of the over-all Project MKULTRA funds have been obligated," under the authority of the Director of Central Intelligence memorandum of April 13, 1953.[^26] A memorandum for the record of the same date gives the purpose as support for an investigator's research on an "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," which would move beyond whether extrasensory perception exists to its relation to personality factors and its use "as a method of communication." The investigator's name is redacted, and the memorandum states that the funds would be passed through a redacted organization for security and cover purposes.[^27] The attached proposal states: "In working with individual subjects, special attention will be given to disassociative states, which tend to accompany spontaneous ESP experiences. Such states can be induced and controlled to some extent with hypnosis and drugs." It adds that "The experimenters will be particularly interested in disassociative states, from the abaissement de niveau mental to multiple personality in so-called mediums, and an attempt will be made to induce a number of states of this kind, using hypnosis," and that "drugs and psychological tricks will be used to modify his attitudes." Its data sources include "special groups such as psychotics, children and mediums."[^28] + +A statement of January 20, 1964 from the redacted recipient itemized $8,579 received for 1961-1962, and an accounting form for September 1, 1961 to January 20, 1964 was approved on March 10, 1964 over the name of [[Sidney Gottlieb]] of the Technical Services Division.[^29] + +The writer S. Dovey wrote that Subproject 136 sought to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis for the purpose of creating multiple personalities, and that researchers of the period understood that trauma could produce similar dissociative states in children, which could be compartmentalized and activated independently, and that this understanding formed the basis for experiments applying chemical and psychological methods to behavioral modification.[^23] The 1961 documents describe inducing dissociative states and multiple personality in mediums with hypnosis and drugs, and list children among the groups whose existing data would be analyzed.[^28] + +A CIA proposal titled "Studies in the Military Application of Hypnotism" is undated in the reading room copy. It describes twenty somnambulists drawn from a military setting, a message that only one hypnotist could recover, and a budget of approximately $10,000. The proposal states: "In deep hypnotism or somnambulism, the subject has complete amnesia; he remembers nothing of what has happened."[^30] A CIA report dated October 25, 1955 separates the use of hypnosis with "witting, willing subjects," for purposes such as age regression, cover story build-up and post-hypnotic suggestion, from its use with unwitting and unwilling subjects.[^31] + +A 1951 CIA progress report on [[Project Bluebird]] refers to meetings of May and June 1951 and lists the appointment of a coordinator, the establishment of a research panel, and the planned development of research projects.[^32] + +The 1980s and 1990s therapy controversy shares its subject with these programs. [[Cathy O'Brien]] described claims of trauma-based programming under [[Project Monarch]] in her 1995 book *Trance Formation of America*, written with [[Mark Phillips]].[^33] Colin A. Ross published *The CIA Doctors: Human Rights Violations by American Psychiatrists* in 2006 through [[Manitou Communications]].[^34] + +### Ritual abuse and the FBI + +In 1992 the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] published *Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse* by [[Kenneth V. Lanning]], a supervisory special agent in the Behavioral Science Unit. Lanning wrote that when he first heard these allegations in 1983 and 1984 he tended to believe them, and that the number of cases then began to grow, with "hundreds of victims alleging that thousands of offenders are abusing" people as part of organized satanic cults, "and there is little or no corroborative evidence."[^35] He wrote that in February 1985 the FBI Academy hosted the first national seminar on "these kinds of cases."[^36] + +Lanning described the adult survivor cases in terms that bear on dissociative diagnosis: "They are frequently hypnotized, intentionally or unintentionally, as part of the therapy and are often diagnosed as suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder."[^37] + +### Critiques of the diagnosis + +[[Nicholas Spanos]]'s 1996 book *Multiple Identities & False Memories: A Sociocognitive Perspective* was published by the [[American Psychological Association]]. Its contents include hypnosis, false memory, seduction theory, spirit possession across cultures, and a social learning account of multiple personality disorder.[^38] + +In 1999 [[Scott O. Lilienfeld]], [[Steven Jay Lynn]] and colleagues published in [[Psychological Bulletin]] a reply to [[David Gleaves]]'s 1996 critique of the sociocognitive model, which had argued for the posttraumatic model. They wrote that "the treatment literature suggests that iatrogenic factors play an important role in the etiology of DID," and that the evidence linking child abuse to DID was more problematic than Gleaves had implied.[^39] In 2022 Lynn and colleagues wrote that "neither perspective provides a satisfactory account" of dissociation, and proposed a transtheoretical framework that treats dissociative disorders as failures of normally adaptive systems.[^40] + +### Clinical research and diagnostic validation + +In 2003 A. A. Reinders and colleagues used functional neuroimaging to study patients with DID in two identity states. They reported "specific changes in localized brain activity consistent with their ability to generate at least two distinct mental states of self-awareness," involving the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior associative cortices.[^41] + +A 2012 study by Reinders and colleagues compared 11 DID patients with 18 simulating controls, 10 high in fantasy proneness and 8 low. The authors wrote that the identity states "were not convincingly enacted by DID simulating controls," and concluded that the findings "indicate that DID does not have a sociocultural (e.g., iatrogenic) origin."[^42] The paper describes "a competing view" holding that DID is due to fantasy proneness, suggestibility, suggestion and role-playing.[^42] + +A 2019 study by Reinders and colleagues applied pattern recognition to structural brain images of 75 participants, 32 with DID and 43 controls. The classifiers discriminated between the two groups with 72 percent sensitivity and 74 percent specificity.[^43] + +The 2016 paper by [[Bethany L. Brand]] and colleagues in the [[Harvard Review of Psychiatry]] listed six beliefs about DID: that it is a fad, that it is primarily diagnosed in North America by experts who overdiagnose it, that it is rare, that it is iatrogenic rather than trauma-based, that it is the same entity as borderline personality disorder, and that treatment is harmful. The authors wrote that the absence of research to substantiate these beliefs, and the existence of research that refutes them, "confirms their mythical status."[^44] The ISSTD published the third revision of its treatment guidelines for DID in 2011.[^45] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. -[^2]: Sénat de Belgique. Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise « Neufchâteau », déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements; translated from the French. https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewPub.html&COLL=S&LEG=2&NR=563&VOLGNR=1&LANG=fr -[^3]: BNNVARA Zembla. "De X-dossiers, deel I," broadcast March 11, 2004; programme description in Dutch, translated. https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artikelen/de-x-dossiers-deel-i +[^1]: American Psychiatric Association, *Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders*, 5th ed. (Washington, DC: APA, 2013), "Dissociative Identity Disorder," pp. 291-292. https://archive.org/details/APA-DSM-5 +[^2]: Pierre Janet, *L'Automatisme psychologique: essai de psychologie expérimentale sur les formes inférieures de l'activité humaine* (Paris: Félix Alcan, 1889), pp. 364-365, translated. https://archive.org/details/lautomatismepsy00janegoog +[^3]: Morton Prince, *The Dissociation of a Personality: A Biographical Study in Abnormal Psychology* (New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906), p. 3. https://archive.org/details/dissociationofpe1906prin +[^4]: Prince, *The Dissociation of a Personality*, p. 145. https://archive.org/details/dissociationofpe1906prin +[^5]: American Psychiatric Association, *Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders*, 4th ed. (Washington, DC: APA, 1994), dissociative disorders section. https://archive.org/details/diagnosticstatis00amer_0 ; the change is described in Carol S. North, "The Classification of Hysteria and Related Disorders: Historical and Phenomenological Considerations," *Behavioral Sciences* 5, no. 4 (2015): 496-517, which states that in DSM-IV "Multiple personality disorder was renamed 'dissociative identity disorder.'" https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4695775/ +[^6]: North, "The Classification of Hysteria and Related Disorders," *Behavioral Sciences* 5, no. 4 (2015): 496-517, describing American Psychiatric Association, *DSM-III* (1980), dissociative disorders section. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4695775/ +[^7]: APA, *DSM-5* (2013), "Other Specified Dissociative Disorder," p. 292. https://archive.org/details/APA-DSM-5 +[^8]: APA, *DSM-5* (2013), section III, "Conditions for Further Study," "Identity Disturbance Due to Prolonged and Intense Coercive Persuasion." https://archive.org/details/APA-DSM-5 +[^9]: F. W. Putnam, J. J. Guroff, E. K. Silberman, L. Barban and colleagues, "The Clinical Phenomenology of Multiple Personality Disorder: Review of 100 Recent Cases," *Journal of Clinical Psychiatry* 47, no. 6 (June 1986): 285-293. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3711025/ +[^10]: "Satan goes to court: Lawyers recall bizarre medical malpractice case after doctor's recent death," *ABA Journal*, July 17, 2024. https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/satan-goes-to-court-lawyers-recall-bizarre-medical-malpractice-case-after-doctors-recent-death +[^11]: "Record Settlement in False Memory Malpractice Case, Burgus v. Braun," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 6, no. 11 (December 1997), quoting Pam Belluck, *The New York Times*, November 6, 1997, p. 1. Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf97.n29.html +[^12]: R. Christopher Barden, "Reforming Mental Health Care: How Ending 'Recovered Memory' Treatments Brought Informed Consent to Psychotherapy," *Psychiatric Times* 31, no. 6 (2014). https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/reforming-mental-health-care-how-ending-recovered-memory-treatments-brought-informed-consent +[^13]: *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 7, no. 1 (January/February 1998). Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf98.128.html +[^14]: "Braun Surrenders License in Plea Agreement," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 8, no. 8 (December 1999), citing *Illinois Department of Professional Regulation v. Bennett G. Braun, M.D.*, No. 1998-10343-01. Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf99.n24.html +[^15]: Flora Rheta Schreiber, *Sybil* (1973). +[^16]: Debbie Nathan, *Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case* (New York: Free Press, 2011). +[^17]: Laura Miller, "'Sybil Exposed': Memory, lies and therapy," *Salon*, October 16, 2011. https://salon.com/2011/10/16/sybil_exposed_memory_lies_and_therapy +[^18]: Kate McMaugh and Warwick Middleton, "The Rise and Fall of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation," *ISSTD News*, January 21, 2020. https://news.isst-d.org/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-false-memory-syndrome-foundation/ +[^19]: "FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, December 1, 1997," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 6, no. 11 (December 1997). Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf97.n29.html +[^20]: "Martin Orne Remembered," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 9, no. 2 (March/April 2000). Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf00.304.html +[^21]: *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 2, no. 2 (February 5, 1993). Wayback copy: https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf93.205.html +[^22]: Martin T. Orne, David F. Dinges and Emily Carota Orne, "On the Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Personality in the Forensic Context," *International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis* 32, no. 2 (April 1984): 118-169. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6469414/ +[^23]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar. +[^24]: Sénat de Belgique, Proposition visant à instituer une commission d'enquête parlementaire chargée d'enquêter sur l'éloignement de deux enquêteurs de la cellule d'enquête bruxelloise « Neufchâteau », déposée par M. Frans Lozie, Doc. 2-563/1, October 9, 2000, développements; translated from the French. https://www.senate.be/www/?MIval=/publications/viewPub.html&COLL=S&LEG=2&NR=563&VOLGNR=1&LANG=fr +[^25]: BNNVARA Zembla, "De X-dossiers, deel I," broadcast March 11, 2004; programme description in Dutch, translated. https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artikelen/de-x-dossiers-deel-i +[^26]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum for the Comptroller, "MKULTRA, Subproject 136," August 23, 1961, p. 3 of the compiled document "MKULTRA Subproject 136" (documents dated August 23, 1961 to March 1964). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^27]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum for the record, "Project MKULTRA, Subproject 136," August 23, 1961, p. 10 of the compiled document. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^28]: "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," proposal in the CIA Subproject 136 file, 1961, pp. 3, 5 and 6 of the proposal (pp. 15, 17 and 18 of the compiled document). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^29]: CIA, MKULTRA Subproject 136 file: invoice memorandum of August 30, 1961; recipient's statement of January 20, 1964; "Accounting by Individual for Advance," September 1, 1961 to January 20, 1964, approved March 10, 1964 (pp. 8, 6 and 5 of the compiled document). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^30]: Central Intelligence Agency, "Studies in the Military Application of Hypnotism: I. The Hypnotic Messenger," undated proposal. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00190871 +[^31]: Central Intelligence Agency, untitled report re hypnosis, October 25, 1955. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00190717 +[^32]: Central Intelligence Agency, "Progress on Bluebird," undated memorandum referring to meetings of 21 May 1951 and June 1951. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00144814 +[^33]: Cathy O'Brien and Mark Phillips, *Trance Formation of America* (Las Vegas: Reality Marketing, 1995). +[^34]: Colin A. Ross, *The CIA Doctors: Human Rights Violations by American Psychiatrists* (Richardson, TX: Manitou Communications, 2006). +[^35]: Kenneth V. Lanning, *Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse* (Federal Bureau of Investigation, January 1992), NCJ 136592, p. 5. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf +[^36]: Lanning, *Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse*, p. 19. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf +[^37]: Lanning, *Investigator's Guide to Allegations of "Ritual" Child Abuse*, p. 21. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/136592NCJRS.pdf +[^38]: Nicholas P. Spanos, *Multiple Identities & False Memories: A Sociocognitive Perspective* (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1996), xiii, 371 pp., ISBN 1557983402, catalog record and table of contents. +[^39]: Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, Irving Kirsch, John F. Chaves, Theodore R. Sarbin and colleagues, "Dissociative Identity Disorder and the Sociocognitive Model: Recalling the Lessons of the Past," *Psychological Bulletin* 125, no. 5 (1999): 507-523. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10489540/ +[^40]: Steven Jay Lynn, Cristina Polizzi, Harald Merckelbach, Chi D. Chiu, Ruth Maxwell and colleagues, "Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders Reconsidered: Beyond Sociocognitive and Trauma Models Toward a Transtheoretical Framework," *Annual Review of Clinical Psychology* 18 (2022): 259-289. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35226824/ +[^41]: A. A. Reinders, E. R. Nijenhuis, A. M. Paans, J. Korf and colleagues, "One Brain, Two Selves," *NeuroImage* 20, no. 4 (December 2003): 2119-2125. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14683715/ +[^42]: A. A. Reinders, A. T. Willemsen, H. P. Vos, J. A. den Boer, E. R. Nijenhuis and colleagues, "Fact or Factitious? A Psychobiological Study of Authentic and Simulated Dissociative Identity States," *PLoS One* 7 (2012): e39279. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22768068/ +[^43]: A. A. T. S. Reinders, A. F. Marquand, Y. R. Schlumpf, S. Chalavi and colleagues, "Aiding the Diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder: Pattern Recognition Study of Brain Biomarkers," *British Journal of Psychiatry* 215, no. 3 (September 2019): 536-544. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30523772/ +[^44]: Bethany L. Brand, Vedat Sar, Paul Stavropoulos, Christa Krüger and colleagues, "Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder," *Harvard Review of Psychiatry* 24, no. 4 (2016): 257-270. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27384396/ +[^45]: International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, "Guidelines for Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder in Adults, Third Revision," *Journal of Trauma & Dissociation* 12, no. 2 (2011): 115-187. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21391103/ diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/False Memory Syndrome.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/False Memory Syndrome.md index 45971301..44b76595 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/False Memory Syndrome.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/False Memory Syndrome.md @@ -7,14 +7,23 @@ tags: - DID - Hypnotism category: "Psychology & Behavioral Science" +updated: 2026-10-15 summary: "An academic movement which began in the early 1990s pointed toward the exponential growth in child sex abuse allegations as being the result of people recalling false memories." --- An academic movement which began in the early 1990s pointed toward the exponential growth in child sex abuse allegations as being the result of people recalling false memories. Proponents of this theory argued that methods used in memory recall, such as [[Hypnotism|hypnotherapy]], required validation with real world evidence before being taken seriously. However, advocates of the false memory explanation ignored the real world evidence gathered to validate the X-witness memories in the [[X-Dossier]], and developed the term false memory syndrome to discredit them.[^1] -The false memory theory converged with [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]] explanations on at least one significant point. Both agreed that [[Hypnotism|hypnotism]] could be used to access repressed memories, or implant false ones, within splits of the human personality. This shared understanding placed hypnotism at the center of debates about memory reliability, yet the two frameworks reached opposite conclusions about the validity of recovered memories in abuse cases.[^1] +The [[False Memory Syndrome Foundation]] (FMSF) was formed in 1992 by [[Pamela Freyd]] and [[Peter Freyd]], according to a 2020 history in [[International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation|ISSTD]] News. The article lists the foundation's Scientific and Professional Advisory Board as including [[Ralph Underwager]], [[Hollida Wakefield]], [[Aaron T. Beck]], [[Elizabeth Loftus]], [[James Randi]], [[John Hochman]], [[Rosalind Cartwright]] and [[Jennifer Freyd]]. It states that Underwager was forced to resign from the board after a *Paidika* interview he gave with his wife, and that the foundation announced its closure at the end of 2019.[^2] + +The foundation's newsletter list of its Scientific and Professional Advisory Board dated December 1, 1997 includes [[Martin Orne]], [[Emily Carota Orne]], [[David F. Dinges]] and Rosalind Cartwright.[^3] The March/April 2000 issue reported Orne's death on February 11, 2000, called him a Scientific Advisory Board member, and stated that he and his wife Emily conceived the professional advisory board.[^4] + +The false memory theory converged with [[Dissociative Identity Disorder]] explanations on at least one significant point. Both agreed that hypnotism could be used to access repressed memories, or implant false ones, within splits of the human personality. This shared understanding placed hypnotism at the center of debates about memory reliability, yet the two frameworks reached opposite conclusions about the validity of recovered memories in abuse cases.[^1] The development of false memory syndrome as a clinical concept provided a framework for challenging the credibility of witnesses who reported recovered memories of abuse. Its proponents applied the label broadly, often without examining the corroborating evidence that had been gathered to support specific claims. The movement gained traction in legal and academic circles, where it was used to question the testimony of survivors in high profile cases including those of [[Regina Louf]] and other X-witnesses in the [[Marc Dutroux|Dutroux]] investigation.[^1] ### Footnotes + [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^2]: Kate McMaugh and Warwick Middleton, "The Rise and Fall of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation," *ISSTD News*, January 21, 2020. https://news.isst-d.org/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-false-memory-syndrome-foundation/ +[^3]: "FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board, December 1, 1997," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 6, no. 11. https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf97.n29.html +[^4]: "Martin Orne Remembered," *FMS Foundation Newsletter* 9, no. 2 (March/April 2000). https://web.archive.org/web/2002/http://www.fmsfonline.org/fmsf00.304.html diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Hypnotism.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Hypnotism.md index 71681274..ce149a28 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Hypnotism.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Hypnotism.md @@ -10,14 +10,15 @@ tags: - 1950s - 1960s category: "Psychology & Behavioral Science" +updated: 2026-10-15 summary: "Hypnotism was a significant area of government research in the twentieth century, particularly in CIA MKUltra experiments exploring induced amnesia, personality alteration, and the creation of unwitting operatives through hypnotic suggestion." --- Hypnotism emerged as a significant area of research in the twentieth century, particularly in relation to mind control programs and the manipulation of memory. [[George H. Estabrooks]], a prominent figure in the evolving field of hypnotherapy, believed that hypnotism and emotional shock produced the same resultant state of dissociation. In 1959 he applied to the National Institute of Mental Health for funding of a proposed study titled Hypnotism in Juvenile Delinquency. This institute at the time functioned as a cutout used to fund [[MKUltra]] research into various prospective methods of mind control, some involving children.[^1] -Estabrooks wrote in his study proposal of the especially high levels of susceptibility children had to hypnotic techniques. He noted that while one out of five adults were good hypnotic subjects, four out of five children fell into this category. This understanding made children particularly valuable as research subjects for programs seeking to induce dissociative states. In August 1961, Subproject 136 of the MKUltra program was approved for funding under the title Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception, with the objective of inducing dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis to create multiple personalities.[^1] +The writer S. Dovey wrote that Estabrooks, in his study proposal, described the especially high levels of susceptibility children had to hypnotic techniques. He noted that while one out of five adults were good hypnotic subjects, four out of five children fell into this category. This understanding made children particularly valuable as research subjects for programs seeking to induce dissociative states. In August 1961, Subproject 136 of the MKUltra program was approved for funding under the title Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception. The attached proposal states that an attempt would be made to induce dissociative states, from abaissement de niveau mental to multiple personality in so-called mediums, using hypnosis, and that such states can be induced and controlled to some extent with hypnosis and drugs.[^2] Dovey wrote that the objective was inducing dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis to create multiple personalities.[^1] -Estabrooks claimed in a 1971 article published in Science Digest to have successfully created multiple personalities through hypnotic techniques in officers of the US Army's intelligence division during World War II. While it remains unclear whether Estabrooks was directly involved with MKUltra, his research interests aligned closely with the program's objectives. The subproject's agenda included inducing dissociative states in children to create compartmentalized personalities that could be activated independently.[^1] +Estabrooks claimed in a 1971 article published in Science Digest to have successfully created multiple personalities through hypnotic techniques in officers of the US Army's intelligence division during World War II. While it remains unclear whether Estabrooks was directly involved with MKUltra, his research interests aligned closely with the program's objectives. Dovey wrote that the subproject's agenda included inducing dissociative states in children to create compartmentalized personalities that could be activated independently.[^1] The text notes that both dissociative identity disorder and false memory syndrome explanations converge on the point that hypnotism can be used to access repressed memories, or implant false ones, within splits of the human personality. This shared understanding placed hypnotism at the center of debates about memory reliability in abuse cases. The Belgian investigation into the Dutroux affair examined whether hypnotic techniques had been used to manipulate witness testimony, with some arguing that recovered memories required validation through real world evidence before being taken seriously.[^1] @@ -25,12 +26,14 @@ The practical application of hypnotism extended into criminal investigations and ### CIA Pursuit of Hypnotic Control -No mind-control technique captured popular imagination more than hypnosis, and [[CIA]] officials institutionalized the dream of hypnotic control in the early Cold War, hoping to compel unwitting victims to do their bidding. The agency's first behavioral research czar, [[Morse Allen]] of [[ARTICHOKE]], took a four-day 1951 course from a stage hypnotist and then ran CIA secretaries through exercises in which they stole SECRET files and started fires; on February 19, 1954 he staged a simulated programmed assassination, telling a hypnotized secretary that her rage would be so great "that she would not hesitate to 'kill,'" whereupon she picked up an unloaded pistol and "shot" a sleeping colleague before showing apparent amnesia. Allen remained unconvinced the result would hold operationally.[^2] +No mind-control technique captured popular imagination more than hypnosis, and [[CIA]] officials institutionalized the dream of hypnotic control in the early Cold War, hoping to compel unwitting victims to do their bidding. The agency's first behavioral research czar, [[Morse Allen]] of [[ARTICHOKE]], took a four-day 1951 course from a stage hypnotist and then ran CIA secretaries through exercises in which they stole SECRET files and started fires; on February 19, 1954 he staged a simulated programmed assassination, telling a hypnotized secretary that her rage would be so great "that she would not hesitate to 'kill,'" whereupon she picked up an unloaded pistol and "shot" a sleeping colleague before showing apparent amnesia. Allen remained unconvinced the result would hold operationally.[^3] ### MKULTRA Hypnosis Research -When [[Allen Dulles|Dulles]] transferred behavioral research to [[Sidney Gottlieb]] and [[MKULTRA]], the new team pursued control in smaller steps. The case officer [[John Gittinger]] held that "predictable absolute control is not possible on a particular individual," while Gottlieb farmed out most hypnosis work to [[Alden Sears]] at the [[University of Minnesota]], who by 1957 concluded the needed experiments "could not be handled in the University situation." The consultant [[Milton Kline]] insisted a programmed assassin was possible ("It cannot be done consistently, but it can be done"), a view other equally credentialed consultants rejected. In June 1960 [[TSS]] launched an expanded program with [[James Angleton]]'s Counterintelligence Staff aimed at rapid induction in unwitting subjects, durable amnesia, and posthypnotic suggestion; its one documented field test, in Mexico City in July 1963, failed when the hypnotic consultant froze. A program veteran finally conceded that the same results could be had without hypnosis, "so it has no use."[^2] +When [[Allen Dulles|Dulles]] transferred behavioral research to [[Sidney Gottlieb]] and MKULTRA, the new team pursued control in smaller steps. The case officer [[John Gittinger]] held that "predictable absolute control is not possible on a particular individual," while Gottlieb farmed out most hypnosis work to [[Alden Sears]] at the [[University of Minnesota]], who by 1957 concluded the needed experiments "could not be handled in the University situation." The consultant [[Milton Kline]] insisted a programmed assassin was possible ("It cannot be done consistently, but it can be done"), a view other equally credentialed consultants rejected. In June 1960 [[TSS]] launched an expanded program with [[James Angleton]]'s Counterintelligence Staff aimed at rapid induction in unwitting subjects, durable amnesia, and posthypnotic suggestion; its one documented field test, in Mexico City in July 1963, failed when the hypnotic consultant froze. A program veteran finally conceded that the same results could be had without hypnosis, "so it has no use."[^3] ### Footnotes + [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. -[^2]: John D. Marks, *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate*, Chapter 11. +[^2]: "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," proposal in the CIA Subproject 136 file, 1961, pp. 3 and 6 of the proposal. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 +[^3]: John D. Marks, *The Search for the Manchurian Candidate*, Chapter 11. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Multiple Personality Disorder.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Multiple Personality Disorder.md index 0946eac1..5021b365 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Multiple Personality Disorder.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Multiple Personality Disorder.md @@ -6,18 +6,21 @@ tags: - MKUltra - DID category: "Psychology & Behavioral Science" +updated: 2026-10-15 summary: "Multiple personality disorder functioned as the clinical term for what later became known as dissociative identity disorder, describing a condition in which an individual develops distinct alternative personalities, often as a result of severe or..." --- Multiple personality disorder functioned as the clinical term for what later became known as dissociative identity disorder, describing a condition in which an individual develops distinct alternative personalities, often as a result of severe or prolonged trauma. The text examines this phenomenon in the context of intelligence research programs, organized abuse networks, and the Belgian investigation into the Dutroux affair. Survivors such as [[Regina Louf]], designated as witness X1, reported experiences consistent with multiple personality disorder, including the emergence of distinct personality states through systematic abuse.[^1] -The creation of multiple personalities became an explicit objective of classified research programs. [[Project MKUltra|Project MKUltra's]] Subproject 136, approved in August 1961, sought to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis for the purpose of creating multiple personalities. The program objective stated that researchers intended to develop methods for inducing dissociative states that would result in compartmentalized personality structures. This research aligned with MKUltra's broader mandate to discover effective methods of mind control to create brainwashed operatives capable of carrying out objectives unwittingly.[^1] +The creation of multiple personalities became an explicit objective of classified research programs. [[Project MKUltra|Project MKUltra's]] Subproject 136, approved on August 23, 1961, funded research on extrasensory perception. The attached proposal states that special attention would be given to dissociative states, which it says can be induced and controlled to some extent with hypnosis and drugs, and that an attempt would be made to induce such states, from abaissement de niveau mental to multiple personality in so-called mediums, using hypnosis.[^2] The writer S. Dovey wrote that the subproject sought to induce dissociative states in children through drugs and hypnosis for the purpose of creating multiple personalities, and that researchers intended to develop methods for inducing dissociative states that would result in compartmentalized personality structures.[^1] This research aligned with MKUltra's broader mandate to discover effective methods of mind control to create brainwashed operatives capable of carrying out objectives unwittingly.[^1] [[George H. Estabrooks]] claimed in a 1971 article published in Science Digest to have successfully created multiple personalities through hypnotic techniques in officers of the US Army's intelligence division during World War II. While his direct involvement with MKUltra remains unclear, his research established precedents for the military and intelligence applications of personality splitting. The theoretical framework posited that multiple personalities could be created and controlled through systematic intervention, with each personality compartmentalized to perform specific functions without the primary personality's awareness.[^1] The text notes that trauma could induce dissociative states in children leading to the development of alternative personalities, a mechanism that aligned with both clinical observations and intelligence research objectives. Organized abuse networks may have exploited this understanding, deliberately inducing dissociative states through systematic trauma to create compliant subjects. The intersection of deliberate trauma induction and therapeutic memory recovery created evidentiary challenges, as courts struggled to distinguish between genuine recovered memories and implanted suggestions.[^1] -In the Belgian investigation, the concept of multiple personality disorder became politicized. [[Regina Louf]]'s testimony, which included descriptions of distinct personality states activated through specific triggers, was dismissed as fantastical. The media narrative that framed [[Marc Dutroux]] as a lone serial killer relied in part on discrediting the [[Dissociative Identity Disorder|multiple personality disorder]] framework that survivors used to describe their experiences. Prosecutor [[Michel Bourlet]] and magistrate [[Jean-Marc Connerotte]] were removed from the investigation, and X-witnesses were prevented from testifying at the 2004 trials.[^1] +In the Belgian investigation, the concept of multiple personality disorder became politicized. Regina Louf's testimony, which included descriptions of distinct personality states activated through specific triggers, was dismissed as fantastical. The media narrative that framed [[Marc Dutroux]] as a lone serial killer relied in part on discrediting the [[Dissociative Identity Disorder|multiple personality disorder]] framework that survivors used to describe their experiences. Prosecutor [[Michel Bourlet]] and magistrate [[Jean-Marc Connerotte]] were removed from the investigation, and X-witnesses were prevented from testifying at the 2004 trials.[^1] ### Footnotes + [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar. +[^2]: "Experimental Analysis of Extrasensory Perception," proposal in the CIA Subproject 136 file, 1961, pp. 3 and 6 of the proposal. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-00017395 diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Synchronicity.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Synchronicity.md index e76f26f4..59b69f94 100644 --- a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Synchronicity.md +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY_&_BEHAVIORAL_SCIENCE/Synchronicity.md @@ -2,28 +2,127 @@ created: 2025-07-23 updated: 2026-10-15 title: Synchronicity +aliases: + - Synchronicity + - Synchronizität + - Synchronizitat + - synchronistic principle tags: - - concept - - psychology - - philosophy -description: Synchronicity is a concept, first introduced by Carl Jung, referring to meaningful coincidences that lack a causal relationship but are deeply connected in meaning. + - Concept + - Psychology + - Philosophy + - CarlJung + - WolfgangPauli + - Parapsychology + - RemoteViewing +description: Carl Jung's term for causally unrelated events that coincide in time and share a meaning, and the principle he discussed alongside J. B. Rhine's ESP experiments and an astrological marriage study. category: "Esoteric & Historical Concept" summary: "Synchronicity is Carl Jung's concept of meaningful coincidences that lack causal connection, invoked in parapsychology research as a potential framework for understanding psychic phenomena that defy normal probability." +relations: + - type: funded + with: "[[Bollingen Foundation]]" + role: "sponsor and publisher of The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche (Bollingen Series LI, 1955), which printed the essay" + start: 1955 + fn: 1 + - type: partner_of + with: "[[Wolfgang Pauli]]" + role: "co-contributors to the 1952 German volume Naturerklärung und Psyche and the 1955 English volume; 80 letters exchanged between them, 1932 to 1958" + start: 1932 + end: 1958 + fn: 24 --- -[[Synchronicity]] is a concept first introduced by the Swiss psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]]. It refers to meaningful coincidences that lack a causal relationship but are deeply connected in meaning. Jung believed that synchronicity was an acausal connecting principle, a phenomenon where events in the external world mirror an individual's internal psychological state, suggesting a deeper, underlying order to the universe.[^1] +[[Synchronicity]] is the term [[Carl Jung]] used for "a coincidence in time of two or more causally unrelated events which have the same or a similar meaning," set against "synchronism," which he defined as the simultaneous occurrence of two events.[^1] In the essay that gave the concept its fullest statement, Jung wrote that synchronicity means "the simultaneous occurrence of a certain psychic state with one or more external events which appear as meaningful parallels to the momentary subjective state," and, in certain cases, the reverse.[^1] He tied these phenomena to the archetypes, which he called "formal factors responsible for the organization of unconscious psychic processes," and he described the unconscious that produces them as "psychoid," a psyche "identical with itself in all individuals."[^1] -In the context of the *Phenomena* text, synchronicity is mentioned in relation to [[Arthur Koestler]]'s book *The Roots of Coincidence*, which explored Jung's concepts and their potential connection to [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]]. Major General [[Edmund Thompson]], a key supporter of the [[Stargate Project|Stargate Project]], developed an interest in psi phenomena after reading Koestler's book, suggesting that the idea of meaningful coincidences played a role in his openness to psychic research.[^1] +### Kammerer and the 1930 Wilhelm address -### Pauli and the remote-viewing literature +Jung wrote that "the problem of synchronicity has puzzled me for a long time, ever since the middle twenties."[^1] Among the earlier works he cited is [[Paul Kammerer]]'s *Das Gesetz der Serie: Eine Lehre von den Wiederholungen im Lebens- und Weltgeschehen* (Stuttgart and Berlin: [[Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt]], 1919).[^2] Jung wrote that Kammerer had dealt, "not altogether convincingly," with the question of the "countereffect of the succeeding state on the preceding one."[^3] -Jung's essay "Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle" appeared in the English-language volume The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche (Bollingen Series LI, 1955), alongside the contributions of the physicist [[Wolfgang Pauli]], with whom Jung exchanged 80 letters between 1932 and 1958.[^2][^3] In 1976 [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] wrote in the [[Proceedings of the IEEE]] that "models of the universe involving higher order synchronicity or correlation have been proposed by the physicist Pauli and the psychologist Carl Jung," in the course of stating that they had no precise model of their remote-viewing results.[^4] A copy of the paper is held in the CIA's document series on the Stargate Project.[^4] +Jung's own first public use of the term came in a memorial address for the sinologist [[Richard Wilhelm]], delivered in [[Munich]] on May 10, 1930. The address was later printed as an appendix to the English edition of *[[The Secret of the Golden Flower]]* (London and New York, 1931), where Jung wrote: "The science of the I Ching is not based on the causality principle, but on a principle (hitherto unnamed because not met with among us) which I have tentatively called the synchronistic principle."[^4] -Synchronicity differs from mere coincidence in that it carries a profound personal meaning for the individual experiencing it, often feeling like a sign or a message. It suggests a connection between the inner and outer worlds that goes beyond conventional cause and effect, hinting at a collective unconscious or a universal field of information.[^1] +### Koestler and Thompson + +[[Arthur Koestler]] published *[[The Roots of Coincidence]]* in 1972 (New York: [[Random House]]).[^5] [[Annie Jacobsen]] wrote that the book explored Jung's concepts and their possible connection to [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]], and that [[Edmund Thompson]], the Army's assistant chief of staff for intelligence, developed an interest in psychic research after reading it.[^6] Jacobsen describes synchronicity as differing from mere coincidence in that it carries a profound personal meaning for the individual experiencing it, often feeling like a sign or a message, and as suggesting a connection between the inner and outer worlds that goes beyond conventional cause and effect, hinting at a collective unconscious or a universal field of information.[^6] In her account Jung believed that synchronicity was an acausal connecting principle, a phenomenon where events in the external world mirror an individual's internal psychological state, suggesting a deeper, underlying order to the universe.[^6] + +### Volumes of 1952 and 1955 + +The essay first appeared in German as "Synchronizität als ein Prinzip akausaler Zusammenhänge," printed together with a monograph by [[Wolfgang Pauli]] in *Naturerklärung und Psyche* (Studien aus dem C. G. Jung-Institut, IV; [[Zürich]]: [[Rascher Verlag]], 1952).[^7] A shorter version, "Über Synchronizität," was printed in the [[Eranos]] yearbook for 1951.[^7] + +The English edition, *The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche*, was published as [[Bollingen Series]] LI in 1955 by [[Pantheon Books]] for the [[Bollingen Foundation]]. Pauli's contribution is his essay "The Influence of Archetypal Ideas on the Scientific Theories of Kepler."[^8] Jung's foreword is dated August 1950 and thanks [[Liliane Frey-Rohn]] "for her help with the astrological material."[^9] + +### The Bollingen Foundation + +[[Paul Mellon]] enlisted as an Army private when the United States entered the war, joined the cavalry, and rose to the rank of major in the [[Office of Strategic Services]], according to the obituary distributed in February 1999.[^10] The [[Frick Collection]] research directory gives his Army service as 1941 to 1943 and his work overseas with the Office of Strategic Services as 1943 to 1945, and the [[Yale Center for British Art]] states that after two years at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas, he served in the Office of Strategic Services in England.[^11] The obituary calls Carl Jung his friend and former analyst, and states that he paid for the publication of Jung's collected works.[^10] The *Public Domain Review* essay on his collecting of [[William Blake]] states that wartime service "forced an end to the relationship with Jung."[^12] The same essay describes an earlier scheme, from early 1945, "for Mellon to enlist Jung's help with psychological propaganda against the retreating German army." Germany's surrender made the mission redundant, and Mellon was back in [[Virginia]] by August 1945.[^13] + +The essay states that "almost immediately" afterward the Mellons established the Bollingen Foundation, under the direction of their friend [[Jack Barrett]], with the goal of publishing Jung's collected works in English translation.[^13] Paul and [[Mary Mellon]] had returned hastily to the United States shortly before the occupation of Denmark, Norway and France in May.[^14] Mellon also established the Bollingen Prize for poetry, the first of which went to [[Ezra Pound]] while Pound was under indictment for treason.[^10] The 1955 volume states on its title leaf that it is the fifty-first in a series of works "sponsored by and published for Bollingen Foundation."[^7] + +### The astrological marriage study + +Chapter two of the essay describes a set of marriage horoscopes. Jung wrote that they were "obtained from friendly donors in Zurich, London, Rome, and Vienna," and that "the sample was a random one."[^15] The first batch of 180 married pairs was used as a pilot. The study grew to 483 marriages, or 966 horoscopes, in three batches of 180, 220 and 83.[^16] Jung compared the 180 married pairs with the 32,220 unmarried pairs formed by pairing each husband with each woman he was not married to, and he tabulated the conjunctions and oppositions among the planets and the ascendant and descendant for both groups.[^16] + +Jung's own conclusion, in the essay, was: "For the present, at any rate, we have insufficient grounds for believing that the astrological results are more than mere chance, or that statistics involving large numbers yield a statistically significant result."[^17] He reported that "calculations undertaken by a mathematician showed unmistakably that the average frequency of 10% in the first batch and subsequently in all three batches is far from representing a significant figure," and that "there is no ground for assuming that our maximum frequencies are more than mere dispersions due to chance."[^18] He also recorded an astrologer's objection that his statistical method was "too arbitrary and too clumsy" to evaluate the aspects of marriage.[^19] + +Jung then argued that a chance result could still be meaningful: "It is nothing but a chance result from the statistical point of view, yet it is meaningful on account of the fact that it looks as if it validated this expectation. It is just what I call a synchronistic phenomenon."[^20] + +### Rhine's ESP data in the essay + +Jung wrote that "decisive evidence for the existence of acausal combinations of events has been furnished, with adequate scientific safeguards, only very recently, mainly through the experiments of [[J. B. Rhine]] and his fellow-workers."[^21] He cited Rhine's *Extra-Sensory Perception* (Boston, 1934) and *New Frontiers of the Mind* (New York, 1937), along with the [[Journal of Parapsychology]] paper by Rhine and Betty Humphrey on a transoceanic experiment.[^21] + +The figures Jung reproduced include a subject who "once guessed all 25 cards correctly, which gives a probability of 1 : 298,023,223,876,953,125." When the distance was increased "in one case to 250 miles," the average was 10.1 hits for 25 cards. In another series the scores were 11.4 with experimenter and subject in one room, 9.7 in the next room and 12.0 two rooms away. Jung also cited experiments between [[Durham, North Carolina]], and [[Zagreb]], about 4,000 miles apart, and a time experiment in which "the reading of a series of cards to be turned up in the future" produced "a probability of 1 : 400,000."[^22] Jung drew from these results the conclusion that "we have no alternative but to assume that distance is psychically variable," and he described "a psychic relativity of time."[^22] He also described the PK dice experiments as positive.[^22] + +Jung's note on the Rhine material records that "Professor Pauli was kind enough to draw my attention to this paper, which appeared in The Scientific Monthly (London), LXIX (1949), No. 2."[^23] + +### Pauli and the 1948 letter + +Schücking's 2002 review of the letters edition, *[[Atom and Archetype]]*, gives 80 letters between Pauli and Jung from 1932 to 1958, 39 of them by Pauli.[^24] The review also describes an unpublished essay, "Modern Examples of Background Physics" ("Hintergrundsphysik"), found with the correspondence, which it says "addresses itself to the principal theme of their exchanges." Schücking wrote: "What Pauli had in mind was a description of nature integrating both physics and psyche."[^24] + +In a letter to Jung dated June 16, 1948, from [[Zollikon]], Pauli wrote: "When that amusing 'Pauli effect' of the overturned vase occurred, on the occasion of the founding of the [[C. G. Jung Institute]], I had the immediate and vivid impression that I should 'pour out water inside'."[^25] For the incident see [[Pauli Effect]]. + +### Remote viewing and the Stargate literature + +In 1976 [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] published "A Perceptual Channel for Information Transfer over Kilometer Distances: Historical Perspective and Recent Research" in the [[Proceedings of the IEEE]]. They wrote: "Currently, we have no precise model of this spatial and temporal remote-viewing phenomenon. However, models of the universe involving higher order synchronicity or correlation have been proposed by the physicist Pauli and the psychologist Carl Jung."[^26] A copy is held in the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s document series on the [[Stargate Project]].[^26] + +In August 1974 the [[Parapsychology Foundation]] held its 23rd annual conference at the Hotel La Réserve in [[Geneva]], on the subject "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology," which a conference report describes as "a topic selected at the instigation of Arthur Koestler." The report, dated October 28, 1974, records that experiments with gifted subjects were presented by Puthoff and Targ.[^27] + +### Critics + +[[Martin Gardner]], quoted in *[[Time (magazine)|Time]]* in March 1974, listed "Uri Geller, The Secret Life of Plants, telepathy, ESP, the incomplete conclusions of Koestler" and wrote that these "all seem part of a new uncritical enthusiasm for pseudo science." In Gardner's words, "The claims are immense, the proof nonexistent."[^28] + +In 1926 [[Gladwyn K. Noble]], of the [[American Museum of Natural History]], published a letter in *[[Nature]]* arguing that the nuptial pads of the midwife toads in Paul Kammerer's experiments had been altered, and finding artificial black ink in them.[^29] The Embryo Project account of Kammerer's work reports that he died by suicide that year, and that [[William Bateson]] had criticized the experiments in *Nature* in 1919 and 1923.[^29] + +### Later research + +[[Harald Atmanspacher]] and [[Wolfgang Fach]] published "A structural-phenomenological typology of mind-matter correlations" in the [[Journal of Analytical Psychology]] in 2013 (vol. 58, no. 2, pages 219 to 244). Their abstract presents a typology of mind-matter correlations within a dual-aspect monist framework that they attribute to Pauli and Jung, in which the mental and the material arise as two complementary aspects of one underlying psychophysically neutral reality, and states that the typology agrees with an empirically based classification of mind-matter correlations observed in exceptional human experiences.[^30] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. -[^2]: C. G. Jung and Wolfgang Pauli, The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche (Bollingen Series LI, 1955). -[^3]: Engelbert L. Schücking, review of Atom and Archetype: The Pauli/Jung Letters, 1932-1958, Physics Today 55, no. 9 (September 2002), DOI 10.1063/1.1522220, https://physicstoday.aip.org/article/55/9/62/757315. -[^4]: Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ, "A Perceptual Channel for Information Transfer over Kilometer Distances: Historical Perspective and Recent Research," Proceedings of the IEEE 64, no. 3 (March 1976), p. 329ff; CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080007-7. +[^1]: C. G. Jung, "Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle," in *The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche* (Bollingen Series LI; New York: Pantheon Books for Bollingen Foundation, 1955), pp. 29, 30 and 36 (archetypes and the psychoid unconscious; the "middle twenties" passage; the definition). Copy: https://archive.org/details/x-the-interpretation-of-nature-and-the-psyche +[^2]: Paul Kammerer, *Das Gesetz der Serie: Eine Lehre von den Wiederholungen im Lebens- und Weltgeschehen* (Stuttgart and Berlin: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1919), title page. Digitized copy: https://archive.org/details/DasGesetzDerSerie +[^3]: Jung, "Synchronicity," p. 27, note 35, citing Kammerer, *Das Gesetz der Serie,* pp. 131 ff. +[^4]: Jung, "Synchronicity," p. 52, note 60, which states that Jung first used the term in the memorial address for Richard Wilhelm (delivered May 10, 1930, in Munich) and quotes Jung, *The Secret of the Golden Flower* (London and New York, 1931), p. 142. +[^5]: Arthur Koestler, *The Roots of Coincidence* (New York: Random House, 1972), as listed in the representative bibliography attached to a parapsychology survey held in CIA records, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100250012-3 (CIA CREST, Stargate collection). +[^6]: Annie Jacobsen, *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis* (Little, Brown and Company, 2017). +[^7]: Jung, "Editorial Note," in *The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche* (1955), p. 3, describing the German original "Synchronizitat als ein Prinzip akausaler Zusammenhange" and the 1951 Eranos-Jahrbuch version "Uber Synchronizitat"; the German publication is *Naturerklarung und Psyche* (Studien aus dem C. G. Jung-Institut, iv; Zurich: Rascher Verlag, 1952), as given on the book's title leaf. +[^8]: Wolfgang Pauli, "The Influence of Archetypal Ideas on the Scientific Theories of Kepler," in *The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche* (1955), contents page, p. 147. +[^9]: Jung, foreword to *The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche* (1955), p. 6, signed August 1950. +[^10]: "Philanthropist Paul Mellon Dead at 91," *Seattle Times,* February 3, 1999, https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990203/2942169/philanthropist-paul-mellon-dead-at-91----son-of-industrialist-used-fortune-to-contribute-to-arts +[^11]: "Mellon, Paul," Frick Collection research directory, https://research.frick.org/directory/detail/1001 (Army 1941 to 1943; Office of Strategic Services 1943 to 1945); "Paul Mellon: Founder," Yale Center for British Art, https://britishart.yale.edu/stories/paul-mellon-founder (Fort Riley; Office of Strategic Services in England; rank of major). +[^12]: "William Blake and Paul Mellon: The Life of the Mind," *Public Domain Review,* https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/william-blake-and-paul-mellon-the-life-of-the-mind (enlistment in June 1941 and the statement on the relationship with Jung). +[^13]: Public Domain Review, "William Blake and Paul Mellon," passages on the 1945 scheme for "psychological propaganda against the retreating German army," Mellon's return to Virginia by August 1945, and the establishment of the Bollingen Foundation under the directorship of Jack Barrett. Same URL as note 10. +[^14]: Public Domain Review, "William Blake and Paul Mellon," on the return of Paul and Mary Mellon to the United States before the occupation of Denmark, Norway and France. Same URL as note 10. +[^15]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, "An Astrological Experiment," p. 60, on the donors, the random sample and the first batch of 180 pairs. +[^16]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, p. 64, on the 483 marriages (966 horoscopes), the batches of 180, 220 and 83, and the comparison of 180 married with 32,220 unmarried pairs. The batch sizes are also given on p. 60 and p. 82. +[^17]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, p. 62. +[^18]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, p. 65, reporting the calculation of a mathematician. +[^19]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, p. 82, on the astrologer's objection to the statistical method. +[^20]: Jung, "Synchronicity," chapter 2, p. 84. +[^21]: Jung, "Synchronicity," p. 22 and notes 30 to 32, citing J. B. Rhine, *Extra-Sensory Perception* (Boston, 1934), *New Frontiers of the Mind* (New York, 1937), and Rhine and Betty M. Humphrey, "A Transoceanic ESP Experiment," *Journal of Parapsychology* VI (1942). +[^22]: Jung, "Synchronicity," pp. 24 to 25, reporting Rhine's card, distance, time and dice experiments as Jung presented them. +[^23]: Jung, "Synchronicity," p. 26, note 34. +[^24]: Engelbert L. Schücking, review of *Atom and Archetype: The Pauli/Jung Letters, 1932-1958,* ed. C. A. Meier, *Physics Today* 55, no. 9 (September 2002), DOI 10.1063/1.1522220, https://physicstoday.aip.org/article/55/9/62/757315. +[^25]: Wolfgang Pauli to C. G. Jung, Zollikon-Zurich, June 16, 1948, in *Atom and Archetype: The Pauli/Jung Letters, 1932-1958,* ed. C. A. Meier (Princeton University Press, 2001), pp. 33 to 34, text as reprinted at https://carljungdepthpsychologysite.blog/?p=3127. +[^26]: Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ, "A Perceptual Channel for Information Transfer over Kilometer Distances: Historical Perspective and Recent Research," *Proceedings of the IEEE* 64, no. 3 (March 1976), p. 329 ff., reference 62 in the text; CIA CREST, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080007-7. +[^27]: Central Intelligence Agency, report on the 23rd Annual International Conference of the Parapsychology Foundation, Hotel La Réserve, Geneva, August 26 and 27, 1974, "Quantum Physics and Parapsychology," dated October 28, 1974, CIA CREST, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200180001-2. +[^28]: "Boom Times on the Psychic Frontier," *Time,* March 4, 1974, quoting Martin Gardner, CIA CREST, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100030002-8. +[^29]: "Paul Kammerer's Experiments on the Midwife Toad (1905-1910)," Embryo Project, Arizona State University, https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/paul-kammerers-experiments-midwife-toad-1905-1910, reporting Gladwyn K. Noble, "Kammerer's Alytes," *Nature* 118 (1926): 518, and William Bateson's criticisms in *Nature* in 1919 and 1923. +[^30]: H. Atmanspacher and W. Fach, "A structural-phenomenological typology of mind-matter correlations," *Journal of Analytical Psychology* 58, no. 2 (2013): 219 to 244, DOI 10.1111/1468-5922.12005, https://publications.igpp.de/index.cgi/bibliography/SPY39GC5 diff --git a/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Skinwalker Ranch.md b/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Skinwalker Ranch.md index ac7037de..4527aed2 100644 --- a/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Skinwalker Ranch.md +++ b/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Skinwalker Ranch.md @@ -1,51 +1,231 @@ --- +aliases: + - Skinwalker Ranch + - Skinwalker ranch + - Sherman ranch + - Uintah County ranch + - Adamantium Real Estate property tags: - Place - Landmark - Utah - UAP - Paranormal + - Skinwalker + - AAWSAP + - AATIP + - BAASS + - NIDS + - Bigelow + - CattleMutilations + - RemoteViewing category: "Landmark" -summary: "Skinwalker Ranch is a 480-acre property in Utah known for a long history of paranormal and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena-related events." +summary: "Skinwalker Ranch is a 480-acre Utah property whose owners reported cattle mutilations and unidentified craft before Robert Bigelow bought it in 1996 and placed it under his research institute." +location: "Uintah County, Utah" updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: owned + with: "[[Garth Myers]]" + reverse: true + end: 1994 + role: "sold the ranch in 1994 after inheriting it from relatives" + fn: 5 + - type: owned + with: "[[Terry Sherman]]" + reverse: true + start: 1994 + end: 1996-09 + role: "owners in the Deseret News of June 30, 1996, Terry and Gwen Sherman, who had bought the ranch about two years earlier" + fn: 1 + - type: owned + with: "[[Robert Bigelow]]" + reverse: true + start: 1996-09 + end: 2016-04 + role: "purchase reported as September 1996 for about 200,000 dollars" + fn: 3 + - type: owned + with: "[[National Institute for Discovery Science]]" + reverse: true + start: 2006 + role: "described as still owned by NIDS in an April 2006 Deseret News article; the title holder of record is not established" + fn: 9 + - type: owned + with: "[[Adamantium Real Estate, LLC]]" + reverse: true + start: 2016-04 + role: "acquired April 2016 per UBMedia; the same entity filed the SKINWALKER RANCH trademark application in 2017" + fn: 6 + - type: owned + with: "[[Brandon Fugal]]" + reverse: true + start: 2016 + role: "identified as owner in March 2020 by KLAS-TV and Vice, through a company that bought the ranch in 2016" + fn: 12 + - type: investigated + with: "[[National Institute for Discovery Science]]" + reverse: true + start: 1996 + end: 2004 + role: "research team at the ranch, per Knapp and the Micah Hanks Program" + fn: 18 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Colm Kelleher]]" + reverse: true + start: 1996 + end: 2004 + role: "led the NIDS team at the ranch per the Micah Hanks Program description; joined NIDS in summer 1996 per his book" + fn: 18 + - type: investigated + with: "[[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]]" + reverse: true + start: 2008 + end: 2012 + role: "program investigated an alleged UAP hotspot at a Utah property owned by the head of the contractor, per AARO" + fn: 4 --- -[[Skinwalker Ranch]] is a 480-acre property in [[Utah]] known for a long history of paranormal and [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena|UAP]]-related events. The ranch was a subject of investigation for the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AAWSAP), the precursor to the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).[^1] -### Phenomena and Investigation +[[Skinwalker Ranch]] is a 480-acre property in [[Utah]]'s [[Uintah County, Utah|Uintah County]], near [[Randlett, Utah]], where the owners reported cattle mutilations and unidentified craft ([[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena|UAP]]) from April 1995. In September 1996 [[Robert Bigelow]] bought the ranch, and research there was conducted under his [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS).[^1][^2][^3] The ranch later figured in the work of [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] (BAASS), the primary contractor of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) program known as [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program|AAWSAP]], also called AATIP.[^4] -The ranch has been the site of a wide range of anomalous activity, including UAP sightings, strange apparitions, and other terrifying experiences. Visitors have reported seeing a variety of UAP, from orbs to larger craft, and have experienced equipment malfunctions and other strange occurrences.[^1] +### Ownership -In the mid-1990s, the ranch was purchased by [[Robert Bigelow]], who established the [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS) to study the phenomena. When AAWSAP was established with Bigelow's company, [[Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies]] (BAASS), as the primary contractor, the investigation of Skinwalker Ranch became a part of the program's portfolio. Teams of researchers were sent to the ranch to collect data on the anomalous activity.[^1] +[[Salt Lake Magazine]] reported that the ranch was bought in the 1930s "by some accounts" by [[Kenneth Myers]] and Edith Myers, passed to Kenneth Myers's brother [[Garth Myers]], and was sold by Garth Myers in 1994. The magazine added that Garth Myers has denied any UFO activity on the property while his family owned it, and that "Tom and Ellen Gorman," the names [[Hunt for the Skinwalker]] uses for its ranching family, bought it in 1994.[^5] [[Joseph Hicks]], a retired teacher from [[Roosevelt, Utah]] who investigated Uintah Basin sightings, told [[UBMedia]] in 2016 that the Myers family settled the ranch in 1905 and reported no strange occurrences, while neighbors did.[^6] A June 1996 Deseret News article stated that the ranch "sat idle for seven years after the previous owners passed away."[^1] -One of the most disturbing phenomena associated with the ranch is the "hitchhiker effect," a term coined by [[Jay Stratton]]. This refers to the tendency for the paranormal phenomena to "follow" investigators home, harassing them and their families long after they have left the property. [[Luis Elizondo]] notes that his own experiences with orbs in his home began after he started working with the program, and that other members of the team had similar experiences.[^1] +The [[Deseret News]] gave the ranch's owners in 1996 as [[Terry Sherman|Terry]] and [[Gwen Sherman]], who had bought it "two years ago," and the book gives the purchase as the fall of 1994.[^1][^7] [[Zack Van Eyck]] wrote that "For more than a year now the Shermans' 480-acre ranch just south of Fort Duchesne in Uintah County has been a hotbed for UFOs and bizarre paranormal activity." Terry Sherman said, "I don't know really what to think about it," and in the same article said, "We've seen (the UFOs) enough and we know pretty much what the craft look like, and I think it's definitely associated with the cattle mutilations."[^1] UBMedia reported in 2016 that [[George Knapp]], writing in 2002, described the family's discovery of deadbolts on both sides of the house doors and iron stakes and chains at both ends of the house.[^6] -In a 2026 KLAS report on his memoir, [[George Knapp]] wrote that Stratton "spent a lot of time at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah and said he took home devious 'hitchhikers.'" According to the report, Stratton says these hitchhikers "never left him and continue to bother him in his own home almost two decades later."[^2] +Van Eyck reported in April 1997 that Robert Bigelow, "a [[Las Vegas]] real estate magnate who founded the institute, bought the ranch last September, three months after the Shermans first told their bizarre story publicly in the Deseret News." The article reported that Sherman signed a nondisclosure agreement with Bigelow after selling and that the Shermans had given their account to the [[Colorado]] writer [[David Perkins]] for a story in [[Spirit (magazine)|Spirit]] magazine.[^2] The article was reprinted in *The [[Uintah Basin Standard]]* on April 29, 1997.[^8] -### Press Report of April 1997 +The [[Las Vegas Sun]] reported in October 1996 that "Several weeks later, Bigelow met with the Shermans and negotiated to buy the ranch for about $200,000." The same report said that "Officially, the research is being conducted by the National Institute for Discovery Science, which Bigelow formed last October," that the Sherman family had relocated "to a smaller ranch 15 miles away," and that Sherman was "now employed by Bigelow to maintain the ranch." Sherman said he had been offered more money by a Colorado family and a local hunting club but "did not want to put anyone at risk," and was quoted: "It's just been a bad deal all the way around."[^3] -The *[[Deseret News]]* reporter [[Zack Van Eyck]] wrote in April 1997 (reprinted in *The [[Uintah Basin Standard]]* on April 29) that the 480-acre property near [[Randlett, Utah|Randlett]], in [[Uintah County, Utah|Uintah County]], had been bought the previous September by Robert Bigelow, "a [[Las Vegas]] real estate magnate who founded" the National Institute for Discovery Science, three months after its owners [[Terry Sherman|Terry]] and [[Gwen Sherman|Gwen]] Sherman first told their story publicly in that newspaper. The Shermans reported that three cattle were found dead and partly mutilated, that seven others "disappeared," and that three dogs vanished one night in the summer of 1996. The institute's spokesman said its researchers had not seen the flying craft, cattle mutilations or dog-killing "balls of light" the Shermans described; [[John B. Alexander]] said "There have been some minor observations, but nothing you would stand behind." Sheriff's Sergeant [[Steve Hatzidakis]] said no reports had reached his office since Bigelow bought the ranch, and that two cattle mutilations had been reported the previous summer on a neighboring ranch. The story stated that Sherman signed a nondisclosure agreement with Bigelow after selling, and had given his account to the [[Colorado]] writer [[David Perkins]] for a story in *[[Spirit (magazine)|Spirit]]* magazine.[^3] +A Deseret News article of April 22, 2006 described the property as "still owned by the National Institute for Discovery Science."[^9] -### The Blue Orbs +UBMedia reported on September 24, 2016 that "Adamantium Real Estate acquired the ranch in April 2016." On July 18, 2016, Basin resident [[Thomas Winterton]] had represented Adamantium Real Estate LLC before the [[Uintah County Commission]] in a request to vacate Hicken Ranch Road, a public class-D county road bisecting the ranch that Bigelow had gated; the commission did not approve the request because of objections from other property owners along the road. According to Winterton, the owner of Adamantium Real Estate had to remain anonymous for business purposes. The article reports that the ranch's security had remained high since NIDS ceased operating in 2004, with cameras, motion detectors and 24-hour security personnel living on the property, and quotes Knapp: "I was with Bob Bigelow when he made the decision to have the 24-hour security there because it just got out of hand." The article carries a correction: "This story has been corrected to reflect that no proof has been brought forward to show that Robert Bigelow is an owner of Adamantium Real Estate."[^6] -One of the most dangerous phenomena reported at the ranch are the blue orbs. In one incident, two dogs owned by a rancher chased a blue orb into a field and were vaporized, leaving behind only grease spots on the sagebrush. Luis Elizondo wrote that the orbs emit a form of directed energy that can be harmful or even lethal to living tissue.[^1] +[[Adamantium Real Estate, LLC]] is a Delaware limited liability company (file number 6000709, registered agent The Corporation Trust Company, Wilmington) registered in Utah as a foreign limited liability company (entity number 14689745-0161, registered agent CT Corporation System, Midvale), with a Salt Lake City business address.[^10] The [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] record for the mark SKINWALKER RANCH (serial 87336178) lists an application filed February 15, 2017 by Adamantium Real Estate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company based in Salt Lake City. The registration issued April 14, 2020 as Registration No. 6034085.[^11] The corporate listing also records a registration of the mark SKINWALKER in class 41 on May 19, 2020.[^10] -### Connection to AATIP +On March 10, 2020 [[KLAS-TV]] reported that "The company that bought Skinwalker Ranch from Robert Bigelow in 2016 belongs to [[Brandon Fugal]], a commercial real estate mogul who operates out of Salt Lake City."[^12] [[Vice]] published the identification the same day, described the property as a 512-acre ranch, and stated that Bigelow sold it to Fugal in 2016.[^13] Fugal told Utah Business in December 2020, in the magazine's words, that he bought the ranch in 2016 "for an unknown sum," and said: "I think Mr. Bigelow saw me as a worthy successor and steward of the property, and that we're only a few hours away from the property and have the resources to continue his work." He also said he acquired the ranch "as a healthy skeptic, fully expecting that there was a 95 percent chance that all of the reports of high strangeness and supernatural activity had a natural, prosaic explanation." The magazine reported that Fugal installed a research team and launched the History Channel series *The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch*, that Winterton appears in it as ranch superintendent, and that the ranch's chief of security is Bryant Arnold.[^14] The UBMedia correction states that no proof had been brought forward that Bigelow owned the 2016 buyer, and the KLAS and Vice reports name Bigelow as the seller.[^6][^12][^13] -The investigation of Skinwalker Ranch was a controversial aspect of the AATIP program. While program leader [[James Lacatski]] believed that the paranormal events at the ranch were inextricably linked to the UAP mystery, the focus on such phenomena drew criticism from within the [[Pentagon]] and contributed to the internal opposition that ultimately led to the program losing its official support.[^1] +### Tribal Land History -### Kelleher's 1997 Account +The [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]] describes the [[Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation]] as "located in the Uinta Basin, in northeast Utah."[^15] "By 1905, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior to break up the Ute reservation," the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit]] wrote in 2016, and the Secretary in 1945 issued an order returning unallotted lands, about 217,000 acres, to tribal jurisdiction. The court added that "it is undisputed that Myton lies on land that was part of the Tribe's original reservation."[^16] The [[Ute Partition Act]] of August 27, 1954 was enacted "to provide for the partition and distribution of the assets of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah."[^17] -On the night of March 12, 1997, after the ranch had been sold, [[Colm Kelleher]], working with Robert Bigelow's National Institute for Discovery Science, reported seeing a large humanoid creature watching the research team from a tree perch about 20 feet off the ground and about 50 yards away. He describes it in [[Hunt for the Skinwalker]] as "the large creature that lay motionless, almost casually, in the tree." After he fired a rifle at it the creature disappeared, and he found "a single, obvious oval track about six inches in diameter embedded deeply in the patch of snow."[^4] +Hicks told UBMedia that the Utes fought the Navajo for the basin before the arrival of settlers and that the Navajo, losing, "cursed the Utes with the skinwalker," and that the creature was seen on the ridge north of the ranch pastures known informally as Skinwalker Ridge.[^6] [[Colm Kelleher]] and Knapp wrote that skinwalker traditions exist among "the Navajo, Hopi, Utes, and other tribes," and Knapp's foreword states that the ranch "is contiguous with a Ute Native American reservation."[^7] + +### The Shermans' Account + +The June 1996 Deseret News article reported that the Shermans had seen three types of craft repeatedly over 15 months: a small boxlike craft with a white light, a 40-foot-long object and a huge ship "the size of several football fields," along with a craft emitting "a wavy red ray" and lights emerging from "orange, circular doorways that seem to appear in midair." They videotaped two of the sightings. Terry Sherman placed the first sighting in April 1995, when he went to check on a calving cow and saw lights in the field. The article reported that the Shermans found one cow dead with "a peculiar hole in the center of its left eyeball," another with a six-inch hole cut near the rectum, and a third in January with an 18-inch-deep cored hole, and that four other cows had "disappeared without a trace." In the article Terry Sherman said, "when we see the crafts and then the cattle, we have problems."[^1] + +The article also reported that Sherman had confided in Hicks, a retired junior high school teacher who had investigated more than 400 UFO sightings in the Uintah Basin since the early 1950s, and that the records clerk of the [[Uintah County Sheriff's Office]] and Duchesne County sheriff [[Ralph Stansfield]] said they had no recent reports of UFOs or mutilations. The Shermans had not reported the activity to officials. Barry Karr of the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] said in the article: "There is no good, physical evidence that we are being visited by beings from other planets."[^1] + +Kelleher and Knapp's account of the family, whom they call "Gorman," describes a wolf "almost three times" normal size that was untouched by gunfire, the father's night-vision-scope observations of an orange structure over the cottonwoods through which he once saw "another sky," his conclusion that the ranch was "the site of some kind of dimensional doorway," the loss of two more animals to mutilation in early 1996, the killing of the family's three dogs in April 1996, and the family's agreement in July 1996 to sell.[^7] + +### Early Press Account + +[[John B. Alexander]], then the institute's director for scientific liaison, told the Deseret News in 1997: "There have been some minor observations, but nothing you would stand behind." He added: "Definitely no craft. No, we haven't had any dog-zappers. . . . Nobody has landed."[^2] The article reported that the institute's researchers had not seen the flying craft, cattle mutilations or the "balls of light" the Shermans described, and that the Shermans had counted three cattle dead and partially mutilated, at least seven others "disappeared," and three dogs gone one night in the summer of 1996 after chasing a ball of light. It also reported that [[Steve Hatzidakis]], a sergeant with the Uintah County Sheriff's Office, said no reports had reached his office since Bigelow bought the ranch, and that two cattle mutilations had been reported the previous summer on a neighboring ranch. Utah researcher [[Ryan Layton]], who had met the Shermans several times, said he "seriously doubts" the phenomena had ceased, and Layton and other researchers were frustrated that NIDS had not released details of its work.[^2] + +The Las Vegas Sun reported that Bigelow "has erected an observation building and moved in a pair of scientists and a veterinarian," with someone on the property 24 hours a day, and that Roosevelt veterinarian Dan Dennis said Bigelow met him on October 15, 1996 to ask for help with necropsies on animals whose deaths might be tied to UFO or paranormal phenomena.[^3] + +### NIDS Research + +Kelleher, according to the Micah Hanks Program description, led the NIDS team on Skinwalker Ranch from 1996 to 2004.[^18] In his book he wrote that NIDS "was started by Las Vegas real estate tycoon Bob Bigelow" and that he answered a NIDS recruitment advertisement in *Science* and joined in summer 1996.[^7] + +Kelleher described the night of March 12, 1997, when he was working with NIDS at the property. He reported seeing a large humanoid creature watching the research team from a tree perch about 20 feet off the ground and about 50 yards away. In Hunt for the Skinwalker he wrote of "the large creature that lay motionless, almost casually, in the tree." After he fired a rifle at it the creature disappeared, and he found "a single, obvious oval track about six inches in diameter embedded deeply in the patch of snow."[^19] + +The book reports that five remote viewers were given the coordinate SR110202 and asked about events at the location in July 1996; NIDS received their report in January 2003, and the group's impression was of a military operation "most likely" involving the U.S. Navy, with one viewer describing the Pentagon.[^7] + +In a 2023 statement to Congress, Knapp wrote that Bigelow created NIDS in 1996 with a science advisory board of PhD-level academics, two former astronauts who had walked on the moon, and scientists who had worked for or consulted with military and intelligence agencies, and that after NIDS began its investigations he informed Senator [[Harry Reid]] about the organization; Reid attended one of the first board meetings.[^20] ### Hunt for the Skinwalker -The 2018 documentary Hunt for the Skinwalker, written and directed by [[Jeremy Corbell]], is listed on [[IMDb]] with a publication date of September 11, 2018. Its promotional description says that "An exhaustive, multidisciplinary scientific study began in 1996, spearheaded by an enigmatic Las Vegas billionaire," and the cast list includes George Knapp, Colm Kelleher and Robert Bigelow.[^5] The [[United States Copyright Office]] catalog lists the book Hunt for the Skinwalker (TX0006340176, registered April 27, 2006, first published November 15, 2005) with Kelleher and Knapp as claimants.[^6] +The book was published in 2005 by [[Paraview Pocket Books]] and is catalogued under Kelleher's name alone. The [[United States Copyright Office]] catalog lists it (TX0006340176, registered April 27, 2006, first published November 15, 2005) with Kelleher and Knapp as claimants.[^21] + +The 2018 documentary [[Hunt for the Skinwalker (film)]], written and directed by [[Jeremy Corbell]], is listed on [[IMDb]] with a publication date of September 11, 2018. Its promotional description says that "An exhaustive, multidisciplinary scientific study began in 1996, spearheaded by an enigmatic Las Vegas billionaire," and the cast list includes Knapp, Kelleher and Bigelow.[^22] + +### Reid, Bigelow and the DIA + +The [[New York Times]] reported on December 16, 2017 that most of the money for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program went to Bigelow's aerospace company, and that Reid said his interest in UFOs came from Bigelow. According to the Times, Reid said that in 2007 Bigelow told him that an official with the Defense Intelligence Agency had approached Bigelow wanting to visit Bigelow's ranch in Utah, where he conducted research; Reid said he met agency officials shortly afterward, learned that they wanted to start a research program on UFOs, and summoned [[Ted Stevens]] and [[Daniel Inouye]] to a secure room in the Capitol. Reid said Stevens replied, "I've been waiting to do this since I was in the Air Force." Reid said of the funding, "This was so-called black money," and "Stevens knows about it, Inouye knows about it. But that was it, and that's how we wanted it." The Times named Stevens and Inouye, both top members of a defense spending subcommittee, as supporters of the program.[^23] + +[[Steven Aftergood]] of the [[Federation of American Scientists]] wrote in 2019 that "From 2007 to 2012, the DIA spent $22 million on the activity, formally known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program," and that it was apparently initiated "at the behest of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with most of the funding directed to a Nevada constituent of his."[^24] Knapp wrote in his 2025 statement to Congress that "Senator Harry Reid and two other senior senators secured the funding for the program."[^25] + +### AAWSAP and BAASS + +[[All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office]] (AARO) stated that "At the direction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the Defense Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010 appropriated $22 million for the DIA to assess long-term and over-the-horizon foreign advanced aerospace threats to the United States," and that the contract for the program was awarded to a private sector organization. AARO added that "The names AAWSAP and AATIP have been used interchangeably for the name of this program, including on official documentation," and that AAWSAP/AATIP "investigated an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in Utah" which "at that time was owned by the head of the private sector organization," including "reports of 'shadow figures' and 'creatures,' and exploring 'remote viewing' and 'human consciousness anomalies.'" According to AARO the organization "also planned to hire psychics to study 'inter-dimensional phenomena' believed to frequently appear at that location," and "DIA did not seek, nor specifically authorize, this work though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract with the private sector organization."[^4] + +The DIA order to BAASS, HHM402-08-C-0072, was awarded on September 22, 2008. The order form gives a total award amount of $21,948,810 and refers to the solicitation HHM402-08-R-0211, issued September 1, 2008 with an offer due date of September 10, 2008.[^26] A later copy of a DIA contract modification carries a $10,000,000 amount on its attached order form.[^27] + +A DIA talking paper dated May 4, 2009 states: "In response to this tasking, the DIA published a request for proposals (RFP) on 18 August 2008." It continues: "DIA received only one bid, from Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in response to the RFP. DIA determined that the proposal was responsive and the contract signed on 22 September 2008."[^28] + +On June 24, 2009 Senator Reid wrote on Majority Leader letterhead to Deputy Secretary of Defense [[William Lynn]] that "much progress has been made with the identification of several highly sensitive, unconventional aerospace-related findings," and: "I require your assistance in establishing a Restricted Special-Access-Program (SAP)" for portions of the program. The attachment gave the program length as fiscal years 2009 to 2013 (preliminary).[^29] AARO wrote that "Deputy Secretary Lynn declined to do so based on the recommendation of then-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, [[James Clapper|James R. Clapper, Jr.]], that such a designation was not justified."[^4] + +An undated memo signed by Clapper states: "The sole bid for the contract was from Bigelow Aerospace Advance Space Studies located in Las Vegas, NV." It continues: "A $12M earmark has been allocated to support the program in FY2010. Based on the recommendation from DIA and my staffs review of the technical reports, I recommend against establishing a Special Access Program at this time."[^30] + +A DIA information memo of about December 2010 states that the program "was first sponsored in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Defense Supplemental Appropriation Act by Senators Reid and Inouye with a $10 [million] add." The memo adds: "At that time, we determined the reports were of limited value to DIA. However, I did suggest they could be of merit to other organizations."[^31] + +DIA released a list of 38 research titles to Aftergood on January 16, 2019, and the list credits [[Hal Puthoff]] with "Advanced Space Propulsion Based on Vacuum (Spacetime Metric) Engineering" and [[Eric Davis]] with "Traversable Wormholes, Stargates, and Negative Energy" and "Antigravity for Aerospace Applications."[^32] The Black Vault reports that DIA released 37 of the 38 reports under a March 25, 2022 response, with the one withheld report being a SECRET version of a laser weapons title.[^33] + +Kelleher is listed in the September 29, 2017 offering circular of [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] as having worked for eight years as Deputy Director of NIDS and, from 2008 to 2011, as "Deputy Administrator of a United States Government funded threat assessment program focused on advanced aerospace technology."[^34] The Micah Hanks Program description of May 2023 states that Kelleher became deputy administrator of BAASS in 2008 and "led the day-to-day operations in executing the AAWSAP contract with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)."[^18] In written testimony to the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets on September 9, 2025, Knapp described Kelleher as "the principal manager of AAWSAP in Las Vegas."[^25] + +Knapp wrote in February 2023 that [[James Lacatski]], a DIA rocket scientist, "was reading about a UFO hotspot named 'Skinwalker Ranch,'" that after a visit to the property Lacatski pitched a formal investigation of it, and that "Reid agreed to fund it, and Bigelow landed the contract."[^35] + +Elizondo gives a different account of the program's internal disputes. He wrote that in the fall of 2009 he and Stratton urged Lacatski to drop investigations "that many considered to be dealing with the paranormal," including the work at Skinwalker Ranch, in favor of UAP threats, and that Lacatski declined. He also wrote that a senior official he calls "Devon Woods" told him in 2010 that the work was demonic. In Elizondo's account, Lacatski believed the events at the ranch were inextricably linked to the UAP question, and the focus on such phenomena drew criticism from within the [[Pentagon]] that contributed to the loss of the program's official support.[^36] + +A one-page enclosure released by the [[Department of Homeland Security]] in June 2023 after a request by [[Marc Cecotti]] is headed "BAASS Goals 2011/2012." Its listed goals include "Consciousness interactions with, and control of, advanced AAV technology," "Extend Remote Communication Programs to communicate and retrieve data across dimensional/space-time barrier. Target multiple locations," and "Identify anomalous activity in select areas of United States and establish field research laboratories and remote communication programs on site."[^37] + +[[Keith Basterfield]] reported in June 2025 on documents that surfaced online, among them a 530-page document with a coversheet title of "BAASS Ten Month Report," dated July 30, 2009, and a 101-page BAASS coversheet report titled "Utah Ranch Database Analysis," dated June 21, 2010, which he described as exploring the incidents recorded in a CAPELLA database of events at the ranch up to June 2010. Basterfield wrote that Appendix 1 of the 2021 book *Skinwalkers at the Pentagon* lists both among the BAASS documents lodged with DIA. The documents do not appear in the DIA releases indexed by The Black Vault.[^33][^38] + +AARO wrote that "AAWSAP/AATIP was terminated in 2012 upon the completion of its deliverables due to DIA and DoD concerns about the project."[^4] AARO further wrote that the program's supporters then proposed to DHS a new version under a special access program, codenamed KONA BLUE, which would "restart UAP investigations, paranormal research (including alleged 'human consciousness anomalies') and reverse-engineer any recovered off-world spacecraft," and that "Senators Lieberman and Reid asked that the PSAP be established with the promise of additional funding."[^4] + +### Phenomena Reported by Elizondo and Stratton + +[[Luis Elizondo]], in his 2024 book [[Imminent (book)|Imminent]], describes the ranch as the site of a wide range of anomalous activity, including UAP sightings, apparitions, and equipment malfunctions reported by visitors.[^36] + +Elizondo wrote that one of the most dangerous phenomena reported at the ranch was a set of blue orbs. In one incident, two dogs owned by a rancher chased a blue orb into a field and were vaporized, leaving only grease spots on the sagebrush. Elizondo wrote that the orbs emit a form of directed energy that can be harmful or lethal to living tissue.[^36] + +Elizondo credited [[Jay Stratton]] with coining the term "hitchhiker effect" for phenomena that follow investigators home and disturb them and their families long after they leave the property. He wrote that his own experiences with orbs in his home began after he started working with the program and that other members of the team had similar experiences.[^36] In a 2026 KLAS report on Stratton's memoir, Knapp wrote that Stratton "spent a lot of time at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah and said he took home devious 'hitchhikers.'" The report states that, according to Stratton, "these hitchhikers never left him and continue to bother him in his own home almost two decades later."[^39] + +### Official and Skeptical Positions + +[[Sean Kirkpatrick]], then the director of AARO, wrote in a January 19, 2024 column in [[Scientific American]] that the DIA had concluded "that not only did no such material exist, but taxpayer money was being inappropriately spent on paranormal research at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah." He wrote that the narrative of a hidden program was "largely an outgrowth" of AATIP, "which was heavily influenced by a group of individuals associated with businessman and longtime ufologist Robert Bigelow," and, of the account of a transfer of such a program to private contractors, that "All of this is without substantiating evidence."[^40] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024. -[^2]: George Knapp and John Forest, "Jay Stratton to release new book on non-human intelligent life Oct. 13," KLAS-TV (8 News Now), 2026. https://www.8newsnow.com/mystery-wire/jay-stratton-uap-book-release/amp/ -[^3]: Zack Van Eyck, "No UFOs or ETs have dropped in at spooky ranch," *The Uintah Basin Standard* (Roosevelt, Utah; reprinted from the *Deseret News*), April 29, 1997, p. 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/725294178/. -[^4]: Adam Janos, "Skinwalker Ranch," History.com, quoting Kelleher's account of March 12, 1997 from Hunt for the Skinwalker. https://www.history.com/articles/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal-ufos-mutilation -[^5]: IMDb title page for Hunt for the Skinwalker (tt8399718), Internet Archive snapshot of 2019 (director and writer credits, publication date 2018-09-11, promotional description, cast list). https://web.archive.org/web/2019/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8399718/ -[^6]: U.S. Copyright Office Public Records System, registration TX0006340176. https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/ +[^1]: Zack Van Eyck, "FREQUENT FLIERS?", *Deseret News* (Salt Lake City), June 30, 1996. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/30/19251541/frequent-fliers +[^2]: Zack Van Eyck, "No UFOs or ETs have dropped in at spooky ranch," *Deseret News*, April 27, 1997. https://www.deseret.com/1997/4/27/19308958/no-ufos-or-ets-have-dropped-in-at-spooky-ranch +[^3]: "Nevada millionaire buys UFO ranch in Utah," *Las Vegas Sun*, October 23, 1996. https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/oct/23/nevada-millionaire-buys-ufo-ranch-in-utah/ +[^4]: All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, *Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)*, Volume I, cleared for open publication March 2024, p. 22 (appropriation and program names), p. 23 (Utah property, Lynn decision, termination), pp. 34 to 35 (KONA BLUE). https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDF +[^5]: Salt Lake Magazine, "High strangeness at Skinwalker Ranch," June 7, 2022. https://saltlakemagazine.com/high-strangeness-at-skinwalker-ranch/ +[^6]: Joshua Murdock, UBMedia, September 24, 2016, with editor's correction. Internet Archive capture of June 16, 2019: https://web.archive.org/web/20190616173436/https://ubmedia.biz/ (article 016cb90c) +[^7]: Colm A. Kelleher and George Knapp, *Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah* (Paraview Pocket Books, 2005): purchase in fall 1994, p. 11; wolf account, pp. 3 to 4; observations of the orange structure, pp. 62 to 64; early 1996 mutilations, p. 70; April 1996 and July 1996, pp. 84 to 86; NIDS recruitment, pp. 89 to 90; skinwalker traditions, pp. 35 to 36; Knapp foreword, pp. n10 to n11; remote viewing, p. 223. https://archive.org/details/huntforskinwalke0000kell +[^8]: Zack Van Eyck, "No UFOs or ETs have dropped in at spooky ranch," *The Uintah Basin Standard* (Roosevelt, Utah; reprinted from the *Deseret News*), April 29, 1997, p. 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/725294178/. +[^9]: "Mysteries of UFO ranch in spotlight," *Deseret News*, April 22, 2006. https://www.deseret.com/2006/4/22/19949762/mysteries-of-ufo-ranch-in-spotlight +[^10]: OpenCorporates listings for Adamantium Real Estate, LLC: Delaware company 6000709 (https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_de/6000709) and Utah foreign LLC 14689745-0161 (https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ut/14689745-0161), including trademark registrations SKINWALKER RANCH (April 14, 2020) and SKINWALKER (May 19, 2020), class 41. +[^11]: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Status and Document Retrieval, serial 87336178, SKINWALKER RANCH, filed February 15, 2017, registered April 14, 2020 as Reg. No. 6034085. https://tsdr.uspto.gov/statusview/sn87336178 +[^12]: KLAS-TV (8 News Now), Mystery Wire, March 10, 2020. https://digital-release.8newsnow.com/?p=2488085 +[^13]: Vice, "Brandon Fugal owner of Skinwalker Ranch," March 10, 2020. https://www.vice.com/en/article/brandon-fugal-owner-of-skinwalker-ranch +[^14]: "Why Brandon Fugal bought Skinwalker Ranch," *Utah Business*, December 15, 2020. https://www.utahbusiness.com/building-development/2020/12/15/why-a-millionaire-real-estate-mogul-bought-skinwalker-ranch/ +[^15]: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Uintah and Ouray Reservation document idc1-022549, Internet Archive capture of May 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170516195623/https://www.bia.gov/ +[^16]: *Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation v. Myton*, No. 15-4080 (10th Cir., August 29, 2016). https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/15/15-4080.pdf +[^17]: Ute Partition Act, Act of August 27, 1954, 68 Stat. 868. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-68/pdf/STATUTE-68-Pg868.pdf +[^18]: Micah Hanks, "Colm Kelleher: AAWSAP and the Skinwalker Enigma," *The Debrief*, May 25, 2023. https://thedebrief.org/colm-kelleher-aawsap-and-the-skinwalker-enigma/ +[^19]: Adam Janos, "Skinwalker Ranch," History.com, quoting Kelleher's account of March 12, 1997 from *Hunt for the Skinwalker*. https://www.history.com/articles/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal-ufos-mutilation +[^20]: George Knapp, statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, July 26, 2023, pp. 1 to 2. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO06/20230726/116282/HHRG-118-GO06-20230726-SD004.pdf +[^21]: U.S. Copyright Office Public Records System, registration TX0006340176. https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/ +[^22]: IMDb title page for *Hunt for the Skinwalker* (tt8399718), Internet Archive snapshot of 2019 (director and writer credits, publication date September 11, 2018, promotional description, cast list). https://web.archive.org/web/2019/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8399718/ +[^23]: Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean, "Glowing Auras and 'Black Money': The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program," *The New York Times*, December 16, 2017 (New York Times News Service text, "Are UFOs real? A Pentagon program tried to find out," *Boston Globe*). https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2017/12/16/are-ufos-real-a-pentagon-program-tried-to-find-out +[^24]: Steven Aftergood, "DIA releases list of AATIP research titles," *Secrecy News*, Federation of American Scientists, January 17, 2019. https://fas.org/publication/aatip-list/ +[^25]: George Knapp, written statement to the House Oversight Committee Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, September 9, 2025. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/George-Knapp-Written-Testimony.pdf +[^26]: Defense Intelligence Agency, FOIA letter FOIA-00269-2018 (June 26, 2023) enclosing Standard Form 1449 for order HHM402-08-C-0072 (award September 22, 2008). https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00269-2018-.pdf +[^27]: Defense Intelligence Agency, FOIA letter FOIA-00349-2018 (October 13, 2022) with Standard Form 1449 copy showing $10,000,000.00. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/FOIA-00349-2018.pdf +[^28]: Defense Intelligence Agency, talking paper "Senator Reid Visit to Director, DIA," May 4, 2009, p. 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/DR_Reid_Mtg_May09.pdf +[^29]: Harry Reid to William Lynn, June 24, 2009, with Attachment 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/20090624_Reid_to_DEPSECDEF_ref_AAITP_in_SAP.pdf +[^30]: James R. Clapper Jr., undated memorandum with DIA review packet, p. 1. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/09117-Final_Packet_Presented_to_DepSecDef.pdf +[^31]: Defense Intelligence Agency, information memorandum U-10-2552, to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, c. December 2010, pp. 1 to 2. https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/dia/AAWSAP/U-10-2552CE-IM-ATL.pdf +[^32]: Defense Intelligence Agency letter U-18-2148/FAC-2A1, January 16, 2019, enclosing the 38-title list of Defense Intelligence Reference Documents. https://archive.org/download/aatip-list/aatip-list.pdf +[^33]: The Black Vault, AAWSAP documentation index, updated October 13, 2022, including DIA FOIA-0159-2018 response of March 25, 2022. https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/the-advanced-aerospace-weapon-system-applications-program-aawsap-documentation/ +[^34]: To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, Form 253G2 offering circular, September 29, 2017, SEC accession 0001144204-17-050693. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417050693/v476177_253g2.htm +[^35]: George Knapp, "Former intelligence official breaks silence on gov't UFO investigations," KLAS-TV (8 News Now), February 2023. https://www.8newsnow.com/mystery-wire/former-intelligence-official-breaks-silence-on-govt-ufo-investigations/ +[^36]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs* (William Morrow, 2024). Account attributed to Elizondo. +[^37]: Department of Homeland Security, FOIA case 2022-HQFO-00386, enclosure "BAASS Goals 2011/2012," released June 20, 2023 to Marc Cecotti. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzFa76yXwAE4d8N.png +[^38]: Keith Basterfield, "More BAASS AAWSAP documents emerge," June 5, 2025. https://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com/2025/06/more-baass-aawsap-documents-emerge.html +[^39]: George Knapp and John Forest, "Jay Stratton to release new book on non-human intelligent life Oct. 13," KLAS-TV (8 News Now), 2026. https://www.8newsnow.com/mystery-wire/jay-stratton-uap-book-release/amp/ +[^40]: Sean Kirkpatrick, "Here's What I Learned as the U.S. Government's UFO Hunter," *Scientific American*, January 19, 2024. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-i-learned-as-the-u-s-governments-ufo-hunter/ diff --git a/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Syrian Embassy in London.md b/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Syrian Embassy in London.md index fda995eb..52e801d9 100644 --- a/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Syrian Embassy in London.md +++ b/60 - PLACES/LANDMARKS/Syrian Embassy in London.md @@ -5,18 +5,109 @@ tags: - International - Syria - UK + - ElAlPlot + - Hindawi + - BenMenashe + - AngloSyrianRelations + - Embassy category: "Landmark" -summary: "The Syrian Embassy in London was implicated in a 1986 plot to bomb an El Al plane, orchestrated by Rafi Eitan to discredit Syria." +summary: "The Syrian Embassy in London was named in the 1986 British statement that broke relations with Syria over the El Al bomb plot, which Ari Ben-Menashe attributed to Rafi Eitan." updated: 2026-10-15 +relations: + - type: head_of + with: "[[Loutof Haydar]]" + reverse: true + role: "ambassador to the United Kingdom, told on October 24, 1986 to close the embassy and leave the country within 14 days" + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[El Al Heathrow bomb plot]]" + role: "embassy premises and staff used for Hindawi after the failed attempt, per the 1986 Commons statement and trial evidence" + start: 1986-04-17 + fn: 1 --- -The [[Syrian Embassy in London]] was implicated in a 1986 plot to bomb an [[El Al]] plane. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote that the plot was orchestrated by [[Rafael Eitan|Rafi Eitan]] to discredit [[Syria]], and that [[Nezar Hindawi]] was instructed to meet with a Syrian intelligence officer at the embassy, leading him to believe his actions were for the Arab cause.[^1] On October 24, 1986, Foreign Secretary [[Geoffrey Howe]] told the Commons that the government had decided to break diplomatic relations with Syria. The Syrian ambassador, Dr. Haydar, was told to close his embassy and leave the country within 14 days.[^2] Howe also told the Commons: "There is conclusive evidence of Syrian official involvement with Hindawi." He said the Syrian Government's claim that its staff dealt with Hindawi "throughout as a bona fide journalist" was "frankly incredible."[^2] -Hindawi's movements before and after the attempt placed the embassy at the center of the case. Howe told the House of Commons that Hindawi spent the night after the failed attempt in Syrian embassy accommodation, where hair clippings and hair dye were found, and that in May 1986 the government had demanded the withdrawal of three Syrian embassy attachés, whose immunity the Syrian government declined to waive so that police could question them.[^3] The 2011 High Court judgment summarizes the plot as carried out "at the instigation of the Government of Syria and with the assistance of its officials, including diplomats in London."[^4] In June 1986 [[David B. Ottaway|Ottaway]] reported that an unnamed Reagan administration source said Syrian intelligence regarded Hindawi as too unstable to use, and that embassy officials in London refused to take him in after the failed attempt.[^5] +The [[Syrian Embassy in London]] was the diplomatic mission of [[Syria]] in the United Kingdom, located in [[Belgrave Square]]. Its staff and premises figure in the case of [[Nezar Hindawi]], who was convicted at the [[Old Bailey|Central Criminal Court]] on October 24, 1986, of attempting to place a bomb aboard an [[El Al]] aircraft at [[Heathrow Airport]] on April 17 of that year. The same afternoon, Foreign Secretary [[Geoffrey Howe]] told the [[House of Commons]] that Britain was breaking diplomatic relations with Syria.[^1] + +### The October 1986 breach + +Howe told the Commons that the ambassador, [[Loutof Haydar|Dr. Haydar]], had been informed of the decision that morning and was told to close his embassy and leave the country within 14 days. The British embassy in [[Damascus]] would also be closed, and [[Syrian Arab Airlines]] aircraft, crew, passengers and baggage would be subject to stricter searches in London.[^1] + +Howe described the Syrian role in strong terms. "There is conclusive evidence of Syrian official involvement with Hindawi," he said, and the Syrian claim that its staff had dealt with Hindawi "throughout as a bona fide journalist" was "frankly incredible." He listed three facts he called undisputed: Hindawi travelled on an official Syrian passport in a false name, two of his visa applications were backed by official notes from the [[Syrian Foreign Ministry]], and he met Dr. Haydar in the embassy after the bomb was discovered. He added that the government had "independent evidence that the Syrian ambassador was personally involved several months before the commission of the offence in securing for Hindawi the sponsorship of the Syrian intelligence authorities," and that during his detention Hindawi had tried to reach Syrian intelligence officials in Damascus for help in securing his release.[^1] + +The [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration responded the same day. A White House statement said "We support the British decision. Our Ambassador is being withdrawn from Syria."[^2] The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported on October 27 that the deadline for closing the Syrian embassy in London had later been shortened to seven days, after Syria announced that it was closing the British embassy in Damascus.[^3] On November 14, 1986, the White House announced further measures, citing the Hindawi conviction as proof that the Syrian government had been directly involved in the attempted bombing. The measures included controls on exports of aircraft and related goods, the termination of [[Export-Import Bank]] programs for Syria, and notice that the United States would terminate its air transport agreement with Syria. The statement noted that Syria had been on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1979.[^4] + +On October 28, 1986, Howe reported to the Commons on the Foreign Affairs Council he had chaired in Luxembourg the previous day. He said he had given the Community ministers "a full briefing on the Hindawi case" and presented "the conclusive evidence of Syrian official involvement"; that the Greek representative could not associate himself with any measure against Syria; and that the other ministers undertook that no partner would accept as a diplomat any of the Syrians expelled from London in connection with the case. The ministers were to consider on November 10 arms sales to Syria, high-level visits, "the activities of Syrian embassies in the member states" and security arrangements for Syrian Arab Airlines. A Member asked what the government would do about "the arsenal of terrorist weaponry which is in the Syrian embassy here"; Howe replied that the diplomatic bag questions were under consideration by the British and Italian governments.[^5] + +### Hindawi at the embassy + +Howe told the Commons that evidence at the trial showed Hindawi had spent some time in hotel accommodation reserved for Syrian Arab Airlines crew, and that he spent the night after the attempt in Syrian embassy accommodation, where hair clippings and hair dye were found. He also said that in May 1986, after Hindawi's arrest, the government had demanded the withdrawal of three Syrian embassy attachés, and that the Syrian government declined to waive their diplomatic immunity so that police could question them.[^1] + +The 2011 High Court judgment on Hindawi's parole summarizes the plot as carried out "at the instigation of the Government of Syria and with the assistance of its officials, including diplomats in London," and describes Hindawi as "an agent of the Syrian Government." It records that Hindawi was convicted at the Old Bailey on October 24, 1986 and sentenced to 45 years, and that [[Lord Lane]], Lord Chief Justice, dismissing his application for leave to appeal against sentence, called the crime "about as foul and as horrible a crime as could possibly be imagined."[^6] + +The account in the book by [[Patrick Seale]], drawn from the trial and from British and Syrian sources, has Hindawi going to the Syrian embassy in Belgrave Square after the bomb was found and telling Dr. Lutfallah Haydar that he was in trouble. Embassy security men took him to their lodgings in West Kensington, where they cut and dyed his hair. Hindawi then went to the London Visitors Hotel in Holland Park, where his brother, a clerk in the medical section of the [[Qatar]] embassy, persuaded him to give himself up.[^7] + +A CIA note of November 5, 1986 records that after El Al security discovered the bomb, Hindawi went to the Syrian Embassy, and that the ambassador told an embassy employee to accompany him to a Syrian safehouse in West Kensington.[^8] + +[[David B. Ottaway|Ottaway]] reported in the [[Washington Post]] in June 1986. Citing an unnamed Reagan administration source, he gave two accounts. In the first, [[Hafez al-Assad]] had told [[King Hussein]] that Syrian intelligence had contacts with Hindawi but regarded him as too unstable and unreliable to deal with. In the second, embassy officials in London refused to take Hindawi in when he came to the embassy after the failed attempt. The same report said that the three Syrian diplomats had refused to waive their immunity and would agree to questioning only inside the Syrian embassy.[^9] + +In the Commons on October 24, a Member asked whether "part of the plot involved Mr. Hindawi walking through the front door of the Syrian embassy in Belgrave square."[^1] + +### Ben-Menashe's account + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote in 1992 that the 1986 attempt was "a cold, calculated plan conceived by Rafi Eitan to discredit the Syrians." In his account, [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], a Jordanian army colonel who had emigrated to London, had been recruited in 1978 into an antiterrorist group in Israel run by [[Rafael Eitan|Rafi Eitan]], after receiving a £200,000 loan from an Israeli source. Ben-Menashe wrote that in 1986 Eitan met Radi at a secret meeting in Paris and told him he wanted to implicate the Syrian Embassy in London in terrorism and have all the Syrian diplomats thrown out of England.[^10] + +Ben-Menashe named Radi as Hindawi's cousin. He wrote that Radi, who was friendly with the Syrian Air Force intelligence attaché in London, offered Hindawi $50,000 with the words "This money I'm offering you ... is from our Syrian brothers on behalf of the Palestinians. We want to blow up a Zionist plane." Ben-Menashe also wrote that Hindawi was instructed to meet a Syrian intelligence officer at the embassy, which led him to believe his actions were for the Arab cause, and that Hindawi told the police a Syrian intelligence officer had asked him to do it. In Ben-Menashe's account, "In the El Al departure lounge, an Israeli security man dressed in casual clothes, the 'Palestinian cleaner', passed the girl the parcel." Seale places the handover at the Royal Garden Hotel.[^10] + +Of Radi, Ben-Menashe wrote: "Radi was not implicated. He was under MI-5 protection. As a result, [[Margaret Thatcher]] closed down the Syrian Embassy in London. Rafi Eitan had had his way, Hindawi was jailed for 45 years."[^10] + +### Syrian involvement and the rival accounts + +Seale wrote that "It is scarcely in doubt that a Syrian agency, most probably General Khuly's air force intelligence, was involved." He listed the evidence on which he relied. It included the official Syrian passport, Syrian Foreign Ministry support for two visa applications, the airline cover, a message from Dr. Haydar recommending Hindawi to Syrian intelligence that British intelligence had apparently intercepted in 1985, hair and dye traces in the security men's flat, and attempts to contact Damascus during the detention. Seale wrote that Assad and Prime Minister Kasm "knew nothing about the operation until they heard the news on the radio," which he called the considered judgment of American and European officials.[^11] He also wrote that General al-Khuly, head of Air Force Intelligence, was moved to deputy commander of the air force in October 1987, "in the wake of the Hindawi affair."[^12] + +Seale also wrote that Hindawi "was most probably an agent provocateur whose mission was to entrap the Syrian intelligence services so as to smear Syria as a terrorist state." He cited [[Ian Black]] of [[The Guardian]], who was told by a senior Israeli security source that Israeli intelligence had received an advance general warning of an attack on El Al. Seale also reported a Syrian-Jordanian post-mortem on the family, which described them as Palestinians settled in Baqura with "a history of involvement with Mossad." According to that account, Israel used the threat that Hindawi's father would be sent back to Jordan to win Hindawi's cooperation.[^13] + +Seale reported that on October 20, 1986, Assad told [[Time (magazine)|Time]] magazine that Israeli intelligence had planned the operation and arranged for it to be uncovered "at the plane's doorstep."[^11] + +On November 7, 1986, [[The Washington Times]] reported an interview with [[Jacques Chirac]], who relayed what [[Helmut Kohl]] and [[Hans-Dietrich Genscher]] had concluded: that the London attempt was "a provocation organized jointly by Israel's Mossad intelligence service and renegade elements in Syrian President Hafez Assad's entourage." Chirac said the objective was to embarrass Assad, and that some of the Syrian agents might be manipulated by Assad's enemies.[^14] + +A June 1986 CIA [[Terrorism Review]] concluded that Syrian officials were "directly involved in the planning and execution of both the West Berlin and London operations." It described Hindawi and his brother, [[Ahmad Hasi|Ahmed Hasi]], as "freelance terrorists" who had worked with Syrian officials.[^15] + +### The 1990 restoration + +On November 28, 1990, [[Douglas Hurd]] told the Commons in a statement on the Middle East: "We are now resuming relations with Syria with immediate effect." He said the heads of the interests sections in London and Damascus would be chargés d'affaires, pending the exchange of ambassadors when practicable. He cited Syrian assurances on the release of Western hostages in [[Lebanon]] and "confirmation that Syria rejects acts of international terrorism." He also said: "We have also had a confidential account of the Syrian position on the Hindawi affair. It has not been entirely easy, but I am glad that it has proved possible to overcome the differences between ourselves and Syria."[^16] + +In the same debate a Member asked whether it was "sad and cynical opportunism" to enter again into diplomatic relations with Syria, and argued that the government had pinpointed the person responsible for the Hindawi affair.[^16] + +### The 2012 expulsion + +On May 29, 2012, [[William Hague]] announced the expulsion of the Syrian chargé d'affaires, whom the Foreign Office described as "Syria's most senior diplomat in the United Kingdom," and two other diplomats from the embassy. The Foreign Office said the action was "a direct response to the horrific killing of over 100 people including 49 children and 34 women in el-Houleh." Hague said the chargé had been given seven days to leave the country.[^17] Reporting to the Commons on June 11, 2012, Hague said: "On 29 May, we expelled three Syrian diplomats from London, including the chargé d'affaires, in co-ordination with the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan and other countries that took similar steps."[^18] + +### Records at the National Archives + +The [[National Archives]] catalogue lists a Foreign Office research background brief of November 1986 titled "The Hindawi Case: Syrian connexions."[^19] Home Office files include "The Hindawi affair: discovery of an explosive device at Heathrow Airport" (1986) and "Relations with Syria following the conviction of Nezar Hindawi" (1986 to 1989).[^20][^21] Three files of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] Security Co-ordination Department for 1986 carry the title "Hindawi Affair: attempted bombing of El Al Flight 016 at Heathrow Airport, April 1986; Syrian involvement."[^22] Director of Public Prosecutions case papers on Hindawi's prosecution are catalogued under DPP 2/9881 and related references.[^23] ### Footnotes -[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015). -[^2]: Howe, Sir Geoffrey, statement on Anglo-Syrian relations, House of Commons, October 24, 1986, HC Deb vol. 102, cols. 1504-14. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/oct/24/anglo-syrian-relations -[^3]: HC Deb 24 October 1986 vol 102 cc1504-14, "Anglo-Syrian Relations," statement by Sir Geoffrey Howe. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/oct/24/anglo-syrian-relations -[^4]: [2011] EWHC 830 (QB), *Hindawi, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice*, April 1, 2011, para 1. https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/qb/2011/830 -[^5]: David B. Ottaway, "Syrian Connection To Terrorism Probed," *Washington Post*, June 1, 1986, CIA reading room copy. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00965r000604900038-5 +[^1]: HC Deb 24 October 1986 vol 102 cc1504-14, "Anglo-Syrian Relations," statement by Sir Geoffrey Howe, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, including the exchange that followed. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/oct/24/anglo-syrian-relations +[^2]: Statement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Speakes on United Kingdom-Syria Diplomatic Relations, October 24, 1986, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/102486e +[^3]: John Walcott, "U.S. and Britain Are Pressing Allies To Act Against Syria to Stop Terrorism," *Wall Street Journal*, October 27, 1986, CIA reading room copy (CIA-RDP90-00965R000707060047-4). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00965r000707060047-4 +[^4]: Statement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Speakes on United States Diplomatic and Economic Actions Against Syria, November 14, 1986, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/111486c +[^5]: HC Deb 28 October 1986 vol 103 cc167-74, "Foreign Affairs Council," statement by Sir Geoffrey Howe and the exchange that followed. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/oct/28/foreign-affairs-council +[^6]: [2011] EWHC 830 (QB), *Hindawi, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice*, Lord Justice Thomas and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, April 1, 2011, paras 1, 5 and 6. https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/qb/2011/830 +[^7]: Patrick Seale with Maureen McConville, *Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East* (University of California Press, 1989), "The Hindawi affair," pp. 475 to 476. +[^8]: Central Intelligence Agency, note to the Deputy Director for Intelligence, November 5, 1986, with attached assessment of Syrian, Libyan and Iranian state support for terrorism (CIA-RDP89G00720R000600740004-0). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp89g00720r000600740004-0 +[^9]: David B. Ottaway, "Syrian Connection To Terrorism Probed," *Washington Post*, June 1, 1986, CIA reading room copy (CIA-RDP90-00965R000604900038-5). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00965r000604900038-5 +[^10]: Ari Ben-Menashe, *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network* (Sheridan Square Press, 1992; TrineDay, 2015), pp. 121 to 124 (departure-lounge sentence at p. 123; police statement at p. 124). +[^11]: Patrick Seale with Maureen McConville, *Asad of Syria* (1989), "The Hindawi affair," pp. 477 to 480. +[^12]: Patrick Seale with Maureen McConville, *Asad of Syria* (1989), p. 181 (on General Muhammad al-Khuly). +[^13]: Patrick Seale with Maureen McConville, *Asad of Syria* (1989), "The Hindawi affair," pp. 480 to 481. +[^14]: Arnaud de Berchgrave, "Chirac told Syria was framed," *The Washington Times*, November 7, 1986, CIA reading room copy (CIA-RDP90-00965R000201460003-9). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00965r000201460003-9 +[^15]: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, *Terrorism Review*, June 1986 (DI TR 86-007, CIA-RDP87T00685R000200360003-6). https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp87t00685r000200360003-6 +[^16]: HC Deb 28 November 1990, "Middle East," statement by Douglas Hurd, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the exchange that followed. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1990/nov/28/middle-east-2 +[^17]: Foreign Office news story, "Foreign Secretary announces expulsion of Syrian diplomats," May 29, 2012. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-announces-expulsion-of-syrian-diplomats +[^18]: HC Deb 11 June 2012 vol 546, "Syria," statement by William Hague. https://hansard-api.parliament.uk/debates/debate/1206117000002.json +[^19]: The National Archives, catalogue reference FO 973/488, "The Hindawi Case: Syrian connexions," November 1986. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C260267 +[^20]: The National Archives, catalogue reference HO 394/1047, "The Hindawi affair: discovery of an explosive device at Heathrow Airport," 1986. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C21239835 +[^21]: The National Archives, catalogue reference HO 394/1037, "Relations with Syria following the conviction of Nezar Hindawi," 1986 to 1989. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C21239825 +[^22]: The National Archives, catalogue references FCO 178/474, FCO 178/477 and FCO 178/481, "Hindawi Affair: attempted bombing of El Al Flight 016 at Heathrow Airport, April 1986; Syrian involvement," 1986. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17754877 ; https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17754880 ; https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17754884 +[^23]: The National Archives, catalogue reference DPP 2/9881, "Nezar Nawaf Mansour HINDAWI: attempting to place on an aircraft a device likely to destroy or damage the aircraft on 17 April 1986 in London," 1986 to 1988. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16603148 diff --git a/90 - MISC/Black Mass (1975 film).md b/90 - MISC/Black Mass (1975 film).md index 6dd3ce83..c0092607 100644 --- a/90 - MISC/Black Mass (1975 film).md +++ b/90 - MISC/Black Mass (1975 film).md @@ -1,6 +1,7 @@ --- aliases: - Black Mass (Hoersch film) + - Black Mass (1975) category: "Crime & Abuse Networks" tags: - Film @@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ tags: - Philadelphia - Satanism - Censorship + - Blasphemy summary: "Philadelphia film of a satanic mass by Ray Hoersch, later known as R.C. Horsch, withdrawn from the Arcadia Theatre in 1975 after protests led by Cardinal John Krol." date: 1975-03-01 location: "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" @@ -17,28 +19,110 @@ relations: reverse: true role: "producer and director" fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-02 + role: "booked the midnight run that was cancelled" + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-02 + role: "reported pressure on the Arcadia booking, according to Art Carduner" + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Art Carduner]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-03-01 + role: "exhibitor who booked the substitute midnight screening" + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Bandbox Theater]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-03-01 + role: "venue of the substitute midnight screening" + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[John Krol]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-02-27 + role: "led the interfaith statement against the film" + fn: 2 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]]" + reverse: true + start: 1975-02-27 + role: "signed the interfaith statement against the film through Rabbis Charles Lacks and Harold Goldfarb" + fn: 2 created: 2026-09-23 -updated: 2026-09-23 +updated: 2026-10-15 --- -*Black Mass* was a film of a satanic mass produced and directed by the [[Philadelphia]] filmmaker Ray Hoersch, later known as [[R.C. Horsch]]. A midnight run at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] in Center City was cancelled in February 1975 after what the *[[The Philadelphia Inquirer|Philadelphia Inquirer]]* called reported pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and the film was screened instead at midnight at the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] on Saturday, March 1, 1975.[^1] +*Black Mass* was a film of a satanic mass produced and directed by the [[Philadelphia]] filmmaker [[R.C. Horsch|Ray Hoersch]], later known as R.C. Horsch. A midnight run at the [[Arcadia Theatre (Philadelphia)|Arcadia]] on Chestnut Street was cancelled in February 1975 after what the *[[The Philadelphia Inquirer|Philadelphia Inquirer]]* reported as pressure from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|Philadelphia Archdiocese]], and the film was screened instead at midnight at the [[Bandbox Theater]] in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] on Saturday, March 1, 1975.[^1] The *Inquirer* of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing at the Bandbox for that Saturday.[^1] On February 27, 1975, sixteen Christian and Jewish leaders of Greater Philadelphia, among them Cardinal [[John Krol]], issued a joint statement against its showing.[^2] -### The Film +### Production -The [[Religious News Service]] reported that the film was "reputed to be the only literal representation ever made of an authentic satanic rite" and was based on transcripts of the rite obtained by Hoersch, who had "reportedly attempted to film the actual ceremony" and, failing that, obtained the transcripts, "including the mystical incantations." Hoersch described it: "The Satanic Mass is the exact inverse of the Catholic ceremony. Every part of it is reversed in blasphemy, for its intention is a deliberate corruption, a parody of the Mass. Starting with the processional, the ritual uses a nude as the altar piece. The second section is a baptism, in which a girl dressed in white renounces her Christianity and seals her pact with the devil. And the third part is the Invocation to lust."[^2] In an interview recorded in 2013 and rebroadcast in 2026 he recalled it as "a literal Catholic black mass in Latin" that "kind of bombed" because few in the audience spoke Latin, said that he had made it as "something to do that was contrary to the law," and said that he still held the film rights to [[Anton LaVey]]'s *[[The Satanic Bible]]*, which he had bought for about 150 dollars.[^3] +Ray Hoersch's earlier screenplays include *Resolved: There Is No Such Thing as Gravity (The Earth Sucks),* registered for copyright in his own name on April 1, 1970.[^3] In *[[Hoersch v. Froehlke]]*, decided by the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania]] on October 11, 1974, Hoersch challenged orders to involuntary active duty issued after unexcused absences from his unit of the [[Pennsylvania Army National Guard]]. The opinion records that he alleged the unit failed to consider his request to wear long hair "as required for his employment as a motion picture producer." The court found that he had been properly ordered to active duty and denied his petition.[^4] + +The [[Religious News Service]] described the film as "reputed to be the only literal representation ever made of an authentic satanic rite," based on transcripts of the rite "obtained by producer-director Ray Hoersch, reportedly a former producer of pornographic films." The service reported that Hoersch "reportedly attempted to film the actual ceremony" and, failing that, obtained transcripts "including the mystical incantations." It called the film "more of a documentary than a 'scary story.'"[^5] Hoersch's own description, as the service printed it: "The Satanic Mass is the exact inverse of the Catholic ceremony. Every part of it is reversed in blasphemy, for its intention is a deliberate corruption, a parody of the Mass. Starting with the processional, the ritual uses a nude as the altar piece. The second section is a baptism, in which a girl dressed in white renounces her Christianity and seals her pact with the devil. And the third part is the Invocation to lust, you'll have to see that."[^5] The *Inquirer* printed the opening lines of the same description on February 28, calling the rite "the exact inverse of the Catholic ceremony" with "every part of it reversed in blasphemy."[^2] + +In a 2026 broadcast of interviews recorded in 2013, Horsch called it "a literal Catholic black mass in Latin" that "kind of bombed," because "not many of the film-going audience at the time spoke fluid Latin." Asked why he chose to film a black mass, he said: "Something to do that was contrary to the law. I mean, something to get me into trouble."[^6] In the 2013 interview he said that he made the film from money earned on [[The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig|Erotic Memoirs]] and other films: "I took the money I made from Erotic Memoirs and a couple of the other films, and I made this unfortunate Black Mass film." He said that the film lost its money and left him in a deep depression.[^7] + +Horsch said he still held the film rights to [[Anton LaVey]]'s *[[The Satanic Bible]]*, which he had bought for about 150 dollars.[^6][^7] + +### The Arcadia Cancellation + +On February 28, 1975, the society column of *The Philadelphia Inquirer* printed a notice that "'Black Mass,' the controversial film by Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch, will be shown at the Germantown Bandbox Theater this Saturday at midnight." The notice said that the film was "originally scheduled for a midnight showing at the Arcadia," and that it "was cancelled after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese, according to the Bandbox's [[Art Carduner]], who gave the film a new home."[^1] The showing was to benefit the [[Friends of the Bandbox]], and the column reported that Hoersch would attend the opening.[^1] + +The *Inquirer*'s news story of the same date, headed "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," reported that the film "reportedly was scheduled to open here this weekend" and that "it was doubtful Thursday night that the film would open." It had reportedly been scheduled in a center-city theater and one in Germantown. The center-city house said the report "was a mistake," and the Germantown theater said it was not yet known whether the movie would be shown there.[^2] The society column of the same date named the Arcadia as the original booking and the Archdiocese as the cause, in Carduner's account.[^1] + +The Arcadia was a 500-seat house at 1529-1531 Chestnut Street in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]], recorded by the [[Athenaeum of Philadelphia]] with the [[Sablosky Corporation]] and [[Frank DeLong]] among its clients.[^8] + +In 2026 Horsch described the same events from his side: "It had one screening and then the Catholic Archdiocese in Philadelphia actually had the whole run of the film cancelled. They had quite a bit of clout back then."[^6] ### The Protest -Sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Cardinal [[John Krol]], signed a joint statement calling the film's content "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers" and "a frontal attack on the sacred itself," and urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film in the Philadelphia area." They said it was "obviously intended not to be viewed as a film, but as a blasphemous ritualistic observance," noted that current plans called for it to be shown in one theater every Saturday at midnight, and asked everyone in the local film industry "to resist and reject every attempt to market or portray this film." The signers included Rabbi Charles Lacks, president of the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]], and its executive director, Rabbi Harold Goldfarb; Francis G. Brown, general secretary of the [[Philadelphia Yearly Meeting]] of the Religious Society of Friends; the Rev. William J. Brown of the Donegal Presbytery of the [[United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|United Presbyterian Church]]; and Bishop E. L. Hickman of the First Episcopal District of the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]], with representatives of the Greek Orthodox community, the [[United Church of Christ]], the Pennsylvania Baptist Association, the Byzantine Ukrainian Rite, the United Methodists, and the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia. In an addendum the Board of Rabbis said that the film "not only constitutes an obscene travesty of Catholic sancta, but deeply outrages the religious sensitivities of all God fearing people" and that it saw "no redeeming social or aesthetic value whatever in 'Black Mass.'"[^2] +The joint statement was issued on Thursday, February 27, 1975, and the *Inquirer* reported it the next morning as an effort by "Christian and Jewish leaders of Greater Philadelphia" to discourage the showing. The statement called the film "a frontal attack on the Sacred itself" that was "offensive to persons of all religious faiths."[^2] + +Sixteen Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish leaders of Philadelphia, led by Krol, signed the statement, which the Religious News Service printed in March 1975. It said that the film's content, "depicting an authentic satanic rite," was "a blasphemous attack on the religious rites held in sacred reverence by millions of Christian believers," and it urged "believers of every religious conviction to use every moral force to discourage the showing of this film in the Philadelphia area." The signers said the film was "obviously intended not to be viewed as a film, but as a blasphemous ritualistic observance," noted that plans called for it to be shown in one theater every Saturday at midnight, and asked everyone in the local film industry "to recognize the outrage being voiced by religious people of all faiths and to resist and reject every attempt to market or portray this film."[^2][^5] + +The signers included Rabbi [[Charles Lacks]], president of the [[Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis]], and its executive director, Rabbi [[Harold Goldfarb]]; [[Francis G. Brown]], general secretary of the [[Philadelphia Yearly Meeting]] of the [[Religious Society of Friends]]; the Rev. [[William J. Brown]] of the Donegal Presbytery of the [[United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|United Presbyterian Church]]; and Bishop [[E. L. Hickman]] of the First Episcopal District of the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]]. Representatives of the Greek Orthodox community, the [[United Church of Christ]], the Pennsylvania Baptist Association, the Byzantine Ukrainian Rite, the United Methodists and the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia also signed. In an addendum the Board of Rabbis wrote that the film "not only constitutes an obscene travesty of Catholic sancta, but deeply outrages the religious sensitivities of all God fearing people," and that it saw "no redeeming social or aesthetic value whatever in 'Black Mass.'"[^5] The *Inquirer* attributed the "obscene travesty of Catholic sancta" sentence to Lacks and Goldfarb.[^2] + +The Religious News Service dispatch named United Methodist Bishop [[James M. Ault]] of the Philadelphia Area among those opposing the film, and *The United Methodist Reporter* ran it on March 14, 1975, under the headline "U.M. bishop joins those against satanist movie."[^9] + +The Archdiocese had used a movie boycott before. On May 23, 1934, [[Dennis Dougherty|Cardinal Dougherty]] called on the area's 800,000 Catholics to stay out of motion picture theaters and declared it sinful to enter one. Over 300,000 Catholics signed pledges to avoid the movies, and ticket sales fell about 20 percent. Dougherty did not release anyone from the pledge and never officially ended the boycott. In June 1934 the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] agreed to stronger self-censorship and set up the [[Production Code Administration]], headed by the Catholic layman [[Joseph Breen]], and the Catholic [[Legion of Decency]] grew in influence.[^10] ### The Bandbox -[[Art Carduner]] of the Bandbox, who gave the film its new home, booked the screening as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, and Hoersch attended.[^1] The Bandbox had earlier taken over the run of *[[In the Year of the Pig]]* in late 1969, when city inspectors closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] on Sansom Street.[^4] Hoersch said in the same interview that the archdiocese had the run cancelled after one screening, and that after the film he lost interest in the sex-film business and turned to fashion photography.[^3] Eleven weeks before the Bandbox screening, on December 10, 1974, he had been arrested by the [[United States Secret Service]] for counterfeiting ten-dollar bills.[^5] +The Bandbox Theatre stood at 20-22 East Armat Street in Germantown and held 499 seats.[^11] In late 1969 the [[Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections]] closed Hoersch's [[Underground Cinema 16]] at 2021 Sansom Street. The Bandbox then ran the Vietnam documentary [[In the Year of the Pig]], which Cinema 16 had under contract.[^12] The alternative weekly [[The Distant Drummer]] quoted the department's deputy commissioner, [[Leo Goldstein]], as saying: "I first heard about the theatre (Cinema 16) when I read in the BULLETIN that they were going to play that Vietnam film."[^12] + +Art Carduner of the Bandbox, who gave the film its new home, booked the screening as a benefit for the Friends of the Bandbox, and Hoersch attended.[^1] The *Inquirer* column of February 28, 1975 announced the midnight showing and reported that Hoersch would attend the opening.[^1] Horsch's account is that the film "had one screening" before the run was cancelled.[^6] The column places the pressure on the Arcadia booking. Horsch places it on the whole run. + +### Counterfeiting Arrest + +On December 10, 1974, about eleven weeks before the Bandbox booking, [[Hatboro, Pennsylvania|Hatboro]] police apprehended Hoersch, then 31, after the Hatboro Card Shop on Old York Road reported a suspicious ten-dollar bill. The [[The Morning Call|Morning Call]] of [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] reported the next day that [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agents under [[James D'Amelio]], searching his car under a warrant, had found $630 in counterfeit ten-dollar bills there, and that his driver's license and registration were also counterfeit. The paper reported that the printing equipment was in a small building on Taylor Street in [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]], where [[Charles Griffith]] of [[Wallingford, Pennsylvania|Wallingford]] was arrested. Both men were committed to the [[Philadelphia Detention Center]] in default of bail. Authorities described Hoersch as unemployed, "who said he hadn't worked for 11 years."[^13] + +The [[Associated Press]] carried the same arrests under the headline "Phony Bill Suspects Held": "Federal agents have arrested two men on counterfeiting charges and have seized $180,000 in phony $10 bills."[^14] The Morning Call headline gave the same $180,000 figure.[^13] + +When Hoersch was sentenced on federal drug charges in 1985, the *Philadelphia Daily News* reported that his record included a 1974 counterfeiting conviction "which drew a two-year sentence" and a 1972 check-forging conviction in North Carolina.[^15] + +Horsch later said that after the film he "totally lost interest in the porn business" and became a fashion photographer.[^6] ### Footnotes [^1]: [Society and nightlife column], *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 21 ("'Black Mass,' the controversial film by Chestnut Hill filmmaker Ray Hoersch, will be shown at the Germantown Bandbox Theater this Saturday at midnight. Originally scheduled for a midnight showing at the Arcadia, the film was cancelled after reported pressure by the Philadelphia Archdiocese, according to the Bandbox's Art Carduner, who gave the film a new home."). https://www.newspapers.com/image/173366667/ -[^2]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ -[^3]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio at 30:51 to 32:04, republishing interviews recorded in 2013. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ -[^4]: *The Distant Drummer,* no. 65, December 25, 1969, to January 1, 1970, p. 8, Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/473 -[^5]: "[...] bogus $180,000 in Bucks raid," *The Morning Call* (Allentown), December 11, 1974, p. 5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/275702319/ +[^2]: "Protest Raised Here On 'Black Mass' Film," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* February 28, 1975, p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/image/173364962/ +[^3]: *Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Parts 3-4: Dramas and Works Prepared for Oral Delivery,* January-December 1970, vol. 24, nos. 1-2 ("RESOLVED: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GRAVITY (The earth sucks). An original screenplay by Ray Hoersch. 94 l. (c) Ray Hoersch; 1Apr70; DU76768."). https://archive.org/details/catalogofcop197032434libr +[^4]: *Hoersch v. Froehlke*, 382 F. Supp. 1235 (E.D. Pa. October 11, 1974), Civ. A. No. 72-1759 (Hannum, J.). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2596970/hoersch-v-froehlke/ +[^5]: "Offensive Material: Leaders Condemn Black Mass Film," Religious News Service, *Lake Shore Visitor* (Erie), March 7, 1975, p. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/951794835/ +[^6]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio at 30:51 to 32:06, republishing interviews recorded in 2013. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^7]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, December 15, 2013, audio at 46:22 to 47:45 (the film's financing, its lack of success, and the Satanic Bible rights). Audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019: https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 +[^8]: Athenaeum of Philadelphia, *Philadelphia Architects and Buildings,* "Arcadia Theatre," 1529-1531 Chestnut St. https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/8403 +[^9]: "U.M. bishop joins those against satanist movie," Religious News Service, *The United Methodist Reporter* (Louisiana edition), March 14, 1975, p. 3. https://archive.org/details/louisianaunitedm1975unit +[^10]: "Dougherty's Movie Boycott," Catholic Historical Research Center, Philadelphia, February 6, 2019, citing Cardinal Dougherty, "Letter to Priests of the Archdiocese," May 25, 1934, and Frederick Lane, *The Decency Wars* (2006), p. 90. https://chrc-phila.org/doughertys-movie-boycott/ +[^11]: Athenaeum of Philadelphia, *Philadelphia Architects and Buildings,* "Bandbox Theatre," 20-22 E. Armat St. ("Seating capacity: 499"). https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/8266 +[^12]: Article on Cinema 16 and city licensing under Mayor James H. J. Tate's administration, *The Distant Drummer,* no. 65, December 25, 1969 to January 1, 1970, p. 8, Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/473 +[^13]: "[...] bogus $180,000 in Bucks raid," *The Morning Call* (Allentown), December 11, 1974, p. 5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/275702319/ +[^14]: "Phony Bill Suspects Held," Associated Press, *Gloucester County Times* (Woodbury, N.J.), December 11, 1974, p. 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1105967385/ +[^15]: Smith, Jim. "Fugitive's Luck Runs Out With 4-Year Jail Sentence," *Philadelphia Daily News,* April 27, 1985, p. 8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/185948055/ diff --git a/90 - MISC/The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig.md b/90 - MISC/The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig.md index bbfd8da4..6c26478b 100644 --- a/90 - MISC/The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig.md +++ b/90 - MISC/The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig.md @@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ tags: - RCHorsch - Philadelphia - OrganizedCrime + - SamTheBarber + - MatureFilms summary: "1973 pornographic feature shot in Philadelphia by Ray Hoersch, later R.C. Horsch, and John Butterworth, which Horsch said was financed by the Philadelphia bar owner Salvatore La Russa." location: "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" relations: @@ -17,35 +19,139 @@ relations: with: "[[R.C. Horsch]]" reverse: true role: "writer and director" + start: 1973 fn: 1 - type: participant_in with: "[[John Butterworth]]" reverse: true role: "co-director" + start: 1973 + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Georgina Spelvin]]" + reverse: true + role: "performer" + start: 1973 + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Tina Russell]]" + reverse: true + role: "performer" + start: 1973 + fn: 1 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Darby Lloyd Rains]]" + reverse: true + role: "performer" + start: 1973 + fn: 1 + - type: funded + with: "[[Salvatore La Russa]]" + reverse: true + role: "financier, per Horsch's 2026 account" + start: 1973 + fn: 2 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Sam Lake]]" + reverse: true + role: "distributor, per Horsch's 2026 account" + start: 1973 + fn: 12 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Robert Sumner]]" + reverse: true + role: "distributor, Mature Films, per Take One" + start: 1973 + fn: 13 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Mature Pictures]]" + reverse: true + role: "distributor" + start: 1973 + fn: 13 + - type: participant_in + with: "[[Helen Madigan]]" + reverse: true + role: "performer" + start: 1973 fn: 1 created: 2026-09-23 updated: 2026-10-15 --- -*The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig* is a pornographic feature shot in [[Philadelphia]] in February 1973 by Ray Hoersch, later known as [[R.C. Horsch]], and [[John Butterworth]], whom Horsch described as a news cameraman for [[KYW-TV]]. It featured the New York performers [[Georgina Spelvin]], [[Tina Russell]], [[Darby Lloyd Rains]], and [[Helen Madigan]] and depicts rape, bondage, urination, and sex with a character presented as a schoolgirl.[^1][^2] +*The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig* is a pornographic feature shot in [[Philadelphia]] in February 1973 by Ray Hoersch, later known as [[R.C. Horsch]], and [[John Butterworth]], whom Horsch described as a news cameraman for [[KYW-TV]]. It featured the New York performers [[Georgina Spelvin]], [[Tina Russell]], [[Darby Lloyd Rains]], and [[Helen Madigan]] and depicts rape, bondage, urination, and sex with a character presented as a schoolgirl.[^1][^2][^3][^4] ### Production -Horsch said that the budget was a little over 20,000 dollars, of which 60 to 70 percent came from [[Salvatore La Russa|Salvatore "Sam the Barber" La Russa]], who ran the Bag of Nails bar at 13th and Locust Streets, "money that he had laying around in a shoebox behind the bar. We're talking about organized crime." He said the film was shot in the house of his girlfriend, the wife of a Philadelphia assistant district attorney, and that a hospital scene was shot in the emergency room of the [[Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania]] under permission obtained for a student film; his later website gave the emergency room as [[Hahnemann University Hospital|Hahnemann Hospital]]'s and the house as the Chestnut Hill home of a local assistant district attorney, and listed further locations at the Bag of Nails and on a vintage [[SEPTA]] trolley. The same website credited Paul Taylor as the lead, "Barney," and an actress billed as Any Mathieu or Any Hunter.[^1][^3][^4] +Horsch said that the project began as an idea rather than a script. "It was more like, look at us, we're making a movie than the actual content of the movie."[^2] He said the budget was "just a little over $20,000," and that 60 to 70 percent of it came from [[Salvatore La Russa|Salvatore "Sam the Barber" La Russa]], who ran the [[Bag of Nails]] bar at 13th and Locust Streets. In Horsch's account, La Russa put up "some extra money that he had laying around in a shoebox behind the bar. We're talking about organized crime."[^2] The podcast's 2013 introduction said the film was "funded by Sam the Barbarossa of the Philly Mob."[^1] + +Horsch said the camera was a 16-millimeter Eclair, that the negative went to New York for processing, and that "There was not a color lab in Philadelphia at the time."[^5] An April 1, 1971 classified advertisement in *The Distant Drummer*, a Philadelphia underground newspaper, sought "ACTRESS WANTED for work in conjunction with [[American Film Institute]] project" and gave the contact as "Ray Hoersch, Filmmakers of America."[^6] Horsch said the film was "almost made up as we went along." The schoolgirl character came late in the shoot: "Tina Russell became available and, gee, what can we do with her?"[^7] The film's website commentary lists the cast as including Paul Taylor as the lead, "Barney," and an actress billed as Any Mathieu or Any Hunter.[^8] + +In a 2013 interview Horsch said that he made [[Black Mass (1975 film)|Black Mass]] with the proceeds of this film and "a couple of the other films": "I took the money I made from Erotic Memoirs and a couple of the other films, and I made this unfortunate Black Mass film." He said that the film lost its money and left him in a deep depression.[^9] + +### Locations + +Horsch's 2026 account places the emergency room scene at "the emergency room at the [[Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania hospital]] on a Sunday evening," shot under permission "to film a little scene from a student film."[^4] The website commentary instead gives the scene as the "actual [[Hahnemann University Hospital|Hahnemann Hospital]] emergency waiting room." The same page says the principal location was "the Chestnut Hill home of a local Assistant District Attorney," and adds the "infamous Locust Street 'Bag of Nails' go-go bar" and "a vintage [[SEPTA]] trolley" as further locations.[^8] + +### Premiere + +Horsch said that the premiere was at the [[1812 Theater]] on Chestnut Street, which he called "a mainstream theater," and that his girlfriend at the time was "the wife of one of the district attorneys," at whose house the film was shot. He said that "all kinds of people from the [[Philadelphia District Attorney's Office]] came" to the premiere, under a searchlight outside. He said the audience "kind of loved it" and "accepted it as a comedy."[^10] The *Inquirer* gives the premiere year as 1973 and the theater as the 1812 Theater on Chestnut Street.[^3] The website says the premiere was "attended by many city dignitaries who gave it an actual standing ovation."[^8] + +Horsch said that in adult theaters the film was "never really accepted as a comedy," and "never accepted as a porn film." He said that [[Al Goldstein]] reviewed it in [[Screw (magazine)|Screw]] and that "the sex in male chauvinist pig is disgusting."[^11] The website commentary attributes the same review to *Penthouse*.[^8] ### Distribution -Horsch said that staff of the [[Philadelphia District Attorney's Office]] attended the premiere at the 1812 Theater on Chestnut Street, that La Russa arranged distribution through Philadelphia organized crime, and that the film was sold to the distributor [[Sam Lake]] for 50,000 dollars; his website described Lake's company as Mature Pictures, Inc.[^1][^4] The trade magazine *Take One* reported in the spring of 1973 that "Bob Sumner's Mature Films in New York followed up Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig (starring Ms. Spelvin) with High Rise."[^5] The *[[Boxoffice (magazine)|Boxoffice]]* booking guide of February 1974 listed "Erotic Memoirs/Male Chauvinist Pig," a sex drama of 75 minutes, from the distributor Mature, with a date of October 15, 1973.[^6] The distributor named by Horsch, Lake's company Mature Pictures, Inc., appears in the New York registry as an inactive corporation with the alternate name Mature Pictures Incorporated, its status listed as dissolution by proclamation or annulment of authority.[^7] *Take One,* in its March-April 1973 issue, named "the Mitchells, Mature Films, etc." among "the few who are in the business in a highly visible way."[^8] The media historian [[Peter Alilunas]] describes Mature Pictures as the company of [[Robert Sumner]], with Sam Lake also at the company.[^9] Horsch said that the film reached number 42 on a national chart; his website gave number 38.[^3][^4] [[Al Goldstein]] wrote in *[[Screw (magazine)|Screw]]* that the sex in it was disgusting.[^2][^4] La Russa died of a heart attack in 1996.[^10] +Horsch said that the film was made "without any thought whatsoever concerning distribution," and that theater chains were "controlled by certain political groups." He said the contact with [[Sam Lake]] "was arranged through the mafia in Philadelphia, through Sam the barber," and that the film was "Sold to Sam for exactly $50,000."[^12] He said that Lake "was always complaining that it didn't make any money," and that "Sam ended up making four or five million dollars from the film," adding "I don't know how true it was or not."[^12] The website commentary says the film was "Distributed by the legendary Sam Lake (Mature Pictures, Inc.)" and that it "achieved #38 in the nationwide Billboard" chart, where Horsch's 2026 account gives number 42.[^8][^12] + +The trade magazine [[Take One]] reported in the spring of 1973 that "Bob Sumner's Mature Films in New York followed up Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig (starring Ms. Spelvin) with High Rise."[^13] In the same March-April 1973 article, John Morthland wrote that pornography "operates on the fringes of legality, and that area has always been ripe for organized crime, which started calling on various exhibitors around the country to offer 'protection' within a couple of weeks" of the Supreme Court's obscenity ruling, and named "the Mitchells, Mature Films, etc." among "the few who are in the business in a highly visible way."[^14] The *[[Boxoffice (magazine)|Boxoffice]]* booking guide of February 1974 listed "Erotic Memoirs/Male Chauvinist Pig," a sex drama of 75 minutes, from the distributor Mature, with a date of October 15, 1973.[^15] + +### Mature Pictures + +The media historian [[Peter Alilunas]] describes [[Robert Sumner]] as the president of Mature Pictures in New York, who premiered *[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]]* at the [[World Theater]] in 1972 and in spring 1977 put the company's library on videotape under the Quality X label, with the first thirty cassettes sold at the East World Theater. By October 1978, Alilunas writes, [[Arthur Morowitz]]'s Sweetheart's Home Video Center stores carried Quality X tapes from Sumner, and in 1979 Mature Pictures released [[Gerard Damiano]]'s *People* and *Misbehavin'* to theaters and on video at once. In a note drawn from the cinematographer [[Larry Revene]], Alilunas places Sam Lake "at Mature Pictures" with Sumner as producer, and links Lake to [[Howard Farber]] and Morowitz's [[Distribpix]].[^16] + +The New York registry lists a domestic business corporation named Mature Pictures, Inc. as inactive, with the alternate name Mature Pictures Incorporated and the status "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority" and a registered address in care of the law firm Kassner & Detsky at 350 Fifth Avenue.[^17] In *Walt Disney Productions v. Mature Pictures Corp.* (Southern District of New York, No. 75 Civ. 394, decided February 14, 1975), Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy granted [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]] and the Walt Disney Music Company a preliminary injunction over the use of the "Mickey Mouse March" in a film titled *The Life and Times of the Happy Hooker* or *The Life and Times of Xaviera*. Kassner & Detsky, by Seymour S. Detsky, appeared for the defendants Mature Pictures Corp. and Robert Sumner.[^18] + +Deep Throat opened on June 12, 1972 at the New Mature World Theater, which was owned by [[Mature Enterprises]], a New York company charged in August 1972 with promoting obscene material; its trial began in December 1972, and Judge [[Joel J. Tyler]] fined it 100,000 dollars, later reduced on appeal.[^19] The match between Mature Enterprises and the later Mature Pictures rests on the shared name and the shared trade. + +### Salvatore La Russa + +The Inquirer's 2026 coverage describes La Russa as a "Philly tavern owner and mob associate" and says he "helped Raymond produce The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig." A second article of August 4, 2026 describes him as a nightclub owner and friend of [[Nicodemo Scarfo]] and says the film "was financed by" him.[^3][^20] La Russa died of a heart attack in 1996.[^20][^21][^22] The Philadelphia Daily News obituary of August 20, 1996 says that he began opening "bust-out bars" in the early 1960s in the red-light district of 13th and Locust Streets, among them the Phone Booth, the [[HMS Pinafore]] and the [[ZuZu Club]], and that his dozen after-hours clubs and bars led to several arrests for liquor-code violations. It describes him as having opened clubs at 13th and Locust in the 1960s and on South Street in the 1970s. The Inquirer obituary of August 21, 1996 says that on one occasion Scarfo used La Russa's house in [[Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania|Whitemarsh]] for a mob initiation ceremony.[^21][^22] + +A 1974 report by the [[Pennsylvania Crime Commission]] on police corruption in Philadelphia described an officer who passed word of an anticipated raid to La Russa, the owner of the Sugar Shack, which was not raided.[^23] The same report describes La Russa as the manager of the [[Why Not Lounge]], owned by [[Irvin Goltzer]], and says that La Russa "also negotiated the payoffs" to uniformed officers. It quotes La Russa advising Goltzer to pay, or "they will bust the joint."[^24] In a recorded conversation, an officer told Goltzer, "I always understood that Sam the Barber [LaRussa] ran the place," and Goltzer replied, "He works for me."[^25] In another passage the officer said, "I took a couple of Sammy the Barber's joints. I took the Bag O'Nails."[^26] The report also describes a month in which Goltzer and La Russa ran the Brass Monkey, a former bust-out operation at 1227 Walnut Street, at the request of its owner.[^27] + +The Crime Commission's 1990 report on organized crime lists La Russa with prior arrests for liquor law violations at "bust-out bars" he operated around 13th and Locust Streets in Philadelphia.[^28] + +### Later references + +The Inquirer's coverage of August 2, 2026 reproduces an advertisement from a 1974 edition of the paper for a screening of the film.[^3] The same coverage reports that investigators examining the 2026 missing-women inquiry at [[Olney, Philadelphia|Olney]] were reviewing Horsch's films and novels for clues.[^3] ### Footnotes -[^1]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio. https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ -[^2]: "How a pornographer's violent fantasies blurred fact and fiction as cops searched Olney house for missing women," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 2, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/a/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-philadelphia-missing-women-history-20260802.html -[^3]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, December 15, 2013. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20260520094947/https://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/12/15/ray-horsch/ -[^4]: Horsch, R.C. [Commentary on *The Erotic Memoirs of a Male Chauvinist Pig*] and "Art Beat" interview of 1997, eroto.com, archived November 5, 2016. http://web.archive.org/web/20161105022433/http://eroto.com:80/commentary/64-mcp-commentary -[^5]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), pp. 11-15. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 -[^6]: "Boxoffice Bookinguide," *Boxoffice* (Canadian edition), February 4, 1974. https://archive.org/details/boxoffice-canadian-1974-02-04 -[^7]: "MATURE PICTURES, INC.," New York (US) entity, status "Inactive," "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority," previously known as "MATURE PICTURES INCORPORATED." OpenCorporates. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/248644 -[^8]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), p. 15 ("the Mitchells, Mature Films, etc."). https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 -[^9]: Alilunas, Peter. *Smutty Little Movies: The Creation and Regulation of Adult Video* (Oakland: University of California Press, 2016), pp. 74 and 255 n. 77. -[^10]: "Five takeaways from Philly missing women mystery connected to Raymond and Eugene Horsch," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 4, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-missing-women-20260804.html +[^1]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, December 15, 2013, introduction at 00:29 to 01:33 (audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 Text archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20260520094947/https://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/12/15/ray-horsch/ +[^2]: West, Ashley. "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2: Performance," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 172, September 20, 2026, audio transcript at 20:01 to 21:07 (republishing interviews recorded in 2013). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^3]: "How a pornographer's violent fantasies blurred fact and fiction as cops searched Olney house for missing women," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 2, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/a/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-philadelphia-missing-women-history-20260802.html +[^4]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 23:50 to 24:31 (emergency room scene and the film's contents). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^5]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 21:15 to 21:42 (camera and processing). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^6]: Classified advertisement, "Jobs," *The Distant Drummer* (Thursday's Drummer), no. 131, April 1, 1971. Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center. https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p16002coll34/id/2597 +[^7]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 22:52 to 23:38 (making the film and casting the schoolgirl role). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^8]: "Commentary: Male Chauvinist Pig" and "Art Beat" interview of 1997, eroto.com, archived November 5, 2016. Horsch's own website; the credits, locations, reviewer and chart figure are his claims. http://web.archive.org/web/20161105022433/http://eroto.com:80/commentary/64-mcp-commentary +[^9]: West, Ashley. "Ray Horsch: Sociopathic Villain," *The Rialto Report,* Podcast 27, December 15, 2013, audio at 46:22 to 46:45 (audio preserved in a Wayback Machine capture of March 31, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20190331064614/http://traffic.libsyn.com/therialtoreport/27_Rialto_Report_027_-_Ray_Horsch__Sociopathic_Villain.mp3 +[^10]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 24:55 to 25:27 (premiere, the girlfriend's husband, and the district attorney's office). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^11]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 25:27 to 26:40 (audience reaction and the Goldstein review, as Horsch recalled it). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^12]: West, "Unknowing Ray Horsch, Episode 2," audio transcript at 28:35 to 29:49 (distribution, sale price, chart position and receipts, as Horsch recalled them; his account of Lake's earnings is marked by him as uncertain). https://www.therialtoreport.com/2026/09/20/ray-horsch-3/ +[^13]: Morthland, John. "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), p. 16. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 +[^14]: Morthland, "Porn Films: An In-Depth Report," *Take One,* vol. 3, no. 6 (March-April 1973), p. 17. https://archive.org/details/take-one-1973-03 +[^15]: "Boxoffice Bookinguide," *Boxoffice* (Canadian edition), February 4, 1974, entry "Erotic Memoirs/Male Chauvinist Pig" (running time 75 minutes, distributor "Mature," date 10-15-73). https://archive.org/details/boxoffice-canadian-1974-02-04 +[^16]: Alilunas, Peter. *Smutty Little Movies: The Creation and Regulation of Adult Video* (Oakland: University of California Press, 2016), pp. 74, 75 and 77, and p. 255 n. 77 (note citing Alilunas's email correspondence with Larry Revene, December 26, 2012). +[^17]: "MATURE PICTURES, INC.," New York (US) entity no. 248644, domestic business corporation, status "Inactive," "Dissolution By Proclamation / Annulment Of Authority," previously known as "MATURE PICTURES INCORPORATED," registered address "%KASSNER & DETSKY, 350 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK." OpenCorporates. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/248644 +[^18]: *Walt Disney Productions v. Mature Pictures Corp.*, 389 F. Supp. 1397 (S.D.N.Y. 1975) (No. 75 Civ. 394, Duffy, J., February 14, 1975; counsel Kassner & Detsky, Seymour S. Detsky, for defendants Mature Pictures Corp. and Robert Sumner). https://static.case.law/f-supp/389/cases/1397-01.json +[^19]: Boston Globe, obituary of Judge Joel J. Tyler, January 16, 2012. The obituary reports the opening of Deep Throat at the New Mature World Theater on June 12, 1972, charges filed in August 1972 against Mature Enterprises for promotion of obscene material, the company's ownership of the theater, a trial beginning in December 1972, and a fine of 100,000 dollars later reduced on appeal. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2012/01/16/joel-tyler-judge-deep-throat-case/hbiQ0keQ0VW0y26CY035SL/story.html +[^20]: "Five takeaways from Philly missing women mystery connected to Raymond and Eugene Horsch," *The Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 4, 2026. https://www.inquirer.com/news/raymond-eugene-horsch-olney-missing-women-20260804.html +[^21]: Caparella, Kitty. "Heart Attack Claims 'Sam The Barber'," *Philadelphia Daily News,* August 20, 1996 (Wayback copy). https://web.archive.org/web/2015id_/http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-20/news/25645508_1_heart-transplant-heart-attack-mob +[^22]: Anastasia, George. "Salvatore Larussa, 58, Friend Of Mob Figures," *Philadelphia Inquirer,* August 21, 1996 (Wayback copy). https://web.archive.org/web/20150928205738id_/http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-21/news/25645305_1_nicodemo-little-nicky-scarfo-grand-jury-mob-activities +[^23]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 108 (officer's conversation with Goltzer about an anticipated raid on liquor establishments serving minors). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^24]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), pp. 112-113 (La Russa as Goltzer's manager, p. 112; "also negotiated the payoffs" and "they will bust the joint," p. 113). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^25]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 114 (taped conversation between Goltzer and an officer, quoted in the report). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^26]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 117 (officer's account of earlier payments). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^27]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Report on Police Corruption and the Quality of Law Enforcement in Philadelphia* (1974), p. 124 (the Brass Monkey, run as a bust-out by Irvin Goltzer and Sam LaRussa). https://archive.org/details/reportonpoliceco00penn +[^28]: Pennsylvania Crime Commission, *Organized Crime in Pennsylvania: A Decade of Change, 1990 Report* (1991), p. 159 (entry for Salvatore LaRussa, also known as "Sam the Barber"). https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/133208NCJRS.pdf