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12
10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carlos Cardoen.md
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@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ A former contractor for the CIA described Cardoen as "an all-purpose asset, desi
### Miami arrest, Swissco and the Senate report
[[Kenneth R. Timmerman]] wrote that on August 2, 1983, U.S. Customs officers arrested Cardoen in Miami over night-vision goggles bound for Chile and that the case ended in a plea bargain with a 100,000 dollar fine on his company; a declaration by Howard Teicher dates the arrest to 1983 in a Miami sting concerning night-vision goggles bound for Cuba and Libya.[^7][^8] Teicher's corrective declaration of October 3, 1996 states that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect."[^9]
[[Kenneth R. Timmerman]] wrote that on August 2, 1983, U.S. Customs officers arrested Cardoen in Miami over night-vision goggles bound for Chile and that the case ended in a plea bargain with a 100,000 dollar fine on his company; a declaration by Howard Teicher dates the arrest to 1983 in a Miami sting concerning night-vision goggles bound for Cuba and Libya.[^7][^8] Teicher's corrective declaration of October 31, 1996 states that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect."[^9]
The Senate report records that the CIA employed [[James D. Theberge]] on its Senior Review Panel from January 1986 to January 1988, and that during much of that period he was a consultant to [[Swissco Management Group]], "a subsidiary of Cardoen Industries of Chile." Theberge had been U.S. ambassador to Chile from 1982 to 1985. The report states that Theberge disclosed the Swissco work and its Cardoen parentage in the personal history statement he gave the CIA in December 1985, that [[William J. Casey]], John McMahon and James Taylor were involved in his recruitment, and that there was no evidence Gates took part. It states that "Between 1984 and 1988, Cardoen Industries was of significant intelligence interest to CIA, which believed Cardoen was the primary supplier of cluster bombs to the Iraqi government, and an important supplier of other categories of ordnance to Iraq and other Middle Eastern states."[^4] Swissco Management Group, Inc. is among the eight defendants in the 1993 indictment.[^5] The Commerce Department order of September 11, 1995 states that Swissco Management Group, Inc., of Miami Lakes, was convicted on August 7, 1995 of exporting zirconium from the United States to Chile in violation of the terms of a Commerce export license.[^10]
@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ In September 2022 the Chilean investigative outlet [[CIPER Chile|CIPER]] reporte
The zirconium counts concern ordnance-grade zirconium sponge and compacts exported to Chile. The Eleventh Circuit wrote that Cardoen supplied the exporter with false end-use statements describing the zirconium as a booster material for industrial explosives, and that "The zirconium was used as an incendiary agent in cluster bombs that Cardoen was selling to Iraq for use in the Iran-Iraq war."[^13] The district court's order of 1994, reissued in 1995, noted Cardoen's "present fugitive status."[^5] On March 22, 1994 the court dismissed Counts II through VI against Teledyne on statute-of-limitations grounds.[^5]
Edward A. Johnson, a sales manager at Teledyne Wah Chang Albany, was convicted by a jury on four counts, and the Eleventh Circuit affirmed in 1998.[^13] A State Department notice records that Teledyne Industries pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida on January 26, 1995.[^14]
Edward A. Johnson, a sales manager at Teledyne Wah Chang Albany, was convicted by a jury on four counts, and the Eleventh Circuit affirmed in 1998.[^13] A State Department notice records that Teledyne Industries pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida on January 26, 1995.[^14] The Eleventh Circuit stated that the district court, after a Classified Information Procedures Act hearing and in camera review of CIA documents, "found no evidence supporting Johnson's theory that the CIA had secretly arranged to supply Cardoen with zirconium," and agreed after its own review.[^13] The pretrial order records a January 1984 CIA debriefing of a Teledyne employee who said Teledyne had supplied 13 million zirconium pellets to Cardoen.[^5] The indictment against Cardoen and others was returned on May 26, 1993, in 21 counts.[^5]
A witness identified as "Linda C." of the CIA Directorate of Operations, who reviewed the agency file on Cardoen covering 1984 to 1993, testified at the classified-information hearing that Cardoen "was not an agent or source of intelligence for the United States government; on the contrary, Cardoen was a target; that is, an individual of intelligence interest to the government." The court adopted that conclusion for purposes of the hearing, and wrote that the Senate report "corroborates" it.[^5]
On January 31, 1995, Teicher signed a declaration in the case stating that "the CIA authorized, approved and assisted Cardoen in the manufacture and sale of cluster bombs." [[Robert Parry]] reported that the government sealed it as a state secret while attacking Teicher's credibility, and that Teicher was blocked from testifying.[^8][^15]
On January 31, 1995, Teicher signed a declaration in the case stating that "Under CIA Director Casey and Deputy Director Gates, the CIA authorized, approved and assisted Cardoen in the manufacture and sale of cluster bombs and other munitions to Iraq," and, in paragraph 18, that Casey "directed the Secretaries of the State and Commerce Departments that the necessary licenses required by Cardoen were not to be denied." [[Robert Parry]] reported that the government sealed it as a state secret while attacking Teicher's credibility, and that Teicher was blocked from testifying.[^8][^15]
The United States served a corrective declaration signed by Teicher on October 3, 1996, with a notice of filing served November 8, 1996. In it Teicher wrote that attorneys for Teledyne had prepared the January declaration and faxed it to him, that he had not reviewed his National Security Council files since 1987, and that his statements in paragraphs 15 through 18 were his best memory and belief and not "categorical statements of fact." He wrote that he is "not aware of any specific evidence that the United States government or any government official or agency took steps to help Cardoen obtain any U.S.-origin components for use in cluster bombs." The corrective declaration does not address paragraphs 1 through 14 of the January declaration; as to paragraph 17 he wrote that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect."[^9]
The United States Attorney's office filed a corrective declaration signed by Teicher on October 31, 1996, with a notice dated November 8, 1996. In it Teicher wrote that attorneys for Teledyne, a co-defendant, had retained him in December 1994 and had prepared the January declaration and faxed it to him, that he had not reviewed his National Security Council files since 1987, and that his statements in paragraphs 15 through 18 about what his files "will contain" were beliefs, and his best memory and belief, and not "categorical statements of fact." He wrote that he is "not aware of any specific evidence that the United States government or any government official or agency took steps to help Cardoen obtain any U.S.-origin components for use in cluster bombs." The corrective declaration does not address paragraphs 1 through 14 of the January declaration; as to paragraph 17 he wrote that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect."[^9]
The United States formally requested Cardoen's extradition in March 2019. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reports that the Chilean Supreme Court rejected the request in March 2020; Emol reports that the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court unanimously rejected it on August 24, 2020, confirming a first rejection in March 2020 by the instructing minister Carlos Aranguiz, on grounds of dual criminality and prescription.[^16][^17]
@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ The United States formally requested Cardoen's extradition in March 2019. The In
[^5]: *United States v. Cardoen*, 898 F. Supp. 1563 (S.D. Fla. 1995) (Highsmith, J.), No. 93-241-CR, reissued order on hearing under section 6 of the Classified Information Procedures Act (original order December 28, 1994), https://static.case.law/f-supp/898/cases/1563-01.json.
[^6]: Friedman, Alan. *Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally Armed Iraq*. Bantam, 1993, pp. 46-54, 64.
[^7]: Kenneth R. Timmerman, *The Death Lobby: How the West Armed Iraq* (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991), p. 169.
[^8]: Declaration of Howard Teicher, January 31, 1995, *United States v. Cardoen*, No. 93-241-CR-HIGHSMITH, as transcribed at http://spikethenews.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-teicher-affidavit.html.
[^9]: Declaration of Howard R. Teicher (corrective), *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, No. 93-241-CR-Highsmith (S.D. Fla.), dated October 3, 1996, with the United States' notice of filing served November 8, 1996, paragraphs 2 to 7, https://archive.org/details/utf-893cr-241-de-679.
[^8]: Declaration of Howard Teicher, executed January 31, 1995, *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, No. 93-241-CR-Highsmith (S.D. Fla.), paragraphs 1 to 18 (filed copy, 7 pages). National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 82, document 61. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/iraq61.pdf
[^9]: Notice of Filing Corrective Declaration (U.S. Attorney William A. Keefer, by AUSA Frank H. Tamen) with Declaration of Howard R. Teicher dated October 31, 1996, *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, No. 93-241-CR-Highsmith (S.D. Fla.), docket entry 679, certificate of service November 8, 1996, paragraphs 1 to 7. https://archive.org/details/utf-893cr-241-de-679
[^10]: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration, "Action Affecting Export Privileges; Swissco Management Group, Inc.; Order Denying Permission To Apply for or Use Export Licenses," dated September 11, 1995, 60 Federal Register 48964-48965 (September 21, 1995), FR Doc. 95-23363, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1995-09-21/pdf/95-23363.pdf.
[^11]: Justin Hibbard, "The Chilean Connection," *San Francisco Chronicle Magazine*, March 2, 2003, https://www.sfgate.com/magazine/article/THE-CHILEAN-CONNECTION-Carlos-Cardoen-arms-2667085.php.
[^12]: CIPER Chile, Alberto Arellano and Francisca Skoknic, "Los secretos de Carlos Cardoen en Panamá y la alerta por una de sus sociedades que fue vinculada a la venta de armas," September 14, 2022, https://www.ciperchile.cl/2022/09/14/los-secretos-de-carlos-cardoen-en-panama-y-la-alerta-por-una-de-sus-sociedades-que-fue-vinculada-a-la-venta-de-armas/.

76
10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kamal Adham.md
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@ -9,65 +9,80 @@ born: 1929
died: 1999-10-29
location: "Istanbul, Turkey"
relations:
- type: funded
with: "[[Anwar Sadat]]"
role: "payments made on behalf of the CIA to Sadat when he was vice president, as described by press accounts cited by the Senate BCCI report"
start: 1970
fn: 6
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Central Intelligence Agency]]"
role: "principal liaison for the Middle East, mid-1960s through 1979, per the Senate BCCI report"
start: 1965
end: 1979
fn: 18
- type: owned
with: "[[Credit and Commerce American Holdings]]"
role: "nominee shareholder for BCCI"
fn: 12
fn: 14
- type: head_of
with: "[[Saudi Arabian intelligence]]"
fn: 10
fn: 12
- type: represented
with: "[[Clark Clifford]]"
reverse: true
fn: 12
fn: 14
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[United States Department of Justice]]"
reverse: true
end: 1992-07-29
fn: 17
fn: 22
- type: investigated
with: "[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]"
reverse: true
role: "probe under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act into Boeing and Lockheed arms sales to Saudi Arabia; Federal Reserve staff learned of it in 1981"
fn: 15
fn: 17
---
Kamal Adham was the former head of [[Saudi Arabian intelligence]] and brother-in-law of the late [[King Faisal]]. He was a significant shareholder in [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] and [[First American Bank]]. Adham was a shrewd and jovial figure who straddled the worlds of Middle Eastern business and politics for decades. He was considered one of the true inside power players of the [[Middle East]].[^1]
Adham's influence stemmed from his royal connections, which he leveraged to facilitate business deals. He was the principal liaison between the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and European intelligence agencies, operating under the code name "Tumbleweed."[^2] His role in Saudi intelligence involved assisting the royalists in [[Yemen]]'s civil war and later wielding wider influence through surveillance of Saudi citizens and political enemies of the king.[^3]
He played a crucial role as a front man for [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] in BCCI's secret acquisitions, including the [[National Bank of Georgia]] and [[Financial General Bankshares]].[^4] Adham was instrumental in funneling money from [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] and the CIA to [[Anwar Sadat]] and is credited with pressuring Sadat to engage in the [[Camp David summit|Camp David Accords]].[^5]
He played a crucial role as a front man for [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] in BCCI's secret acquisitions, including the [[National Bank of Georgia]] and [[Financial General Bankshares]].[^4] Jonathan Beaty and S. C. Gwynne wrote that Adham was instrumental in funneling money from [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] and the CIA to [[Anwar Sadat]] and credited him with pressuring Sadat to engage in the [[Camp David summit|Camp David Accords]].[^5] Press accounts from the late 1970s described Adham as having made payments on behalf of the CIA to Sadat when Sadat was Nasser's vice president and in financial difficulty.[^6] The Senate report describes the key role Adham played at Camp David as encouraging other Arab political figures not to repudiate Sadat for agreeing to peace with Israel, and it does not describe him as pressuring Sadat into the talks.[^7]
Adham was indicted in the [[United States]] for his involvement in BCCI's frauds and bribery, eventually pleading guilty in New York and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors. He paid a $105 million fine.[^6]
Adham was indicted in the [[United States]] for his involvement in BCCI's frauds and bribery, eventually pleading guilty in New York and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors. He paid a $105 million fine.[^8]
### Early Life and Career
Born in 1929, Kamal Adham was the son of Dr. Rashad Pharaon, physician to [[King Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud]], the founder of modern [[Saudi Arabia]]. His father's position within the royal inner circle provided Adham with significant access and influence from a young age.[^7] He received a good education, attending the best French schools.[^8]
Born in 1929, Kamal Adham was the son of Dr. Rashad Pharaon, physician to [[King Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud]], the founder of modern [[Saudi Arabia]]. His father's position within the royal inner circle provided Adham with significant access and influence from a young age.[^9] He received a good education, attending the best French schools.[^10]
Adham launched his business career in 1951, at the age of twenty-two, by controlling the franchise for [[Carrier Corp]] air conditioners. He expanded his ventures to include a TUP bottling plant, and companies that built roads, airports, and imported elevators and computers. By the mid-1960s, his influence grew to the point where he represented multiple defense firms and became a principal broker for weapons purchased by Saudi Arabia on behalf of Egypt.[^9]
Adham launched his business career in 1951, at the age of twenty-two, by controlling the franchise for [[Carrier Corp]] air conditioners. He expanded his ventures to include a TUP bottling plant, and companies that built roads, airports, and imported elevators and computers. By the mid-1960s, his influence grew to the point where he represented multiple defense firms and became a principal broker for weapons purchased by Saudi Arabia on behalf of Egypt.[^11]
### Relationship with Abedi and BCCI
Abedi met Adham in the early 1970s through [[Sheikh Zayed]]. Adham became a key figure in Abedi's strategy to expand BCCI's influence in the United States. He was a nominal lead shareholder in First American Bank and was responsible for hiring [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] to lead the bank.[^10] Adham's role was to provide a veneer of legitimacy and access for BCCI's clandestine operations.
Abedi met Adham in the early 1970s through [[Sheikh Zayed]]. Adham became a key figure in Abedi's strategy to expand BCCI's influence in the United States. He was a nominal lead shareholder in First American Bank and was responsible for hiring [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] to lead the bank.[^12] Adham's role was to provide a veneer of legitimacy and access for BCCI's clandestine operations.
### Involvement in Nuclear Programs
Adham publicly asserted that [[Pakistan]] possessed an atomic bomb and that Abedi and BCCI had financially supported its development. He viewed this as an achievement for the Third World, challenging Western powers' control over nuclear technology.[^11]
Adham publicly asserted that [[Pakistan]] possessed an atomic bomb and that Abedi and BCCI had financially supported its development. He viewed this as an achievement for the Third World, challenging Western powers' control over nuclear technology.[^13]
### The Federal Reserve Hearing
Adham was one of four original investors, with [[Faisal Saud al-Fulaij]], Sheikh [[Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] and Abdullah Darwaish, named as holders of Financial General shares in 1978; the memo of the BCCI officer [[Abdus Sami]] to Agha Hasan Abedi of January 30, 1978, reported: "We have already given the names of Sheikh Kamal Adham and Mr. Fulaig [sic]. We want two other names immediately."[^12][^13] At the [[Federal Reserve Board|Federal Reserve]] hearing of April 23, 1981, he testified that "whatever relationships are developed between Financial General and BCCI in the future, if any, are matters to be decided by the new management of Financial General based upon that institution's best interests." Asked whether it was a coincidence that BCCI had analyzed Financial General for him and then advised other clients to invest, he said: "That is very possible. Such things happen in our parts of the world." He told the regulators, falsely according to the [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]], that he had not met Fulaij for ten years; the two had acted together as BCCI nominees in dealings in the shares of BCCI's [[Attock Oil]]. "I would like to assure you," he said, "that each one on his own rights will not accept in any way to be a cover for somebody else."[^12] Clark Clifford described him to the regulators not as the former head of Saudi intelligence or the late king's brother-in-law, "but merely as a prominent Saudi businessman," and said he had the "deepest respect for his [Adham's] character, for his reputation, for his honor and for his integrity."[^12] In early drafts of the arrangement by which Clifford and Robert Altman acquired CCAH shares, Adham, with BCCI as back-up, was to be bound to repurchase their shares at any time at their discretion; the requirement was never discussed with him, which the Senate report took as showing that Clifford, Altman and BCCI regarded him "as no more than a nominee for BCCI."[^14]
Adham was one of four original investors, with [[Faisal Saud al-Fulaij]], Sheikh [[Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] and Abdullah Darwaish, named as holders of Financial General shares in 1978; the memo of the BCCI officer [[Abdus Sami]] to Agha Hasan Abedi of January 30, 1978, reported: "We have already given the names of Sheikh Kamal Adham and Mr. Fulaig [sic]. We want two other names immediately."[^14][^15] At the [[Federal Reserve Board|Federal Reserve]] hearing of April 23, 1981, he testified that "whatever relationships are developed between Financial General and BCCI in the future, if any, are matters to be decided by the new management of Financial General based upon that institution's best interests." Asked whether it was a coincidence that BCCI had analyzed Financial General for him and then advised other clients to invest, he said: "That is very possible. Such things happen in our parts of the world." He told the regulators, falsely according to the [[BCCI Kerry-Brown Senate Report|Kerry-Brown Senate Report]], that he had not met Fulaij for ten years; the two had acted together as BCCI nominees in dealings in the shares of BCCI's [[Attock Oil]]. "I would like to assure you," he said, "that each one on his own rights will not accept in any way to be a cover for somebody else."[^14] Clark Clifford described him to the regulators not as the former head of Saudi intelligence or the late king's brother-in-law, "but merely as a prominent Saudi businessman," and said he had the "deepest respect for his [Adham's] character, for his reputation, for his honor and for his integrity."[^14] In early drafts of the arrangement by which Clifford and Robert Altman acquired CCAH shares, Adham, with BCCI as back-up, was to be bound to repurchase their shares at any time at their discretion; the requirement was never discussed with him, which the Senate report took as showing that Clifford, Altman and BCCI regarded him "as no more than a nominee for BCCI."[^16]
In a letter to the Federal Reserve of April 10, 1991, Adham gave another account of the investment's origin: a friend, Hasan Yassin, had told him Financial General would be a good investment, and he had brought it to BCCI "as his business agent." The Senate report called this "completely inconsistent" with the accounts of [[Bert Lance]], the *[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]* and Robert Altman, and noted that Lance had never heard of Yassin.[^12]
In a letter to the Federal Reserve of April 10, 1991, Adham gave another account of the investment's origin: a friend, Hasan Yassin, had told him Financial General would be a good investment, and he had brought it to BCCI "as his business agent." The Senate report called this "completely inconsistent" with the accounts of [[Bert Lance]], the *[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]* and Robert Altman, and noted that Lance had never heard of Yassin.[^14]
The Senate report states that the Federal Reserve asked the Central Intelligence Agency in 1981 whether it held derogatory information on the Middle Eastern shareholders of CCAH. The CIA replied that it had none, and did not tell the Federal Reserve that Adham and [[A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil|Abdul Raouf Khalil]] were intelligence liaisons of the United States. Adham had also been the subject of a [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] probe under the [[Foreign Corrupt Practices Act]] into [[Boeing]] and Lockheed arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The report states that Federal Reserve staff learned of the intelligence contacts and of the commission's probe into Adham's and Faisal al-Fulaij's alleged receipt of bribes in 1981.[^15]
The Senate report states that the Federal Reserve asked the Central Intelligence Agency in 1981 whether it held derogatory information on the Middle Eastern shareholders of CCAH. The CIA replied that it had none, and did not tell the Federal Reserve that Adham and [[A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil|Abdul Raouf Khalil]] were intelligence liaisons of the United States. Adham had also been the subject of a [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] probe under the [[Foreign Corrupt Practices Act]] into [[Boeing]] and Lockheed arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The report states that Federal Reserve staff learned of the intelligence contacts and of the commission's probe into Adham's and Faisal al-Fulaij's alleged receipt of bribes in 1981.[^17]
### Camp David and the Federal Reserve hearing
Adham was the CIA's principal liaison for the Middle East from the mid-1960s through 1979, according to the Senate report, and at the Federal Reserve hearing of April 23, 1981 he did not mention that background, his historic ties to the CIA, or that he had acted as the most important liaison between the United States and his friend Sadat in the negotiation of the Camp David accords.[^18] Clark Clifford, in sworn interrogatories, said he believed Adham's roles in Camp David and in the simultaneous takeover of Financial General were coincidence, and that Adham had told him of his friendship with Sadat without mentioning any role in Camp David.[^19] Adham told U.S. investigators that his involvement and BCCI's purchase of First American were unrelated to Camp David.[^20]
### Intelligence Background
The Senate report recorded that the CIA, asked about the CCAH shareholders, told the Federal Reserve it had no derogatory information on them, without telling it that Adham and Abdul Raouf Khalil were "the past and then-current Saudi intelligence liaisons to the United States," or that Adham and Fulaij had been the subject of a Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act into arms sales to Saudi Arabia by Boeing and [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]]. Paul Volcker, who as chairman of the Federal Reserve signed the 1981 approval, testified in 1991 that he "wasn't aware" of Adham's intelligence background and that it "might send an eyebrow or two up." The Virginia bank regulator Sidney Bailey asked the [[State Department]] and the CIA for information on the shareholders and received none; "at the time," the report found, "the CIA knew precisely who Adham was."[^12][^16]
The Senate report recorded that the CIA, asked about the CCAH shareholders, told the Federal Reserve it had no derogatory information on them, without telling it that Adham and Abdul Raouf Khalil were "the past and then-current Saudi intelligence liaisons to the United States," or that Adham and Fulaij had been the subject of a Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act into arms sales to Saudi Arabia by Boeing and [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]]. Paul Volcker, who as chairman of the Federal Reserve signed the 1981 approval, testified in 1991 that he "wasn't aware" of Adham's intelligence background and that it "might send an eyebrow or two up." The Virginia bank regulator Sidney Bailey asked the [[State Department]] and the CIA for information on the shareholders and received none; "at the time," the report found, "the CIA knew precisely who Adham was."[^14][^21]
### Plea
On July 29, 1992, the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] announced that Adham and his accountant, Sayed Jawhary, had pleaded guilty to charges arising from the BCCI case, and that Adham had agreed to cooperate with investigators and to pay 105 million dollars in reparations and fines.[^17]
On July 29, 1992, the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] announced that Adham and his accountant, Sayed Jawhary, had pleaded guilty to charges arising from the BCCI case, and that Adham had agreed to cooperate with investigators and to pay 105 million dollars in reparations and fines.[^22]
### Footnotes
@ -76,15 +91,20 @@ On July 29, 1992, the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]
[^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. 199.
[^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. 200.
[^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. 200.
[^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. 14.
[^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. 203.
[^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. 203.
[^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. 198.
[^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. 197.
[^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. 310.
[^12]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 6, "BCCI in the United States: Initial Entry." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/06early.htm
[^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]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 13, "Clark Clifford and Robert Altman." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/13clifford.htm
[^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. 11, "BCCI, the CIA and Foreign Intelligence" (the CIA's reply to the Federal Reserve; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act probe; text following notes 10 to 12). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/11intel.htm
[^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. 11, "BCCI, the CIA and Foreign Intelligence." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/11intel.htm
[^17]: "Clifford, Altman indicted in BCCI bank fraud," United Press International, July 29, 1992. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/07/29/Clifford-Altman-indicted-in-BCCI-bank-fraud/5122712382400/
[^6]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate*, S. Prt. 102-140, December 1992, pp. 299-300 and note 779, quoting Bob Woodward, *Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987*, Simon and Schuster, 1987, p. 352.
[^7]: S. Prt. 102-140, p. 301 (Camp David finding): "The key role played by Adham in Camp David was apparently to encourage other Arab political figures not to repudiate Sadat for agreeing to peace with Israel."
[^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. 14.
[^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. 203.
[^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. 203.
[^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. 198.
[^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. 197.
[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 310.
[^14]: Kerry, Senator John, and Senator Hank Brown. *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate.* December 1992, ch. 6, "BCCI in the United States: Initial Entry." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/06early.htm
[^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. 14, "Abu Dhabi: BCCI's Founding and Majority Stockholders." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/14abudhabi.htm
[^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. 13, "Clark Clifford and Robert Altman." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/13clifford.htm
[^17]: 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" (the CIA's reply to the Federal Reserve; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act probe; text following notes 10 to 12). https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/11intel.htm
[^18]: S. Prt. 102-140, pp. 299-300 (CIA liaison; Federal Reserve testimony of April 23, 1981), with notes 778 and 783.
[^19]: S. Prt. 102-140, p. 301, note 789 (Clark Clifford sworn interrogatories).
[^20]: S. Prt. 102-140, p. 301 (Adham's account to U.S. investigators, as summarized by the report).
[^21]: 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." https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/11intel.htm
[^22]: "Clifford, Altman indicted in BCCI bank fraud," United Press International, July 29, 1992. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/07/29/Clifford-Altman-indicted-in-BCCI-bank-fraud/5122712382400/

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---
aliases:
- Roy M. Cohn
- Roy Marcus Cohn
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
tags:
- Person
- RoyCohn
- JosephMcCarthy
- RosenbergCase
- DonaldTrump
- CarmineGalante
- AnthonySalerno
- RupertMurdoch
- RogerStone
- JEdgarHoover
- FBIRecords
- Disbarment
- TaxLiens
- SaxeBaconBolan
summary: "Assistant United States attorney in the Rosenberg prosecution, chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy's subcommittee, acquitted in three federal prosecutions, and New York lawyer for Galante, Salerno, Murdoch and Trump until disbarment in 1986."
born: 1927-02-20
location: "New York, New York"
created: 2026-10-12
updated: 2026-10-12
relations:
- type: relative_of
with: "[[Albert Cohn]]"
role: "father, judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York"
fn: 1
- type: investigated
with: "[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]"
reverse: true
start: 1962
role: "background investigation of his application for appointment to the United States Attorney's Office"
fn: 1
- type: employed_by
with: "[[United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]]"
role: "assistant United States attorney"
start: 1948
end: 1952
fn: 2
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[Julius Rosenberg]]"
start: 1951
role: "assistant United States attorney in the prosecution"
fn: 4
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[Ethel Rosenberg]]"
start: 1951
role: "assistant United States attorney in the prosecution"
fn: 4
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]]"
role: "chief counsel"
start: 1953-01-15
end: 1954-08-13
fn: 2
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Army-McCarthy hearings]]"
role: "chief counsel to the subcommittee; witness from May 26, 1954"
start: 1954
end: 1954
fn: 11
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[Robert Morgenthau]]"
reverse: true
start: 1963
end: 1964
role: "United States Attorney, Southern District of New York, who indicted Cohn on perjury, conspiracy and obstruction counts; acquitted July 16, 1964"
fn: 13
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[Robert Morgenthau]]"
reverse: true
start: 1969
role: "United States Attorney, Southern District of New York, whose office brought the conspiracy, bribery and extortion indictment"
fn: 17
- type: investigated
with: "[[Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department]]"
reverse: true
start: 1982
end: 1986
role: "four charges of professional misconduct, sustained June 23, 1986"
fn: 3
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Thomas A. Bolan]]"
role: "law partner at Saxe, Bacon & Bolan"
fn: 28
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Saxe, Bacon & Bolan]]"
role: "partner, later of counsel"
fn: 20
- type: head_of
with: "[[American Jewish League Against Communism]]"
role: "president, as stated in the program of a B'nai B'rith tribute dinner for Cohn, May 2, 1983"
end: 1983
fn: 36
- type: represented
with: "[[Carmine Galante]]"
start: 1970
end: 1977
role: "counsel in habeas corpus and parole revocation proceedings"
fn: 33
- type: represented
with: "[[Anthony Salerno]]"
start: 1986
end: 1986
role: "counsel on the brief in the Second Circuit appeal from his pretrial detention"
fn: 40
- type: represented
with: "[[Donald Trump]]"
start: 1973
role: "counsel to Donald Trump and Trump Management in the federal housing discrimination suit"
fn: 43
---
Roy Marcus Cohn (February 20, 1927 to August 2, 1986) was a New York lawyer who worked as an assistant United States attorney on the prosecution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, served as chief counsel to the Senate investigations subcommittee chaired by [[Joseph McCarthy]] from January 1953 to August 1954, and was disbarred in New York in June 1986, about six weeks before his death. Federal juries acquitted him in three prosecutions between 1964 and 1971.[^1][^2]
### Early career and the Rosenberg prosecution
The FBI's New York office recorded, in a 1962 report on Cohn's application for an appointment to the [[United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]], that he was born in [[New York City]] on February 20, 1927. His father was [[Albert Cohn]], a judge of the [[Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York]]. Cohn received an A.B. from [[Columbia University]] in 1945 and an LL.B. in 1947.[^1] The Senate's historical introduction to its published McCarthy-era executive sessions states that Cohn was too young to take the bar examination when he graduated from law school, and that he became an assistant United States attorney on the day he was admitted to the bar, a year after graduation.[^2] The New York court later recorded his admission to the bar in 1948.[^3]
In 1951 Cohn took part in the prosecution of [[Julius Rosenberg]] and [[Ethel Rosenberg]]. The same Senate introduction lists the Rosenberg case alongside the perjury prosecution of a former Commerce Department employee and the trial of the leaders of the Communist Party in the United States, and says Cohn "earned a reputation as a relentless questioner with a sharp mind and retentive memory."[^2] On appeal the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] listed [[Myles J. Lane]] as counsel for the United States, with "Roy M. Cohn, James B. Kilsheimer 3d and Stanley D. Robinson" of counsel. The court decided the appeal on February 25, 1952.[^4]
The [[Rosenberg Fund for Children]] states in its case timeline that files released after a 1975 Freedom of Information request by the Rosenbergs' sons showed the trial judge communicating secretly with the prosecutors, "including the infamous Roy Cohn," and that Cohn "helped prosecute Ethel Rosenberg by orchestrating what was later proven to be perjurious testimony by her brother, David Greenglass."[^5] In a ruling that ordered release of Greenglass's grand jury testimony, Judge Hellerstein noted that Greenglass had told a New York Times reporter in 2001 that he lied at trial about his sister to protect his wife, and that he claimed government attorneys had threatened to prosecute his wife unless he testified.[^6] The lawyer Stephen G. Schwarz, who worked as a summer associate at Cohn's firm in 1979, wrote in the Journal of the American College of Trial Lawyers that Cohn conducted the direct examination of Greenglass, that Greenglass later claimed he lied to protect himself and his wife, and that Greenglass "also claimed that he was encouraged by Cohn to do so." Schwarz also wrote that, according to Cohn's autobiography, the trial judge telephoned Cohn after the verdict to ask whether Ethel Rosenberg should receive the death penalty, and that Cohn answered: "The way I see it, she is worse than Julius."[^7] In a March 11, 1985 letter to [[William Webster]], the director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], Cohn credited the Bureau with "magnificent investigative help" in the Rosenberg case.[^8]
### Chief counsel to the McCarthy subcommittee
According to the Senate introduction, McCarthy considered [[Robert Morris]], [[Robert Kennedy|Robert F. Kennedy]] and [[John J. Sirica]] before offering the chief counsel post to Cohn. Cohn had been briefly special assistant to Attorney General [[James McGranery]] in 1952, and in that role prepared an indictment for perjury against [[Owen Lattimore]]. The introduction records that McCarthy invited Cohn to become subcommittee counsel in December 1952.[^2] The subcommittee's staff list gives Cohn's service as chief counsel from January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954.[^2]
The subcommittee's staff included [[G. David Schine]] as chief consultant.[^2] On April 2, 1953 Cohn telephoned the legislative counsel of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] to say that he and Schine were leaving the next morning on a trip to examine the Voice of America and the overseas information services. Cohn asked for contact with CIA officers abroad, and the agency's memorandum records that the CIA would have cables sent to its overseas stations.[^9]
In 1954 the subcommittee's investigation of the Army became the Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges, which named Secretary of the Army [[Robert T. Stevens]], [[John G. Adams]], [[H. Struve Hensel]], McCarthy, Cohn and [[Francis P. Carr]]. McCarthy stepped aside as chairman and [[Karl Mundt]] presided.[^10] The published hearing record for May 26, 1954 (Part 41) indexes the testimony of Cohn as chief counsel of the subcommittee.[^11]
On June 9, 1954 (Part 59), Army special counsel [[Joseph Welch]] told McCarthy that he had asked a young lawyer of his Boston firm to leave the case because of a past membership in the National Lawyers Guild, and that McCarthy had raised the matter in the hearing. The exchange that became the best known of the hearings was addressed to McCarthy and not to Cohn. Welch said: "Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" Immediately before, Welch had turned to Cohn, who had nodded to him, and said: "I did you, I think, no personal injury, Mr. Cohn." Cohn answered: "No, sir." Welch added: "I meant to do you no personal injury, and if I did, I beg your pardon." McCarthy replied that Welch had been "baiting Mr. Cohn here for hours" and went on to quote a House Un-American Activities Committee description of the Guild as a legal bulwark of the Communist Party.[^12] The Senate censured McCarthy on December 2, 1954, and Cohn's term as chief counsel had ended on August 13, 1954, before the censure.[^2][^10]
### Federal prosecutions, 1964 to 1971
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York indicted Cohn and a co-defendant on September 3, 1963. The counts charged perjury, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with grand jury proceedings on dealings in the securities of [[United Dye and Chemical Corporation]]. Three counts charged Cohn with perjury and four with obstructing justice; a conspiracy count against both defendants was dismissed by the trial judge, Judge Dawson, before the first jury began deliberating.[^13] The first trial ended in a mistrial on April 19, 1964, when the father of a juror died during deliberations, and the district court set a retrial for June 9, 1964.[^13] Before the retrial, the Second Circuit declined to order a continuance or a change of venue, noting that Cohn had received "considerable attention in the press" since the early 1950s.[^14]
The retrial jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all nine counts on July 16, 1964.[^15] The same FBI file describes the underlying allegation as a bribe said to have been paid in 1959 to control an indictment in a Securities and Exchange Commission case.[^15]
At the retrial [[Louis B. Nichols]], formerly an assistant to [[J. Edgar Hoover]] and then executive vice president of [[Schenley Industries]], testified on July 9, 1964. In a letter to Hoover the next day, preserved in the Bureau's file, Nichols wrote that when the United States Attorney asked on cross-examination whether he had contacted the Bureau at Cohn's request to halt its investigation at Schenley, he replied: "That's an unmitigated lie." Nichols wrote that Bureau agents had come to Schenley seeking cancelled checks for fees paid to Cohn; that Schenley had given its papers to the [[Internal Revenue Service]], which was then investigating Cohn; and that when he heard agents were approaching other Cohn clients he telephoned [[Cartha DeLoach]] because he feared "another 'steel pricing case'" in which the Bureau would come under criticism. He also wrote that he had been told Judge Dawson asked the United States Attorney's office to instruct the Treasury Department to stop its inquiries about Cohn until the trial was over, and he enclosed the related memoranda for the Bureau's information.[^16]
On January 17, 1969 a grand jury indicted Cohn and three others on charges of conspiracy, bribery and extortion. The charges were tied to [[Fifth Avenue Coach Lines]], the New York bus company.[^17][^18] In September 1969 Cohn petitioned the Second Circuit for a writ of mandamus directing the trial judge, [[Inzer B. Wyatt]], to postpone the trial set for September 23, 1969. He argued that advance publicity, including a [[Life (magazine)|Life]] article titled "The Hotshot One-Man Roy Cohn Lobby," made an impartial jury impossible. The court denied the petition on September 17, 1969. The government's brief on the petition was signed by [[Paul L. Perito]] and Peter L. Truebner, assistant United States attorneys.[^17] An FBI memorandum of January 1975 describes Cohn as indicted in 1969 "and subsequently acquitted," and records that before that trial he had publicly charged [[Robert Morgenthau]] with a "personal vendetta" against him.[^18] Schwarz wrote that Cohn's lawyer suffered an apparent heart attack at the close of the proof, that Cohn, who had not testified, delivered the closing argument himself over two days, speaking for seven hours without notes, and that he was acquitted.[^7]
The third prosecution was a separate ten-count indictment charging willful violations of sections 13(a) and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in connection with the annual reports and proxy statements of Fifth Avenue Coach Lines. Six of the ten counts were dismissed on the government's motion before trial and a conspiracy count was dismissed during the trial. The Securities and Exchange Commission's News Digest of October 22, 1971 reported that on October 15, 1971 a federal jury in New York returned verdicts of acquittal on the three remaining counts.[^19] Schwarz described it as the last federal prosecution of Cohn, after three unsuccessful attempts.[^7]
In a separate civil action the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an injunction against Cohn and others arising from the same company. The district court found that Cohn had violated section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in a transaction between Fifth Avenue Coach and an affiliated company, [[Gray Line Corporation]], and enjoined him. The Second Circuit decided his appeal on December 8, 1970. The appellate opinion records that as of December 12, 1966 Cohn owned 7 percent of a company named Defiance, which owned about 32 percent of a registered investment company, and that shares bought from another holder were held through a nominee attorney at [[Saxe, Bacon & Bolan]], where Cohn was "of counsel."[^20] In October 1973 the district court in the same receivership overruled Cohn's objection, as a shareholder, to an award of $489,924 in counsel fees to the receiver's lawyers.[^21]
### The Hoover and FBI connection
The Bureau's file on Cohn runs from the 1962 background report through 1985. In the March 11, 1985 letter to Director Webster, Cohn wrote that since 1950 he had "a first-rate relationship with and respect for the Bureau," and described it as including "a close friendship with Mr. Hoover, speeches at Bureau gatherings, delivering the eulogy at Lou Nichols' funeral along with Deke DeLoach, representing Wally LaPrade when he was unfairly attacked, testifying for Mark Felt and Ed Miller at their trial in Washington, urging their immediate pardon and honoring them the day after our great President took that action." The occasion for the letter was a story he said a Bureau representative had planted in the New York Post.[^8] A 1971 FBI file note concerns a letter from an attorney who had written commentary on events mentioned in Cohn's book, [[A Fool for a Client]], which the note says was not in the Bureau library.[^22]
In September 1969 a private correspondent wrote to Senator [[Abraham Ribicoff]] that newspapers had reported that Hoover transferred three agents from the New York office "rather summarily because they were involved in a case with Mr. Roy Cohen, who happens to be a particular favorite of Mr. Hoover's." Hoover's reply, quoted in the correspondent's later letter, stated that the transfers "resulted solely from their failure to comply with long-standing rules and regulations of this bureau and had nothing what-so-ever to do with the merits of the Roy M. Cohen case." After checking through acquaintances in law enforcement the correspondent withdrew the suggestion on March 3, 1970 and apologized to Hoover; the Bureau answered Ribicoff on March 16, 1970.[^23]
On January 6, 1971 Cohn wrote to Jerry Finkelstein, chairman of the New York City Democratic Committee, that he would not take part in a dinner for Comptroller [[Abraham Beame]] because [[Ramsey Clark]] was toastmaster, and that Clark was identified with "his unprincipled attack on J. Edgar Hoover whose service to this nation over a lifetime has earned him unique universal respect." Finkelstein's reply of January 19, 1971 referred to the stories he had written at Cohn's request for Hoover in the New York Law Journal and other papers. The copy of Cohn's January 25, 1971 follow-up in the Bureau's file is marked "bcc: Honorable J. Edgar Hoover."[^24]
[[Susan Rosenstiel]], the fourth wife of [[Lewis S. Rosenstiel]], told the author [[Anthony Summers]], in the account he published in Official and Confidential: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover (1993), that at a party at the Plaza Hotel in 1958 she saw Hoover in women's clothing in Cohn's company, that Cohn introduced him to her as "Mary," and that she saw him in a similar state at a second party a year later. The account rests on her statements; Christopher Hitchens, reviewing the book in the London Review of Books, called it "the freelance testimony of Susan Rosenstiel."[^25]
### Disbarment
The [[Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department]] brought four charges against Cohn in the fall of 1982. On June 23, 1986 the [[Appellate Division, First Department]] sustained all four in a per curiam opinion joined by Justices Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin, and disbarred him effective immediately. His counsel were [[Michael Mukasey]] and [[Harold R. Tyler Jr.]][^3][^26]
The first charge concerned the answers on Cohn's application of July 28, 1982 for admission to the District of Columbia Bar. To question 8(b), which asked whether any charges or complaints concerning his conduct as an attorney were pending, Cohn answered "No," and added: "Except usual crackpot complaint letters following media appearances, etc. Know of none pending." The court found the answer untruthful, because three complaints of a disciplinary nature were then pending against him. The court also noted that in answer to question 8(a) he had volunteered a 1960 admonition by the Grievance Committee for releasing to the press a statement that a client was about to bring a lawsuit.[^27]
The second charge concerned a $100,000 loan from a client in 1966. Cohn and his partner, [[Thomas A. Bolan]], had been paid in full for the client's divorce matter, and the client's loan was documented in Cohn's handwriting as a loan. The obligation was not satisfied until 1984, after the disciplinary proceedings began. In a January 1981 deposition Cohn was asked whether the transaction could be characterized as a loan, and answered: "I would say that's an incorrect characterization." The court sustained the charge.[^28]
The third charge concerned a codicil to the will of Lewis S. Rosenstiel, the founder of the Schenley distilling company. The codicil was signed in Rosenstiel's hospital room in Miami on December 6, 1975, about six weeks before he died there on January 21, 1976, and named Cohn as an additional executor and trustee. The hearing panel had recommended exoneration on this charge, and the court rejected that recommendation. On June 24, 1976 a Florida probate judge, [[Frank B. Dowling]], revoked, annulled and set aside the codicil.[^29]
The fourth charge concerned an escrow order in a securities action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against a corporate client in December 1971. Cohn's firm was escrow agent for $25,000 in cash and two yachts. In January 1972 $94,000 was released from the escrow on the strength of an indemnity bond that was not an equivalent bond, and the money was never recovered. The court found Cohn's account of having no direct knowledge of these events "incredible."[^30]
The court concluded that "the evidence so compelling on each of these four charges as to leave us no recourse but to order disbarment," and wrote that "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable."[^26]
### Clients
In 1962 a federal jury convicted [[Carmine Galante]] in the Southern District of New York of conspiracy to violate federal narcotics laws, and he was sentenced to twenty years. Cohn appeared as his counsel in a habeas corpus proceeding in the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]] in 1970, in an appeal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit]] in 1971, and in a 1977 Second Circuit appeal from the dismissal of a habeas petition challenging the revocation of Galante's parole. Galante had been mandatorily released in 1974, and the Parole Commission proceeded on a charge that he associated with a person who had a criminal record.[^31][^32][^33] Schwarz wrote that during his summer at the firm in 1979 Galante came to the townhouse office to meet Cohn about legal problems, accompanied by bodyguards, and that the next day's New York Post carried the front-page photograph of Galante after his killing in Brooklyn.[^7]
On January 18, 1983 Cohn attended an Oval Office meeting with [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Rupert Murdoch]], [[Charles Wick]] and Thomas Bolan. The Reagan Library's photograph record for the meeting names the same four men and gives the event as "Meeting with Rupert Murdoch."[^34] On January 27, 1983 Cohn wrote on the letterhead of Saxe, Bacon & Bolan to [[Edwin Meese]], [[James A. Baker III]] and [[Michael Deaver]] at the White House: "I had one interest when Tom and I first brought Rupert Murdoch and Governor Reagan together - and that was that at least one major publisher in this country ... would become and remain pro-Reagan." He listed Murdoch's papers, enclosed the New York Post editorial praising a presidential speech, complained that Murdoch's Washington bureau chief had been slighted, and protested that White House staff had not returned Murdoch's calls when he offered to turn the Boston Herald over to Reagan during a visit to Boston. A deputy assistant to the President, [[Michael McManus]], answered on February 4, 1983 on behalf of the three, writing that he had called Murdoch and apologized, and of "our continued high regard for Mr. Murdoch personally."[^35]
On May 2, 1983 Reagan sent a message to Cohn, in care of the chairman of the B'nai B'rith Banking and Finance Lodge dinner committee at Bank Leumi Trust Company, congratulating him on the lodge's State of Israel Bonds tribute. The dinner program in the same White House file describes Cohn as the senior member of Saxe, Bacon & Bolan, an adjunct professor at New York Law School, and "president of the American Jewish League Against Communism." Its list of dinner sponsors includes Rupert Murdoch, as chairman of News America Publishing, and Donald J. Trump, as president of The Trump Organization.[^36] A Los Angeles chapter letterhead of July 1956 in the FBI's file on the American Jewish League Against Communism lists [[George Sokolsky]] as chairman and [[Alfred Kohlberg]] as honorary chairman and treasurer.[^37]
In 1985 Cohn wrote to Webster that a Bureau representative had planted a story in the New York Post, published March 5, 1985, reporting that agents were surveilling his office to develop grounds for a wiretap on his telephone. The Bureau's New York office confirmed in an April 1985 teletype that it had conducted surveillances to ascertain the feasibility of a monitoring device to intercept the conversations of [[Anthony Salerno]], identified in the teletype as a Genovese boss, with a Teamsters contact.[^8][^38] The Bureau's reply of May 13, 1985 said that it would not "plant" a story and that it had checked with its New York office.[^39] Salerno and Vincent Cafaro were arrested on March 21, 1986 on a 29-count racketeering indictment, and the government moved for their pretrial detention as danger to the community under the Bail Reform Act of 1984. On July 3, 1986, about four weeks before Cohn died, the Second Circuit vacated the detention orders in United States v. Salerno; the court's listing of counsel gives "Anthony M. Cardinale, Boston, Mass. (Roy Cohn, New York City, on brief), for defendant-appellant Salerno." The Supreme Court reversed on May 26, 1987.[^40]
[[Roger Stone]] told The Weekly Standard in 2007 that he started working with Cohn around the time he became northeast chairman of Reagan's 1980 campaign, and described a 1979 meeting at Cohn's townhouse at which Cohn introduced him to Salerno. By Stone's account Cohn said "Tony, everything's fixed. Everything can be handled," Salerno answered "Roy, the Supreme Court," and Cohn replied "Cost a few more dollars."[^41] Stone told FRONTLINE that he and Donald Trump "became very good friends"; FRONTLINE reported that Cohn arranged his first meeting with Trump in 1979. In 1980 Stone, [[Paul Manafort]] and [[Charles Black]] opened a Washington lobbying firm, [[Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly]]; Stone said that Trump was among its first clients, and Newsweek reported that the most widely told version of how Trump met Manafort has Cohn introducing them.[^42]
In the federal government's 1973 housing discrimination suit against [[Fred Trump]], [[Donald Trump]] and Trump Management, Cohn acted for the defendants. The docket records an affidavit of Roy M. Cohn filed in the case and letters from him to the court and to opposing counsel in 1974. The docket shows that the defendants filed a counterclaim on December 12, 1973, that the government moved to dismiss it on January 8, 1974, and that the motions were argued before Judge [[Edward R. Neaher]] on January 25, 1974. The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary states that Neaher dismissed the counterclaim, which sought $100 million in damages for defamation; The Nation reported that the judge dismissed it about two months after it was filed.[^43][^44]
### Tax disputes and the 1988 suit
In 1969 the Second Circuit affirmed a Tax Court decision that $27,247 Cohn received in 1958 was compensation for his services as co-executor of an estate rather than a gift.[^45]
In the spring of 1986 the United States filed suit to collect about $7 million in taxes, interest and penalties for tax years 1959 through 1983, on assessments made between 1972 and 1984. The government sought to foreclose tax liens under 26 U.S.C. sections 6321 and 6322 on a Manhattan townhouse that it alleged was held by a corporation as Cohn's nominee, and on fees earned by Cohn that his firm had retained or paid to third parties on his behalf. The court summarized the government's theory as resting in part on a book by Cohn, [[How to Stand Up for Your Rights and Win]], and quoted him as writing: "I decided to have no assets." A memorandum opinion of March 23, 1988 addressed motions by the firm, the townhouse corporation and several of the firm's lawyers, and noted that Cohn had been disbarred in June 1986, had apparently served an answer that he never filed with the court, and had died on August 2, 1986, with no motion to substitute his estate having been filed or granted.[^46] Schwarz wrote that in 1979 the firm owned the townhouse and the cars in which Cohn was driven, that Cohn drew a minimal salary, and that Cohn was reported to owe the Internal Revenue Service over $7,000,000.[^7]
### Death
Cohn died on August 2, 1986, about four months after the government filed its suit in the spring of 1986 and about six weeks after his disbarment. He was undergoing treatment at the [[National Institutes of Health]] in Bethesda, Maryland, when he died. UPI reported that he died of complications brought on by AIDS, and an NIH spokeswoman named a heart attack as the immediate cause.[^47]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York office memorandum, file NY 58-1232, report on Roy Marcus Cohn's application for appointment to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York (1962), which records the February 20, 1927 birth, parents, and Columbia College degrees. FBI Records: The Vault, "Roy Cohn," 748 pages. https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn ; https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^2]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, Executive Sessions of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, vol. 1, S. Prt. 107-84 (made public January 2003), historical introduction (pp. XV to XVI) and "Subcommittee Staff Appointed in 1953-1954" (Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel, January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954; G. David Schine, chief consultant). https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/mccarthy-hearings-volume1.pdf
[^3]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, 503 N.Y.S.2d 759 (1st Dep't June 23, 1986) (per curiam) (charges in the fall of 1982; admission to the New York bar in 1948; disbarment effective immediately; concurrence of Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin, JJ.). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json
[^4]: United States v. Rosenberg, 195 F.2d 583 (2d Cir. Feb. 25, 1952) (Lane, counsel for the United States, "Roy M. Cohn, James B. Kilsheimer 3d and Stanley D. Robinson, all of New York City, of counsel"). https://static.case.law/f2d/195/cases/0583-01.json
[^5]: Rosenberg Fund for Children, "Background and Timeline on the Case of Ethel Rosenberg," item 5 (advocacy timeline; the characterization is the fund's own). https://media.rfc.org/sites/default/files/Background%20and%20Timeline%20on%20the%20Case%20of%20Ethel%20Rosenberg.pdf
[^6]: CBS News, "Judge Orders Release Of Spy Case Testimony By Ethel Rosenberg's Brother" (report on the ruling by Judge Hellerstein, summarizing Greenglass's 2001 statement to The New York Times). https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ethel-rosenberg-brother/
[^7]: Stephen G. Schwarz, "Roy M. Cohn: My Personal Experiences and Reflections on His Connections to the Forty-Fifth President of the United States," Journal of the American College of Trial Lawyers, no. 87 (Summer 2018), pp. 79 to 86 (recollection by a summer associate at Saxe, Bacon & Bolan, June to August 1979; Greenglass, the Rosenberg verdict, the 1964, Fifth Avenue Coach and 1971 trials, Galante, the townhouse and the Internal Revenue Service). https://web.archive.org/web/2022/https://www.actl.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/default-document-library/journal_87_summer_2018_cohn_article.pdf
[^8]: Roy M. Cohn to William Webster, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, letter dated March 11, 1985, received August 27, 1985, in the FBI file on Cohn ("magnificent investigative help" in the Rosenberg case; "a close friendship with Mr. Hoover"; the complaint about a planted story in the New York Post of March 5, 1985). https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^9]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, "Request from Mr. Roy Cohn, Counsel for the McCarthy Committee," April 2, 1953, signed by the Legislative Counsel, CIA-RDP91-00682R000300090129-1 (CIA CREST, released 2004). https://archive.org/details/CIA-RDP91-00682R000300090129-1
[^10]: U.S. Senate, "McCarthy and Army-McCarthy Hearings" (Senate Historical Office), describing the Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges, the acting chairmanship of Karl Mundt, and the December 2, 1954 censure. https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-and-army-mccarthy-hearings.htm
[^11]: Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges Involving Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens, John G. Adams, H. Struve Hensel and Senator Joe McCarthy, Roy M. Cohn, and Francis P. Carr, Hearings before the Special Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., S. Res. 189, Part 41 (May 26, 1954) (index: "Testimony of Cohn, Roy M., chief counsel, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations"). https://archive.org/details/specialsenateinv4146unit
[^12]: Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges, Hearings, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., S. Res. 189, Part 59 (June 9, 1954), pp. 2428 to 2429 (Welch to McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"; Welch to Cohn: "I did you, I think, no personal injury, Mr. Cohn."; Cohn: "No, sir."; McCarthy: "he has been baiting Mr. Cohn here for hours"). https://archive.org/details/specialsenateinv59unit
[^13]: United States v. Cohn, 230 F. Supp. 587 (S.D.N.Y. May 11, 1964) (Bonsal, J.) (first trial before Judge Dawson; mistrial April 19, 1964; conspiracy count dismissed; nine counts remaining; retrial set for June 9, 1964). https://static.case.law/f-supp/230/cases/0587-01.json ; FBI file on Roy M. Cohn, memorandum reporting the indictment returned September 3, 1963. https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^14]: In re Cohn, 332 F.2d 976 (2d Cir. June 2, 1964) (petition for mandamus denied; "considerable attention in the press"). https://static.case.law/f2d/332/cases/0976-01.json
[^15]: FBI file on Roy M. Cohn, New York office teletypes and closing memorandum, July 1964 (jury verdict of acquittal on July 16, 1964 before Judge Bonsal; description of the underlying alleged payment in 1959). https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^16]: Louis B. Nichols to J. Edgar Hoover, letter of July 10, 1964 forwarding his testimony of July 9, 1964 at the Cohn trial ("That's an unmitigated lie"; Internal Revenue Service investigation of Cohn; call to DeLoach; "another 'steel pricing case'"; Judge Dawson and the Treasury inquiries), in the FBI file on Cohn. https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^17]: In re Cohn, 416 F.2d 440 (2d Cir. Sept. 17, 1969) (per curiam; indictment dated January 17, 1969 charging conspiracy, bribery and extortion; trial set for September 23, 1969; Life article of September 1969; "Paul L. Perito and Peter L. Truebner, Asst. U. S. Attys., on the brief"). https://static.case.law/f2d/416/cases/0440-01.json
[^18]: FBI file on Roy M. Cohn, memorandum of January 22, 1975 concerning the Barry Farber radio program of January 14, 1975 (Cohn "indicted by the Federal Grand Jury in New York (and subsequently acquitted) on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and extortion in connection with ... the city's Fifth Avenue Coach Lines"; Cohn's charge of a "personal vendetta" against Robert Morgenthau). https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^19]: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, News Digest, October 22, 1971, "Cohn Acquitted" (Litigation Release LR-5194: verdicts of acquittal on October 15 on three remaining counts of a ten-count indictment under Sections 13(a) and 14(a); six counts dismissed on the government's motion before trial and a conspiracy count dismissed during the trial). https://web.archive.org/web/2023id_/https://www.sec.gov/news/digest/1971/dig102271.pdf
[^20]: SEC v. Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc., 435 F.2d 510 (2d Cir. Dec. 8, 1970) (Adams, J.) (appeal from injunction against Victor Muscat and Roy M. Cohn; section 10(b) violation in transaction with Gray Line Corporation; Cohn's 7% holding in Defiance as of December 12, 1966; nominee attorney; "of counsel"). https://static.case.law/f2d/435/cases/0510-01.json
[^21]: SEC v. Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc., 364 F. Supp. 1220 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 16, 1973) (fee application of $489,924 granted in full over the objection of Roy M. Cohn as a shareholder). https://static.case.law/f-supp/364/cases/1220-01.json
[^22]: FBI file on Roy M. Cohn, note of July 1971 on a letter of June 29, 1971 from a correspondent regarding Cohn's book "A Fool For A Client," which the note says was not in the Bureau library. https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^23]: Letter of March 3, 1970 from a private correspondent to Senator Abraham Ribicoff (quoting his letter of September 8, 1969 and J. Edgar Hoover's reply), and Hoover to Ribicoff, March 16, 1970, in the FBI file on Cohn; the correspondent's name is redacted in the release. https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^24]: Roy M. Cohn to Jerry Finkelstein, letters of January 6 and January 25, 1971 (the latter marked "bcc: Honorable J. Edgar Hoover"), and Finkelstein to Cohn, January 19, 1971, in the FBI file on Cohn. https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^25]: Christopher Hitchens, "Mary, Mary," London Review of Books, vol. 15, no. 7 (April 8, 1993), reviewing Anthony Summers, Official and Confidential: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1993) and quoting Susan Rosenstiel's account of the 1958 and 1959 parties at the Plaza Hotel. https://www.lrb.co.uk/v15/n07/christopher-hitchens/mary-mary
[^26]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15 (1st Dep't 1986), disposition ("no recourse but to order disbarment"; "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable"); counsel Michael B. Mukasey and Harold R. Tyler, Jr. https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json ; https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6021889/in-re-cohn/
[^27]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15 (1st Dep't 1986), Charge I (application to the District of Columbia Bar of July 28, 1982; question 8(b); answer "No" and "Except usual crackpot complaint letters following media appearances, etc. Know of none pending"; three complaints pending; question 8(a) and the May 1960 admonition). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json
[^28]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15 (1st Dep't 1986), Charge II (1966 loan from a client, $100,000, documented as a loan; settlement in 1984 of a $127,584.76 judgment; deposition of January 8, 1981, "I would say that's an incorrect characterization"; loan written by "Respondent and his partner, Thomas A. Bolan"; "Saxe Bacon & Bolan" as law firm). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json
[^29]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15 (1st Dep't 1986), Charge III (codicil executed December 6, 1975 in Rosenstiel's hospital room; hearing panel recommendation of exoneration rejected; Florida probate order of June 24, 1976, Circuit Judge Frank B. Dowling, revoking the codicil). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json
[^30]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15 (1st Dep't 1986), Charge IV (December 1971 SEC escrow order; $25,000 and two yachts; $94,000 released January 1972 on a substituted indemnity bond; "incredible"). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json
[^31]: In re Galante, 311 F. Supp. 732 (M.D. Pa. Mar. 26, 1970) (habeas petition of Carmine Galante, convicted in the Southern District of New York on June 25, 1962 of conspiracy to violate federal narcotics laws, sentenced to twenty years; counsel listing includes Roy M. Cohn). https://static.case.law/f-supp/311/cases/0732-01.json
[^32]: Application of Carmine Galante, 437 F.2d 1164 (3d Cir. Jan. 14, 1971) (habeas appeal from Lewisburg; counsel listing includes Roy M. Cohn, Saxe, Bacon & Bolan). https://static.case.law/f2d/437/cases/1164-01.json
[^33]: Galante v. Warden, Metropolitan Correctional Center, 573 F.2d 707 (2d Cir. Dec. 9, 1977) (per curiam) (mandatory release in 1974 after twelve years of a twenty-year sentence; revocation for associating with a person with a criminal record, 28 C.F.R. section 2.40(a)(10); counsel listing includes Roy M. Cohn). https://static.case.law/f2d/573/cases/0707-01.json
[^34]: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, photograph roll C12463 (01), Oval Office, January 18, 1983, "Meeting with Rupert Murdoch," personal references Rupert Murdoch, Roy Cohn, Charles Wick and Thomas Bolan. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/photo/c12463-01
[^35]: Roy M. Cohn to Edwin Meese III, James A. Baker III and Michael K. Deaver, letter of January 27, 1983 on Saxe, Bacon & Bolan letterhead, and Michael A. McManus Jr. to Cohn, February 4, 1983, White House files (reproduced at https://trumpfile.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Murdoch-Reagan-Cohn-letter.pdf ).
[^36]: Ronald Reagan to Roy Cohn, message of May 2, 1983, with the program of the B'nai B'rith Banking and Finance Lodge State of Israel Bond tribute dinner for Roy M. Cohn (describing Cohn as "president of the American Jewish League Against Communism"; sponsors including Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News America Publishing Inc., and Donald J. Trump, President, The Trump Organization), Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, White House Office of Records Management subject file ME001. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/digitallibrary/whormsubject/me001/40-654-12019891-024-009-2018.pdf
[^37]: FBI Los Angeles file 80-236, American Jewish League Against Communism, Inc., released under FOIPA No. 1010124-000 (June 22, 2005), letterhead of the Los Angeles Chapter, July 1956 (national officers Alfred Kohlberg, honorary chairman and treasurer; George Sokolsky, chairman; Rabbi Benjamin Schultz, national executive director). https://archive.org/details/AmericanJewishLeagueAgainstCommunismLosAngeles80236
[^38]: FBI, New York office teletype, April 17, 1985, in the FBI file on Cohn (Cohn's letter to FBIHQ about the New York Post article of March 5, 1985; feasibility of a monitoring device to intercept the conversations of Genovese boss Anthony Salerno with a Teamsters contact). https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^39]: FBI, letter from the Director's office to Roy M. Cohn, Esq., Saxe, Bacon and Bolan, dated May 13, 1985 (no policy of discussing ongoing investigations with the press or planting stories; check with the New York office). https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR
[^40]: United States v. Salerno, 794 F.2d 64 (2d Cir. July 3, 1986) (Kearse, J.) (arrests of March 21, 1986; 29-count indictment; pretrial detention under the Bail Reform Act of 1984 vacated; counsel for defendant-appellant Salerno: "Anthony M. Cardinale, Boston, Mass. (Roy Cohn, New York City, on brief)"). https://static.case.law/f2d/794/cases/0064-01.json ; reversed, United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739 (May 26, 1987). https://static.case.law/us/481/cases/0739-01.json
[^41]: "A Timeline of Paul Manafort's Relationship With the Trump World," Slate (October 2017), quoting The Weekly Standard, Nov. 5, 2007 (Roger Stone on working with Roy Cohn and the 1979 meeting with Anthony Salerno). https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/10/a-timeline-of-paul-manaforts-relationship-with-the-trump-world.html
[^42]: "Roger Stone Indicted," PBS FRONTLINE (January 2019) (Stone's statement that he and Trump "became very good friends"; Cohn's arrangement of the 1979 meeting; Stone's co-founding of a consulting firm with Charles Black and Paul Manafort), https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/roger-stone-indicted-donald-trump-russia-investigation ; Newsweek, "How Close Are Trump and Manafort? They Go Way, Way Back" (2017) (Black, Manafort and Stone opening a Washington lobbying shop in 1980; the account that Cohn introduced Manafort to Trump), https://www.newsweek.com/how-close-are-trump-and-manafort-they-go-way-way-back-697195 ; Slate timeline (Stone on Trump as an early client).
[^43]: United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc., No. 73 C 1529 (E.D.N.Y.), civil docket (affidavit of Roy M. Cohn; his letters of 1974; counterclaim filed 12-12-73; government motion to dismiss counterclaim 1-8-74; motions argued before Neaher, J., 1-25-74). Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, document 82945. https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/82945.pdf
[^44]: "United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump, and Trump Management, Inc.," case summary, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse ("He dismissed the counterclaim and allowed the Fair Housing Act suit to proceed"), https://clearinghouse.net/case/15342/ ; The Nation, "Trump Sues the Justice Department for $100 Million" (the judge "dismissed the counterclaim two months after it was filed"), https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/justice-department-trump-lawsuit/
[^45]: Cohn v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 410 F.2d 399 (2d Cir. May 22, 1969) (per curiam) (affirming Tax Court; $27,247 received in 1958 treated as compensation for services as co-executor, not a gift). https://static.case.law/f2d/410/cases/0399-01.json
[^46]: United States v. Cohn, 682 F. Supp. 209 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 23, 1988) (Haight, J.) (action under 26 U.S.C. section 7401 for about $7,000,000 in taxes, interest and penalties for tax years 1959 to 1983, assessed 1972 to 1984; foreclosure of tax liens under 26 U.S.C. sections 6321, 6322; townhouse held by a corporation as nominee; Cohn's book "How To Stand Up For Your Rights And Win," quoting "I decided to have no assets"; disbarment June 1986; death August 2, 1986). https://static.case.law/f-supp/682/cases/0209-01.json
[^47]: United Press International, "Roy Cohn dies at 59," dateline Bethesda, Md., August 4, 1986 (death on Saturday, August 2, 1986, of complications brought on by AIDS, at the National Institutes of Health; NIH spokeswoman on the immediate cause). Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/2020/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/04/Roy-Cohn-dies-at-59/1617523512000/

8
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Hastings.md
View file

@ -7,14 +7,18 @@ tags:
- SRI
summary: "Consultant to the SRI remote-viewing program and sole judge of the Price and Hammid series, whose target lists and transcripts, lent to David Marks, became the basis of the 1978 cueing critique."
created: 2026-09-22
updated: 2026-09-22
updated: 2026-10-12
---
Arthur Hastings was the consultant to the remote-viewing program of [[Russell Targ]] and [[Hal Puthoff]] at the [[Stanford Research Institute|Stanford Research Institute]] and the judge who ranked the transcripts of the [[Pat Price]] and [[Hella Hammid]] series, in the second obtaining "five direct hits and four second ranks." With David Hurt he published "A confirmatory remote viewing experiment in a group setting" in the Proceedings of the IEEE in October 1976, in which twenty of thirty-six participants chose the correct target from six named by Hastings, and with Vallee and Askevold an experiment "through computer conferencing."[^1][^2]
In October 1976 the Proceedings of the IEEE published "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing" by [[Jacques Vallee]], Hastings and Gerald Askevold.[^3] Harry Snyder's review of remote-viewing research records that the paper was received in early May 1976 and tabulates its results as "Table 17. Results of Vallee, et al. (1976)." Twelve participants in New York, Florida, Quebec and California used home or office computer terminals to describe ten mineral samples held by a geologist; 33 descriptions from six persons were judged, and the correct target received the highest score in 8 of 33 responses against 3.3 expected by chance. Snyder notes that 11 of the 33 transcripts were contributed by "author" A.H.[^4]
In a letter of May 26, 1977, to [[David Marks]] and [[Richard Kammann]], he wrote that for the Price series "he had been given a typed list of targets in the same order as the table in Mind-Reach, i.e., in the correct order," and that for the Hammid series "I received three target lists," one randomized and two not; he "agreed to let me see the Price transcripts," "loaned me a complete set of nine transcripts from the Price series and showed me six of the nine Hammid transcripts," told Marks that "one transcript even carried the name of the associated target, although he returned this one to SRI," and then "said he felt 'paranoid' about releasing this information and soon requested their return as they had become 'confidential.'" Marks and Kammann described him as "a regularly paid consultant to Targ and Puthoff" who "staunchly believes in psychic phenomena including [[Uri Geller]] and remote viewing." The 1979 evaluation by Harry and Arlene Snyder held by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]: "Hastings is an SRI employee, perhaps an SRI scientist, certainly a consultant, and also a coauthor. In addition, we understand (R. [[Ray Hyman|Hyman]], personal communication) that he is a professional magician and the sole judge used in the latter SRI local target studies and a consultant and judge for another organization in the Southwest currently conducting remote viewing studies. Should the above be as accurate as we believe it to be, significant changes are needed in future judging procedures and judge selection."[^1][^2]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Marks, David, and Richard Kammann. *The Psychology of the Psychic.* Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1980, pp. 12-41, 129, 151, 177, 185, read through the archive.org search index of the item psychologyofpsyc0000mark_j8m3 (page fragments only). Marks, David F. "Remote Viewing Revisited." *Skeptical Inquirer,* vol. 6, no. 4, Summer 1982, pp. 18-29. https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/1982/07/22165420/p20.pdf
[^2]: Snyder, Harry L., and Arlene G. Snyder. *Summary and Critical Evaluation of Research in Remote Viewing,* Report RV-79-1, final technical report, contract 77F104420, Systemetrics, Inc., Blacksburg, Virginia, June 1, 1979, parts 1 and 2, CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 and CIA-RDP96-00787R000100260003-2. The sponsor of the contract is not named in the report. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^2]: Snyder, Harry L., and Arlene G. Snyder. *Summary and Critical Evaluation of Research in Remote Viewing,* Report RV-79-1, final technical report, contract 77F104420, Systemetrics, Inc., Blacksburg, Virginia, June 1, 1979, parts 1 and 2, CIA-RDP96-00791R000100440001-9 and CIA-RDP96-00787R000100260003-2. The sponsor of the contract is not named in the report.
[^3]: Jacques Vallee, Arthur Hastings and Gerald Askevold, "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing," *Proceedings of the IEEE*, vol. 64, October 1976, as listed in reference 6 of the proceedings of the International Conference on Cybernetics and Society, September 19-21, 1977. CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080055-4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080055-4
[^4]: Harry L. Snyder, *Summary and Critical Evaluation of Research in Remote Viewing*, Report RV-79-1, section K (pp. 237-245) and Table 17. CIA-RDP96-00787R000100260003-2. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000100260003-2

32
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md
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@ -1,55 +1,57 @@
---
category: "Technologists"
created: 2024-04-25
updated: 2026-09-22
updated: 2026-10-12
tags:
- KeyFigure
- Person
- PROMIS
- INSLAW
- NSA
summary: "William A. Hamilton is a former NSA analyst who developed the PROMIS case management software and, as founder of INSLAW, led a decade-long legal battle against the Department of Justice over its alleged theft and international distribution of the software."
summary: "William A. Hamilton is a former NSA analyst who developed the PROMIS software and, as founder of INSLAW, fought the Department of Justice over its alleged theft of it."
born: 1940
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 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]
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]
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]
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.[^2]
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]
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 DOJ had "taken, 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.[^2]
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 DOJ had "taken, 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]
### 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.[^3]
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]
### 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.[^4]
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]
### 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.[^4]
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 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.[^4]
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]
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.[^4]
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]
### 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.[^2]
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 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.
### Footnotes
[^1]: Newspapers.com, Hamilton family records, Notre Dame graduation records (via https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139683581/).
[^2]: 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.
[^3]: 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.
[^4]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010.
[^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.

72
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin May.md
View file

@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ tags:
summary: "Nuclear physicist who joined SRI's psychoenergetics work in 1976, ran it from 1985, moved it to SAIC in 1991, and chose the ten experiments the 1995 AIR panel reviewed."
location: "Palo Alto, California"
relations:
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Enhanced Human Performance Investigation]]"
role: "principal author of the final technical report, SRI Project 1291, December 1987"
start: 1986
end: 1987
fn: 13
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Stanford Research Institute]]"
start: 1976
@ -45,7 +51,7 @@ relations:
start: 1991
end: 1995
role: "principal investigator under contracts MDA908-91-C-0037 and MDA908-93-C-0004 as described in the sole-source justification"
fn: 12
fn: 14
- type: contractor_to
with: "[[Army Medical Research and Development Command]]"
start: 1985-10-07
@ -57,13 +63,13 @@ relations:
start: 1995-04
end: 1995-11-28
role: "administrative and consultative support to the Star Gate review under a small contract to SAIC; resigned on the day the AIR report was released"
fn: 20
fn: 22
- type: founded
with: "[[Laboratories for Fundamental Research]]"
start: 1996
fn: 22
fn: 24
created: 2026-05-17
updated: 2026-10-05
updated: 2026-10-12
---
Edwin C. May is a physicist with a Ph.D. from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] (1968) who joined the [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) psychoenergetics program as a consultant in 1976, became its program manager in 1985, and in 1991 became director of the [[Cognitive Sciences Laboratory]] of [[Science Applications International Corporation]] (SAIC), where the work continued under [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] contracts until the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] took custody of the program in 1995. He chose the ten experiments reviewed by the [[American Institutes for Research]] (AIR) in 1995 and in 1996 founded the [[Laboratories for Fundamental Research]].[^1][^2]
@ -88,57 +94,61 @@ In 1985 the Army's Surgeon General's research office began a five-year program,
His final report of December 1988 for the Army Medical Research and Development Command, *Meta-Analysis of Forced-Choice Precognition Experiments,* written with Honorton, [[Diane Ferrari]] and [[George Hansen]] of the Psychophysical Research Laboratories, names the contract DAMD17-85-C-5130 and a contracting officer's technical representative, [[Peter J. McNelis]].[^11] On September 8, 1989 May, as director of the Cognitive Sciences Program at SRI International, wrote to Jean Smith at the Army's medical research command asking that three of ten paragraphs be removed from the program's security classification guide. He stated that "all the experimental data, results, theories and protocols collected or developed under contract DAMD 17-85-C-5130 are not inconsistent with what is generally available in the open literature," and that the meta-analysis task for fiscal 1989 had found that "our quantitative measures are statistically inseparable from those resulting from experiments conducted in open laboratories."[^11]
In the final technical report for SRI Project 1291, the Enhanced Human Performance Investigation, covering October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, May is listed as author. The report says SRI asked [[Jacques Vallee]] to act as a consultant on an expert-system approach to analyzing remote-viewing transcripts, supplying him with the NExpert expert-system shell.[^12] Vallee's classifier, DACOS (Description and Classification of Sites), sorted the 200 targets in the program's pool into 40 categories built from 27 attributes. The report tested DACOS on 30 transcripts from one 1987 experiment and states: "Overall, the DACOS performed only marginally better than chance." Water was identified correctly 17 times, structures 13 times, and the full target classification twice. The report says the series "did not show a significant RV effect," and "thus proved a poor test case."[^13]
### SAIC, 1991 to 1995
The resume lists him as program manager of the Cognitive Sciences Program at SRI from 1985 to 1990 and director of SAIC's Cognitive Sciences Laboratory from 1991, which "currently employs over twenty full or part-time researchers from a variety of disciplines."[^4] In 1996 May said that he had "presided over 70% of the projects's $20M funding and been responsible for over 85% of the data collected under US Government contracts," that "the CIA started the government's secret work at SRI in 1972" and put in "approximately $250,000" of a program of more than $20 million over 24 years, and that he "shifted the project to another defense contractor" in 1991.[^2]
The Defense Intelligence Agency's contracting file for the SAIC contracts describes the funding. A DIA description of 1992 says that in 1983 "a report with project findings was sent to congressional intelligence and appropriation committees" which "affirmed the existence of remote viewing phenomenon" and was endorsed by a science panel; that follow-on research support "was provided to DIA by Congressional action for FY91," with DIA "identified as the executive agent"; and that "additional R&D funding was received by DIA in the FY 92 Defense Authorization Act." The file names the existing DIA contract MDA908-91-C-0037; it contains a justification for a new $1,450,000 contract under purchase request 330/025Z/92, out of $1,850,000 available "for this Congressional Directed Program" (the remainder for a modification to the existing contract), and a modification, P00001, to contract MDA908-93-C-0004 that corrected a reference from MDA908-92-C-0037 to MDA908-91-C-0037. The [[Virginia Contracting Activity]]'s justification for other than full and open competition cites the authority "Only one Responsible Source." It states that the earlier "bulk of this prior R&D effort was provided by the Department of the Army's [[Office of the Surgeon General (United States Army)|Surgeon General Office]] (SGRD) in 1985" with "Dr. Edwin May as the principle researcher and program manager" at SRI, who "has since joined" SAIC "and has taken his extensive data base and key research assistants with him." It describes him as "regarded as the leading U.S. investigator in this phenomenological area," states that "an extensive classified data base ... has co-mingled with both government and proprietary data," and adds a second SAIC physicist, a Dr. Angelo, with "over 10 years of involvement in this field." A later justification of the same kind, for a modification to the action that produced MDA908-93-C-0004, repeats that restricting the procurement to one source is needed "due to national security considerations," and that the contractor "has been instrumental in establishing all necessary foreign links for this modification."[^12]
The Defense Intelligence Agency's contracting file for the SAIC contracts describes the funding. A DIA description of 1992 says that in 1983 "a report with project findings was sent to congressional intelligence and appropriation committees" which "affirmed the existence of remote viewing phenomenon" and was endorsed by a science panel; that follow-on research support "was provided to DIA by Congressional action for FY91," with DIA "identified as the executive agent"; and that "additional R&D funding was received by DIA in the FY 92 Defense Authorization Act." The file names the existing DIA contract MDA908-91-C-0037; it contains a justification for a new $1,450,000 contract under purchase request 330/025Z/92, out of $1,850,000 available "for this Congressional Directed Program" (the remainder for a modification to the existing contract), and a modification, P00001, to contract MDA908-93-C-0004 that corrected a reference from MDA908-92-C-0037 to MDA908-91-C-0037. The [[Virginia Contracting Activity]]'s justification for other than full and open competition cites the authority "Only one Responsible Source." It states that the earlier "bulk of this prior R&D effort was provided by the Department of the Army's [[Office of the Surgeon General (United States Army)|Surgeon General Office]] (SGRD) in 1985" with "Dr. Edwin May as the principle researcher and program manager" at SRI, who "has since joined" SAIC "and has taken his extensive data base and key research assistants with him." It describes him as "regarded as the leading U.S. investigator in this phenomenological area," states that "an extensive classified data base ... has co-mingled with both government and proprietary data," and adds a second SAIC physicist, a Dr. Angelo, with "over 10 years of involvement in this field." A later justification of the same kind, for a modification to the action that produced MDA908-93-C-0004, repeats that restricting the procurement to one source is needed "due to national security considerations," and that the contractor "has been instrumental in establishing all necessary foreign links for this modification."[^14]
SAIC's technical proposal of August 27, 1992, by May and [[Wanda L. W. Luke]], "Phenomenological Research and Analysis," answered solicitation MDA908-92-R-0164 from the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory at 1010 El Camino Real, [[Menlo Park]].[^13] A memorandum of May 31, 1995 on the laboratory's letterhead gives its address as 330 Cowper Street, Suite 200, [[Palo Alto]].[^14]
SAIC's technical proposal of August 27, 1992, by May and [[Wanda L. W. Luke]], "Phenomenological Research and Analysis," answered solicitation MDA908-92-R-0164 from the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory at 1010 El Camino Real, [[Menlo Park]].[^15] A memorandum of May 31, 1995 on the laboratory's letterhead gives its address as 330 Cowper Street, Suite 200, [[Palo Alto]].[^16]
### AIR evaluation and termination
When the CIA, which had taken custody of the program from the DIA in 1995 at the direction of [[Congress]], contracted the American Institutes for Research in June 1995 to evaluate it ([[1995 AIR evaluation of Star Gate]]), May, as principal investigator, was asked "to list those studies which he believes provide the strongest evidence" and every unique study since the 1988 [[National Research Council]] report. His memorandum of July 25, 1995, listed ten SAIC experiments, among them "Entropy II" (90 trials, effect size 0.550, p = 9.1 × 10^-8), "ERD AC Behavior" (70 trials, 0.303), "Remote observation" (48 trials, 0.361), and "AC with binary coding" (40 trials, -0.067). [[Jessica Utts]] took them, with the 1988 analysis of the SRI database, as establishing that "psychic functioning has been well established"; [[Ray Hyman]] agreed the effects were "too large and consistent to be dismissed as statistical flukes" but held that ten experiments from one laboratory could not establish a phenomenon. May told the panel that "approximately 20 percent of the information supplied by a viewer is accurate," and AIR noted that throughout the experiments "only one judge, apparently the Principal Investigator, was used in assessing matches." The report of September 29, 1995, recommended against continuing the operational program. May's commentary in the *[[Journal of Parapsychology]]* the next year described the review as the result of "a Congressionally Directed Activity" and gave the report's public release as November 28, 1995.[^15]
When the CIA, which had taken custody of the program from the DIA in 1995 at the direction of [[Congress]], contracted the American Institutes for Research in June 1995 to evaluate it ([[1995 AIR evaluation of Star Gate]]), May, as principal investigator, was asked "to list those studies which he believes provide the strongest evidence" and every unique study since the 1988 [[National Research Council]] report. His memorandum of July 25, 1995, listed ten SAIC experiments, among them "Entropy II" (90 trials, effect size 0.550, p = 9.1 × 10^-8), "ERD AC Behavior" (70 trials, 0.303), "Remote observation" (48 trials, 0.361), and "AC with binary coding" (40 trials, -0.067). [[Jessica Utts]] took them, with the 1988 analysis of the SRI database, as establishing that "psychic functioning has been well established"; [[Ray Hyman]] agreed the effects were "too large and consistent to be dismissed as statistical flukes" but held that ten experiments from one laboratory could not establish a phenomenon. May told the panel that "approximately 20 percent of the information supplied by a viewer is accurate," and AIR noted that throughout the experiments "only one judge, apparently the Principal Investigator, was used in assessing matches." The report of September 29, 1995, recommended against continuing the operational program. May's commentary in the *[[Journal of Parapsychology]]* the next year described the review as the result of "a Congressionally Directed Activity" and gave the report's public release as November 28, 1995.[^17]
The CIA's chronology of the transfer records for February 28, 1995: "CIA met with DIA principal investigator at SAIC, Dr. Ed May. All-day technical exchange." An Office of Research and Development memorandum for the record of April 20, 1995, its author redacted, states that "Ed May of SAIC called this morning and volunteered to send me unsolicited information he had obtained from a 'remote viewer' named 'Joe' relating to the [[Oklahoma City bombing|Oklahoma City Bombing]]," that ORD had no means of "tasking or disseminating this type of information," that May asked for a law-enforcement contact and, told to send it to his former contracting officer's representative at DIA, "said they didn't get along"; given an FBI number that evening, "he asked if this would be a 'cold call' because he didn't want to sound like a 'lunatic,'" and "agreed reluctantly" to call. The Director of Research and Development's covering memorandum to the [[Counterterrorist Center]] the same day: "We attach no credibility to this information, and currently have no way to evaluate it. We have asked Dr. Ed May of SAIC to forward this information to you directly. Please direct any questions regarding how the information was acquired to Dr. May. He has been the primary contract investigator in this area, and we have not completed our evaluation of his past efforts."[^16]
The CIA's chronology of the transfer records for February 28, 1995: "CIA met with DIA principal investigator at SAIC, Dr. Ed May. All-day technical exchange." An Office of Research and Development memorandum for the record of April 20, 1995, its author redacted, states that "Ed May of SAIC called this morning and volunteered to send me unsolicited information he had obtained from a 'remote viewer' named 'Joe' relating to the [[Oklahoma City bombing|Oklahoma City Bombing]]," that ORD had no means of "tasking or disseminating this type of information," that May asked for a law-enforcement contact and, told to send it to his former contracting officer's representative at DIA, "said they didn't get along"; given an FBI number that evening, "he asked if this would be a 'cold call' because he didn't want to sound like a 'lunatic,'" and "agreed reluctantly" to call. The Director of Research and Development's covering memorandum to the [[Counterterrorist Center]] the same day: "We attach no credibility to this information, and currently have no way to evaluate it. We have asked Dr. Ed May of SAIC to forward this information to you directly. Please direct any questions regarding how the information was acquired to Dr. May. He has been the primary contract investigator in this area, and we have not completed our evaluation of his past efforts."[^18]
A draft ORD memorandum of April 17, 1995, from the Emerging Programs Group, sought funds from the Director's reserve for "administrative and consultative work by Ed May of SAIC during the Star Gate review," stating that "there will be no substantive research funded or executed."[^17] An ORD memorandum for the record of April 11, 1995, records that all contractor reports at the Star Gate facility had been compiled on two annotated bibliographies, one for SRI and one for SAIC, that all additional or duplicate copies of contractor reports at the facility "were destroyed," and drafts a letter to May under his contract asking for an unclassified annotated bibliography of reports by May 15, 1995 and classified copies by July 1, 1995, noting that "the NRC Blue Ribbon Panel will be able to review unclassified documents only."[^18]
A draft ORD memorandum of April 17, 1995, from the Emerging Programs Group, sought funds from the Director's reserve for "administrative and consultative work by Ed May of SAIC during the Star Gate review," stating that "there will be no substantive research funded or executed."[^19] An ORD memorandum for the record of April 11, 1995, records that all contractor reports at the Star Gate facility had been compiled on two annotated bibliographies, one for SRI and one for SAIC, that all additional or duplicate copies of contractor reports at the facility "were destroyed," and drafts a letter to May under his contract asking for an unclassified annotated bibliography of reports by May 15, 1995 and classified copies by July 1, 1995, noting that "the NRC Blue Ribbon Panel will be able to review unclassified documents only."[^20]
### Publicity letters, 1995
In a letter of May 13, 1995 to an officer at the CIA's Rosslyn, Virginia office (name redacted), on SAIC letterhead, May summarized a video tape of the project's television publicity. He wrote that the program "was started in 1972 with Dr. Hal Puthoff; Mr. Russ Targ joined a year later, and Dr. May joined in 1976," that Hammid and Price, "both now deceased," were viewers, and that Hammid "was a long-time friend of Russ." He wrote that an on-site representative "from [[Jack Vorona]]'s shop" had asked that Targ and the viewer [[Keith Harary]] be removed from the project, and that the publicity came "shortly after Russ, Keith and Hella left in 1982." Of an episode of *[[Nightline]]* of about 1983 he noted a discussion of "a CIA 1952 report"; of a *[[NOVA]]* program of about 1983, "The Case of ESP," that it included footage of [[J. B. Rhine]] and that [[Gertrude Schmeidler]] "shows the sheep/goat effect in which 'believers' score better than do 'skeptics.'" Of Ray Hyman he wrote that "Ray was not given access to our records in part because he is on record as saying there is no evidence that could get him to change his mind." Of a 1992 television segment on a group called PSI-Teck, he described attending a marketing meeting in [[Santa Clara]] where the group presented itself as former intelligence officers, identifying himself in the question period as the project director since 1985 and the author of many of the SRI reports being cited, and said that what they ascribed to the research "bore no resemblance, at all, to what they were claiming."[^19]
In a letter of May 13, 1995 to an officer at the CIA's Rosslyn, Virginia office (name redacted), on SAIC letterhead, May summarized a video tape of the project's television publicity. He wrote that the program "was started in 1972 with Dr. Hal Puthoff; Mr. Russ Targ joined a year later, and Dr. May joined in 1976," that Hammid and Price, "both now deceased," were viewers, and that Hammid "was a long-time friend of Russ." He wrote that an on-site representative "from [[Jack Vorona]]'s shop" had asked that Targ and the viewer [[Keith Harary]] be removed from the project, and that the publicity came "shortly after Russ, Keith and Hella left in 1982." Of an episode of *[[Nightline]]* of about 1983 he noted a discussion of "a CIA 1952 report"; of a *[[NOVA]]* program of about 1983, "The Case of ESP," that it included footage of [[J. B. Rhine]] and that [[Gertrude Schmeidler]] "shows the sheep/goat effect in which 'believers' score better than do 'skeptics.'" Of Ray Hyman he wrote that "Ray was not given access to our records in part because he is on record as saying there is no evidence that could get him to change his mind." Of a 1992 television segment on a group called PSI-Teck, he described attending a marketing meeting in [[Santa Clara]] where the group presented itself as former intelligence officers, identifying himself in the question period as the project director since 1985 and the author of many of the SRI reports being cited, and said that what they ascribed to the research "bore no resemblance, at all, to what they were claiming."[^21]
In a memorandum of May 31, 1995, he wrote that "Mr. James Schnabel" was preparing a piece for [[Channel 4]] in Britain on CIA's [[Project Scanate]] and the Army's remote viewing unit, covering "details of its organization and its predecessors, specifics of some of the live missions, which agencies had used the service, and who were the major players," that Schnabel had listed five retired program members and some current ones, and that "it is my impression that Schnabel and Channel 4 are interested in an exposé and have garnered full cooperation of past project personnel." The memorandum states that this "raises once again the question of the veracity of past agreements between project personnel and the government."[^14]
In a memorandum of May 31, 1995, he wrote that "Mr. James Schnabel" was preparing a piece for [[Channel 4]] in Britain on CIA's [[Project Scanate]] and the Army's remote viewing unit, covering "details of its organization and its predecessors, specifics of some of the live missions, which agencies had used the service, and who were the major players," that Schnabel had listed five retired program members and some current ones, and that "it is my impression that Schnabel and Channel 4 are interested in an exposé and have garnered full cooperation of past project personnel." The memorandum states that this "raises once again the question of the veracity of past agreements between project personnel and the government."[^16]
### The 1996 commentary
May "was asked by the CIA to provide administrative support, technical documents, and briefings on an as-needed basis for the review," under a small contract to SAIC, from which he resigned on November 28, 1995, the day the report was released. His commentary in the *Journal of Parapsychology* argued that "there is compelling evidence that the CIA set the outcome with regard to intelligence usage before the evaluation had begun," by "limiting the research and operations data sets to exclude positive findings, by purposefully not interviewing historically significant participants, by ignoring previous extensive Department of Defense program reviews, and by using the questionable National Research Council's investigation of parapsychology as the starting point." He noted that AIR's president, [[David Goslin]], had also overseen the NRC's 1988 report; that of the seventeen members of the SRI and SAIC oversight committees and review board "only one was contacted by the CIA"; that his memorandum of June 6, 1995, "the existence of anomalous mental phenomena cannot be statistically determined from the results of a single laboratory," was "ignored by fiat"; and that a [[Senate]] staff member told him the CIA's briefing to Congress gave eight bullet points to Hyman's conclusions and four to Utts's. He quoted Jessica Utts's letter of December 19, 1995: "I was explicitly asked by AIR staff NOT to mention the NRC report in my review!" and "we were shown very little of the 'operational' remote-viewing work"; and [[Robert Rosenthal]] on the NRC's 1988 request that he omit his ganzfeld section, "censorship did not occur." He quoted [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s 1984 [[Legion of Merit]] citation, "more than 200 missions, addressing over 150 essential elements of information," reported "at the highest echelons," and traced a line from ARPA's [[George Lawrence]] and Hyman being refused access at SRI in 1974, through Lawrence's commissioning of the NRC study in 1985, to Goslin's AIR review. Of the program's last years: a 1993 attempt to move it to the CIA "found no willing recipient," the last DIA officer "had little knowledge of the program," and "the program was in shambles." "I am forced to conclude that either the AIR investigators were not competent to conduct a proper review of such a complex program, a view to which I do not subscribe, or they knew exactly what they were doing: They wanted to demonstrate that AC lacked usefulness for intelligence operations. They did so by construction rather than by careful analysis." On *Nightline* that November he said: "I think about 15% of our data, over 1500 separate remote viewing trials, are of such a quality that you might think they were sketched," and, after [[Robert Gates]] said the work was "better done on the outside": "I couldn't agree with Director Gates more."[^20]
May "was asked by the CIA to provide administrative support, technical documents, and briefings on an as-needed basis for the review," under a small contract to SAIC, from which he resigned on November 28, 1995, the day the report was released. His commentary in the *Journal of Parapsychology* argued that "there is compelling evidence that the CIA set the outcome with regard to intelligence usage before the evaluation had begun," by "limiting the research and operations data sets to exclude positive findings, by purposefully not interviewing historically significant participants, by ignoring previous extensive Department of Defense program reviews, and by using the questionable National Research Council's investigation of parapsychology as the starting point." He noted that AIR's president, [[David Goslin]], had also overseen the NRC's 1988 report; that of the seventeen members of the SRI and SAIC oversight committees and review board "only one was contacted by the CIA"; that his memorandum of June 6, 1995, "the existence of anomalous mental phenomena cannot be statistically determined from the results of a single laboratory," was "ignored by fiat"; and that a [[Senate]] staff member told him the CIA's briefing to Congress gave eight bullet points to Hyman's conclusions and four to Utts's. He quoted Jessica Utts's letter of December 19, 1995: "I was explicitly asked by AIR staff NOT to mention the NRC report in my review!" and "we were shown very little of the 'operational' remote-viewing work"; and [[Robert Rosenthal]] on the NRC's 1988 request that he omit his ganzfeld section, "censorship did not occur." He quoted [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s 1984 [[Legion of Merit]] citation, "more than 200 missions, addressing over 150 essential elements of information," reported "at the highest echelons," and traced a line from ARPA's [[George Lawrence]] and Hyman being refused access at SRI in 1974, through Lawrence's commissioning of the NRC study in 1985, to Goslin's AIR review. Of the program's last years: a 1993 attempt to move it to the CIA "found no willing recipient," the last DIA officer "had little knowledge of the program," and "the program was in shambles." "I am forced to conclude that either the AIR investigators were not competent to conduct a proper review of such a complex program, a view to which I do not subscribe, or they knew exactly what they were doing: They wanted to demonstrate that AC lacked usefulness for intelligence operations. They did so by construction rather than by careful analysis." On *Nightline* that November he said: "I think about 15% of our data, over 1500 separate remote viewing trials, are of such a quality that you might think they were sketched," and, after [[Robert Gates]] said the work was "better done on the outside": "I couldn't agree with Director Gates more."[^22]
### After 1995
In the interview of May 1996 he said that "in 1996 we moved the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory from SAIC to the Laboratories for Fundamental Research (LFR)," "a formal California Corporation that, among other things, will be conducting psi research," then seeking funding with proposals pending.[^21][^22] He said that Decision Augmentation Theory "resulted from a carefully conducted RNG study we did for the Army in 1979," on which "we spent over $250,000 on that single experiment," with Beverly Humphrey and Jessica Utts as colleagues "from the beginning" and [[James Spottiswoode]] joining "much later." The model, he said, "holds that since ESP is real, that it would be very unlikely that we would not integrate that additional, albeit weak and unreliable, into the normal decision processes."[^21]
In the interview of May 1996 he said that "in 1996 we moved the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory from SAIC to the Laboratories for Fundamental Research (LFR)," "a formal California Corporation that, among other things, will be conducting psi research," then seeking funding with proposals pending.[^23][^24] He said that Decision Augmentation Theory "resulted from a carefully conducted RNG study we did for the Army in 1979," on which "we spent over $250,000 on that single experiment," with Beverly Humphrey and Jessica Utts as colleagues "from the beginning" and [[James Spottiswoode]] joining "much later." The model, he said, "holds that since ESP is real, that it would be very unlikely that we would not integrate that additional, albeit weak and unreliable, into the normal decision processes."[^23]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Mumford, Michael D., Andrew M. Rose, and David A. Goslin. *An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications.* American Institutes for Research, September 29, 1995, pp. 2-3, 3-18, 3-67, 5-2. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB438/docs/doc_57.pdf May, Edwin C. "The American Institutes for Research Review of the Department of Defense's STAR GATE Program: A Commentary," *Journal of Parapsychology,* vol. 60, no. 1, 1996, pp. 3-23.
[^2]: "Edwin May Interview," conducted May 12, 1996, Fourmilab (Random PK Project). https://www.fourmilab.ch/rpkp/may.html
[^3]: "Edwin C. May, Ph.D., Director, Cognitive Sciences Laboratory," SAIC resume dated September 1994, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190063-8. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^3]: "Edwin C. May, Ph.D., Director, Cognitive Sciences Laboratory," SAIC resume dated September 1994, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190063-8.
[^4]: Resume, September 1994, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190063-8 (employment history, 1976 to date).
[^5]: Targ, Russell, Edwin May, and Harold Puthoff, with David Galin and Robert Ornstein. *Sensing of Remote EM Sources (Physiological Correlates),* final report to the Naval Electronic Systems Command, contract N00039-76-C-0077, period November 1975 to October 1976, SRI International, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300350001-0. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^5]: Targ, Russell, Edwin May, and Harold Puthoff, with David Galin and Robert Ornstein. *Sensing of Remote EM Sources (Physiological Correlates),* final report to the Naval Electronic Systems Command, contract N00039-76-C-0077, period November 1975 to October 1976, SRI International, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300350001-0.
[^6]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers: The Secret History of America's Psychic Spies.* New York: Dell, 1997, chapter on the SRI program's internal conflicts, read in the archive.org full-text copy, https://archive.org/details/jim-schnabel-remote-viewers-the-secret-history-of-americas-psychic-spies_2
[^7]: Puthoff, Harold E., Russell Targ, Edwin C. May and Ingo Swann. *Advanced Threat Technique Assessment,* final report, October 1978, SRI Project 5309, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300040001-4 and CIA-RDP96-00791R000200270001-7. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^8]: May, Edwin C., Beverly S. Humphrey, and G. Scott Hubbard. *Electronic System Perturbation Techniques,* final report, September 30, 1980, SRI Project 8585, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5. Hubbard, G. Scott, and Edwin C. May. *Countermeasures: A Survey and Evaluation,* final report, January 1982, contract MDA903-81-C-0292, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300260001-0. Humphrey, Beverly S., and Edwin C. May. *Free World Psychoenergetics Research Survey,* final report, November 1983, contract MDA908-82-C-0034, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800130001-9. Saunders, David, and Edwin C. May. *Personnel Identification and Selection,* Center Lane-3 final report, December 1984, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800230001-8. Modification P00002, "New Contract No. MDA908-81-C-0004," CIA-RDP96-00788R001500110012-2 and CIA-RDP96-00788R001500110014-0. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^9]: Puthoff, Harold E., Edwin C. May, and Beverly S. Humphrey. *QRT Tasking,* final report, November 1984, contract DAMD17-83-C-3106, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800220001-9; May, Edwin C. *Data Base Management,* December 1984, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800250001-6; Hubbard and May, *Photon Production (Chinese Replication),* May 1985, CIA-RDP96-00792R000400310001-9; May, Humphrey and Puthoff, *An Automated RV Evaluation Procedure,* May 1985, CIA-RDP96-00789R003800310001-6; May, Edwin C., *Enhanced Human Performance Investigations,* final report, SRI Project 7408, December 1988, CIA-RDP96-00789R002200390001-5. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^10]: Contract DAMD17-85-C-5130, "Research and Application of Psychoenergetics," sections B and C, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000400005-0; military interdepartmental purchase request from the Defense Intelligence Agency to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000400001-4; DIA statement of work and background, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000460008-1. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^11]: May, Edwin C., Charles Honorton, Diane B. Ferrari, and George Hansen. *Meta-Analysis of Forced-Choice Precognition Experiments,* final report, objective 1, task 1, December 1988, covering July 31, 1987 to September 30, 1988, contract DAMD17-85-C-5130, CIA-RDP96-00789R002200410001-2. May, Edwin C., letter to Jean Smith, HQ USAMRDC, Fort Detrick, September 8, 1989, CIA-RDP96-00789R002600170003-3 and -170004-2. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^12]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Uniform Contract Format, sections B, C, F and H, and "Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition," Virginia Contracting Activity, purchase request 330/025Z/92, dated February 10, 1992 in the acquisition package, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000460008-1 (and companion copies -460007-2, -460003-6 and -460005-4, the last two being modification P00001 to MDA908-93-C-0004); second justification and approval, purchase request 330/0262/93, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000200009-8. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^13]: May, Edwin C., and Wanda L. W. Luke. *Phenomenological Research and Analysis,* technical proposal, Science Applications International Corporation, Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, August 27, 1992, response to RFP MDA908-92-R-0164, CIA-RDP96-00789R003100200001-5. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^14]: May, Edwin C., memorandum "Publicity and British TV," May 31, 1995, on Cognitive Sciences Laboratory letterhead, 330 Cowper Street, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190068-3. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^15]: Mumford, Rose and Goslin, *An Evaluation of Remote Viewing,* September 29, 1995, pp. 2-3, 3-18, 3-67, 5-2; May, "The American Institutes for Research Review," *Journal of Parapsychology,* vol. 60, no. 1, 1996, pp. 3-23, abstract.
[^16]: "Star Gate Transfer Chronology: 1995," memorandum for the record, undated, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190017-9. Memorandum for the record and memorandum for CTC from the Director, Research and Development, "Star Gate Program Issues," April 20, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000100030036-6. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^17]: Draft memorandum, Emerging Programs Group, ORD, to the Director of Research and Development, "Tasking of Edwin C. May of SAIC to facilitate government program review," April 17, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190057-5. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^18]: Memorandum for the record, "Status of Contractor Reports and Annotated Bibliographies," April 11, 1995, with draft letter to Dr. Edwin May, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170009-0. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^19]: May, Edwin C., letter to a CIA officer, Rosslyn, Virginia, on his opinions of network television broadcasts about remote viewing, May 13, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190060-1. Read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room STARGATE collection.
[^20]: May, Edwin C. "The American Institutes for Research Review of the Department of Defense's STAR GATE Program: A Commentary," *Journal of Parapsychology,* vol. 60, no. 1, March 1996, pp. 3-23. The letter of December 19, 1995, is printed at pp. 15-17 as Utts's reply to May's e-mail of December 17, checked against the page images. "Psychic Spies: Cold War Whimsy or Secret Weapon?," ABC News *Nightline,* November 28, 1995, Radio TV Reports transcript for the CIA Public Affairs Staff, CIA-RDP99-01448R000402140001-7, read in the archive.org mirror of the CIA FOIA Reading Room.
[^21]: "Edwin May Interview," May 12, 1996, Fourmilab. https://www.fourmilab.ch/rpkp/may.html
[^22]: Same interview; May himself dates the move of the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory to the Laboratories for Fundamental Research to 1996.
[^7]: Puthoff, Harold E., Russell Targ, Edwin C. May and Ingo Swann. *Advanced Threat Technique Assessment,* final report, October 1978, SRI Project 5309, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300040001-4 and CIA-RDP96-00791R000200270001-7.
[^8]: May, Edwin C., Beverly S. Humphrey, and G. Scott Hubbard. *Electronic System Perturbation Techniques,* final report, September 30, 1980, SRI Project 8585, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5. Hubbard, G. Scott, and Edwin C. May. *Countermeasures: A Survey and Evaluation,* final report, January 1982, contract MDA903-81-C-0292, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300260001-0. Humphrey, Beverly S., and Edwin C. May. *Free World Psychoenergetics Research Survey,* final report, November 1983, contract MDA908-82-C-0034, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800130001-9. Saunders, David, and Edwin C. May. *Personnel Identification and Selection,* Center Lane-3 final report, December 1984, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800230001-8. Modification P00002, "New Contract No. MDA908-81-C-0004," CIA-RDP96-00788R001500110012-2 and CIA-RDP96-00788R001500110014-0.
[^9]: Puthoff, Harold E., Edwin C. May, and Beverly S. Humphrey. *QRT Tasking,* final report, November 1984, contract DAMD17-83-C-3106, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800220001-9; May, Edwin C. *Data Base Management,* December 1984, CIA-RDP96-00788R001800250001-6; Hubbard and May, *Photon Production (Chinese Replication),* May 1985, CIA-RDP96-00792R000400310001-9; May, Humphrey and Puthoff, *An Automated RV Evaluation Procedure,* May 1985, CIA-RDP96-00789R003800310001-6; May, Edwin C., *Enhanced Human Performance Investigations,* final report, SRI Project 7408, December 1988, CIA-RDP96-00789R002200390001-5.
[^10]: Contract DAMD17-85-C-5130, "Research and Application of Psychoenergetics," sections B and C, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000400005-0; military interdepartmental purchase request from the Defense Intelligence Agency to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000400001-4; DIA statement of work and background, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000460008-1.
[^11]: May, Edwin C., Charles Honorton, Diane B. Ferrari, and George Hansen. *Meta-Analysis of Forced-Choice Precognition Experiments,* final report, objective 1, task 1, December 1988, covering July 31, 1987 to September 30, 1988, contract DAMD17-85-C-5130, CIA-RDP96-00789R002200410001-2. May, Edwin C., letter to Jean Smith, HQ USAMRDC, Fort Detrick, September 8, 1989, CIA-RDP96-00789R002600170003-3 and -170004-2.
[^12]: Edwin C. May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, Final Technical Report, SRI Project 1291, December 1987, sections (2) "Initial Goals" and (3) DACOS. CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000300100001-9 (the same report, with the author block "By: Edwin C. May," appears at CIA-RDP96-00789R002200150001-1).
[^13]: May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, sections (4) "Results of Testing DACOS" and (5) "Shortcomings of DACOS." CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9.
[^14]: Defense Intelligence Agency, Uniform Contract Format, sections B, C, F and H, and "Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition," Virginia Contracting Activity, purchase request 330/025Z/92, dated February 10, 1992 in the acquisition package, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000460008-1 (and companion copies -460007-2, -460003-6 and -460005-4, the last two being modification P00001 to MDA908-93-C-0004); second justification and approval, purchase request 330/0262/93, CIA-RDP96-00789R003000200009-8.
[^15]: May, Edwin C., and Wanda L. W. Luke. *Phenomenological Research and Analysis,* technical proposal, Science Applications International Corporation, Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, August 27, 1992, response to RFP MDA908-92-R-0164, CIA-RDP96-00789R003100200001-5.
[^16]: May, Edwin C., memorandum "Publicity and British TV," May 31, 1995, on Cognitive Sciences Laboratory letterhead, 330 Cowper Street, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190068-3.
[^17]: Mumford, Rose and Goslin, *An Evaluation of Remote Viewing,* September 29, 1995, pp. 2-3, 3-18, 3-67, 5-2; May, "The American Institutes for Research Review," *Journal of Parapsychology,* vol. 60, no. 1, 1996, pp. 3-23, abstract.
[^18]: "Star Gate Transfer Chronology: 1995," memorandum for the record, undated, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190017-9. Memorandum for the record and memorandum for CTC from the Director, Research and Development, "Star Gate Program Issues," April 20, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000100030036-6.
[^19]: Draft memorandum, Emerging Programs Group, ORD, to the Director of Research and Development, "Tasking of Edwin C. May of SAIC to facilitate government program review," April 17, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190057-5.
[^20]: Memorandum for the record, "Status of Contractor Reports and Annotated Bibliographies," April 11, 1995, with draft letter to Dr. Edwin May, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200170009-0.
[^21]: May, Edwin C., letter to a CIA officer, Rosslyn, Virginia, on his opinions of network television broadcasts about remote viewing, May 13, 1995, CIA-RDP96-00791R000200190060-1.
[^22]: May, Edwin C. "The American Institutes for Research Review of the Department of Defense's STAR GATE Program: A Commentary," *Journal of Parapsychology,* vol. 60, no. 1, March 1996, pp. 3-23. The letter of December 19, 1995, is printed at pp. 15-17 as Utts's reply to May's e-mail of December 17, checked against the page images. "Psychic Spies: Cold War Whimsy or Secret Weapon?," ABC News *Nightline,* November 28, 1995, Radio TV Reports transcript for the CIA Public Affairs Staff, CIA-RDP99-01448R000402140001-7.
[^23]: "Edwin May Interview," May 12, 1996, Fourmilab. https://www.fourmilab.ch/rpkp/may.html
[^24]: Same interview; May himself dates the move of the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory to the Laboratories for Fundamental Research to 1996.

4
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/G. Gordon Liddy.md
View file

@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ On April 12, 1977 President Carter signed an order commuting Liddy's sentence fr
### Writing, Speaking and Private Security Work
Liddy published a novel, *Out of Control* ([[St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's]], 1979), reviewed in *[[Newsweek]]* on October 15, 1979, and an autobiography, *Will* (St. Martin's, 1980).[^35][^36] In October 1981 he spoke to a standing-room audience at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] on a national campus tour; the *[[Austin American-Statesman]]* reported that he said the Central Intelligence Agency had been weakened by "illusions" and that the assassination of President [[Anwar Sadat]] earlier that day might have been anticipated by a strong covert intelligence service, and that he told the audience he had been in nine different prisons.[^37] In 1985 the [[United States Tax Court]], in a dispute with the [[Internal Revenue Service]] over more than $150,000 in claimed back taxes and penalties, heard Liddy describe how he spent more than $340,000 as director of covert activities for the 1972 campaign, including $30,000 for a room bugging device, $2,270 for prostitutes at the Miami convention, $500 for [[Donald Segretti]]'s work against Senator [[Edmund Muskie]], and $300 for cartoons of Senator [[Edward Kennedy]] drawn by a CIA artist, according to [[United Press International]]; Judge [[Samuel Sterrett]] accepted Liddy's testimony in part, finding tax due on $45,430 rather than the IRS's $174,800 and rescinding a $51,766 fraud penalty.[^38]
Liddy published a novel, *Out of Control* ([[St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's]], 1979), reviewed in *[[Newsweek]]* on October 15, 1979, and an autobiography, *Will* (St. Martin's, 1980).[^35][^36] In October 1981 he spoke to a standing-room audience at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] on a national campus tour; the *[[Austin American-Statesman]]* reported that he said the Central Intelligence Agency had been weakened by "illusions" and that the assassination of President [[Anwar Sadat]] earlier that day might have been avoided; in advocating a strong covert intelligence corps he said: "There was a time when we would have known what happened and who did it. We might have even known about it beforehand and have been able to warn him." He told the audience he had been in nine different prisons.[^37] In 1985 the [[United States Tax Court]], in a dispute with the [[Internal Revenue Service]] over more than $150,000 in claimed back taxes and penalties, heard Liddy describe how he spent more than $340,000 as director of covert activities for the 1972 campaign, including $30,000 for a room bugging device, $2,270 for prostitutes at the Miami convention, $500 for [[Donald Segretti]]'s work against Senator [[Edmund Muskie]], and $300 for cartoons of Senator [[Edward Kennedy]] drawn by a CIA artist, according to [[United Press International]]; Judge [[Samuel Sterrett]] accepted Liddy's testimony in part, finding tax due on $45,430 rather than the IRS's $174,800 and rescinding a $51,766 fraud penalty.[^38]
On March 18, 1987 the [[Associated Press]] reported from [[Santa Ana, California]] that Liddy had opened a school, the Academy of Corporate Security and Private Investigation, charging $1,500 a week and bringing classes to students, and that he also operated a security company offering drug investigations and detection of illegal surveillance.[^39] In an October 1986 interview with *[[USA Today]]*, according to United Press International, Liddy said he ran the G. Gordon Liddy Academy of Corporate Security in Florida and commanded the "Hurricane Force," a group of professional soldiers "organized to perform extraction missions (in Third World countries) for private parties."[^40]
@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ United Press International reported on October 31, 1986 that Liddy told *USA Tod
[^34]: U.S. Department of Justice, "Griffin Boyette Bell," Attorneys General biographies. https://www.justice.gov/ag/bio/bell-griffin-boyette
[^35]: "Assassination Plots Described by Liddy," *New York Times*, April 14, 1980, as reproduced in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710021-5. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710021-5
[^36]: Peter S. Prescott, "From Liddy with Love," review of *Out of Control*, *Newsweek*, October 15, 1979, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP88-01350R000200160018-8. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp88-01350r000200160018-8
[^37]: "Liddy Says 'Illusions' Weakened Spy Agency," *Austin American-Statesman*, October 7, 1981, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710012-5. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710012-5
[^37]: "Liddy Says 'Illusions' Weakened Spy Agency," *Austin American-Statesman*, October 7, 1981, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710012-5, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710012-5 ; second copy CIA-RDP90-00806R000201150031-8, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00806r000201150031-8
[^38]: "Liddy Spills Watergate-Era Tricks to Tax Court," United Press International, August 17, 1985, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710004-4. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710004-4
[^39]: "Liddy Opens School for Private Security," Associated Press, in *New York Times*, March 19, 1987, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710006-2. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710006-2
[^40]: "Liddy Says He Would Have Killed If Ordered," United Press International, October 31, 1986, in CIA Reading Room document CIA-RDP90-00552R000403710003-5. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000403710003-5

21
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J. Edgar Hoover.md
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@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ aliases:
- John Edgar Hoover
- Edgar Hoover
created: 2026-05-17
updated: 2026-09-22
updated: 2026-10-12
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
tags:
- KeyFigure
@ -25,26 +25,29 @@ J. Edgar Hoover served as the first Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investig
### COINTELPRO
Hoover created [[COINTELPRO]] (Counter Intelligence Program) in 1956, initially targeting the Communist Party USA. The program expanded to target the Socialist Workers Party (1961), white hate groups (1964), Black nationalist organizations (1967), and New Left groups (1968). COINTELPRO used infiltration, fabricated communications designed to sow internal discord, coordination with local law enforcement, and referrals for prosecution. A 1967 Hoover memo described the program's objective regarding Black activists as preventing "the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify and electrify the militant Black Nationalist movement." The program was formally terminated by Hoover on April 27, 1971, after documents were stolen from the FBI's Media, Pennsylvania field office by the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI on March 8, 1971, and distributed to the press. The Church Committee subsequently documented COINTELPRO as a systematic campaign against legal political activity.[^3]
Hoover created [[COINTELPRO]] (Counter Intelligence Program) in 1956, initially targeting the Communist Party USA. The program expanded to target the Socialist Workers Party (1961), white hate groups (1964), Black nationalist organizations (1967), and New Left groups (1968). COINTELPRO used infiltration, fabricated communications designed to sow internal discord, coordination with local law enforcement, and referrals for prosecution. A 1967 Hoover memo described the program's objective regarding Black activists as preventing "the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify and electrify the militant Black Nationalist movement." The program was formally terminated by Hoover on April 27, 1971, after documents were stolen from the FBI's Media, Pennsylvania field office by the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI on March 8, 1971, and distributed to the press. The Church Committee subsequently documented COINTELPRO as a systematic campaign against legal political activity.[^1]
### Relationship with British Security Coordination
During World War II, Hoover initially cooperated with [[British Security Coordination]] (BSC), reportedly suggesting the organization's name and permitting BSC to use FBI radio channels. He became increasingly hostile as evidence accumulated that BSC was conducting unilateral covert operations on U.S. soil, which he regarded as exclusively FBI territory. The Berle surveillance incident (1942), in which, according to the biographer Richard Gid Powers, the BSC operative Dennis Paine surveilled Assistant Secretary of State Adolf Berle, was one documented flashpoint. Hoover eventually refused further dealings with BSC and had to rebuild intelligence relationships with MI5 and MI6 from scratch post-war.[^3]
During World War II, Hoover initially cooperated with [[British Security Coordination]] (BSC), reportedly suggesting the organization's name and permitting BSC to use FBI radio channels. He became increasingly hostile as evidence accumulated that BSC was conducting unilateral covert operations on U.S. soil, which he regarded as exclusively FBI territory. The Berle surveillance incident (1942), in which, according to the biographer Richard Gid Powers, the BSC operative Dennis Paine surveilled Assistant Secretary of State Adolf Berle, was one documented flashpoint. Hoover eventually refused further dealings with BSC and had to rebuild intelligence relationships with MI5 and MI6 from scratch post-war.[^1]
### Secret Files and Political Durability
The Church Committee documented that Hoover maintained extensive personal files on political figures, and that these files provided leverage that contributed to his ability to remain as FBI Director across eight presidential administrations despite periodic efforts to remove him. He died on May 2, 1972, in office, while COINTELPRO was under investigation.[^3]
The Church Committee documented that Hoover maintained extensive personal files on political figures, and that these files provided leverage that contributed to his ability to remain as FBI Director across eight presidential administrations despite periodic efforts to remove him. He died on May 2, 1972, in office, while COINTELPRO was under investigation.[^1]
### Hotel Del Charro Connections
Hoover was a frequent visitor to the Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, an exclusive hotel opened by [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] in the early 1950s. Hoover visited the hotel every summer between 1953 and 1959. During these visits, [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] covered Hoover's tab, which amounted to approximately $19,000 in free vacations over those years. [[Richard Nixon]] and Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]] were also often seen at Murchison's Hotel Del Charro.[^1]
Hoover was a frequent visitor to the Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, an exclusive hotel opened by [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] in the early 1950s. Hoover visited the hotel every summer between 1953 and 1959. During these visits, Clint Murchison, Sr. covered Hoover's tab, which amounted to approximately $19,000 in free vacations over those years. [[Richard Nixon]] and Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]] were also often seen at Murchison's Hotel Del Charro.[^2]
### NUMEC Investigation and CIA Conflicts
In October 1965, the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] referred the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] losses to the FBI. However, Hoover saw no basis for an investigation, concluding that the situation was an administrative matter. He was in the midst of a bitter dispute with [[James Jesus Angleton]]'s counterintelligence shop over the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s handling of defectors and illegal spying inside the [[United States]]. Hoover chose to spar with [[Richard Helms|Helms]] over the [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro|Shapiro]] issue, telling the CIA to go to [[Israel]] and get inside [[Dimona]] to find evidence of the alleged uranium diversion.[^2]
In October 1965, the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] referred the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] losses to the FBI. However, Hoover saw no basis for an investigation, concluding that the situation was an administrative matter. He was in the midst of a bitter dispute with [[James Jesus Angleton]]'s counterintelligence shop over the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s handling of defectors and illegal spying inside the [[United States]]. Hoover chose to spar with [[Richard Helms|Helms]] over the [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro|Shapiro]] issue, telling the CIA to go to [[Israel]] and get inside [[Dimona]] to find evidence of the alleged uranium diversion.[^3]
A June 10, 1970 Central Intelligence Agency memorandum on releasing the Trace Metal Detection Technique to police gave friction between a police professional association and Hoover as one reason for choosing the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] as the distribution channel. The memorandum stated that "it is probable that Mr. Hoover would resent our use of the Association in invading what he has traditionally considered his exclusive domain."[^4]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.
[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18.
[^3]: Church Committee, S. Rept. 94-755, April 26, 1976. Powers, Richard Gid. *Secrecy and Power: The Life of J. Edgar Hoover*. Free Press, 1987. Medsger, Betty. *The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI*. Knopf, 2014. "British Security Coordination: The Secret History of British Intelligence in the Americas, 1940-45." Fromm International Publishing, 1998.
[^1]: Church Committee, S. Rept. 94-755, April 26, 1976. Powers, Richard Gid. *Secrecy and Power: The Life of J. Edgar Hoover*. Free Press, 1987. Medsger, Betty. *The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI*. Knopf, 2014. "British Security Coordination: The Secret History of British Intelligence in the Americas, 1940-45." Fromm International Publishing, 1998.
[^2]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.
[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18.
[^4]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence, "Release of Trace Metal Detection Technique to Law Enforcement Officials," June 10, 1970, CIA-RDP83B00823R000600150029-5. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp83b00823r000600150029-5

2
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jose Macario.md
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@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ When the [[Sandinistas]] took power, Macario was targeted for elimination. "A sq
### Business Partnership with Blandón
After exonerating the FDN, Macario became a business partner with Blandón, sometimes in partnership with accountant Rene Gonzalez of the Peat Marwick & Mitchell office in Caracas. Both men became directors of Mex-US Import and Export Inc., one of several companies Blandón invested in using his L.A. drug profits. Other directors included Blandón's Mexican college friend Sergio Guerra and Panamanian banker Jose Fernando Soto, the longtime representative of the Swiss Bank Corp. in Panama and an old friend of Blandón's uncle-in-law, [[Orlando Murillo]]. Macario also served as Blandón's immigration lawyer.[^1]
Gary Webb wrote that Macario and an accountant, Rene Gonzalez of the Peat Marwick & Mitchell office in Caracas, sat together on the FDN commission, and that after it exonerated the FDN both men became business partners of Blandón. Webb wrote that both became directors of Mex-US Import and Export Inc., one of several companies Blandón invested in using his L.A. drug profits. Other directors included Blandón's Mexican college friend Sergio Guerra and Panamanian banker Jose Fernando Soto, the longtime representative of the Swiss Bank Corp. in Panama and an old friend of Blandón's uncle-in-law, [[Orlando Murillo]]. Macario also served as Blandón's immigration lawyer.[^1]
### Footnotes

28
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joseph McCarthy.md
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@ -7,10 +7,36 @@ summary: "U.S. Senator known for his anti-communist crusade and frequent visits
born: 1908-11-14
died: 1957-05-02
location: "Grand Chute, Wisconsin"
relations:
- type: head_of
with: "[[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]]"
role: "chairman"
start: 1953
fn: 3
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Roy Cohn]]"
reverse: true
role: "chief counsel"
start: 1953-01-15
end: 1954-08-13
fn: 2
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Army-McCarthy hearings]]"
role: "subcommittee chairman until stepping aside; Welch exchange of June 9, 1954"
start: 1954
end: 1954
fn: 4
---
[[Joseph McCarthy]] was a [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] known for his anti-communist crusade in the 1950s. [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] was an ardent supporter of McCarthy. McCarthy was a frequent visitor to the exclusive Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, which Murchison, Sr. opened in the early 1950s. He was often seen there alongside [[Richard Nixon]] and [[J. Edgar Hoover]].[^1]
### Subcommittee counsel and the Army hearings
McCarthy offered the chief counsel post of the [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] to [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]] in December 1952, after considering [[Robert Morris]], [[Robert Kennedy|Robert F. Kennedy]] and [[John J. Sirica]]. Cohn served as chief counsel from January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954.[^2] In 1954 the subcommittee's investigation of the Army became the Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges, and McCarthy stepped aside as chairman while [[Karl Mundt]] presided.[^3] On June 9, 1954 (Part 59 of the hearings) Army special counsel [[Joseph Welch]] told McCarthy, after McCarthy raised the National Lawyers Guild membership of a young lawyer from Welch's firm: "Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" The remark was addressed to McCarthy; immediately before it Welch had told Cohn "I meant to do you no personal injury, and if I did, I beg your pardon," and McCarthy answered that Welch had been "baiting Mr. Cohn here for hours."[^4] The Senate censured McCarthy on December 2, 1954.[^3]
---
### Footnotes
[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.
[^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. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, Executive Sessions of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, vol. 1, S. Prt. 107-84 (made public January 2003), historical introduction (pp. XV to XVI) and "Subcommittee Staff Appointed in 1953-1954" (Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel, January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954). https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/mccarthy-hearings-volume1.pdf
[^3]: U.S. Senate, "McCarthy and Army-McCarthy Hearings" (Senate Historical Office), describing the Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges, the acting chairmanship of Karl Mundt, and the December 2, 1954 censure. https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/mccarthy-and-army-mccarthy-hearings.htm
[^4]: Special Senate Investigation on Charges and Countercharges Involving Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens, John G. Adams, H. Struve Hensel and Senator Joe McCarthy, Roy M. Cohn, and Francis P. Carr, Hearings before the Special Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., S. Res. 189, Part 59 (June 9, 1954), pp. 2428 to 2429. https://archive.org/details/specialsenateinv59unit

10
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lowell Jensen.md
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@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ aliases:
- D. Lowell Jensen
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
created: 2024-04-25
updated: 2026-09-21
updated: 2026-10-12
tags:
- Person
- PROMIS
@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ In 1981, Jensen was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Divisi
### DALITE and the Prior Competition with INSLAW
While serving as Alameda County District Attorney, Jensen received a [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] grant to develop DALITE (District Attorney's Automated Legal Information System), a case management software program directly analogous to [[PROMIS]]. DALITE competed with PROMIS during the LEAA's evaluation of transferable prosecutor case management systems in the late 1970s. When INSLAW won subsequent federal contracts over DALITE and similar programs, Jensen became a member of the DOJ's PROMIS implementation oversight committee - a conflict of interest that INSLAW would later cite as evidence of institutional bias.[^2]
DALITE (District Attorney's Automated Legal Information System), a case management software program directly analogous to [[PROMIS]], was developed in Alameda County while Jensen was District Attorney, with grant money the State of California received from the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]].[^D2] DALITE competed with PROMIS during the LEAA's evaluation of transferable prosecutor case management systems in the late 1970s. When INSLAW won subsequent federal contracts over DALITE and similar programs, Jensen became a member of the DOJ's PROMIS implementation oversight committee - a conflict of interest that INSLAW would later cite as evidence of institutional bias.[^2]
### Role in the INSLAW Contract
@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ The Meese recusal added further significance to Jensen's role: Meese reportedly
The [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]'s September 1992 report (House Report 102-857), produced after a three-year investigation chaired by Representative [[Jack Brooks]], named Jensen as among those who "consciously ignored INSLAW's proprietary rights." The committee found it "incredible that the Department, having made this determination [that INSLAW's claim was legitimate], would continue to pursue its litigation."[^3] The report noted that INSLAW alleged Jensen had been induced by Brian's political influence - routed through Meese - to engineer disputes with INSLAW and drive the company into bankruptcy, with Brian positioned to acquire the company and its software assets through his vehicle [[Hadron]].[^3]
The House report records that on March 13, 1985 [[Elliot Richardson]] and Donald E. Santarelli, described as the former Administrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, met Jensen, then Acting Deputy Attorney General. They asked him to authorize prompt negotiations between the Department and INSLAW to resolve the dispute that had led to the withholding of money and to INSLAW's bankruptcy, to give a new INSLAW proposal immediate consideration, and to appoint someone to investigate INSLAW's repeated assertions of misconduct.[^5]
A Los Angeles County employee told the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations staff in 1988 that he felt pressure from Alameda County employees to use DALITE ("the kind you feel on a used car lot") and that Jensen seemed "hopeful and anxious" that Los Angeles would select it; the staff reported that none of the other employees it spoke to knew of any pressure to select DALITE and that it found no information supporting a theory that Jensen held a bias against Hamilton, INSLAW or PROMIS.[^6]
### Bua Report Findings
Special Counsel [[Nicholas J. Bua]], appointed in November 1991, found no credible evidence supporting any of these allegations. Jensen, by then a sitting federal district judge, denied engineering contract disputes with INSLAW or directing any DOJ action to harm the company. He denied any financial interest in Brian-controlled entities including Biotech, Hadron, [[Accumenics]], and Simeon, and denied ever being promised stock in any computer-related company. He stated he had been genuinely interested in modernizing DOJ through information technology, specifically recalling "[[Project Eagle]]," a multi-million dollar initiative to automate DOJ's litigating divisions, but denied any role in awarding Project Eagle contracts, noting that the Request for Proposals was issued in May 1986 and he was appointed to the bench the following June.[^2]
@ -47,3 +51,5 @@ The Bua Report found Jensen to be a credible witness and concluded there was no
[^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.
[^3]: 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.
[^4]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal.* TrineDay, 2010.
[^5]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report, H. Rept. 102-857 (September 10, 1992), pp. 82-83, section on the March 13, 1985 meeting with D. Lowell Jensen. https://archive.org/details/InslawAffairInvestigativeReport
[^6]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, staff study of the Department of Justice's dealings with INSLAW, Inc., Committee Print, 101st Cong., 1st sess. (1989), pp. 16-17 and note 10 (staff interview of Donald G. Ingraham, Assistant District Attorney, Alameda County, May 31, 1988: both the pilot research program and the development of DALITE were funded by the State of California through grant money provided from the LEAA). https://archive.org/details/micro_IA41152832_0145

4
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Saddam Hussein.md
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@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ Teicher states that the highest levels of the United States government, includin
[[Robert Parry]] reported that the government sealed the January declaration as a state secret while attacking Teicher's credibility, and that Teicher was blocked from testifying; Consortium News reported that a federal grand jury heard testimony on a complaint over the defense's filing of an affidavit in the case.[^15][^16]
The United States served a corrective declaration signed by Teicher on October 3, 1996, with a notice of filing served November 8, 1996. In it Teicher wrote that attorneys for [[Teledyne Wah Chang Albany|Teledyne]] had prepared the January 31, 1995 declaration and faxed it to him; that he had not reviewed his National Security Council files since 1987; that his statements in paragraphs 15 through 18, the paragraphs on his files and on the CIA and Cardoen, were his best memory and belief and not "categorical statements of fact"; and that he is "not aware of any specific evidence that the United States government or any government official or agency took steps to help Cardoen obtain any U.S.-origin components for use in cluster bombs." As to paragraph 17 he wrote that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect." The corrective declaration does not address paragraphs 1 through 14 of the January declaration.[^17]
On October 31, 1996 Howard Teicher signed a corrective declaration, which the United States Attorney's office filed with a notice dated November 8, 1996. He stated that he had been retained in December 1994 by attorneys for [[Teledyne Wah Chang Albany|Teledyne]], a co-defendant, "as an expert consultant on U.S. policy in the Middle East, specifically Iraq," and that on January 31, 1995 "the attorneys for Teledyne prepared and faxed me a declaration, which I signed." He stated that after it was filed he "determined that several statements were inaccurate or were overly broad," that the statements were "based partially on my knowledge and partially on my beliefs," and that his references to what his files "will contain" in paragraphs 15 through 18 reflected a belief that they "might contain" such information: he "did not review or index my files" on leaving the National Security Council staff and had "not seen most of my files" since 1987. He stated that he was "not aware of any specific evidence" that the United States government helped Carlos Cardoen obtain U.S.-origin components for cluster bombs or "in any other way helped Cardoen supply munitions to Iraq." As to paragraph 17 he wrote that, although he understood Cardoen had been arrested, "the other information in this paragraph is incorrect."[^17] The corrective addresses paragraphs 15 through 18 only. Paragraphs 1 to 14 of the 1995 declaration (Iraq's position in spring 1982, the June 1982 directive, the credits, intelligence and advice, the 1986 message to Saddam Hussein through Bush and Mubarak, the Casey and Gates statements on cluster bombs, the 1984 Israeli offer carried by Rumsfeld, and the "Bear Spares" program) are not mentioned in it.[^14][^17]
The former Israeli intelligence officer [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote in *Profits of War* that Cardoen was introduced in 1982 through a person at the South African arms company [[ARMSCOR]] to the Iraqi deputy chief of the General Staff for Procurement, that by early 1985 Cardoen was selling arms to Iraq "with the support of certain people connected with the U.S. government," among them [[Alan Sanders]], "who had links to the CIA," and that Cardoen was producing cluster bombs "with a covert U.S. license." Ben-Menashe wrote that in August 1988 Prime Minister Shamir convened a task force headed by [[Avi Pazner]] to halt the flow of chemical weapons, missiles and nuclear technology to Iraq from the West, with Cardoen Industries the focus of the group's attention.[^18]
@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ On August 2, 1990 the Security Council adopted Resolution 660 on the invasion of
[^14]: Declaration of Howard Teicher, *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Case No. 93-241-CR-HIGHSMITH, executed January 31, 1995, caption and paragraphs 1 to 18 (paragraph 1 service; 3 and 4 spring 1982; 6 June 1982 decision and NSDD; 7 Casey, credits, 1986 message; 8 cluster bombs; 9 non-U.S. weapons; 10 Israeli offer; 11 non-U.S. manufacturers; 13 Bear Spares; 14 Cardoen cluster bombs; 15 NSC files; 16 Cardoen and the CIA; 17 and 18 Cardoen arrest and licenses), National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 82, document 61 (the briefing book's description of the case appears in its document list). https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/iraq61.pdf A sworn declaration of a witness, not an adjudicated finding.
[^15]: Robert Parry, "Iraqgate: Confession and Cover-up," *Extra!* (FAIR), 1995, as reposted at https://scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0212/S00074.htm.
[^16]: Consortium News, "Iraqgate Cover-Up Goes After Defense Lawyers," undated, https://consortiumnews.com/archive/story1.html.
[^17]: Declaration of Howard R. Teicher (corrective), *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, No. 93-241-CR-Highsmith (S.D. Fla.), dated October 3, 1996, with the United States' notice of filing served November 8, 1996, paragraphs 2 to 7, https://archive.org/details/utf-893cr-241-de-679.
[^17]: Notice of Filing Corrective Declaration (U.S. Attorney William A. Keefer, by AUSA Frank H. Tamen) with Declaration of Howard R. Teicher dated October 31, 1996, *United States v. Carlos Cardoen et al.*, No. 93-241-CR-Highsmith (S.D. Fla.), docket entry 679, certificate of service November 8, 1996, paragraphs 1 to 7. https://archive.org/details/utf-893cr-241-de-679
[^18]: Ari Ben-Menashe, *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network* (Sheridan Square Press, 1992; reprinted by TrineDay, 2015), chapter 9, "Promis," and chapter 17, "Agricultural Project."
[^19]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, *United States Dual-Use Exports to Iraq and Their Impact on the Health of the Persian Gulf War Veterans*, hearing of May 25, 1994, S. Hrg. 103-900 (subtitle: *United States Chemical and Biological Warfare-Related Dual-Use Exports to Iraq and Their Possible Impact on the Health Consequences of the Persian Gulf War*), including the testimony and prepared statement of Dr. Gordon C. Oehler, the chairman's remarks, and the May 25, 1994 committee report. https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesdual00unit
[^20]: Henry B. Gonzalez, "Details on Iraq's Procurement Network," Special Order, *Congressional Record,* House, August 10, 1992, pp. H7871-H7881 (loans and the "tolerate its activity" passage at H7871; export licenses and Hussein Kamil at H7872; Matrix-Churchill and the holding companies at H7873 and H7875). https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/congress/1992_cr/h920810g.htm (the host page is titled "US Armed Iraq Through BNL").

5
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Thomas Karamessines.md
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@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ born: 1917
died: 1978-09-04
location: "Washington, D.C."
created: 2026-09-21
updated: 2026-09-21
updated: 2026-10-12
---
Thomas Hercules Karamessines was the deputy director for plans of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], the head of its clandestine service, from July 1967 to February 1973. He was born in [[New York City]], of Greek descent, graduated from [[Columbia University]] in 1938 and from its law school in 1940, and served under [[Thomas E. Dewey]] as a deputy assistant district attorney for New York County in 1941 and 1942.[^1]
@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ Karamessines was assistant to [[Desmond FitzGerald]] and succeeded him on FitzGe
He retired in February 1973, the month in which Nixon replaced [[Richard Helms]] as director. His obituary called the retirement "voluntary and believed brought on, in part, by a severe back ailment." Kissinger said at the time: "He handled the most delicate missions with the utmost discretion." [[David Atlee Phillips]], who had run the Chile task force under him, said: "He was energetic, quiet and efficient and widely respected by those who worked for him."[^1]
On June 10, 1970 Karamessines, as Deputy Director for Plans, concurred in a memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence recommending that the Trace Metal Detection Technique be released to police through the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] rather than through a police professional association. The memorandum records his concurrence beside those of the General Counsel, the Deputy Director for Support and the Executive Director-Comptroller.[^4]
### After the Agency
He sat on the board of the Central Intelligence Retirees Association and belonged to Phillips's [[Association of Former Intelligence Officers]]. In April 1978 he appeared before the [[Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] to oppose its draft charter for the agency, calling the investigations of the preceding years "an inexcusable exercise in political sensationalism." He asked Congress for better cover for officers abroad, prison terms for the "unauthorized revelation or compromise" of the agency's secrets, and protection of its employees from all congressional committees but the two intelligence panels. He died of a heart attack at his vacation house at Grand Lake, [[Quebec]], on September 4, 1978, at sixty-one.[^1]
@ -41,3 +43,4 @@ He sat on the board of the Central Intelligence Retirees Association and belonge
[^1]: Hailey, Jean R. "T. H. Karamessines, Ex-Chief of CIA Covert Work, Dies," *The Washington Post,* September 9, 1978, p. B4. https://archive.org/details/nsia-KaramessinesThomasHCIA
[^2]: Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, *Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders,* interim report, S. Rept. 94-465, November 20, 1975; Kornbluh, Peter, ed. "The CIA and Chile: Anatomy of an Assassination," National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 728, October 22, 2020.
[^3]: Kornbluh, Peter. *The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability*. New Press, 2003, pp. 14, 24-26, 114, and note 32 at p. 511.
[^4]: Central Intelligence Agency, memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence, "Release of Trace Metal Detection Technique to Law Enforcement Officials," June 10, 1970, CIA-RDP83B00823R000600150029-5, concurrence block. https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp83b00823r000600150029-5

199
10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anwar Sadat.md
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@ -1,21 +1,206 @@
---
aliases:
- Anwar al-Sadat
- Anwar el-Sadat
- Anwar el Sadat
- Anwar as-Sadat
- Mohamed Anwar el-Sadat
- Sadat
category: "Political Figure"
tags:
- Person
- Politician
- Egypt
- Israel
- Soviet
summary: "He was informed by the Soviets about Israel's attitude towards a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East, following Golda Meir's meeting with Leonid Brezhnev in 1972."
- SovietUnion
- CampDavid
- YomKippurWar
- KamalAdham
- BCCI
- AshrafMarwan
- SafariClub
- Abwehr
- CIA
summary: "Egyptian president whose 1978 Camp David accords with Menachem Begin led to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, and who was assassinated in Cairo on October 6, 1981."
born: 1918-12-25
died: 1981-10-06
location: "Mit Abu al-Kawm, Al-Minufiyya, Egypt"
created: 2025-08-05
updated: 2026-10-12
relations:
- type: head_of
with: "[[Egypt]]"
role: "President of Egypt"
fn: 10
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Camp David summit]]"
role: "negotiated the Camp David frameworks with Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter"
start: 1978-08-08
end: 1978-09-17
fn: 34
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Menachem Begin]]"
role: "co-signatories of the Camp David frameworks and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty"
start: 1978-09-17
end: 1979-03-26
fn: 34
- type: funded
with: "[[Central Intelligence Agency]]"
reverse: true
role: "payments made on behalf of the CIA through Kamal Adham while Sadat was vice president, according to press accounts cited by the Senate BCCI report"
start: 1970
fn: 23
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Safari Club]]"
role: "Egyptian intelligence service listed among the members of the 1976 arrangement organized by Alexandre de Marenches"
start: 1976
fn: 36
- type: participant_in
with: "[[1952 Egyptian Revolution]]"
role: "member of the Free Officers movement that ousted King Farouk, according to a CIA memorandum of 1970"
start: 1952-07-23
fn: 9
- type: reported_to
with: "[[Ashraf Marwan]]"
reverse: true
role: "aide and special emissary sent to Saudi and Algerian leaders in 1974"
start: 1973
fn: 21
---
[[Anwar Sadat]] was the President of [[Egypt]]. In 1978, he successfully concluded the [[Camp David Accords|Camp David summit]] with Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], a significant step towards peace in the [[Middle East]].[^2]
He was informed by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] about [[Israel|Israel's]] attitude towards a comprehensive peace settlement in the [[Middle East]], following [[Golda Meir|Golda Meir's]] meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] in 1972. This intelligence may have prompted [[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] to launch a war against [[Israel]] in 1973 to force them to the peace table.[^1]
[[Anwar Sadat]] was the President of [[Egypt]] until his assassination in [[Cairo]] on October 6, 1981. In 1978, he successfully concluded the [[Camp David summit|Camp David summit]] with Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], a significant step towards peace in the [[Middle East]].[^1] His career also includes a 1942 case in which a British security report said that he had been sending messages to the enemy, the expulsion of Soviet military advisers in 1972, the back channels that ran through [[Kamal Adham]] and [[Ashraf Marwan]], the intelligence failure before the [[Yom Kippur War]], and the attack that killed him in 1981.
[[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] and [[Menachem Begin]] later developed a face-saving formula over the Palestinian issue, leading to the [[Camp David summit|Camp David Accords]]. [[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] was primarily interested in regaining the [[Sinai Desert|Sinai]] for [[Egypt]] and was not keen on the [[Gaza Strip]] due to its large Palestinian population.[^1]
### Early life and the 1942 Abwehr contacts
Sadat was born on December 25, 1918, in [[Mit Abu al-Kawm]], in [[Al-Minufiyya]] province, Egypt. In 1942 he was a captain of the Egyptian Army serving as commandant of the wireless section at the headquarters of the [[Frontier Brigade]] at [[Gabal Asfar]], according to a report of August 12, 1942 in the British file on the German agent Eppler.[^2]
[[Johannes Eppler]] and [[Hans-Gerd Sandstede]] were agents of the [[Abwehr]] who worked under an operation called Salaam, headed by [[Laszlo Almasy]]. The interrogation reports in the same British file describe Eppler's contacts with young Egyptian officers who opposed the British occupation, among them Sadat.[^3] The file records that Sadat gave Eppler a telephone number for the Cairo signal squadron, which Eppler wrote in his diary, and that on July 24, 1942 Sadat came to the houseboat where the agents were staying and took away the American wireless set they had left there. A statement in the file also records that the transmitter had been thrown into the river.[^4]
Egyptian police arrested Sadat at 1 a.m. on August 12, 1942, and handed him to Egyptian Army Intelligence at noon. A report of that day in the file says that a diary found in his possession contained entries stating that he had been sending messages from Gabal Asfar to the enemy.[^2] A Court of Enquiry convened by the Egyptian Minister of National Defence to hear the case was allowed two British officers to sit on it.[^5]
A letter of October 19, 1942 from the Defence Security Office, Egypt, to [[M.I.5]] reported that Sadat and the flight lieutenant Hassan Ezzat had been found guilty after a preliminary trial by the Court of Enquiry, had been discharged from the Army, and had been interned for the duration of the war. The letter added that before an Egyptian court martial "they would have been acquitted."[^6] Sadat's own account of his early career is in his autobiography, [[In Search of Identity]] (1978).[^7]
### The Free Officers and the 1952 coup
A State Department weekly summary of July 28, 1952 recorded that on the night of July 22 to 23 Major General [[Mohamed Naguib]] "led a quiet and effective coup" which took over the armed forces in Cairo and later the country, "carried out by approximately 300 Army and Air Force officers." The summary traced the movement to junior officers who had resented the older generals since the Palestine war and the Arms Scandal, and recorded that in January 1952 they had elected Naguib president of the Cairo Officers' Club over the candidate of the Commander-in-Chief.[^8]
A [[Central Intelligence Agency]] intelligence memorandum of September 29, 1970, written the day after the death of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], described Sadat as the only remaining vice president, who "has held a great variety of posts since participating with Nasir in the 'free officers' movement that ousted King Farouk in 1952." The memorandum called him "a perennial figurehead," said he "owed his position more to his loyalty to Nasir than to his political strength or acumen," and judged it doubtful that he would hold the presidency for more than an interim period.[^9]
### The expulsion of the Soviet advisers, 1972
In July 1972 Sadat ended the Soviet military advisory program in Egypt. A [[State Department]] telegram of July 19, 1972 to the Interests Section in Egypt instructed the embassy that the United States "should not repeat not inject itself in any way into current developments in Egyptian-Soviet relations."[^10] A memorandum from [[Richard Helms]], the Director of Central Intelligence, to [[Henry A. Kissinger]] of July 24, 1972 reported that an unnamed contact had asserted that Sadat's decision to terminate the program "has created a new opportunity for the USG," and had urged the United States to move "with minimal delay" toward a plan to put to Sadat for a peaceful settlement.[^11]
On February 6, 1973, [[King Hussein]] of Jordan read to [[Richard Nixon]] from an aide-memoire which called the expulsion "perhaps the most significant event" of the period.[^12]
[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] wrote that Sadat was informed by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] about [[Israel|Israel's]] attitude towards a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East, following [[Golda Meir|Golda Meir's]] meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] in 1972. Ben-Menashe wrote that this intelligence may have prompted Sadat to launch a war against Israel in 1973 to force them to the peace table. In the same passage he wrote that Sadat was primarily interested in regaining the [[Sinai]] for Egypt and was not keen on the [[Gaza Strip]] because of its large Palestinian population. He also wrote that Sadat and Begin later developed a face-saving formula over the Palestinian issue, leading to the Camp David Accords.[^13] Ben-Menashe also attributed a Soviet bugging of Meir's office to [[Reuben Yirador]] of [[Unit 8200]].[^13]
### The Yom Kippur War and the intelligence failure
A Central Intelligence Agency intelligence memorandum of November 26, 1971 on Sadat's "year of decision" speeches judged that his pledge to liberate Sinai "with our own blood" had to be taken seriously, and that although the Egyptians would probably maneuver politically, "there is always the danger that the Egyptians could attack out of sheer frustration."[^14]
In April 1973 Kissinger sent Nixon a memorandum on Sadat's speech of March 26, 1973, which Kissinger summarized as declaring that "The stage which Egypt is entering is one of all-out confrontation."[^15]
A post-war report by the [[Intelligence Community Staff]], printed in the Foreign Relations series, explains the estimate that prevailed through the summer of 1973. It quotes the analysts' view that "The whole thrust of President Sadat's activities since last spring has been in the direction of bringing moral, political, and economic force to bear on Israel in tacit acknowledgment of Arab unreadiness to make war." The report then states that "Sadat and Asad might make the decision to go to war with little or no consideration of the chances of a disastrous military outcome."[^16]
The Central Intelligence Agency's 2013 study of the war, prepared with the [[Richard Nixon Presidential Library]], calls Sadat "the mastermind" of the Egyptian and Syrian attacks, who had "done a brilliant job of misleading the Israelis" and American intelligence. The study records that [[Lawrence Eagleburger]], then a senior assistant to Kissinger, said Kissinger had concluded from fairly raw intelligence that Sadat was going to start a war before the Intelligence Community itself did.[^17]
A cable from [[Zvi Zamir]], then head of the [[Mossad]], to the military secretary of Prime Minister Golda Meir, dated October 5, 1973, begins "The Egyptian army and the Syrian army are poised to launch an attack on Israel on Saturday 6.10.73 at dusk" and gives the source's assessment as a "99 percent chance" that the attack would be launched that day. The [[Israel State Archives]] released the cable on September 17, 2018; The Times of Israel, reporting on the release, identified the source as Marwan, described as a confidant of Sadat.[^18]
### Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy and the Marwan channel
Marwan carried Sadat's messages in the Syrian-Israeli disengagement talks of 1974. A May 1974 memorandum from [[Brent Scowcroft]] to Nixon records that Sadat "agreed and made available a close assistant of his, Ashraf Marwan, who will make parallel efforts in these two capitals," meaning [[King Faisal]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Houari Boumediene]] in [[Algeria]].[^19]
In a memorandum of conversation held in Jerusalem on May 6, 1974, Kissinger reported that "Marwan says if Asad rejects it, he should think about it for two days, and Faisal and he would send emissaries."[^20] In November 1974 a memorandum from Scowcroft to [[Gerald R. Ford]] reported that Sadat had sent "his special emissary, Ashraf Marwan, from Cairo to Riyadh" to brief the Saudi king.[^21] In December 1974 Kissinger told Ford, "I think we are facing a major crisis with Sadat," and said Sadat could send "Fahmy or his personal aide, Marwan."[^22]
### Kamal Adham and the CIA payments
A 1992 report of the [[Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]] on the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] described Adham as "the CIA's principal liaison for the entire Middle East from the mid-1960's through 1979." The report stated that press accounts from the late 1970s described Adham as having made payments on behalf of the CIA to Sadat when Sadat was Nasser's vice president and in financial difficulty. It quoted [[Bob Woodward]] on the arrangement: "In 1970, the Saudis had provided then Egyptian Vice President Sadat with a regular income. It was impossible to determine where Saudi interests in these arrangements ended and American CIA interests began."[^23]
The Senate report says that Adham, at the [[Federal Reserve Board]] hearing on the takeover of [[First American Bank]] in April 1981, did not mention that he had been the most important liaison between the United States and Sadat in the negotiation of the Camp David accords. The report's finding is that the key role Adham played at Camp David "was apparently to encourage other Arab political figures not to repudiate Sadat for agreeing to peace with Israel." [[Clark Clifford]] stated in sworn interrogatories that he believed Adham's roles were coincidental.[^24]
Adham's place in the channel is visible in the record of 1974 and 1976. In May 1974 a cable from [[Harold Saunders]], Kissinger's envoy in Saudi Arabia, reported that "Adham and [[Rashid Pharaon|Pharaon]] are regarded here as the men most likely to reflect the King's thinking."[^20] In August 1976, in [[Tehran]], Assistant Secretary [[Alfred L. Atherton Jr.|Atherton]] told Kissinger that "Adham's thesis is that the Arabs must be brought together and only then can they get the PLO under control."[^25] In February 1980 the American embassy in [[Jidda]] reported that Crown Prince Fahd had referred to information from Marwan, "the now deposed head of Arab arms," and that the "Saudi principal in this venture was Kamal Adham, now out of favor here."[^26]
### The Camp David accords
On February 17, 1977, in Cairo, Sadat told Secretary of State [[Cyrus Vance]] that "now the time is ripe for a permanent solution, a 'global solution' to establish peace here once and for all."[^27]
On November 9, 1977 Sadat told the Egyptian People's Assembly, "I am ready to go to their house, to the Knesset itself, to debate them"; the American embassy in Cairo reported the offer as a first for an Arab leader.[^28] On the evening of November 19, 1977 he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport for the first visit to Israel by an Arab head of state since 1948, stayed 36 hours in [[Jerusalem]], and addressed the [[Knesset]].[^29] On November 23 the embassy reported that Sadat called the trip his "greatest victory," greater than the October war.[^30]
In August 1978 the Central Intelligence Agency reported to [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]], in a raw report not finally evaluated, that the summit could produce "two separate but related achievements": a publicly announced agreement on principles based on [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242]] with a Palestinian component, and a secret framework agreement to be signed by Sadat and Begin with [[Jimmy Carter]] as witness.[^31] On August 26, 1978, at [[Ismailia]], Sadat told Ambassador [[Hermann F. Eilts]] that the Israelis "would not have been able to do so if the U.S. satellite photography had not been furnished to the Israelis," and that the photography had revealed his 25th Division preparing to cross the Canal.[^32]
The two framework agreements were signed on September 17, 1978. The [[Nobel Prize]] committee awarded the 1978 Peace Prize jointly to Sadat and Begin "for jointly having negotiated peace between Egypt and Israel in 1978."[^33] The Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty was signed on March 26, 1979.[^34] A Central Intelligence Agency memorandum of April 9, 1975, "A Coming of Age: The Foreign Policy of Anwar Sadat," had called his foreign policy "unremarkable by pragmatic Western standards" and, "by the standards of the Arab world, ... revolutionary."[^35]
### The Safari Club
In 1976 [[Alexandre de Marenches]], the director of the French [[SDECE]], organized an informal intelligence arrangement called the [[Safari Club]]. According to Marenches's memoir, *The Fourth World War* (1992), written with [[David Andelman]], the arrangement drew on the intelligence services of several states, and Egypt's General Intelligence Service is listed among its members in the accounts that describe it.[^36] A history by [[Joseph Trento]] describes the same arrangement over several chapters.[^37]
The [[New York Times]] reported on October 8, 1981, citing American officials, that in 1980 President Carter made plans with Sadat, the Saudi leaders and the French president [[Valery Giscard d'Estaing]] for covert action against Colonel [[Muammar Gaddafi]] of [[Libya]], using Egyptian and Sudanese paramilitary forces, and that the plan was shelved when Giscard lost his bid for reelection in the spring of 1981.[^38]
### Marwan's death
Marwan fell from the balcony of his [[London]] apartment in June 2007. At the inquest in July 2010 at Westminster Coroner's Court, the coroner William Dolman recorded an open verdict, stating that there was no evidence to support a finding of either suicide or unlawful killing, and said that claims about the death belonged to "the murky and secretive world of espionage." He asked, "Did he jump or did he fall? The evidence does not provide a clear answer." Marwan's widow told the inquest that her husband had never spoken of suicide but had expressed fears that he might be killed, and said outside court that she believed someone had thrown him over the balcony.[^39][^40]
### The assassination, October 6, 1981
On September 3 and 4, 1981, Sadat launched a crackdown that swept nearly 1,600 Egyptians into prison. The [[Middle East Research and Information Project]], reporting in November 1981, described the arrests as coming four weeks before the assassination.[^41] Former Austrian chancellor [[Bruno Kreisky]] said in December 1984 that, on information from Israel, Austrian police intercepted a weapons shipment at Vienna's airport on August 1, 1981, ten days before Sadat was to arrive for a private visit in Salzburg. Kreisky said, "I was forced to ask Egyptian President Sadat at the time to postpone his trip to Salzburg, because I could not guarantee his security."[^42]
Sadat was shot on October 6, 1981 at a military parade outside Cairo marking the anniversary of the 1973 crossing. *Newsweek* reported that a junior lieutenant stepped from a truck and threw a grenade, and that accomplices then fired submachine guns and threw grenades.[^43] The same report stated that the United States had contributed $25 million toward Sadat's security over the years, that the Secret Service had trained Egyptian security men beginning in 1974, and that the Central Intelligence Agency had supplied communications equipment to protect messages between Sadat's bodyguards.[^43] The New York Times reported the next day, citing American officials, that Sadat had asked President Nixon for help with his personal protection and that the Secret Service and the CIA had provided advice and equipment through contacts with his bodyguards from 1974.[^38]
Secretary of State [[Alexander Haig]] said on October 7 that, citing intelligence reports from Egypt, he attributed the assassination to a group of fundamentalists centered primarily in certain military units, and that there was "no direct link" and "no evidence" of external involvement.[^44] On the morning of October 8 the columnist [[Jack Anderson]] said on a television broadcast that he had had access to a secret CIA preliminary post-mortem, and that the CIA "has no clear idea who was behind the plot, but the agency believes the least likely culprits would be Egyptian Army dissidents."[^45] A memorandum of October 16, 1981 from the Chairman of the [[National Intelligence Council]] thanked a CIA branch for its work in producing the Special National Intelligence Estimate on the regional implications of the assassination.[^46]
On the evening of the assassination [[G. Gordon Liddy]] spoke at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]]. The *Austin American-Statesman* quoted him: "There was a time when we would have known what happened and who did it. We might have even known about it beforehand and have been able to warn him."[^47]
On March 6, 1982 a three-man Supreme Military Court sentenced five of 24 defendants to death, among them Lieutenant [[Khaled Islambouli]], whom [[United Press International]] described as the accused mastermind. Five others received life terms, twelve received hard labor, and two were acquitted. Prosecutors said the plan was to begin an effort to overthrow the government and install an Iranian-style Islamic republic.[^48] The [[Washington Post]] reported from Cairo that the court "condemned five Moslem extremists to death" and meted out sentences ranging from life to five years in prison to 17 accomplices.[^49] On April 15, 1982, a day after [[Hosni Mubarak]] rejected a plea for clemency, Islambouli, 24, and Sergeant Hussein Abbas, 28, were shot by firing squad at the Red Mountain firing range east of Cairo, and three others were hanged at Bab El-Khalk prison, under a news blackout.[^50]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015).
[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991.
[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991.
[^2]: The National Archives (UK), KV 2/1467, report on the arrests of Hassan Ezzat and Mohamed Anwar el Sadati, August 12, 1942, enclosed with a letter of August 26, 1942 to Sir David Petrie of M.I.5. Transcribed in the Salaam-Condor compilation, Part II, https://www.cdvandt.org/Salaam-Condor-Eppler-Sandstede-part-II-V2.pdf.
[^3]: Salaam-Condor compilation, Part I, citing KV 2/1467 and KV 2/1468 (interrogation reports on Johannes Eppler and Hans-Gerd Sandstede), https://www.cdvandtext2.org/Salaam-Condor-Eppler-Sandstede-V3.pdf; Part II, introduction, https://www.cdvandt.org/Salaam-Condor-Eppler-Sandstede-part-II-V2.pdf.
[^4]: KV 2/1467, interrogation summaries of Eppler and Sandstede, July and August 1942, as transcribed in the Salaam-Condor compilation, Part II, https://www.cdvandt.org/Salaam-Condor-Eppler-Sandstede-part-II-V2.pdf.
[^5]: KV 2/1467, Court of Enquiry report on the case of Captain Mohamed Effendi Anwar El Sadati and the aviator Hassan Effendi Abdel Azim Ezzat, Military Information Bureau, Koubri Koubbeh, August 1942, transcribed in the Salaam-Condor compilation, Part II.
[^6]: KV 2/1467, letter from the Defence Security Office, Egypt, to Sir David Petrie, M.I.5, October 19, 1942, transcribed in the Salaam-Condor compilation, Part II.
[^7]: Sadat, Anwar. *In Search of Identity: An Autobiography*. Harper and Row, 1978.
[^8]: Memorandum by Alta F. Fowler to the Officer in Charge of Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Affairs, "Weekly Summary of Events, Egypt and the Sudan, July 22-28, 1952," Washington, July 28, 1952, Document 997, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954*, Volume IX, Part 2, The Near and Middle East, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v09p2/d997.
[^9]: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Intelligence Memorandum No. 1467/70, "Nasir's Death: The Immediate Aftermath," September 29, 1970, CIA-RDP85T00875R001100090046-7, CIA Reading Room, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp85t00875r001100090046-7.
[^10]: Telegram from the Department of State to the Interests Section in Egypt, Washington, July 19, 1972, 2253Z, Document 298, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1969-1972, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v23/d298.
[^11]: Memorandum from Director of Central Intelligence Helms to the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 24, 1972, Document 299, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXIII, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v23/d299.
[^12]: Memorandum for the President's File by the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, February 6, 1973, Document 14, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v25/d14. The quoted sentence is from the King's aide-memoire.
[^13]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015).
[^14]: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Intelligence Memorandum, "Sadat Makes His 1971 Decision," November 26, 1971, CIA-RDP79M00098A000200150023-9, CIA Reading Room, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp79m00098a000200150023-9.
[^15]: Memorandum from the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, April 1973, Document 42, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXV, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v25/d42.
[^16]: Report Prepared by the Intelligence Community Staff, Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 83-M00171R, Document 412, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXV, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v25/d412.
[^17]: *President Nixon and the Role of Intelligence in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War*, Central Intelligence Agency, Center for the Study of Intelligence, with the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, January 30, 2013, PDF pages 19 and 20, https://www.cia.gov/static/c92e6ff4c7b383b2c719ac47c87f45ce/President-Nixon-and-the-Role-of-Intelligence-in-the-1973-Arab-Israeli-War.pdf.
[^18]: Zvi Zamir, cable to the military secretary of Prime Minister Golda Meir, October 5, 1973, Israel State Archives, released September 17, 2018, as quoted in Judah Ari Gross, "'Odds of war lower than low': Papers highlight intel failures in Yom Kippur War," *The Times of Israel*, September 17, 2018, https://www.timesofisrael.com/odds-of-war-lower-than-low-papers-highlight-intel-failures-in-yom-kippur-war/.
[^19]: Memorandum from the President's Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon, May 1974, Document 43, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXVI, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1974-1976, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d43.
[^20]: Memorandum of conversation, Jerusalem, May 6, 1974, Document 46, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXVI, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d46. The Adham and Pharaon passage is from a cable from Saudi Arabia that Kissinger read to his interlocutors in the same meeting.
[^21]: Memorandum from Scowcroft to President Ford, November 6, 1974, Document 116, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXVI, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d116.
[^22]: Memorandum of conversation, Oval Office, Ford and Kissinger, December 1974, Document 124, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXVI, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d124. The FRUS editorial note says the original is misdated December 18.
[^23]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, *The BCCI Affair: A Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Senator John Kerry and Senator Hank Brown*, S. Prt. 102-140, December 1992, pp. 299-300 (notes 779-780), quoting Bob Woodward, *Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987*, Simon and Schuster, 1987, p. 352.
[^24]: S. Prt. 102-140, pp. 300-301 (notes 782-789), including the Bert Lance testimony, S. Hrg. 102-350, Part 3, p. 22, and Clark Clifford's sworn interrogatories.
[^25]: Memorandum of conversation, Tehran, August 7, 1976, Document 292, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969-1976*, Volume XXVI, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d292. Alfred Leroy Atherton Jr. was Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from April 25, 1974 to April 13, 1978: Office of the Historian, "Alfred Leroy Atherton Jr.," https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/atherton-alfred-leroy.
[^26]: Telegram from the U.S. Embassy in Jidda, February 1980, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume IX, Arab-Israeli Dispute, August 1978-December 1980, p. 1090, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v09/pdf/frus1977-80v09.pdf.
[^27]: Memorandum of conversation, Cairo, February 17, 1977, Document 10, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume VIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, January 1977-August 1978, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v08/pdf/frus1977-80v08.pdf.
[^28]: Telegram from the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State, Cairo, November 9, 1977, Document 144, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume VIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, January 1977-August 1978, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v08/pdf/frus1977-80v08.pdf.
[^29]: Editorial Note, Document 152, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume VIII, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v08/pdf/frus1977-80v08.pdf.
[^30]: Telegram from the Embassy in Egypt to the Department of State, Cairo, November 23, 1977, Document 155, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume VIII, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v08/pdf/frus1977-80v08.pdf.
[^31]: Memorandum from Director of Central Intelligence Turner to Brzezinski, Washington, August 21, 1978, Document 14, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume IX, Arab-Israeli Dispute, August 1978-December 1980, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v09/pdf/frus1977-80v09.pdf.
[^32]: Memorandum of conversation, Ismailia, August 26, 1978, Document 16, *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume IX, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v09/pdf/frus1977-80v09.pdf.
[^33]: Nobel Prize, 1978 Peace Prize announcement, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1978/summary/.
[^34]: *Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977-1980*, Volume IX, Arab-Israeli Dispute, August 1978-December 1980, introductory material on the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty signed March 26, 1979, and the volume's date range for the August 8 to September 17, 1978 summit, https://static.history.state.gov/frus/frus1977-80v09/pdf/frus1977-80v09.pdf.
[^35]: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Intelligence Memorandum No. 0088/75, "A Coming of Age: The Foreign Policy of Anwar Sadat," April 9, 1975, CIA-RDP85T00353R000100160001-8, CIA Reading Room, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp85t00353r000100160001-8.
[^36]: De Marenches, Alexandre, and David Andelman. *The Fourth World War: Diplomacy and Espionage in the Age of Terrorism*. Random House, 1992.
[^37]: Trento, Joseph. *Prelude to Terror: The Rogue CIA and the Legacy of America's Private Intelligence Network*. Carroll and Graf, 2005, pp. 52-108.
[^38]: Leslie H. Gelb, "U.S. Had Advised Sadat Since '74," *New York Times*, October 8, 1981, as filed in the CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250105-0, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000505250105-0.
[^39]: Associated Press, in Ynetnews, "Inquest: Egyptian spy suspect's death unexplained," https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3919938,00.html. The coroner was William Dolman.
[^40]: "Open verdict for Egyptian Mossad spy death," *The Jewish Chronicle*, July 21, 2010, https://www.thejc.com/news/open-verdict-for-egyptian-mossad-spy-death-t4qjb776.
[^41]: Stork, Joe, "Massive Arrests Precede Sadat's Assassination," *MERIP Reports*, November 23, 1981, https://www.merip.org/1981/11/massive-arrests-precede-sadats-assassination/.
[^42]: "Israelis provided good tip on threat to Sadat in '81," *Baltimore Sun*, December 6, 1984, as filed in the CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP90-00552R000605720001-2, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000605720001-2.
[^43]: "'An Act of Infamy,'" *Newsweek*, October 19, 1981, as filed in the CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP90-00552R000605720007-6, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000605720007-6.
[^44]: Don Oberdorfer, "Haig Warns 'External Powers,'" *Washington Post*, October 8, 1981, as filed in the CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP90-00552R000605720012-0, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00552r000605720012-0.
[^45]: Jack Anderson, "The Sadat Assassination," *Good Morning America*, ABC, WJLA-TV Washington, October 8, 1981, Radio TV Reports transcript, CIA-RDP90-00965R000100160041-2, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00965r000100160041-2.
[^46]: Memorandum from the Chairman, National Intelligence Council, October 16, 1981, on the Special National Intelligence Estimate on the regional implications of President Sadat's assassination, CIA-RDP83B00140R000100040014-6, CIA Reading Room, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp83b00140r000100040014-6.
[^47]: "Convicted Watergate plotter G. Gordon Liddy...," *Austin American-Statesman*, October 7, 1981, as filed in the CIA Reading Room, CIA-RDP90-00806R000201150031-8, https://archive.org/details/cia-readingroom-document-cia-rdp90-00806r000201150031-8.
[^48]: W. G. Kirolos, "Five given death for Sadat assassination," United Press International, Cairo, March 6, 1982, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/06/Five-given-death-for-Sadat-assassination/6203384238800/.
[^49]: "5 Get Death Penalty for Assassinating Sadat," *Washington Post*, March 7, 1982 (Cairo dateline March 6), https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/03/07/5-get-death-penalty-for-assassinating-sadat/d83e7d01-8fcd-4f4d-8916-87dd45879256/.
[^50]: W. G. Kirolos, "Execute five for Sadat assassination," United Press International, Cairo, April 15, 1982, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/04/15/Execute-five-for-Sadat-assassination/5516387694800/.

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10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garry Nolan.md
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@ -12,53 +12,57 @@ tags:
- SolFoundation
- Akoya
summary: "Garry Nolan is a leading research scientist at Stanford University, specializing in genetics, immunology, and bioinformatics."
relations:
relations:
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with: "[[Stanford University]]"
role: "Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine"
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fn: 17
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with: "[[Nodality]]"
start: 2009-10-19
role: "executive officer and director on the Form D signed October 26, 2009 (offering $10,000,000, $3,499,999 sold) and director on the Form D signed January 12, 2010 (offering $13,500,000, $9,999,997 sold)"
fn: 3
fn: 6
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with: "[[DVS Sciences]]"
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role: "director on Form D filed February 16, 2011 (offering $14,797,741; $4,131,828 sold, six investors)"
fn: 4
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- type: director_of
with: "[[BINA Technologies]]"
start: 2011-04-08
role: "director on Forms D filed April 21, 2011 ($1,500,000 offered, $1,100,000 sold, nine investors) and March 28, 2012 ($2,000,000 offered, $1,204,545 sold, twelve investors)"
fn: 5
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role: "director on Forms D filed March 15, May 17 and June 28, 2011"
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- type: founded
with: "[[Akoya Biosciences]]"
role: "co-founder and director (director on Forms D of July 2017 and October 2018; Form 3 filed April 20, 2021 as director holding 680,084 common shares); company acquired by Quanterix in 2025"
fn: 7
fn: 10
- type: member_of
with: "[[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]]"
start: 2017-08-15
end: 2018-08-31
role: "named to the advisory board in the Regulation A offering circular of August 15, 2017, with Christopher Mellon, Adele Gilpin, Norman Kahn, Colm Kelleher and Paul Rapp; resignation effective August 31, 2018 reported in the company's Form 1-SA"
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role: "co-founder; director (0 hours, no compensation) on the 2024 Form 990"
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with: "[[UAP Science Advisory Council]]"
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role: "materials science and molecular biology, on the list Avi Loeb supplied to DefenseScoop"
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role: "co-author, Progress in Aerospace Sciences 128 (2022), article 100788"
start: 2022
fn: 3
updated: 2026-10-12
created: 2026-10-03
---
Garry Nolan is a leading research scientist at [[Stanford University]], specializing in genetics, immunology, and bioinformatics. He trained under Nobel Prize-winning biologist [[David Baltimore]] and has published over 200 research papers and holds twenty biotechnology patents[^1].
@ -81,43 +85,46 @@ Further research revealed that many of the individuals in the study group had be
### Analysis of UAP Materials
Dr. Nolan has also been involved in the analysis of alleged UAP materials. He and the French scientist [[Jacques Vallee]] collaborated on a paper analyzing a metallic slag recovered from a 1977 UAP crash in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their analysis revealed that the material contained isotopes of magnesium and iron that were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat that is beyond our current technological capabilities.[^2]
Dr. Nolan has also been involved in the analysis of alleged UAP materials. Nolan, [[Jacques Vallee]], Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke published "Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics" in [[Progress in Aerospace Sciences]] in January 2022.[^3] A 2025 review of UAP science to which both Nolan and Vallee contributed describes the analyzed material as a mass of molten metal that witnesses reported falling from a hovering object into Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa on December 17, 1971, and records that the titanium, iron and chromium isotope distributions found by Nolan, Jiang and Lemke were consistent with terrestrial material, with considerable diversity in elemental ratios across subsamples.[^4] [[Luis Elizondo]] wrote in *Imminent* (2024) that the event was a 1977 crash and that the material's magnesium and iron isotopes were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat Elizondo describes as beyond current technological capability.[^2] An interview page for The Good Trouble Show, dated August 24, 2025, describes a peer-reviewed paper by Vallee and two co-authors accepted by Progress in Aerospace Sciences on the 1966 Haynesville case.[^5]
### Companies and investors
Securities filings name Nolan as a director or executive officer of a series of private life-science companies. On Form D filings with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] he appears as an executive officer and director of [[Nodality]] (first filing, signed October 26, 2009, for a $10,000,000 offering of which $3,499,999 had been sold to one investor) and as a director of the same company on the second filing (January 2010, a $13,500,000 offering of which $9,999,997 had been sold to four investors), as a director of [[DVS Sciences]] (filed February 16, 2011, $14,797,741 offered, $4,131,828 sold), as a director of [[BINA Technologies]] (filed April 21, 2011 and March 28, 2012, the second recording $1,204,545 sold to twelve investors) and as a director of [[PrognosDx Health]] (three filings between March and June 2011, for $25,000, $10,000 and $15,000, each sold to one investor).[^3][^4][^5][^6]
Securities filings name Nolan as a director or executive officer of a series of private life-science companies. On Form D filings with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] he appears as an executive officer and director of [[Nodality]] (first filing, signed October 26, 2009, for a $10,000,000 offering of which $3,499,999 had been sold to one investor) and as a director of the same company on the second filing (January 2010, a $13,500,000 offering of which $9,999,997 had been sold to four investors), as a director of [[DVS Sciences]] (filed February 16, 2011, $14,797,741 offered, $4,131,828 sold), as a director of [[BINA Technologies]] (filed April 21, 2011 and March 28, 2012, the second recording $1,204,545 sold to twelve investors) and as a director of [[PrognosDx Health]] (three filings between March and June 2011, for $25,000, $10,000 and $15,000, each sold to one investor).[^6][^7][^8][^9]
[[Akoya Biosciences]] filed Forms D on July 14, 2017 (nine million dollars offered and sold, six investors) and October 2, 2018 ($25,500,000 offered, $24,500,000 sold), each listing Nolan with [[Thomas Raffin]], [[Robert Shepler]] and [[Matthew Winkler]] as directors. Its 2021 prospectus calls Nolan "our co-founder and director," says he "originally developed our CODEX technology" at Stanford, which licenses the patents to the company, and says he is the first recipient of the [[Teal Innovator Award]] (2012) from the [[Department of Defense]]. Raffin is described there as a co-founder of [[Rigel Pharmaceuticals]] and of the [[San Francisco]] life-science private equity firm [[Telegraph Hill Partners]]. Nolan filed a Form 3 on April 20, 2021 as a director holding 680,084 shares of common stock and options on 42,918 more.[^7] Akoya's proxy statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and its 2025 merger proxy with [[Quanterix]] carry his name.[^7]
[[Akoya Biosciences]] filed Forms D on July 14, 2017 (nine million dollars offered and sold, six investors) and October 2, 2018 ($25,500,000 offered, $24,500,000 sold), each listing Nolan with [[Thomas Raffin]], [[Robert Shepler]] and [[Matthew Winkler]] as directors. Its 2021 prospectus calls Nolan "our co-founder and director," says he "originally developed our CODEX technology" at Stanford, which licenses the patents to the company, and says he is the first recipient of the [[Teal Innovator Award]] (2012) from the [[Department of Defense]]. Raffin is described there as a co-founder of [[Rigel Pharmaceuticals]] and of the [[San Francisco]] life-science private equity firm [[Telegraph Hill Partners]]. Nolan filed a Form 3 on April 20, 2021 as a director holding 680,084 shares of common stock and options on 42,918 more.[^10] Akoya's proxy statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and its 2025 merger proxy with [[Quanterix]] carry his name.[^10]
### Advisory boards
The Regulation A offering circular of [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 15, 2017 lists an advisory board of [[Christopher Mellon]], [[Adele Gilpin]], [[Norman Kahn]], [[Colm Kelleher]], Nolan and [[Paul Rapp]], gives Nolan's chair as the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professorship in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (the November 2024 letter to Congress gives the Department of Pathology), and describes Nolan as "the founder" of "several successful biotechnology companies" who "is an outspoken proponent of translating public investment in basic research to serve the public welfare."[^8] The company's Form 1-SA for the six months ended June 30, 2018, filed September 26, 2018, reports that "Advisory Board member Dr. Garry Nolan resigned, effective August 31, 2018."[^9]
The Regulation A offering circular of [[To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science]] filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 15, 2017 lists an advisory board of [[Christopher Mellon]], [[Adele Gilpin]], [[Norman Kahn]], [[Colm Kelleher]], Nolan and [[Paul Rapp]], gives Nolan's chair as the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professorship in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (the November 2024 letter to Congress gives the Department of Pathology), and describes Nolan as "the founder" of "several successful biotechnology companies" who "is an outspoken proponent of translating public investment in basic research to serve the public welfare."[^11] The company's Form 1-SA for the six months ended June 30, 2018, filed September 26, 2018, reports that "Advisory Board member Dr. Garry Nolan resigned, effective August 31, 2018."[^12]
### Sol Foundation and later activity
Nolan co-founded the [[Sol Foundation]] with [[Peter Skafish]] and was introduced in 2023 as its "Executive Director of the Board." He said that because of his Stanford position he could not hold an officer role in an outside company and took no salary.[^10] The foundation's 2024 Form 990 lists him as a director at zero hours and zero compensation, and the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] master file gives his Redwood City address as the care-of address for the organization's records.[^10][^11] The foundation's website, read October 3, 2026, lists him as "Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Board."[^12] The November 2023 symposium was hosted by the Nolan Laboratory and the Stanford School of Medicine.[^13] He signed the November 12, 2024 letter to Congress urging passage of the review-board provisions of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]], listing his chair as the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professorship in Pathology.[^14]
Nolan co-founded the [[Sol Foundation]] with [[Peter Skafish]] and was introduced in 2023 as its "Executive Director of the Board." He said that because of his Stanford position he could not hold an officer role in an outside company and took no salary.[^13] The foundation's 2024 Form 990 lists him as a director at zero hours and zero compensation, and the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] master file gives his Redwood City address as the care-of address for the organization's records.[^13][^14] The foundation's website, read October 3, 2026, lists him as "Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Board."[^15] The November 2023 symposium was hosted by the Nolan Laboratory and the Stanford School of Medicine.[^16] He signed the November 12, 2024 letter to Congress urging passage of the review-board provisions of the [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act]], listing his chair as the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professorship in Pathology.[^17]
In Encounters (2023), [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]] identified the figure she had called "James Master" in American Cosmic, a "world leading scientist" who had analyzed an alleged artifact, as Nolan.[^15] In June 2026 Nolan, Skafish and [[Tim Gallaudet]] were named by [[Avi Loeb]] among twelve members of a UAP Science Advisory Council that Loeb leads.[^16] The Sol Foundation described the council in a June 22, 2026 release as announced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence "with the support of the FBI"; Loeb wrote on June 16, 2026 that "I was tasked by the White House, the Pentagon's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Intelligence Community, to assemble" it.[^17]
In Encounters (2023), [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]] identified the figure she had called "James Master" in American Cosmic, a "world leading scientist" who had analyzed an alleged artifact, as Nolan.[^18] In June 2026 Nolan, Skafish and [[Tim Gallaudet]] were named by [[Avi Loeb]] among twelve members of a UAP Science Advisory Council that Loeb leads.[^19] The Sol Foundation described the council in a June 22, 2026 release as announced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence "with the support of the FBI"; Loeb wrote on June 16, 2026 that "I was tasked by the White House, the Pentagon's All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Intelligence Community, to assemble" it.[^20]
The [[Federal Election Commission]] database lists contributions from a Garry Nolan of Redwood City, California who gives Stanford as his employer: $250 to [[Hillary Clinton]]'s 2016 campaign committee on April 7, 2016, $2,900 to [[Mike Levin]]'s congressional campaign on March 22, 2021, and small amounts through [[ActBlue]] to other Democratic candidates, most recently on October 28, 2024.[^18]
The [[Federal Election Commission]] database lists contributions from a Garry Nolan of Redwood City, California who gives Stanford as his employer: $250 to [[Hillary Clinton]]'s 2016 campaign committee on April 7, 2016, $2,900 to [[Mike Levin]]'s congressional campaign on March 22, 2021, and small amounts through [[ActBlue]] to other Democratic candidates, most recently on October 28, 2024.[^21]
### 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]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024.
[^3]: SEC Form D, Nodality Inc, accession 0001372142-09-000007 (filed October 26, 2009; first sale October 19, 2009) and 0001372142-10-000001 (filed January 13, 2010; first sale December 30, 2009). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372142/000137214209000007/primary_doc.xml
[^4]: SEC Form D, DVS Sciences, Inc., accession 0001512982-11-000001, filed February 16, 2011. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1512982/000151298211000001/primary_doc.xml
[^5]: SEC Form D, BINA Technologies Inc., accessions 0001518373-11-000002 (filed April 21, 2011) and 0001518373-12-000003 (filed March 28, 2012). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1518373/000151837312000003/primary_doc.xml
[^6]: SEC Form D, PrognosDx Health, Inc., accessions 0001515122-11-000002, -000003 and -000004 (filed March 15, May 17 and June 28, 2011). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1515122/000151512211000002/primary_doc.xml
[^7]: SEC Form D, Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (CIK 1711933), accessions 0001446933-17-000008 (first sale July 12, 2017, signed July 14, 2017) and 0001446933-18-000007 (first sale September 26, 2018, signed October 2, 2018), https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1711933/000144693317000008/primary_doc.xml ; Form 3, Garry Nolan, accession 0001104659-21-052709 (April 20, 2021); prospectus (424B4), accession 0001104659-21-051518 (April 19, 2021), "Management" and "Business" sections. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1711933/000110465921051518/tm212065-15_424b4.htm
[^8]: To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science Inc., Form 1-A, offering circular Part II and III, accession 0001144204-17-043466 (filed August 15, 2017), "Advisory Board." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417043466/v473169_partiiandiii.htm
[^9]: To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc., Form 1-SA, semiannual report for the period ended June 30, 2018, Item 2 (Other Information), SEC accession 0001144204-18-050766, filed September 26, 2018. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420418050766/tv503167_1sa.htm
[^10]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation: How a New Think Tank of Academics is Applying 'Cutting-Edge Research' to the UAP Mystery," *The Debrief*, September 12, 2023. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-how-a-new-think-tank-of-academics-is-applying-cutting-edge-research-the-uap-mystery/
[^11]: IRS Form 990 for 2024, EIN 93-3649160; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API record for the same EIN. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/933649160
[^12]: The Sol Foundation, home page, "People" section, https://thesolfoundation.org/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^13]: Micah Hanks, *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^14]: Signatory entry in the letter of November 12, 2024, statement of Tim Gallaudet, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, hearing of November 13, 2024. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Wstate-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113-SD001.pdf
[^15]: Nathaniel Rich, "Ufologists, Unite!," *The New York Review of Books*, April 18, 2024. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/04/18/ufologists-unite-american-cosmic-d-w-pasulka/
[^16]: "New science advisory council forms to help US government 'resolve the UAP mystery,'" *DefenseScoop*, June 17, 2026. https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/17/new-science-advisory-council-forms-to-help-us-government-resolve-the-uap-mystery/
[^17]: Sol Foundation, release "Sol Foundation Co-Founders Named to UAP Science Advisory Council," June 22, 2026 (modified July 13, 2026), https://thesolfoundation.org/sol-foundation-co-founders-named-to-uap-science-advisory-council/ ; Avi Loeb, "More Details on the UAP Science Advisory Council," Medium (avi-loeb.medium.com), June 16, 2026, read in a Wayback Machine copy; Federal Register search for "UAP Science Advisory Council," https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents.json?conditions%5Bterm%5D=%22UAP+Science+Advisory+Council%22 (count 0 on October 3, 2026).
[^18]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A receipts, contributor name "NOLAN, GARRY," city Redwood City, queried October 3, 2026 (twenty-five records, 2016 to 2024; employer given as Stanford University or Stanford University School of Medicine). The identity of the donor with the Stanford professor rests on the employer field only.
[^3]: Garry P. Nolan, Jacques F. Vallee, Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke, *Progress in Aerospace Sciences* 128 (January 2022), article 100788, doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788 (Crossref record). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788
[^4]: Kevin H. Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2 (March 30, 2025), section 5.3.2 "Council Bluffs, Iowa USA." https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^5]: The Good Trouble Show, "Jacques Vallee on the First Peer-Reviewed UFO Paper in Progress in Aerospace Sciences," August 24, 2025. https://thegoodtroubleshow.substack.com/p/jacques-vallee-on-the-first-peer
[^6]: SEC Form D, Nodality Inc, accession 0001372142-09-000007 (filed October 26, 2009; first sale October 19, 2009) and 0001372142-10-000001 (filed January 13, 2010; first sale December 30, 2009). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1372142/000137214209000007/primary_doc.xml
[^7]: SEC Form D, DVS Sciences, Inc., accession 0001512982-11-000001, filed February 16, 2011. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1512982/000151298211000001/primary_doc.xml
[^8]: SEC Form D, BINA Technologies Inc., accessions 0001518373-11-000002 (filed April 21, 2011) and 0001518373-12-000003 (filed March 28, 2012). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1518373/000151837312000003/primary_doc.xml
[^9]: SEC Form D, PrognosDx Health, Inc., accessions 0001515122-11-000002, -000003 and -000004 (filed March 15, May 17 and June 28, 2011). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1515122/000151512211000002/primary_doc.xml
[^10]: SEC Form D, Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (CIK 1711933), accessions 0001446933-17-000008 (first sale July 12, 2017, signed July 14, 2017) and 0001446933-18-000007 (first sale September 26, 2018, signed October 2, 2018), https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1711933/000144693317000008/primary_doc.xml ; Form 3, Garry Nolan, accession 0001104659-21-052709 (April 20, 2021); prospectus (424B4), accession 0001104659-21-051518 (April 19, 2021), "Management" and "Business" sections. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1711933/000110465921051518/tm212065-15_424b4.htm
[^11]: To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science Inc., Form 1-A, offering circular Part II and III, accession 0001144204-17-043466 (filed August 15, 2017), "Advisory Board." https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420417043466/v473169_partiiandiii.htm
[^12]: To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science Inc., Form 1-SA, semiannual report for the period ended June 30, 2018, Item 2 (Other Information), SEC accession 0001144204-18-050766, filed September 26, 2018. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1710274/000114420418050766/tv503167_1sa.htm
[^13]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation: How a New Think Tank of Academics is Applying 'Cutting-Edge Research' to the UAP Mystery," *The Debrief*, September 12, 2023. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-how-a-new-think-tank-of-academics-is-applying-cutting-edge-research-the-uap-mystery/
[^14]: IRS Form 990 for 2024, EIN 93-3649160; ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API record for the same EIN. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/933649160
[^15]: The Sol Foundation, home page, "People" section, https://thesolfoundation.org/ , read October 3, 2026.
[^16]: Micah Hanks, *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^17]: Signatory entry in the letter of November 12, 2024, statement of Tim Gallaudet, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, hearing of November 13, 2024. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO12/20241113/117721/HHRG-118-GO12-Wstate-GallaudetPhDRearAdmiralUSNavyRetT-20241113-SD001.pdf
[^18]: Nathaniel Rich, "Ufologists, Unite!," *The New York Review of Books*, April 18, 2024. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/04/18/ufologists-unite-american-cosmic-d-w-pasulka/
[^19]: "New science advisory council forms to help US government 'resolve the UAP mystery,'" *DefenseScoop*, June 17, 2026. https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/17/new-science-advisory-council-forms-to-help-us-government-resolve-the-uap-mystery/
[^20]: Sol Foundation, release "Sol Foundation Co-Founders Named to UAP Science Advisory Council," June 22, 2026 (modified July 13, 2026), https://thesolfoundation.org/sol-foundation-co-founders-named-to-uap-science-advisory-council/ ; Avi Loeb, "More Details on the UAP Science Advisory Council," Medium (avi-loeb.medium.com), June 16, 2026, read in a Wayback Machine copy; Federal Register search for "UAP Science Advisory Council," https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents.json?conditions%5Bterm%5D=%22UAP+Science+Advisory+Council%22 (count 0 on October 3, 2026).
[^21]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A receipts, contributor name "NOLAN, GARRY," city Redwood City, queried October 3, 2026 (twenty-five records, 2016 to 2024; employer given as Stanford University or Stanford University School of Medicine). The identity of the donor with the Stanford professor rests on the employer field only.

37
10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul L. Perito.md
View file

@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ tags:
summary: "Washington lawyer, former federal prosecutor and White House drug-policy counsel, named in an April 1987 letter on Barbara Studley's file, and a name partner of Washington, Perito & Dubuc before joining Paul Hastings in 1991."
location: "Washington, D.C."
relations:
- type: prosecuted
with: "[[Roy Cohn]]"
start: 1969
role: "assistant United States attorney on the government's brief in the mandamus proceeding"
fn: 2
- type: employed_by
with: "[[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]]"
role: "Assistant United States Attorney"
@ -39,40 +44,46 @@ relations:
with: "[[Barbara Studley]]"
start: 1987
end: 1987
fn: 3
fn: 5
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Laxalt, Washington, Perito & Dubuc]]"
role: "name partner, head of white-collar litigation group"
start: 1988
end: 1991
fn: 4
fn: 6
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Paul Hastings|Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker]]"
role: "partner, later senior counsel; chair of the Washington litigation department"
start: 1991
fn: 4
fn: 6
---
Paul Louis Perito (January 23, 1937 to March 22, 2020) was a Washington lawyer. A Paul L. Perito is the lawyer named in the April 28, 1987 letter on [[Barbara Studley]]'s file to the House Iran-Contra committee, and a Paul Perito was a name partner of [[Laxalt, Washington, Perito & Dubuc]] in 1991; the records found do not state in so many words that these are the same man.
### Government service
He was born in Medford, Massachusetts, graduated from Tufts University in 1960 and from Harvard Law School in 1964. From 1966 to 1970 he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he tried twenty-one cases including *United States v. Roy M. Cohn, et al.* From 1970 to 1971 he was chief counsel and later staff director of the House Select Committee on Crime, and from 1971 to 1973 chief counsel and deputy director of the White House Special Action Office on Drug Abuse Prevention.[^1]
He was born in Medford, Massachusetts, graduated from Tufts University in 1960 and from Harvard Law School in 1964. From 1966 to 1970 he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he tried twenty-one cases including *United States v. [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]], et al.* From 1970 to 1971 he was chief counsel and later staff director of the House Select Committee on Crime, and from 1971 to 1973 chief counsel and deputy director of the White House Special Action Office on Drug Abuse Prevention.[^1]
In 1969 Perito and Peter L. Truebner, assistant United States attorneys, filed the government's brief opposing Cohn's petition for a writ of mandamus. The petition sought to postpone Cohn's trial on charges of conspiracy, bribery and extortion, and the Second Circuit denied it on September 17, 1969.[^2] Cohn was acquitted on the 1969 indictment, and on October 15, 1971 a federal jury acquitted him on the three remaining counts of a separate ten-count securities-reporting indictment tied to the same bus company.[^3]
### The Studley letter, 1987
On April 28, 1987 [[Frank Koszorus Jr.]] of the Washington office of [[Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey|Finley, Kumble]] wrote to [[Kenneth Ballen]], assistant counsel of the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran: "During your telephone conference with Paul L. Perito this afternoon, you requested a copy of the memorandum from Barbara F. Studley's file regarding Oliver North."[^2] In the deposition of [[Daniel O. Graham]] on May 26, 1987, counsel asked whether Graham had met "her attorney, Mr. Perito," and Graham answered, "The one I know is Perito."[^3]
On April 28, 1987 [[Frank Koszorus Jr.]] of the Washington office of [[Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey|Finley, Kumble]] wrote to [[Kenneth Ballen]], assistant counsel of the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran: "During your telephone conference with Paul L. Perito this afternoon, you requested a copy of the memorandum from Barbara F. Studley's file regarding Oliver North."[^4] In the deposition of [[Daniel O. Graham]] on May 26, 1987, counsel asked whether Graham had met "her attorney, Mr. Perito," and Graham answered, "The one I know is Perito."[^5]
### Washington, Perito & Dubuc and Paul Hastings
The [[Washington Post]] reported on December 23, 1987 that [[Paul Laxalt]] and Robert B. Washington Jr., partners in the dissolving Finley Kumble, had announced the formation of a Washington-based firm. The bankruptcy court later found that the partnership, Washington, Perito & Dubuc, was organized in January 1988 by thirty-one partners of Finley Kumble's Washington office and others, and ceased practice in August 1991.[^4] On July 20, 1991 the Post reported that Paul Perito, "one of the firm's name partners and head of its important white-collar litigation group," was moving the following Monday with a half-dozen other lawyers to the Washington office of [[Paul Hastings|Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker]].[^5]
The [[Washington Post]] reported on December 23, 1987 that [[Paul Laxalt]] and Robert B. Washington Jr., partners in the dissolving Finley Kumble, had announced the formation of a Washington-based firm. The bankruptcy court later found that the partnership, Washington, Perito & Dubuc, was organized in January 1988 by thirty-one partners of Finley Kumble's Washington office and others, and ceased practice in August 1991.[^6] On July 20, 1991 the Post reported that Paul Perito, "one of the firm's name partners and head of its important white-collar litigation group," was moving the following Monday with a half-dozen other lawyers to the Washington office of [[Paul Hastings|Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker]].[^7]
[[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]] was described in July 1991 as a partner at Washington, Perito & Dubuc and became a partner of Paul Hastings on July 18, 1994, and Frank Koszorus Jr. signed that firm's registration papers for the Hungarian embassy from March 1993.[^6] Perito's obituary states that he was ultimately a partner and later senior counsel at Paul Hastings, where he was national co-chair of the White Collar Corporate Defense Practice Group and chair of the Litigation Department of the Washington office, and that after leaving private practice he was an officer and director of Star Scientific, Inc., whose mission the obituary gives as reducing toxins in tobacco products. He was president of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association from 2012 to 2014.[^7]
[[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]] was described in July 1991 as a partner at Washington, Perito & Dubuc and became a partner of Paul Hastings on July 18, 1994, and Frank Koszorus Jr. signed that firm's registration papers for the Hungarian embassy from March 1993.[^8] Perito's obituary states that he was ultimately a partner and later senior counsel at Paul Hastings, where he was national co-chair of the White Collar Corporate Defense Practice Group and chair of the Litigation Department of the Washington office, and that after leaving private practice he was an officer and director of Star Scientific, Inc., whose mission the obituary gives as reducing toxins in tobacco products. He was president of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association from 2012 to 2014.[^9]
### Footnotes
[^1]: "Paul Perito Obituary (1937 - 2020)," *The Washington Post*, March 29, 2020. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/paul-perito-obituary?id=2005298
[^2]: Letter from Frank Koszorus Jr., Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey, Washington, to Kenneth Ballen, April 28, 1987, Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, Appendix B, vol. 12, printed p. 1040 (Internet Archive item micro_IA41152840_0234, https://archive.org/details/micro_IA41152840_0234).
[^3]: Deposition of Daniel O. Graham, May 26, 1987, Appendix B, vol. 12 (Internet Archive item micro_IA41152840_0234).
[^4]: Karlyn Barker and Kathleen Day, "Robert Washington, Laxalt Team Up to Replace Failed Law Firm," *The Washington Post*, December 23, 1987, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/12/23/robert-washington-laxalt-team-up-to-replace-failed-law-firm/71c2b588-772c-47c4-acdb-68bc9bdfe123/ ; In re Washington, Perito & Dubuc, 154 B.R. 853 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. June 2, 1993), https://static.case.law/br/154/cases/0853-01.json
[^5]: Sharon Walsh and Saundra Torry, "Washington, Perito Law Firm Losing Additional Attorneys; Name Partner Among Those Leaving," *The Washington Post*, July 20, 1991. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/07/20/washington-perito-law-firm-losing-additional-attorneys/0a7d8d2e-2958-4283-9860-874855bd0ca6/
[^6]: "Kinder, gentler profession urged," *Chicago Tribune*, July 23, 1991, https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/23/kinder-gentler-profession-urged/ ; U.S. Department of Justice, Foreign Agents Registration Act, registration 4772, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Supplemental Statement for the six months ending September 30, 1994, Attachment 1, https://efile.fara.gov/docs/4772-Supplemental-Statement-19940930-DHFIFJ02.pdf ; Exhibit B, March 1, 1993, https://efile.fara.gov/docs/4772-Exhibit-AB-19930301-D1Y3N102.pdf
[^7]: "Paul Perito Obituary (1937 - 2020)," *The Washington Post*, March 29, 2020 (note 1).
[^2]: In re Cohn, 416 F.2d 440 (2d Cir. Sept. 17, 1969) (per curiam; "Paul L. Perito and Peter L. Truebner, Asst. U. S. Attys., on the brief"; petition for mandamus denied). https://static.case.law/f2d/416/cases/0440-01.json
[^3]: FBI file on Roy M. Cohn, memorandum of January 22, 1975 ("subsequently acquitted"), https://archive.org/details/6434449-Roy-Cohn-FBI-file-OCR ; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, News Digest, October 22, 1971, "Cohn Acquitted" (LR-5194), https://web.archive.org/web/2023id_/https://www.sec.gov/news/digest/1971/dig102271.pdf
[^4]: Letter from Frank Koszorus Jr., Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey, Washington, to Kenneth Ballen, April 28, 1987, Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, Appendix B, vol. 12, printed p. 1040 (Internet Archive item micro_IA41152840_0234, https://archive.org/details/micro_IA41152840_0234).
[^5]: Deposition of Daniel O. Graham, May 26, 1987, Appendix B, vol. 12 (Internet Archive item micro_IA41152840_0234).
[^6]: Karlyn Barker and Kathleen Day, "Robert Washington, Laxalt Team Up to Replace Failed Law Firm," *The Washington Post*, December 23, 1987, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/12/23/robert-washington-laxalt-team-up-to-replace-failed-law-firm/71c2b588-772c-47c4-acdb-68bc9bdfe123/ ; In re Washington, Perito & Dubuc, 154 B.R. 853 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. June 2, 1993), https://static.case.law/br/154/cases/0853-01.json
[^7]: Sharon Walsh and Saundra Torry, "Washington, Perito Law Firm Losing Additional Attorneys; Name Partner Among Those Leaving," *The Washington Post*, July 20, 1991. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/07/20/washington-perito-law-firm-losing-additional-attorneys/0a7d8d2e-2958-4283-9860-874855bd0ca6/
[^8]: "Kinder, gentler profession urged," *Chicago Tribune*, July 23, 1991, https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/23/kinder-gentler-profession-urged/ ; U.S. Department of Justice, Foreign Agents Registration Act, registration 4772, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Supplemental Statement for the six months ending September 30, 1994, Attachment 1, https://efile.fara.gov/docs/4772-Supplemental-Statement-19940930-DHFIFJ02.pdf ; Exhibit B, March 1, 1993, https://efile.fara.gov/docs/4772-Exhibit-AB-19930301-D1Y3N102.pdf
[^9]: "Paul Perito Obituary (1937 - 2020)," *The Washington Post*, March 29, 2020 (note 1).

15
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles R. Work.md
View file

@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
---
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
created: 2024-04-25
updated: 2026-05-01
updated: 2026-10-12
tags:
- Person
- PROMIS
- INSLAW
- Lawyer
- DoJ
summary: "Charles R. Work was Deputy Chief of the DC U.S. Attorney's Office Superior Court Division who co-directed the original PROMIS design team with Joan E. Jacoby and project manager Bill Hamilton in 1969, then served as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975 where he continued funding INSLAW and PROMIS expansion."
summary: "Charles R. Work co-directed the 1969 PROMIS design team in the DC U.S. Attorney's Office, then served as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975."
born: 1940-06-21
location: "Glendale, California"
---
@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ In 1966, Work became an Assistant United States Attorney in the criminal trial s
In 1969, while serving as Deputy Chief of the Superior Court Division, Work co-directed the original [[PROMIS]] design team commissioned by U.S. Attorney [[Thomas A. Flannery]], alongside [[Joan E. Jacoby]] (Director of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]) and project manager [[Bill Hamilton]] (then a senior consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]]). The team produced the Prosecutor's Management Information System, deployed January 1, 1971, in the DC U.S. Attorney's Office. Work hired INSLAW to write the first version of PROMIS and maintained a close working relationship with Hamilton through the program's early years.[^3]
A May 1971 overview of PROMIS prepared by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co for the Office of Crime Analysis under LEAA grant 70-DF-047 records that the design team was headed by Joan E. Jacoby, director of the Office of Crime Analysis, and Work, deputy director of the Superior Court Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office.[^4] A 1985 White House announcement lists Work as Deputy Chief and Chief of the Superior Court Division from 1969 to 1973 and as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975, and a White House release of January 26, 1976 records that he resigned effective November 21, 1975.[^5] In April 1973 the executive director of the National District Attorneys Association described PROMIS as developed by Jacoby and Work, "assistant U.S. attorney," under a $290,000 LEAA grant.[^6]
### LEAA Deputy Administrator
In 1973, Work became Deputy Administrator of the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] via Presidential nomination by [[Richard Nixon]] and Senate confirmation, a position he held until 1975. In that capacity, he continued funding [[INSLAW]] and promoting PROMIS adoption through both direct grants and the [[National Center for Prosecution Management]]. Following Nixon's resignation, Work maintained close personal relationships with Ford administration officials and worked to encourage the incoming administration to sustain LEAA's crime-fighting programs.[^2]
@ -28,17 +30,20 @@ In 1973, Work became Deputy Administrator of the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistan
In 1975, Work became a partner at Peabody, Lambert & Meyers. In 1983, he moved to McDermott, Will & Emery, where he served as Partner-in-Charge of the DC office through 1997.[^1] He served as a former president of the D.C. Bar and in 1978 received the Rockefeller Public Service Award for Administering Justice and Reducing Crime.
In 1985, President [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed him a member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, the body that reappoints and disciplines DC judges.[^4]
In 1985, President [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed him a member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, the body that reappoints and disciplines DC judges.[^7]
Work was appointed by the United States District Court as guardian ad litem of Vietnamese orphans who survived a plane crash in Saigon in 1975.
### INSLAW Litigation
During INSLAW's litigation against the [[Department of Justice]], Work served as co-lead counsel for INSLAW, bringing his knowledge of the program's origins and his prior relationship with [[Bill Hamilton]] to the company's defense.[^3]
During INSLAW's litigation against the [[Department of Justice]], Work served as co-lead counsel for INSLAW, bringing his knowledge of the program's origins and his prior relationship with Bill Hamilton to the company's defense.[^3]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Atlantic Legal Foundation. Charles R. Work - Director Biography. atlanticlegal.org.
[^2]: Reagan Presidential Library. "Appointment of Charles R. Work as a Member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure." presidency.ucsb.edu.
[^3]: 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.
[^4]: Reagan Presidential Library. Appointment document, 1985.
[^4]: Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., System Overview and Report Formats for PROMIS (May 1971), prepared under LEAA Grant No. 70-DF-047, NCJ 32469. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/32469NCJRS.pdf
[^5]: The American Presidency Project, intention to appoint Charles R. Work to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, June 10, 1985, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/260238 ; White House Office of the Press Secretary, January 26, 1976, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, https://fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0248/whpr19760126-013.pdf
[^6]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee No. 5, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, Hearings, Serial No. 4 (1973), statement of Patrick Healy, April 4, 1973, p. 454. https://archive.org/details/lawenforcementas00unit
[^7]: Reagan Presidential Library. Appointment document, 1985.

183
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Donald Trump.md
View file

@ -47,30 +47,30 @@ relations:
with: "[[Pam Bondi]]"
start: 2025-02-04
end: 2026-04-02
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[Todd Blanche]]"
start: 2026-04-02
role: acting Attorney General
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[Howard Lutnick]]"
start: 2025-02
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[David Sacks]]"
start: 2024-12
fn: 33
fn: 36
- type: appointed
with: "[[Jay Clayton]]"
start: 2026-10-04
role: White House AI czar
fn: 33
fn: 36
- type: represented
with: "[[Todd Blanche]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: represented
with: "[[Roy Cohn]]"
reverse: true
@ -82,20 +82,20 @@ relations:
reverse: true
start: 2017-05-17
end: 2019-03-22
fn: 21
fn: 24
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Steve Bannon]]"
reverse: true
start: 2016-08
role: campaign chief executive
fn: 14
fn: 17
- type: relative_of
with: "[[Jared Kushner]]"
role: son-in-law
fn: 28
fn: 31
- type: spouse_of
with: "[[Melania Trump]]"
fn: 36
fn: 39
created: 2026-06-18
updated: 2026-10-12
---
@ -112,101 +112,101 @@ In the 1980s [[Alan Greenberg|Alan Greenberg]] of [[Bear Stearns|Bear Stearns]]
On October 15, 1973 the United States sued Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc. in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York|Eastern District of New York]] under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Civil Action No. 73 C 1529, before Judge [[Edward R. Neaher|Edward R. Neaher]].[^5][^6] The complaint covered 39 buildings with more than 14,000 apartments and drew on reports from black and white testers sent by the Open Housing Center of the [[New York Urban League|New York Urban League]]; the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] interviewed company employees, former employees and applicants in the investigation that preceded the suit.[^7]
The defendants retained [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]] of the firm Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley. Cohn had been admitted to the New York bar in 1948 and in 1952 appeared among the counsel for the United States on the Second Circuit appeal in [[United States v. Rosenberg|United States v. Rosenberg]]; the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary of the Trump case describes him as a former aide to Senator [[Joseph McCarthy|Joseph McCarthy]].[^7][^8] The docket shows that on December 12, 1973 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint and filed a counterclaim, that the government moved on January 8, 1974 to dismiss the counterclaim, and that both motions were argued before Neaher on January 25, 1974. The docket records the government's response to affidavits of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, a government motion for sanctions returnable in May 1974, and a notice to take Donald Trump's deposition.[^5] The counterclaim sought 100 million dollars from the government for defamation, and it failed.[^7][^9]
The defendants retained [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]] of the firm Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley. Cohn had been admitted to the New York bar in 1948 and in 1952 appeared among the counsel for the United States on the Second Circuit appeal in [[United States v. Rosenberg|United States v. Rosenberg]]; the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary of the Trump case describes him as a former aide to Senator [[Joseph McCarthy|Joseph McCarthy]]. The Senate's staff list gives Cohn's service as chief counsel of the [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] as January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954.[^7][^8][^9] The docket shows that on December 12, 1973 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint and filed a counterclaim, that the government moved on January 8, 1974 to dismiss the counterclaim, and that both motions were argued before Neaher on January 25, 1974. The docket records the government's response to affidavits of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, a government motion for sanctions returnable in May 1974, and a notice to take Donald Trump's deposition.[^5] The counterclaim sought 100 million dollars from the government for defamation. The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary states that Neaher dismissed it and allowed the Fair Housing Act suit to proceed, and The Nation reported that the judge dismissed it about two months after it was filed; the docket records the argument on January 25, 1974 but not the order.[^7][^10]
[[David Marcus|David Marcus]], identified as Cohn's cousin, said in the 2024 [[PBS Frontline|FRONTLINE]] film The Choice 2024 that when Cohn met Trump he told him, "You might be guilty; it doesn't matter. Go after the Justice Department. Don't ever admit guilt." Ken Auletta of The New Yorker said in the same film that Trump was "totally taken" by Cohn's advice to "fight it" and "just deny everything and fight."[^9]
[[David Marcus|David Marcus]], identified as Cohn's cousin, said in the 2024 [[PBS Frontline|FRONTLINE]] film The Choice 2024 that when Cohn met Trump he told him, "You might be guilty; it doesn't matter. Go after the Justice Department. Don't ever admit guilt." Ken Auletta of The New Yorker said in the same film that Trump was "totally taken" by Cohn's advice to "fight it" and "just deny everything and fight."[^11]
The case ended in a consent order entered June 10, 1975. It recites that the order was entered "without adjudication of the merit and without any admission as to the existence or absence of liability," that "Defendants vigorously deny said allegations," and that Trump Management's execution of it was "in no way an admission" of a violation. It dismissed the complaint against Fred Trump and Donald Trump personally, with prejudice. It permanently enjoined the company from refusing to rent or sell, discriminating in terms, and representing that a dwelling was unavailable when it was available, directed the principal officers to "thoroughly acquaint themselves personally on a detailed basis" with the Fair Housing Act, and required a two-year affirmative program that began with written notice to the Open Housing Center of the New York Urban League. Cohn signed for the defendants and Frank E. Schwelb, Chief of the Housing Section of the Civil Rights Division, for the United States.[^6]
On June 23, 1986 the Appellate Division, First Department, in Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, sustained four charges brought by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee in the fall of 1982 and disbarred Cohn effective immediately, in a per curiam opinion joined by Justices Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin. Cohn's counsel were [[Michael Mukasey|Michael B. Mukasey]] and [[Harold R. Tyler Jr.|Harold R. Tyler, Jr.]] The charges concerned a 100,000-dollar loan from a client in 1966 that remained unpaid until 1984; the violation of an escrow order in a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud action involving two yachts; a December 6, 1975 codicil to the will of [[Lewis Rosenstiel|Lewis S. Rosenstiel]], signed in a Miami hospital room weeks before his death and naming Cohn as an additional executor and trustee; and a false answer on Cohn's July 28, 1982 application to the District of Columbia Bar. The court wrote that "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable" and that the evidence on each charge left "no recourse but to order disbarment."[^10] The FBI's online Vault carries a 748-page file titled Roy Cohn, Part 01 of 01.[^11]
On June 23, 1986 the Appellate Division, First Department, in Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, sustained four charges brought by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee in the fall of 1982 and disbarred Cohn effective immediately, in a per curiam opinion joined by Justices Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin. Cohn's counsel were [[Michael Mukasey|Michael B. Mukasey]] and [[Harold R. Tyler Jr.|Harold R. Tyler, Jr.]] The charges concerned a 100,000-dollar loan from a client in 1966 that remained unpaid until 1984; the violation of an escrow order in a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud action involving two yachts; a December 6, 1975 codicil to the will of [[Lewis Rosenstiel|Lewis S. Rosenstiel]], signed in a Miami hospital room weeks before his death and naming Cohn as an additional executor and trustee; and a false answer on Cohn's July 28, 1982 application to the District of Columbia Bar, where question 8(b) asked whether any charges or complaints concerning his conduct as an attorney were pending and he answered "No." The court wrote that "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable" and that the evidence on each charge left "no recourse but to order disbarment."[^12] The FBI's online Vault carries a 748-page file titled Roy Cohn, Part 01 of 01.[^13] The program of the May 2, 1983 B'nai B'rith tribute dinner for Cohn, in the Reagan Library files, lists Donald J. Trump, President, The Trump Organization, among the sponsors beside Rupert Murdoch.[^14]
### The 2016 Campaign and the Thiel Network
Peter Thiel, a [[Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]] investor, endorsed Trump at the July 2016 [[Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in [[Cleveland|Cleveland]], as the first openly gay speaker at a Republican convention in sixteen years. Federal Election Commission schedule A records list Thiel's itemized individual contributions for the 2015 to 2016 cycle, including two contributions of 1,000,000 dollars each to committees named Fighting for Ohio Fund (August 10, 2016) and Make America Number 1 (October 26, 2016), a 250,000-dollar contribution to Trump Victory (October 6, 2016), and a 2,700-dollar contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (October 6, 2016). A 2,000,000-dollar contribution dated August 25, 2015 went to a committee named Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America.[^12]
Peter Thiel, a [[Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]] investor, endorsed Trump at the July 2016 [[Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in [[Cleveland|Cleveland]], as the first openly gay speaker at a Republican convention in sixteen years. Federal Election Commission schedule A records list Thiel's itemized individual contributions for the 2015 to 2016 cycle, including two contributions of 1,000,000 dollars each to committees named Fighting for Ohio Fund (August 10, 2016) and Make America Number 1 (October 26, 2016), a 250,000-dollar contribution to Trump Victory (October 6, 2016), and a 2,700-dollar contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (October 6, 2016). A 2,000,000-dollar contribution dated August 25, 2015 went to a committee named Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America.[^15]
After the November 2016 election Trump placed Thiel on the transition team's executive committee. Thiel used the position to place [[Kevin Harrington|Kevin Harrington]] as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the [[National Security Council|National Security Council]] and a Thiel aide as White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer. The [[The Guardian|Guardian]] and [[Politico|Politico]] reported in November and December 2016 that companies Thiel backed, especially [[Palantir Technologies|Palantir]], stood to benefit from the transition role.[^13]
After the November 2016 election Trump placed Thiel on the transition team's executive committee. Thiel used the position to place [[Kevin Harrington|Kevin Harrington]] as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the [[National Security Council|National Security Council]] and a Thiel aide as White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer. The [[The Guardian|Guardian]] and [[Politico|Politico]] reported in November and December 2016 that companies Thiel backed, especially [[Palantir Technologies|Palantir]], stood to benefit from the transition role.[^16]
The [[Robert Mercer|Robert Mercer]] and [[Rebekah Mercer|Rebekah Mercer]] family funded [[Breitbart News|Breitbart News]], where [[Steve Bannon|Steve Bannon]] served as executive chairman before becoming Trump's campaign chief executive in August 2016. The Mercer Family Foundation also gave 7,460,000 dollars to the [[Government Accountability Institute|Government Accountability Institute]] in tax years 2013 to 2017; Bannon was the institute's chairman and Rebekah Mercer a director in its 2012 return, and the institute produced the book [[Clinton Cash|Clinton Cash]]. The family also funded [[Cambridge Analytica|Cambridge Analytica]], which obtained Facebook user data through an academic researcher, [[Aleksandr Kogan|Aleksandr Kogan]], and used psychographic profiling in the campaign.[^14]
The [[Robert Mercer|Robert Mercer]] and [[Rebekah Mercer|Rebekah Mercer]] family funded [[Breitbart News|Breitbart News]], where [[Steve Bannon|Steve Bannon]] served as executive chairman before becoming Trump's campaign chief executive in August 2016. The Mercer Family Foundation also gave 7,460,000 dollars to the [[Government Accountability Institute|Government Accountability Institute]] in tax years 2013 to 2017; Bannon was the institute's chairman and Rebekah Mercer a director in its 2012 return, and the institute produced the book [[Clinton Cash|Clinton Cash]]. The family also funded [[Cambridge Analytica|Cambridge Analytica]], which obtained Facebook user data through an academic researcher, [[Aleksandr Kogan|Aleksandr Kogan]], and used psychographic profiling in the campaign.[^17]
The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission]] issued an administrative complaint against Cambridge Analytica on July 24, 2019. The Commission's opinion and final order of November 25, 2019 (Docket No. 9383) granted complaint counsel's unopposed motion for summary decision, found that the company harvested profile data from approximately 250,000 to 270,000 U.S. app users and from 50 to 65 million of their Facebook friends, and ordered it to delete or destroy the covered information and to stop misrepresenting its privacy practices and its Privacy Shield participation; the company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2018.[^15] The United Kingdom Information Commissioner's final letter to Parliament, dated October 2, 2020, stated that the Commissioner "did not find any additional evidence of Russian involvement" in the material on the SCL Elections and Cambridge Analytica servers, and that earlier details of reported Russia-located activity had been referred to the National Crime Agency.[^16] The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence reported that Cambridge Analytica developers helped ingest the campaign's polling data into a visualization tool that [[Brad Parscale|Brad Parscale]] carried on an iPad.[^17]
The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission]] issued an administrative complaint against Cambridge Analytica on July 24, 2019. The Commission's opinion and final order of November 25, 2019 (Docket No. 9383) granted complaint counsel's unopposed motion for summary decision, found that the company harvested profile data from approximately 250,000 to 270,000 U.S. app users and from 50 to 65 million of their Facebook friends, and ordered it to delete or destroy the covered information and to stop misrepresenting its privacy practices and its Privacy Shield participation; the company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2018.[^18] The United Kingdom Information Commissioner's final letter to Parliament, dated October 2, 2020, stated that the Commissioner "did not find any additional evidence of Russian involvement" in the material on the SCL Elections and Cambridge Analytica servers, and that earlier details of reported Russia-located activity had been referred to the National Crime Agency.[^19] The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence reported that Cambridge Analytica developers helped ingest the campaign's polling data into a visualization tool that [[Brad Parscale|Brad Parscale]] carried on an iPad.[^20]
### The Russia Investigation
The Special Counsel's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Volume I, stated that candidate Trump signed a letter of intent for [[Trump Tower Moscow|Trump Tower Moscow]] by November 2015, and that Trump Organization executive [[Michael Cohen|Michael Cohen]] pursued the project through at least June 2016, including by considering travel to Russia by Cohen and candidate Trump. The report places the letter of intent between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015, signed by Trump for the Trump Organization.[^18][^19]
The Special Counsel's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Volume I, stated that candidate Trump signed a letter of intent for [[Trump Tower Moscow|Trump Tower Moscow]] by November 2015, and that Trump Organization executive [[Michael Cohen|Michael Cohen]] pursued the project through at least June 2016, including by considering travel to Russia by Cohen and candidate Trump. The report places the letter of intent between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015, signed by Trump for the Trump Organization.[^21][^22]
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in Volume 5 of its report on Russian active measures (2020), stated that Trump authorized Cohen in September 2015 to pursue the deal through [[Felix Sater|Felix Sater]], a longtime business associate of Trump. The committee found that Sater had senior-level ties to Russian businessmen and former officials, though it stated that he almost certainly inflated some of his claims.[^20]
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in Volume 5 of its report on Russian active measures (2020), stated that Trump authorized Cohen in September 2015 to pursue the deal through [[Felix Sater|Felix Sater]], a longtime business associate of Trump. The committee found that Sater had senior-level ties to Russian businessmen and former officials, though it stated that he almost certainly inflated some of his claims.[^23]
The Special Counsel's Volume II addressed obstruction. Its introduction, its executive summary and its conclusion each state: "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." The report adds that "if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state," and that "we are unable to reach that judgment."[^21]
The Special Counsel's Volume II addressed obstruction. Its introduction, its executive summary and its conclusion each state: "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." The report adds that "if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state," and that "we are unable to reach that judgment."[^24]
### The Supreme Court and the Leo Network
Trump nominated [[Neil Gorsuch|Neil Gorsuch]], [[Brett Kavanaugh|Brett Kavanaugh]] and [[Amy Coney Barrett|Amy Coney Barrett]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]. The Senate confirmed Gorsuch on April 7, 2017 by 54 to 45, Kavanaugh on October 6, 2018 by 50 to 48, and Barrett on October 26, 2020 by 52 to 48.[^1]
Leonard Leo, the longtime executive vice president of the [[Federalist Society|Federalist Society]], advised Trump on all three selections, according to [[ProPublica|ProPublica]], which reported on Leo's role in March 2023.[^22] The [[Judicial Crisis Network|Judicial Crisis Network]], later renamed the [[Concord Fund|Concord Fund]], funded campaigns for the confirmations. Leo managed the Kavanaugh confirmation strategy, and the Judicial Crisis Network and Concord Fund network spent millions of dollars on advertising and grassroots mobilization.[^22] The Kavanaugh confirmation followed a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, and the [[Senate Judiciary Committee|Senate Judiciary Committee]] held hearings on it. The Court's 2022 decision in [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]] overturned [[Roe v. Wade|Roe v. Wade]]. The conservative majority that followed the three confirmations has decided cases on abortion, gun regulation, campaign finance and executive power.
Leonard Leo, the longtime executive vice president of the [[Federalist Society|Federalist Society]], advised Trump on all three selections, according to [[ProPublica|ProPublica]], which reported on Leo's role in March 2023.[^25] The [[Judicial Crisis Network|Judicial Crisis Network]], later renamed the [[Concord Fund|Concord Fund]], funded campaigns for the confirmations. Leo managed the Kavanaugh confirmation strategy, and the Judicial Crisis Network and Concord Fund network spent millions of dollars on advertising and grassroots mobilization.[^25] The Kavanaugh confirmation followed a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, and the [[Senate Judiciary Committee|Senate Judiciary Committee]] held hearings on it. The Court's 2022 decision in [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]] overturned [[Roe v. Wade|Roe v. Wade]]. The conservative majority that followed the three confirmations has decided cases on abortion, gun regulation, campaign finance and executive power.
The Leo and Thiel operations share the [[Teneo Network|Teneo Network]] institutional terrain and the 501(c)(4) dark-money structure described on the Leo page.[^22]
The Leo and Thiel operations share the [[Teneo Network|Teneo Network]] institutional terrain and the 501(c)(4) dark-money structure described on the Leo page.[^25]
### Palantir and the Immigration Contracts
Palantir expanded its federal contracting during the first administration. Thiel chaired Palantir throughout, placed associates on the National Security Council, and ran the [[Dialog|Dialog]] convening network, a membership list of which was reported by WIRED in June 2026.[^23] The cluster is known as the [[Thiel Influence Network|Thiel network]]. Its [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] contracts include the FALCON database, awarded under contract HSCETC15C00001 (May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018, about 39.3 million dollars) and continued under contract 70CTD019C00000001 (November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022, about 37.8 million dollars), and the Investigative Case Management system, awarded as order 70CTD022FR0000170 (September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027, about 170.8 million dollars). Palantir's ICE work also included a contract known as ELITE. [[In-Q-Tel|In-Q-Tel]] had seeded Palantir's relationship with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and Palantir's Gotham platform became a standard data-fusion tool across multiple agencies.[^24]
Palantir expanded its federal contracting during the first administration. Thiel chaired Palantir throughout, placed associates on the National Security Council, and ran the [[Dialog|Dialog]] convening network, a membership list of which was reported by WIRED in June 2026.[^26] The cluster is known as the [[Thiel Influence Network|Thiel network]]. Its [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] contracts include the FALCON database, awarded under contract HSCETC15C00001 (May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018, about 39.3 million dollars) and continued under contract 70CTD019C00000001 (November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022, about 37.8 million dollars), and the Investigative Case Management system, awarded as order 70CTD022FR0000170 (September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027, about 170.8 million dollars). Palantir's ICE work also included a contract known as ELITE. [[In-Q-Tel|In-Q-Tel]] had seeded Palantir's relationship with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and Palantir's Gotham platform became a standard data-fusion tool across multiple agencies.[^27]
On April 11, 2025 ICE modified order 70CTD022FR0000170 by about 29.9 million dollars; the USAspending record describes the modification as adding licenses, configuration and engineering services to deploy "new targeting and enforcement prioritization, self-deportation tracking, and immigration lifecycle process capabilities." ICE described a system called [[ImmigrationOS|ImmigrationOS]] in connection with this work, to track immigrants for deportation. In May and June 2026 ICE placed two further Palantir orders, 70CTD026FC0000012 (about 86.3 million dollars, enforcement removal operations modernization for the Enforcement Case Management System) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (about 45.8 million dollars, Homeland Security Investigations system modernization).[^25]
On April 11, 2025 ICE modified order 70CTD022FR0000170 by about 29.9 million dollars; the USAspending record describes the modification as adding licenses, configuration and engineering services to deploy "new targeting and enforcement prioritization, self-deportation tracking, and immigration lifecycle process capabilities." ICE described a system called [[ImmigrationOS|ImmigrationOS]] in connection with this work, to track immigrants for deportation. In May and June 2026 ICE placed two further Palantir orders, 70CTD026FC0000012 (about 86.3 million dollars, enforcement removal operations modernization for the Enforcement Case Management System) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (about 45.8 million dollars, Homeland Security Investigations system modernization).[^28]
[[Anduril Industries|Anduril]] holds contracts from [[Customs and Border Protection|CBP]] for [[Sentry Tower|Sentry Tower]] surveillance towers along the southern border, including a 363 million dollar award for extended-range towers; the deployment expanded to over 350 towers covering 30 percent of the southern border. [[Clearview AI|Clearview AI]], seeded by [[Founders Fund|Founders Fund]], supplies facial identification to CBP.[^26] The Palantir partnership with the [[Israeli Ministry of Defense|Israeli Ministry of Defense]] for "war-related missions" during the [[Gaza war|Gaza war]] was announced in January 2024, during the Biden administration, and is not an action of the second Trump administration. Palantir markets its [[Palantir Gotham|Gotham]] platform as an "AI-powered kill chain."[^27]
[[Anduril Industries|Anduril]] holds contracts from [[Customs and Border Protection|CBP]] for [[Sentry Tower|Sentry Tower]] surveillance towers along the southern border, including a 363 million dollar award for extended-range towers; the deployment expanded to over 350 towers covering 30 percent of the southern border. [[Clearview AI|Clearview AI]], seeded by [[Founders Fund|Founders Fund]], supplies facial identification to CBP.[^29] The Palantir partnership with the [[Israeli Ministry of Defense|Israeli Ministry of Defense]] for "war-related missions" during the [[Gaza war|Gaza war]] was announced in January 2024, during the Biden administration, and is not an action of the second Trump administration. Palantir markets its [[Palantir Gotham|Gotham]] platform as an "AI-powered kill chain."[^30]
### The Kushner Middle East Policy
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, led Middle East policy in the first administration. It produced the 2020 [[Abraham Accords|Abraham Accords]] normalization agreements between [[Israel|Israel]] and the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Bahrain|Bahrain]], [[Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Morocco|Morocco]]. The administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over the [[Golan Heights|Golan Heights]] and moved the U.S. embassy to [[Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]. The accords departed from the earlier U.S. framework that had conditioned normalization on Israeli-Palestinian progress.[^28]
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, led Middle East policy in the first administration. It produced the 2020 [[Abraham Accords|Abraham Accords]] normalization agreements between [[Israel|Israel]] and the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Bahrain|Bahrain]], [[Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Morocco|Morocco]]. The administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over the [[Golan Heights|Golan Heights]] and moved the U.S. embassy to [[Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]. The accords departed from the earlier U.S. framework that had conditioned normalization on Israeli-Palestinian progress.[^31]
The administration approved U.S.-[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] arms sales over congressional opposition, using emergency authority to bypass congressional review. The sales went forward after the October 2018 murder of [[Jamal Khashoggi|Jamal Khashoggi]]. The CIA was reported to have assessed with high confidence that [[Mohammed bin Salman|Mohammed bin Salman]] had ordered the killing, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's assessment dated February 11, 2021, declassified on February 25 and released on February 26, 2021, stated: "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."[^29] Kushner maintained his relationship with the crown prince after the murder and kept up the WhatsApp channel that the CIA assessed as compromised; he used WhatsApp to communicate with the crown prince during his government service.[^28] The Guardian reported in January 2020 that [[Jeff Bezos|Jeff Bezos]]'s phone had been hacked in May 2018 through a file sent from the crown prince's WhatsApp account.[^28]
The administration approved U.S.-[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] arms sales over congressional opposition, using emergency authority to bypass congressional review. The sales went forward after the October 2018 murder of [[Jamal Khashoggi|Jamal Khashoggi]]. The CIA was reported to have assessed with high confidence that [[Mohammed bin Salman|Mohammed bin Salman]] had ordered the killing, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's assessment dated February 11, 2021, declassified on February 25 and released on February 26, 2021, stated: "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."[^32] Kushner maintained his relationship with the crown prince after the murder and kept up the WhatsApp channel that the CIA assessed as compromised; he used WhatsApp to communicate with the crown prince during his government service.[^31] The Guardian reported in January 2020 that [[Jeff Bezos|Jeff Bezos]]'s phone had been hacked in May 2018 through a file sent from the crown prince's WhatsApp account.[^31]
After the first administration ended, the [[Public Investment Fund|Saudi sovereign wealth fund]] committed 2 billion dollars to Kushner's [[Affinity Partners|Affinity Partners]]. The [[NSO Group|NSO Group]] Pegasus spyware was used against associates of Khashoggi, according to leaked data reported in July 2021. The House Committee on Oversight opened a probe of the investment in June 2022. Its letter stated that the fund's screening panel had rated the firm's due diligence unsatisfactory before the fund's board approved the investment.[^30]
After the first administration ended, the [[Public Investment Fund|Saudi sovereign wealth fund]] committed 2 billion dollars to Kushner's [[Affinity Partners|Affinity Partners]]. The [[NSO Group|NSO Group]] Pegasus spyware was used against associates of Khashoggi, according to leaked data reported in July 2021. The House Committee on Oversight opened a probe of the investment in June 2022. Its letter stated that the fund's screening panel had rated the firm's due diligence unsatisfactory before the fund's board approved the investment.[^33]
### DOGE and the Second Administration
Executive Order 14158 established the [[Department of Government Efficiency|Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE), led by [[Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], on January 20, 2025.[^31] An April 2025 whistleblower disclosure stated that DOGE personnel had taken sensitive data from the [[National Labor Relations Board|National Labor Relations Board]] in what the whistleblower described as an [[NLRB Data Exfiltration|NLRB data exfiltration]] and that a login attempt to NLRB systems came from a Russian IP address, as reported by [[NPR|NPR]] and [[Nextgov|Nextgov/FCW]].[^32]
Executive Order 14158 established the [[Department of Government Efficiency|Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE), led by [[Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], on January 20, 2025.[^34] An April 2025 whistleblower disclosure stated that DOGE personnel had taken sensitive data from the [[National Labor Relations Board|National Labor Relations Board]] in what the whistleblower described as an [[NLRB Data Exfiltration|NLRB data exfiltration]] and that a login attempt to NLRB systems came from a Russian IP address, as reported by [[NPR|NPR]] and [[Nextgov|Nextgov/FCW]].[^35]
Thiel funded the 2022 Senate campaigns of [[JD Vance|JD Vance]] in Ohio and [[Blake Masters|Blake Masters]] in Arizona, at approximately fifteen million dollars each, and brokered Vance's selection as Trump's 2024 vice-presidential running mate.[^13]
Thiel funded the 2022 Senate campaigns of [[JD Vance|JD Vance]] in Ohio and [[Blake Masters|Blake Masters]] in Arizona, at approximately fifteen million dollars each, and brokered Vance's selection as Trump's 2024 vice-presidential running mate.[^16]
[[David Sacks|David Sacks]], a former chief operating officer of [[PayPal|PayPal]] and a member of the [[PayPal Mafia|PayPal Mafia]], was named in December 2024 as White House AI and cryptocurrency czar. NPR reported in October 2026 that Sacks had stepped down from the role earlier that year and become co-chair of the [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology|President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]], and that on October 4, 2026 Trump named Director of National Intelligence [[Jay Clayton|Jay Clayton]] as AI czar to lead a White House "Super Intelligence Force."[^33] [[Project 2025|Project 2025]], the [[Heritage Foundation|Heritage Foundation]] policy project, was run by [[Paul Dans|Paul Dans]], who according to ProPublica built a personnel database of more than 10,000 vetted candidates for a second Trump term. [[NBC News|NBC News]] reported that several prominent Project 2025 authors secured executive-branch roles. The [[Center for American Progress|Center for American Progress]] reported that 80 percent of the project's authors had been former Trump administration officials or close advisers, and that 140 people who worked for Trump contributed to the project. Trump publicly disavowed Project 2025 during the 2024 campaign.[^33]
[[David Sacks|David Sacks]], a former chief operating officer of [[PayPal|PayPal]] and a member of the [[PayPal Mafia|PayPal Mafia]], was named in December 2024 as White House AI and cryptocurrency czar. NPR reported in October 2026 that Sacks had stepped down from the role earlier that year and become co-chair of the [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology|President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]], and that on October 4, 2026 Trump named Director of National Intelligence [[Jay Clayton|Jay Clayton]] as AI czar to lead a White House "Super Intelligence Force."[^36] [[Project 2025|Project 2025]], the [[Heritage Foundation|Heritage Foundation]] policy project, was run by [[Paul Dans|Paul Dans]], who according to ProPublica built a personnel database of more than 10,000 vetted candidates for a second Trump term. [[NBC News|NBC News]] reported that several prominent Project 2025 authors secured executive-branch roles. The [[Center for American Progress|Center for American Progress]] reported that 80 percent of the project's authors had been former Trump administration officials or close advisers, and that 140 people who worked for Trump contributed to the project. Trump publicly disavowed Project 2025 during the 2024 campaign.[^36]
[[Howard Lutnick|Howard Lutnick]], chief executive of [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald]], became [[Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] in February 2025. Lutnick's emails with Epstein appear in the 2026 file releases. [[Pam Bondi|Pam Bondi]] was confirmed as [[Attorney General|Attorney General]] on February 4, 2025, and Trump announced her departure on April 2, 2026, naming [[Todd Blanche|Todd Blanche]] acting attorney general. Blanche, whose office announced on January 30, 2026 the publication of more than 3 million additional pages and a total of nearly 3.5 million, had been Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer in the Manhattan case, and the Senate confirmed him as Attorney General on August 8, 2026 by 50 to 49.[^34][^35]
[[Howard Lutnick|Howard Lutnick]], chief executive of [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald]], became [[Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] in February 2025. Lutnick's emails with Epstein appear in the 2026 file releases. [[Pam Bondi|Pam Bondi]] was confirmed as [[Attorney General|Attorney General]] on February 4, 2025, and Trump announced her departure on April 2, 2026, naming [[Todd Blanche|Todd Blanche]] acting attorney general. Blanche, whose office announced on January 30, 2026 the publication of more than 3 million additional pages and a total of nearly 3.5 million, had been Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer in the Manhattan case, and the Senate confirmed him as Attorney General on August 8, 2026 by 50 to 49.[^37][^38]
### The Epstein Relationship
Trump and [[Jeffrey Epstein|Jeffrey Epstein]] socialized from the late 1980s through 2004, mostly in Palm Beach and New York. Archival [[NBC|NBC]] footage from 1992 shows the two men together at Mar-a-Lago watching dancers, with [[Ghislaine Maxwell|Ghislaine Maxwell]] present. A photograph taken at Mar-a-Lago on February 12, 2000 shows Trump, [[Melania Trump|Melania Knauss]], Epstein and Maxwell together.[^36]
Trump and [[Jeffrey Epstein|Jeffrey Epstein]] socialized from the late 1980s through 2004, mostly in Palm Beach and New York. Archival [[NBC|NBC]] footage from 1992 shows the two men together at Mar-a-Lago watching dancers, with [[Ghislaine Maxwell|Ghislaine Maxwell]] present. A photograph taken at Mar-a-Lago on February 12, 2000 shows Trump, [[Melania Trump|Melania Knauss]], Epstein and Maxwell together.[^39]
In an October 28, 2002 profile by Landon Thomas Jr. in New York magazine, Trump, speaking by speakerphone, said: "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."[^37] On July 9, 2019, asked about Epstein at the White House, Trump said: "I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years." He added: "I was not a fan of his. That I can tell you."[^38]
In an October 28, 2002 profile by Landon Thomas Jr. in New York magazine, Trump, speaking by speakerphone, said: "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."[^40] On July 9, 2019, asked about Epstein at the White House, Trump said: "I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years." He added: "I was not a fan of his. That I can tell you."[^41]
Epstein's address books listed multiple Trump telephone numbers. Former Epstein pilot [[Larry Visoski|Larry Visoski]] testified on November 29 and 30, 2021 that he had flown Trump on Epstein's aircraft, the [[Lolita Express|Lolita Express]], "more than once, I believe." Trump's name appears in the flight logs of the aircraft on domestic legs, roughly seven times by one count. No flight log entry places Trump on [[Little St. James|Little St. James]].[^39]
Epstein's address books listed multiple Trump telephone numbers. Former Epstein pilot [[Larry Visoski|Larry Visoski]] testified on November 29 and 30, 2021 that he had flown Trump on Epstein's aircraft, the [[Lolita Express|Lolita Express]], "more than once, I believe." Trump's name appears in the flight logs of the aircraft on domestic legs, roughly seven times by one count. No flight log entry places Trump on [[Little St. James|Little St. James]].[^42]
The relationship broke in 2004 over a Palm Beach property. In November 2004 Trump bought the oceanfront mansion [[Maison de l'Amitie|Maison de l'Amitie]] for 41.35 million dollars. The bankruptcy trustee, Joseph Luzinski, described the two men bidding as "two very large Palm Beach egos going at it."[^40] Speaking at his Turnberry course in Scotland on July 28, 2025, Trump said of Epstein: "He stole people that worked for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata."[^41]
The relationship broke in 2004 over a Palm Beach property. In November 2004 Trump bought the oceanfront mansion [[Maison de l'Amitie|Maison de l'Amitie]] for 41.35 million dollars. The bankruptcy trustee, Joseph Luzinski, described the two men bidding as "two very large Palm Beach egos going at it."[^43] Speaking at his Turnberry course in Scotland on July 28, 2025, Trump said of Epstein: "He stole people that worked for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata."[^44]
[[Maria Farmer]], who reported Epstein to the FBI in 1996, later said that she had also flagged a 1990s encounter involving Trump; the account remains an uncorroborated allegation. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.[^42]
[[Maria Farmer]], who reported Epstein to the FBI in 1996, later said that she had also flagged a 1990s encounter involving Trump; the account remains an uncorroborated allegation. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.[^45]
Trump's name also appears in the 2003 "birthday book" assembled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday. The [[Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]] reported in July 2025 that a letter in the book bore Trump's signature and a drawing of a nude woman. Trump denied authoring the letter, called the report fake, and filed a multibillion-dollar defamation suit against the paper.[^43] The staged releases, the missing "client list" that Bondi had promised, and the redactions kept the Trump-Epstein history in national coverage through the end of 2025.
Trump's name also appears in the 2003 "birthday book" assembled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday. The [[Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]] reported in July 2025 that a letter in the book bore Trump's signature and a drawing of a nude woman. Trump denied authoring the letter, called the report fake, and filed a multibillion-dollar defamation suit against the paper.[^46] The staged releases, the missing "client list" that Bondi had promised, and the redactions kept the Trump-Epstein history in national coverage through the end of 2025.
### The Epstein Files Transparency Act
The House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) on November 18, 2025, and Trump signed it on November 19, 2025 as Public Law 119-38. The statute required the Attorney General to release the unclassified records of the [[Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] and the FBI within thirty days, and allowed withholding of material that would jeopardize an active federal investigation.[^2]
On November 14, 2025 Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's dealings with [[Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]], [[Larry Summers|Larry Summers]], [[Reid Hoffman|Reid Hoffman]] and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan Chase]]. Attorney General Bondi assigned the investigation to Jay Clayton that day.[^44]
On November 14, 2025 Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's dealings with [[Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]], [[Larry Summers|Larry Summers]], [[Reid Hoffman|Reid Hoffman]] and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan Chase]]. Attorney General Bondi assigned the investigation to Jay Clayton that day.[^47]
On February 14, 2026 the Justice Department sent the Senate and House Judiciary Committees a letter under section 3 of the Act, on the letterhead of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and signed by Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. It listed all categories of records released and withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of "all government officials and politically exposed persons" named or referenced in the released materials. The letter states that the term "politically exposed persons" was not defined in the Act, that names appear in the files "in a wide variety of contexts," and that "some individuals had extensive direct email contact with Epstein or Maxwell while other individuals are mentioned only in a portion of a document (including press reporting) that on its face is unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell matters." The alphabetical list runs to about 300 names, from Alexander Acosta to Mark Zuckerberg, and includes Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Howard Lutnick, Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Leonard Leo, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana and Kurt Cobain.[^45] [[Ro Khanna|Ro Khanna]] described the list as "purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email."[^45]
On February 14, 2026 the Justice Department sent the Senate and House Judiciary Committees a letter under section 3 of the Act, on the letterhead of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and signed by Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. It listed all categories of records released and withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of "all government officials and politically exposed persons" named or referenced in the released materials. The letter states that the term "politically exposed persons" was not defined in the Act, that names appear in the files "in a wide variety of contexts," and that "some individuals had extensive direct email contact with Epstein or Maxwell while other individuals are mentioned only in a portion of a document (including press reporting) that on its face is unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell matters." The alphabetical list runs to about 300 names, from Alexander Acosta to Mark Zuckerberg, and includes Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Howard Lutnick, Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Leonard Leo, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana and Kurt Cobain.[^48] [[Ro Khanna|Ro Khanna]] described the list as "purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email."[^48]
### The January 2026 Release Allegations
The Justice Department's January 30, 2026 release of [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] included FBI interview memoranda from 2019 in which a woman told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted by Epstein and by Trump in the 1980s, when she said she was a teenager. The Justice Department stated that the files contain false and unverified claims. Trump has denied the allegations.[^35]
The Justice Department's January 30, 2026 release of [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] included FBI interview memoranda from 2019 in which a woman told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted by Epstein and by Trump in the 1980s, when she said she was a teenager. The Justice Department stated that the files contain false and unverified claims. Trump has denied the allegations.[^38]
### Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, which Trump signed on December 27, 2020, contained the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 as Division W. Division W has no provision in its text on unidentified aerial phenomena. Its section 3 provides that the explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record by the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees "shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this division as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference."[^46] That explanatory statement, Part II, "incorporates by reference, and the Executive Branch shall comply with, all direction contained in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report to accompany the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. Rept. 116-233)."[^47] Senate Report 116-233, filed June 17, 2020 by [[Marco Rubio|Marco Rubio]] for the committee, contains a section titled "Advanced Aerial Threats." It states the committee's concern that "there is no unified, comprehensive process within the Federal Government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena" and directs the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit within 180 days of enactment an unclassified report, with a classified annex permitted, that includes an analysis of data held by the [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force]] at the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Office of Naval Intelligence]] and by the FBI, an interagency collection process with a named accountable official, an assessment of foreign-adversary attribution, and recommendations.[^48]
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, which Trump signed on December 27, 2020, contained the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 as Division W. Division W has no provision in its text on unidentified aerial phenomena. Its section 3 provides that the explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record by the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees "shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this division as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference."[^49] That explanatory statement, Part II, "incorporates by reference, and the Executive Branch shall comply with, all direction contained in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report to accompany the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. Rept. 116-233)."[^50] Senate Report 116-233, filed June 17, 2020 by [[Marco Rubio|Marco Rubio]] for the committee, contains a section titled "Advanced Aerial Threats." It states the committee's concern that "there is no unified, comprehensive process within the Federal Government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena" and directs the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit within 180 days of enactment an unclassified report, with a classified annex permitted, that includes an analysis of data held by the [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force]] at the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Office of Naval Intelligence]] and by the FBI, an interagency collection process with a named accountable official, an assessment of foreign-adversary attribution, and recommendations.[^51]
The statute that created the permanent office is a different law. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Public Law 117-81, approved December 27, 2021 by President [[Joe Biden|Joe Biden]], contains section 1683, which directed the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to establish an office to address unidentified aerial phenomena within 180 days of enactment.[^49]
The statute that created the permanent office is a different law. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Public Law 117-81, approved December 27, 2021 by President [[Joe Biden|Joe Biden]], contains section 1683, which directed the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to establish an office to address unidentified aerial phenomena within 180 days of enactment.[^52]
On February 19, 2026 Trump wrote on Truth Social that, "based on the tremendous interest shown," he would be directing Defense Secretary [[Pete Hegseth|Pete Hegseth]] and other agencies "to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters." The post followed his statement to a reporter that [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] had given classified information when Obama said in a podcast interview that aliens were "real."[^50] On May 8, 2026 the Department of Defense began posting the files at war.gov/UFO, with more than 160 files covering more than 400 incidents, and said additional files would follow "on a rolling basis."[^51]
On February 19, 2026 Trump wrote on Truth Social that, "based on the tremendous interest shown," he would be directing Defense Secretary [[Pete Hegseth|Pete Hegseth]] and other agencies "to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters." The post followed his statement to a reporter that [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] had given classified information when Obama said in a podcast interview that aliens were "real."[^53] On May 8, 2026 the Department of Defense began posting the files at war.gov/UFO, with more than 160 files covering more than 400 incidents, and said additional files would follow "on a rolling basis."[^54]
On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi Loeb|Avi Loeb]] said he had served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Trump. The paper also reported that a representative of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] visited Loeb to request a group that Loeb formed as the [[UAP Science Advisory Council|UAP Science Advisory Council]], "in support of President Trump's directive on UAP transparency."[^52] In August 2026 [[Ross Coulthart|Ross Coulthart]] wrote on NewsNation that unnamed White House sources told him Trump "has personally authorized" a government program using the methods of the [[Sky Watcher|Skywatcher]] organization. Coulthart attributed each statement to unnamed sources.[^53]
On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi Loeb|Avi Loeb]] said he had served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Trump. The paper also reported that a representative of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] visited Loeb to request a group that Loeb formed as the [[UAP Science Advisory Council|UAP Science Advisory Council]], "in support of President Trump's directive on UAP transparency."[^55] In August 2026 [[Ross Coulthart|Ross Coulthart]] wrote on NewsNation that unnamed White House sources told him Trump "has personally authorized" a government program using the methods of the [[Sky Watcher|Skywatcher]] organization. Coulthart attributed each statement to unnamed sources.[^56]
### Footnotes
@ -218,48 +218,51 @@ On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi
[^6]: United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc., Consent Order, No. 73 C 1529 (E.D.N.Y. June 10, 1975) (Neaher, J.), parts I to IV and signature page (Roy M. Cohn, Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley, for defendants; Frank E. Schwelb, Chief, Housing Section, Civil Rights Division, for plaintiff). Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, document 83283. https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/83283.pdf ; Order to Show Cause, June 10, 1975, document 83277. https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/83277.pdf
[^7]: "United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump, and Trump Management, Inc.," case summary, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School (39 buildings, more than 14,000 apartments; tester evidence; retention of Roy Cohn; counterclaim of 100 million dollars for defamation dismissed by Judge Neaher; FBI investigation records released in 2017). https://clearinghouse.net/case/15342/
[^8]: United States v. Rosenberg, 195 F.2d 583 (2d Cir. Feb. 25, 1952) (counsel: Myles J. Lane, with Roy M. Cohn of counsel, for the United States). https://static.case.law/f2d/195/cases/0583-01.json
[^9]: "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn fought the race discrimination lawsuit," excerpt from *The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump,* PBS FRONTLINE, September 24, 2024 (David Marcus; Ken Auletta). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/donald-trump-roy-cohn-race-discrimination-lawsuit-fight-documentary-excerpt
[^10]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, 503 N.Y.S.2d 759 (1st Dep't June 23, 1986) (per curiam) (charges I to IV; disbarment). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json ; https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6021889/in-re-cohn/
[^11]: "Roy Cohn," Part 01 of 01, FBI Records: The Vault, 748 pages. https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn (archived January 18, 2021: https://web.archive.org/web/20210118074105/https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn)
[^12]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A itemized individual contributions, contributor name THIEL, PETER, two-year transaction period 2016 (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the FEC API). Entries cited: Fighting for Ohio Fund, August 10, 2016, 1,000,000; Make America Number 1, October 26, 2016, 1,000,000; Trump Victory, October 6, 2016, 250,000; Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., October 6, 2016, 2,700; Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America, August 25, 2015, 2,000,000. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/
[^13]: "Peter Thiel goes 'big league', joining Trump's presidential transition team." *The Guardian,* November 11, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/11/peter-thiel-joins-donald-trump-transition-team ; "Thiel could gain from Trump transition." *Politico,* December 2016. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/peter-thiel-trump-transition-benefits-232233 ; "Who Is Kevin Harrington, the Peter Thiel Associate Who Just Joined the National Security Council Staff?" *Gizmodo,* February 2017. https://gizmodo.com/who-is-kevin-harrington-the-peter-thiel-associate-who-1791925769
[^14]: Jim Zarroli, "Billionaire Investor Robert Mercer To Step Down From Firm, Selling Stake In Breitbart." *NPR,* November 2, 2017. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/nov/02/billionaire-investor-robert-mercer-steps-down ; Government Accountability Institute (EIN 45-4681912), Form 990 for 2012, Part VII (Bannon, chairman; Rebekah Mercer, director). https://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/454/454681912/454681912_201212_990.pdf ; Mercer Family Foundation (EIN 20-1982204), grants to the Government Accountability Institute, tax years 2013 to 2017, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201982204 ; Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Volume 5, pp. 664 to 667 (SCL, Cambridge Analytica and the Mercer family). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^15]: Federal Trade Commission, In the Matter of Cambridge Analytica, LLC, Docket No. 9383: Complaint (July 24, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/182_3107_cambridge_analytica_administrative_complaint_7-24-19.pdf ; Opinion of the Commission and Final Order (issued November 25, 2019; announced December 6, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_opinionpublic.pdf and https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_orderpublic.pdf ; press release, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/12/ftc-issues-opinion-order-against-cambridge-analytica-deceiving-consumers-about-collection-facebook
[^16]: Information Commissioner's Office, letter from Elizabeth Denham to Julian Knight MP, Chair, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, "ICO investigation into use of personal information and political influence," October 2, 2020 (ref. ICO/O/ED/L/RTL/0181), paragraph 9. https://ico.org.uk/media2/migrated/2618383/20201002_ico-o-ed-l-rtl-0181_to-julian-knight-mp.pdf
[^17]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, notes 447 and 448 (Parscale testimony on the polling data visualization tool and Cambridge Analytica developers). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^18]: Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, Volume I, Executive Summary, p. 5 (March 2019). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^19]: Mueller Report, Volume I, section IV.A.1.c.i, "Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization," p. 70 (letter of intent completed between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^20]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, Executive Summary, "Trump Tower Moscow," p. ix (116th Congress). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^21]: Mueller Report, Volume II, Introduction, p. 2; Executive Summary, p. 8; and section IV, Conclusion, p. 182 (the same two sentences appear in each). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^22]: "We Don't Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right's Supreme Court Supermajority." *ProPublica,* March 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority
[^23]: "Leak exposes members of Peter Thiel's secretive Dialog society." *WIRED,* June 16, 2026. https://www.wired.com/story/leak-exposes-members-of-peter-thiels-secretive-dialog-society/ ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^24]: USAspending.gov award records, recipient Palantir Technologies Inc., awarding sub-agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the USAspending API): HSCETC15C00001, "FALCON operations and maintenance (O&M), system enhancement," 39,340,900.82 dollars, May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018 (CONT_AWD_HSCETC15C00001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD019C00000001, "FALCON O&M support services," 37,839,725.17 dollars, November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022 (CONT_AWD_70CTD019C00000001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD022FR0000170, "Investigative Case Management (ICM) operations and maintenance support services and custom enhancements," 170,765,322.37 dollars, September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027 (CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730). https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730 ; EPIC v. ICE FOIA litigation on ICE-Palantir databases. https://epic.org/documents/epic-v-ice-palantir-databases/
[^25]: USAspending.gov transaction record, award 70CTD022FR0000170, action date April 11, 2025, 29,898,236 dollars (retrieved through the USAspending API); awards 70CTD026FC0000012 (start May 5, 2026, 86,271,599.30 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000012_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (start June 26, 2026, 45,848,616.80 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000018_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ ; "ICE to Use ImmigrationOS by Palantir, a New AI System, to Track Immigrants' Movements." *American Immigration Council,* April 2025. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-immigrationos-palantir-ai-track-immigrants/
[^26]: "Anduril Wins $363M CBP Contract for XR Sentry Towers." *Tectonic Defense.* https://www.tectonic-defense.com/anduril-wins-363m-cbp-contract-for-xr-sentry-towers/ ; "Anduril Surveillance Towers," U.S. Customs and Border Protection FOIA record. https://www.cbp.gov/document/foia-record/anduril-surveillance-towers ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^27]: "Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech." *Bloomberg,* January 12, 2024. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-12/palantir-israel-agree-to-strategic-partnership
[^28]: "Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Making of the Trump-Saudi Alliance." *The Intercept,* March 21, 2018. https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jared-kushner-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/ ; "Jared Kushner used WhatsApp to message foreign contacts in White House." *ABC News.* https://abcnews.com/Politics/jared-kushner-whatsapp-foreign-contacts-lawyer-tells-congress/story?id=61843329 ; "Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince.'" *The Guardian,* January 21, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince
[^29]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, *Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi,* February 11, 2021 (declassified by the Director of National Intelligence on February 25, 2021 and released February 26, 2021), Executive Summary. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Assessment-Saudi-Gov-Role-in-JK-Death-20210226v2.pdf
[^30]: "Chairwoman Maloney Launches Probe of Saudi Government's $2 Billion Investment in Affinity Partners." House Committee on Oversight, June 2, 2022. https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairwoman-maloney-launches-probe-of-saudi-government-s-2-billion-investment-in ; Wyden investigation of Affinity Partners, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-investigation-of-kushner-firm-continues-new-letter-outlines-affinity-partners-fee-structure-lack-of-return-to-investors-ques ; "NSO spyware used to target family of Jamal Khashoggi, leaked data shows." *The Guardian,* July 18, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/nso-spyware-used-to-target-family-of-jamal-khashoggi-leaked-data-shows-saudis-pegasus
[^31]: Executive Order 14158, "Establishing and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency'" (signed January 20, 2025). *Federal Register.* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-02005/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency
[^32]: "Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data." *NPR,* April 15, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355896/doge-nlrb-elon-musk-spacex-security ; "User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says." *Nextgov/FCW,* April 2025. https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/04/user-russian-ip-address-tried-log-nlrb-systems-following-doge-access-whistleblower-says/404574/
[^33]: Statement by President-elect Donald J. Trump Announcing the Appointment of David O. Sacks as "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar," December 5, 2024, The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announcing-the-appointment-david-o-sacks-white ; Chandelis Duster, "Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar." *NPR,* October 4, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5990781/jay-clayton-ai-czar-trump ; "Paul Dans, the Man Behind Project 2025's Most Radical Plans." *ProPublica.* https://www.propublica.org/article/project-2025-trump-campaign-heritage-foundation-paul-dans ; "The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration." *NBC News.* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107
[^34]: "Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG." *CBS News,* April 2, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/ ; U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes 119th Congress, 2nd Session, Nos. 229 (cloture) and 230 (confirmation), Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, August 8, 2026. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00230.htm ; "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general." *NPR,* August 8, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/g-s1-137631/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general ; Ruetenik, Daniel, and Graham Kates. "Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show." *CBS News,* updated February 7, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-lutnick-jeffrey-epstein-in-business-together/ ; "Howard Lutnick," U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/howard-lutnick
[^35]: "Epstein files live updates: Trump DOJ releases millions more pages of records." *NBC News,* January 30, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/live-blog/epstein-files-trump-doj-release-live-updates-rcna256639 ; "DOJ releases FBI memos detailing woman's allegation against Trump in Epstein probe." *The Wire,* 2026. https://ticklethewire.com/doj-releases-fbi-memos-detailing-womans-allegation-against-trump-in-epstein-probe/
[^36]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (1992 NBC footage; photograph of February 12, 2000). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^37]: Landon Thomas Jr., "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery." *New York,* October 28, 2002. https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/ (archived May 21, 2011: https://web.archive.org/web/20110521191003/http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/)
[^38]: "Trump defends embattled Acosta, says he had a 'falling out' with Jeffrey Epstein 'a long time ago.'" *NBC News,* July 9, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-defends-embattled-acosta-says-he-had-falling-out-jeffrey-n1027861
[^39]: Lauren del Valle and Eric Levenson, "Jeffrey Epstein's former pilot testifies Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew flew aboard Epstein's private plane," *CNN,* November 30, 2021. https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2021/11/30/prosecution-links-ghislaine-maxwell-to-jeffrey-epstein-while-defense-says-she-is-being-blamed-for-his-actions/ ; "Trump called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who enjoyed 'younger' women before denying relationship with him." *Washington Post,* July 8, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html
[^40]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (2004 Maison de l'Amitie bidding; trustee Joseph Luzinski quoted by the Washington Post). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^41]: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/ ; "President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago." *Fox News,* 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-thrown-out-mar-a-lago-hiring-help-trump
[^42]: "Maria Farmer and Marsh Law Firm's Persistent Advocacy Vindicated as FBI Releases Farmer's 1996 Report on Jeffrey Epstein." *Marsh Law Firm,* December 23, 2025 (the 1996 FBI report). https://www.jamesmarshlaw.com/persistent-advocacy-vindicated/ ; Trump's denial: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/
[^43]: "Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump's signature, drawing of naked woman, Wall Street Journal reports." *CNN,* July 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/politics/epstein-birthday-letter-trump
[^44]: "Bondi taps acting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to probe Democrats' ties to Epstein." *The Washington Times,* November 14, 2025. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/14/bondi-taps-acting-us-attorney-jay-clayton-probe-democrats-ties/ ; Epstein Files Transparency Act, Pub. L. No. 119-38.
[^45]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, letter to Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin, "Re: Epstein Files Transparency Act, Section 3 Report to Congress," February 14, 2026, pages 1 to 6 (signed Pamela J. Bondi, United States Attorney General, and Todd Blanche, Deputy United States Attorney General). https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl ; coverage in "Justice Department lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files in letter to Congress." *CNN,* February 15, 2026. https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/02/15/justice-department-lists-hundreds-of-prominent-people-named-in-epstein-files-in-letter-to-congress/
[^46]: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, approved December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182; Division W, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, section 3 ("Explanatory statement"), 134 Stat. 2362 to 2363. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ260/pdf/PLAW-116publ260.pdf
[^47]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Explanation of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Division W, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), Part II, Select Unclassified Congressional Direction, December 21, 2020. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sites-default-filesations-iaa-fy21-jes-final-2-12-15-20.pdf
[^48]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, S. Rept. 116-233 (to accompany S. 3905), June 17, 2020, "Advanced Aerial Threats," pp. 11 to 12. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116srpt233/pdf/CRPT-116srpt233.pdf
[^49]: James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-81, section 1683, "Establishment of office, organizational structure, and authorities to address unidentified aerial phenomena" (approved December 27, 2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ81/pdf/PLAW-117publ81.pdf
[^50]: "Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens." *NBC News,* February 19, 2026 (quoting Trump's Truth Social post). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-directing-pentagon-release-files-related-ufos-aliens-rcna259833
[^51]: "Pentagon releases declassified UFO files including videos and photos held by the government for decades." *NBC News,* May 8, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/ufos-and-anomalous-phenomena/ufo-uap-files-pentagon-release-trump-rcna344204
[^52]: Neil H. Shah, Theresa F. Bartelme and Risha Sinha, "Inside Avi Loeb's New UAP Council, Built From His Harvard Orbit." *The Harvard Crimson,* July 11, 2026. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/7/11/avi-loeb-uap-council/
[^53]: Ross Coulthart, "Is the Trump administration running a covert UFO program?," NewsNation Reality Check, about August 2026. https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/reality-check/trump-administration-covert-ufo-program/amp/
[^9]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, Executive Sessions of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, vol. 1, S. Prt. 107-84 (made public January 2003), "Subcommittee Staff Appointed in 1953-1954" (Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel, January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954). https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/mccarthy-hearings-volume1.pdf
[^10]: "Trump Sues the Justice Department for $100 Million," The Nation (the judge "dismissed the counterclaim two months after it was filed"). https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/justice-department-trump-lawsuit/
[^11]: "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn fought the race discrimination lawsuit," excerpt from *The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump,* PBS FRONTLINE, September 24, 2024 (David Marcus; Ken Auletta). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/donald-trump-roy-cohn-race-discrimination-lawsuit-fight-documentary-excerpt
[^12]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, 503 N.Y.S.2d 759 (1st Dep't June 23, 1986) (per curiam) (charges I to IV; disbarment). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json ; https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6021889/in-re-cohn/
[^13]: "Roy Cohn," Part 01 of 01, FBI Records: The Vault, 748 pages. https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn (archived January 18, 2021: https://web.archive.org/web/20210118074105/https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn)
[^14]: Program of the B'nai B'rith Banking and Finance Lodge State of Israel Bond tribute dinner for Roy M. Cohn, with Ronald Reagan's message of May 2, 1983, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, White House Office of Records Management subject file ME001. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/digitallibrary/whormsubject/me001/40-654-12019891-024-009-2018.pdf
[^15]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A itemized individual contributions, contributor name THIEL, PETER, two-year transaction period 2016 (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the FEC API). Entries cited: Fighting for Ohio Fund, August 10, 2016, 1,000,000; Make America Number 1, October 26, 2016, 1,000,000; Trump Victory, October 6, 2016, 250,000; Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., October 6, 2016, 2,700; Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America, August 25, 2015, 2,000,000. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/
[^16]: "Peter Thiel goes 'big league', joining Trump's presidential transition team." *The Guardian,* November 11, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/11/peter-thiel-joins-donald-trump-transition-team ; "Thiel could gain from Trump transition." *Politico,* December 2016. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/peter-thiel-trump-transition-benefits-232233 ; "Who Is Kevin Harrington, the Peter Thiel Associate Who Just Joined the National Security Council Staff?" *Gizmodo,* February 2017. https://gizmodo.com/who-is-kevin-harrington-the-peter-thiel-associate-who-1791925769
[^17]: Jim Zarroli, "Billionaire Investor Robert Mercer To Step Down From Firm, Selling Stake In Breitbart." *NPR,* November 2, 2017. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/nov/02/billionaire-investor-robert-mercer-steps-down ; Government Accountability Institute (EIN 45-4681912), Form 990 for 2012, Part VII (Bannon, chairman; Rebekah Mercer, director). https://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/454/454681912/454681912_201212_990.pdf ; Mercer Family Foundation (EIN 20-1982204), grants to the Government Accountability Institute, tax years 2013 to 2017, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201982204 ; Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Volume 5, pp. 664 to 667 (SCL, Cambridge Analytica and the Mercer family). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^18]: Federal Trade Commission, In the Matter of Cambridge Analytica, LLC, Docket No. 9383: Complaint (July 24, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/182_3107_cambridge_analytica_administrative_complaint_7-24-19.pdf ; Opinion of the Commission and Final Order (issued November 25, 2019; announced December 6, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_opinionpublic.pdf and https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_orderpublic.pdf ; press release, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/12/ftc-issues-opinion-order-against-cambridge-analytica-deceiving-consumers-about-collection-facebook
[^19]: Information Commissioner's Office, letter from Elizabeth Denham to Julian Knight MP, Chair, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, "ICO investigation into use of personal information and political influence," October 2, 2020 (ref. ICO/O/ED/L/RTL/0181), paragraph 9. https://ico.org.uk/media2/migrated/2618383/20201002_ico-o-ed-l-rtl-0181_to-julian-knight-mp.pdf
[^20]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, notes 447 and 448 (Parscale testimony on the polling data visualization tool and Cambridge Analytica developers). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^21]: Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, Volume I, Executive Summary, p. 5 (March 2019). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^22]: Mueller Report, Volume I, section IV.A.1.c.i, "Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization," p. 70 (letter of intent completed between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^23]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, Executive Summary, "Trump Tower Moscow," p. ix (116th Congress). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^24]: Mueller Report, Volume II, Introduction, p. 2; Executive Summary, p. 8; and section IV, Conclusion, p. 182 (the same two sentences appear in each). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^25]: "We Don't Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right's Supreme Court Supermajority." *ProPublica,* March 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority
[^26]: "Leak exposes members of Peter Thiel's secretive Dialog society." *WIRED,* June 16, 2026. https://www.wired.com/story/leak-exposes-members-of-peter-thiels-secretive-dialog-society/ ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^27]: USAspending.gov award records, recipient Palantir Technologies Inc., awarding sub-agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the USAspending API): HSCETC15C00001, "FALCON operations and maintenance (O&M), system enhancement," 39,340,900.82 dollars, May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018 (CONT_AWD_HSCETC15C00001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD019C00000001, "FALCON O&M support services," 37,839,725.17 dollars, November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022 (CONT_AWD_70CTD019C00000001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD022FR0000170, "Investigative Case Management (ICM) operations and maintenance support services and custom enhancements," 170,765,322.37 dollars, September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027 (CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730). https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730 ; EPIC v. ICE FOIA litigation on ICE-Palantir databases. https://epic.org/documents/epic-v-ice-palantir-databases/
[^28]: USAspending.gov transaction record, award 70CTD022FR0000170, action date April 11, 2025, 29,898,236 dollars (retrieved through the USAspending API); awards 70CTD026FC0000012 (start May 5, 2026, 86,271,599.30 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000012_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (start June 26, 2026, 45,848,616.80 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000018_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ ; "ICE to Use ImmigrationOS by Palantir, a New AI System, to Track Immigrants' Movements." *American Immigration Council,* April 2025. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-immigrationos-palantir-ai-track-immigrants/
[^29]: "Anduril Wins $363M CBP Contract for XR Sentry Towers." *Tectonic Defense.* https://www.tectonic-defense.com/anduril-wins-363m-cbp-contract-for-xr-sentry-towers/ ; "Anduril Surveillance Towers," U.S. Customs and Border Protection FOIA record. https://www.cbp.gov/document/foia-record/anduril-surveillance-towers ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^30]: "Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech." *Bloomberg,* January 12, 2024. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-12/palantir-israel-agree-to-strategic-partnership
[^31]: "Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Making of the Trump-Saudi Alliance." *The Intercept,* March 21, 2018. https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jared-kushner-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/ ; "Jared Kushner used WhatsApp to message foreign contacts in White House." *ABC News.* https://abcnews.com/Politics/jared-kushner-whatsapp-foreign-contacts-lawyer-tells-congress/story?id=61843329 ; "Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince.'" *The Guardian,* January 21, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince
[^32]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, *Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi,* February 11, 2021 (declassified by the Director of National Intelligence on February 25, 2021 and released February 26, 2021), Executive Summary. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Assessment-Saudi-Gov-Role-in-JK-Death-20210226v2.pdf
[^33]: "Chairwoman Maloney Launches Probe of Saudi Government's $2 Billion Investment in Affinity Partners." House Committee on Oversight, June 2, 2022. https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairwoman-maloney-launches-probe-of-saudi-government-s-2-billion-investment-in ; Wyden investigation of Affinity Partners, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-investigation-of-kushner-firm-continues-new-letter-outlines-affinity-partners-fee-structure-lack-of-return-to-investors-ques ; "NSO spyware used to target family of Jamal Khashoggi, leaked data shows." *The Guardian,* July 18, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/nso-spyware-used-to-target-family-of-jamal-khashoggi-leaked-data-shows-saudis-pegasus
[^34]: Executive Order 14158, "Establishing and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency'" (signed January 20, 2025). *Federal Register.* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-02005/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency
[^35]: "Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data." *NPR,* April 15, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355896/doge-nlrb-elon-musk-spacex-security ; "User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says." *Nextgov/FCW,* April 2025. https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/04/user-russian-ip-address-tried-log-nlrb-systems-following-doge-access-whistleblower-says/404574/
[^36]: Statement by President-elect Donald J. Trump Announcing the Appointment of David O. Sacks as "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar," December 5, 2024, The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announcing-the-appointment-david-o-sacks-white ; Chandelis Duster, "Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar." *NPR,* October 4, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5990781/jay-clayton-ai-czar-trump ; "Paul Dans, the Man Behind Project 2025's Most Radical Plans." *ProPublica.* https://www.propublica.org/article/project-2025-trump-campaign-heritage-foundation-paul-dans ; "The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration." *NBC News.* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107
[^37]: "Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG." *CBS News,* April 2, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/ ; U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes 119th Congress, 2nd Session, Nos. 229 (cloture) and 230 (confirmation), Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, August 8, 2026. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00230.htm ; "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general." *NPR,* August 8, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/g-s1-137631/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general ; Ruetenik, Daniel, and Graham Kates. "Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show." *CBS News,* updated February 7, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-lutnick-jeffrey-epstein-in-business-together/ ; "Howard Lutnick," U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/howard-lutnick
[^38]: "Epstein files live updates: Trump DOJ releases millions more pages of records." *NBC News,* January 30, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/live-blog/epstein-files-trump-doj-release-live-updates-rcna256639 ; "DOJ releases FBI memos detailing woman's allegation against Trump in Epstein probe." *The Wire,* 2026. https://ticklethewire.com/doj-releases-fbi-memos-detailing-womans-allegation-against-trump-in-epstein-probe/
[^39]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (1992 NBC footage; photograph of February 12, 2000). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^40]: Landon Thomas Jr., "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery." *New York,* October 28, 2002. https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/ (archived May 21, 2011: https://web.archive.org/web/20110521191003/http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/)
[^41]: "Trump defends embattled Acosta, says he had a 'falling out' with Jeffrey Epstein 'a long time ago.'" *NBC News,* July 9, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-defends-embattled-acosta-says-he-had-falling-out-jeffrey-n1027861
[^42]: Lauren del Valle and Eric Levenson, "Jeffrey Epstein's former pilot testifies Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew flew aboard Epstein's private plane," *CNN,* November 30, 2021. https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2021/11/30/prosecution-links-ghislaine-maxwell-to-jeffrey-epstein-while-defense-says-she-is-being-blamed-for-his-actions/ ; "Trump called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who enjoyed 'younger' women before denying relationship with him." *Washington Post,* July 8, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html
[^43]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (2004 Maison de l'Amitie bidding; trustee Joseph Luzinski quoted by the Washington Post). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^44]: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/ ; "President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago." *Fox News,* 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-thrown-out-mar-a-lago-hiring-help-trump
[^45]: "Maria Farmer and Marsh Law Firm's Persistent Advocacy Vindicated as FBI Releases Farmer's 1996 Report on Jeffrey Epstein." *Marsh Law Firm,* December 23, 2025 (the 1996 FBI report). https://www.jamesmarshlaw.com/persistent-advocacy-vindicated/ ; Trump's denial: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/
[^46]: "Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump's signature, drawing of naked woman, Wall Street Journal reports." *CNN,* July 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/politics/epstein-birthday-letter-trump
[^47]: "Bondi taps acting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to probe Democrats' ties to Epstein." *The Washington Times,* November 14, 2025. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/14/bondi-taps-acting-us-attorney-jay-clayton-probe-democrats-ties/ ; Epstein Files Transparency Act, Pub. L. No. 119-38.
[^48]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, letter to Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin, "Re: Epstein Files Transparency Act, Section 3 Report to Congress," February 14, 2026, pages 1 to 6 (signed Pamela J. Bondi, United States Attorney General, and Todd Blanche, Deputy United States Attorney General). https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl ; coverage in "Justice Department lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files in letter to Congress." *CNN,* February 15, 2026. https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/02/15/justice-department-lists-hundreds-of-prominent-people-named-in-epstein-files-in-letter-to-congress/
[^49]: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, approved December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182; Division W, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, section 3 ("Explanatory statement"), 134 Stat. 2362 to 2363. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ260/pdf/PLAW-116publ260.pdf
[^50]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Explanation of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Division W, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), Part II, Select Unclassified Congressional Direction, December 21, 2020. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sites-default-filesations-iaa-fy21-jes-final-2-12-15-20.pdf
[^51]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, S. Rept. 116-233 (to accompany S. 3905), June 17, 2020, "Advanced Aerial Threats," pp. 11 to 12. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116srpt233/pdf/CRPT-116srpt233.pdf
[^52]: James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-81, section 1683, "Establishment of office, organizational structure, and authorities to address unidentified aerial phenomena" (approved December 27, 2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ81/pdf/PLAW-117publ81.pdf
[^53]: "Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens." *NBC News,* February 19, 2026 (quoting Trump's Truth Social post). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-directing-pentagon-release-files-related-ufos-aliens-rcna259833
[^54]: "Pentagon releases declassified UFO files including videos and photos held by the government for decades." *NBC News,* May 8, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/ufos-and-anomalous-phenomena/ufo-uap-files-pentagon-release-trump-rcna344204
[^55]: Neil H. Shah, Theresa F. Bartelme and Risha Sinha, "Inside Avi Loeb's New UAP Council, Built From His Harvard Orbit." *The Harvard Crimson,* July 11, 2026. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/7/11/avi-loeb-uap-council/
[^56]: Ross Coulthart, "Is the Trump administration running a covert UFO program?," NewsNation Reality Check, about August 2026. https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/reality-check/trump-administration-covert-ufo-program/amp/

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10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jacques Vallee.md
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@ -1,36 +1,239 @@
---
aliases:
- Jacques Vallée
- Jacques Vallee
- Jacques F. Vallée
- Jacques F. Vallee
- J. Vallee
- J. Vallée
category: "UFO & Anomalous Phenomena"
tags:
- Person
- Military
- SRI
- UFOlogist
- Stargate
summary: "Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and UFOlogist."
- RemoteViewing
- StanfordResearchInstitute
- ComputerConferencing
- InvisibleCollege
- NIDS
- VentureCapital
- UnitedNations
- Trinity
summary: "Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist and ufologist whose journals describe a destroyed 1961 satellite-tracking tape; he addressed the United Nations in 1978 and sat on the NIDS advisory board."
born: 1939-09-24
location: "Pontoise, France"
created: 2025-08-05
updated: 2026-10-12
relations:
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Paris Observatory]]"
role: "staff of the artificial satellite service at Meudon, from June 1961"
start: 1961
fn: 3
- type: member_of
with: "[[Invisible College]]"
role: "the group around J. Allen Hynek, named the Invisible College by Hynek in 1967"
start: 1967
fn: 6
- type: partner_of
with: "[[J. Allen Hynek]]"
role: "research collaborator in Evanston and Chicago"
start: 1966
fn: 6
- type: funded
with: "[[National Science Foundation]]"
reverse: true
role: "principal investigator on four computer-conferencing awards"
start: 1975
end: 1980
fn: 11
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Stanford Research Institute]]"
role: "consultant on the Enhanced Human Performance Investigation, SRI Project 1291 (DACOS classifier)"
start: 1986
end: 1987
fn: 21
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Special Political Committee]]"
role: "addressed the 35th meeting of the committee on November 27, 1978, on the Grenada UFO research item"
start: 1978
end: 1978
fn: 25
- type: member_of
with: "[[National Institute for Discovery Science]]"
role: "Science Advisory Board"
start: 2000
end: 2008
fn: 41
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Garry Nolan]]"
role: "co-author of the 2022 Progress in Aerospace Sciences paper on the Council Bluffs material"
start: 2022
fn: 31
- type: founded
with: "[[EA-Capital Fund]]"
role: "co-founder"
fn: 38
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Graham Burnette]]"
role: "principal of Red Planet Capital, a NASA strategic venture fund"
start: 2006
fn: 39
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Peter Banks]]"
role: "principal of Red Planet Capital, a NASA strategic venture fund"
start: 2006
fn: 39
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Sol Foundation]]"
role: "speaker at the inaugural Sol Foundation symposium, Palo Alto, November 17 to 18, 2023"
start: 2023
end: 2023
fn: 44
- type: member_of
with: "[[National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena]]"
role: "Advisory Board"
fn: 43
---
Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and [[UFOlogist]]. He worked at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and carried a top-secret security clearance, being assigned to the SRI psychic research program as a "de facto unpaid consultant"[^1].
Jacques Vallée (born September 24, 1939) is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer and [[UFOlogist]] who worked at the [[Paris Observatory]] in 1961, with [[J. Allen Hynek]] at [[Northwestern University]] in the 1960s, on [[National Science Foundation]]-funded computer conferencing in the 1970s, as a consultant to the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] remote-viewing program in 1986 and 1987, and as a venture capitalist from 1987. His journals for 1957 to 1969 were published as [[Forbidden Science]]; he describes them as a record of "the appearance of new classes of phenomena" that "were deliberately denied or distorted by those in authority within the government and the military," and writes that science "never had fair and complete access to the most important files."[^1][^2]
In early 1973, Vallée was working on a classified [[Department of Defense]] contract for [[DARPA]] involving a multiuser military computer network called [[ARPANET]], which later became the [[Internet]]. His expertise in information technology and computer programming, combined with his dedication to the study of [[Unidentified Flying Objects|UFOs]], made him a relatable figure for [[Ingo Swann]][^1].
### Paris Observatory and the 1961 tape
Vallée observed Swann's frustration with the [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment|outbounder-beacon experiments]], which Swann felt were a "trivialization of my abilities." Vallée suggested Swann approach the problem from the perspective of information technology, asking, "What do you do [when remote viewing]? Do you move your consciousness around?" Swann replied, "Yes, I can position it anywhere"[^1].
In the journal entry dated Paris, August 12, 1961, Vallée recorded a sighting in [[Pontoise, France]] on a bright afternoon in 1955 and wrote that he wished to learn what research might be carried out in "high places" and what data was kept in official files. He had been a government employee since June of that year, on the staff of the artificial satellite service of the Paris Observatory at Meudon, which he described as part of a recently created Space Committee reporting to the Prime Minister.[^3]
Vallée drew an analogy between long-distance [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and his work on the ARPANET, suggesting that a "virtual addressing" scheme could be applied to [[Remote Viewing]]. This idea, that accessing a virtual address was a means of accessing data beyond sensory grasp, inspired Swann to develop the concept of [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV)[^1].
The service was headed by [[Paul Muller]]. Its work was to track orbiting objects and compute orbital elements, and its reduced data were punched onto Telex tape for the [[United States Navy]] in Paris and passed on to the [[Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory]] in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Vallée wrote that on 11 July at 10:35 p.m. he saw a satellite brighter than second magnitude. On another occasion several staff members recorded no fewer than eleven points, and the next morning, Vallée wrote, Muller "simply confiscated the tape and destroyed it," although a similar object had just been tracked by astronomers at Besançon and by a satellite expert in Saint-Malo.[^3]
Vallée also commented on the mysterious death of [[Pat Price]], noting that when the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] learned Price was a Scientologist, the church became a suspect in his death[^1].
Vallée asked Muller why the data were not sent to the Americans. He recorded Muller's reply: "The Americans would laugh at us." Vallée wrote that Muller seemed terrified that the morning papers might carry the headline "Paris Observatory tracking something it cannot identify."[^3]
### Involvement with AATIP-Related Research
### Northwestern, the Condon Committee and the Invisible College
Dr. Vallée has continued his scientific investigation of [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) into the modern era. He was involved in scientific research related to the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP), collaborating with [[Garry Nolan]] on the analysis of a metallic slag recovered from a 1977 UAP crash in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their research, published in the peer-reviewed journal "Progress in Aerospace Sciences," revealed that the material contained isotopes of magnesium and iron that were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat that is beyond our current technological capabilities.[^2]
Vallée's entries from 1966 and 1967 record his work with Hynek, then scientific consultant to the [[United States Air Force]] on [[Project Blue Book]], at [[Dearborn Observatory]] on the Northwestern campus in Evanston. In a Chicago entry of November 5, 1966, he recorded Hynek's remark over dinner that if the [[Condon Committee]] were to conclude that UFOs existed, responsibility for their study would be taken from him, as Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer had ceased to be free academic physicists when the Atomic Energy Commission was created.[^4] On November 13, 1966 he wrote that he had returned with Hynek from two days in Boulder with the Condon team, and recorded Hynek's remark on the drive from Denver that he had been waiting for the occasion all his life.[^5]
His scientific background has informed his approach to UAP research, which has focused on data analysis and the development of a classification system for UAP sightings. He is the author of numerous books on the UAP topic, including "Anatomy of a Phenomenon" and "Passport to Magonia," in which he has explored the parallels between modern UAP encounters and historical folklore and mythology. He worked closely with Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the scientific consultant for the U.S. Air Force's [[Project Blue Book]], and was the inspiration for the character of the French scientist, Claude Lacombe, in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."[^2]
In a Chicago entry of May 27, 1967, Vallée recorded that Hynek had begun calling their small group "the Invisible College," in reference to the scientific movement that preceded the creation of the [[Royal Society]] in the early 1660s, "at a time when it was very dangerous to be interested in natural philosophy."[^6]
The entry of June 18, 1967 records that Vallée, sorting the Air Force files that Hynek kept at his house, found among the material on the history of Projects Sign and Grudge a letter dated January 9, 1953, stamped in red ink "SECRET" with a security-information legend, signed by a man Vallée calls "Pentacle," and addressed to Miles E. Coll at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] for transmittal to Captain [[Edward J. Ruppelt]]. Vallée wrote that the letter, which opens with a recommendation to the Air Technical Intelligence Center on future methods of handling the UFO problem, bears on the period of the [[Robertson Panel]] and of Report #14.[^7] On June 30 he wrote that he kept thinking about the letter and had shown it only to a colleague named Fred; Fred's comment, as Vallée recorded it, was that references to what could and could not be discussed in Washington were "clearly referring to a manipulation of the Robertson Panel."[^8]
The Condon report's discussion of UFO reports near Martian oppositions states that the claimed correlation "is quite unfounded; the idea is not supported by observational data," followed by the citation "(Vallee and Vallee, 1966, p. 138)," the 1966 book [[Challenge to Science]] by Jacques and Janine Vallée.[^9]
In September 1969 Vallée wrote that he would have little time to keep the journal once he started working at [[Stanford University]], having first visited the campus on July 1 of that year.[^10]
### Computer conferencing
The National Science Foundation made four awards with Vallée as principal investigator between 1975 and 1980, each on computer-based group communication. Three went to the [[Institute For the Future]] in California: an investigation of computer-based group communication in geoscience (award 7505297, $166,200, April 1975 to October 1977),[^11] an extended field test of computer conferencing covering social, managerial and economic issues (award 7505298, $133,700, January 1975 to July 1977),[^12] and an evaluation of computer conferencing for research and development productivity (award 7600512, $154,200, November 1975 to April 1978).[^13] The fourth, award 7820720, went to [[Infomedia Corporation]] for the development of formal representations of computer-based group communication ($41,704, February 1979 to May 1980).[^14]
Vallée's own biographical note, printed as an appendix to a 2025 review of [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena|UAP]] science of which he is a co-author, states that as one of the principal investigators for the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1972 he led the team that developed the first network conferencing system on the [[ARPANET]].[^15]
### Remote viewing through computer conferencing
In October 1976 the Proceedings of the IEEE published "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing" by Vallée, [[Arthur Hastings]] and Gerald Askevold (pp. 1551-1552). The paper is cited in the reference list of a 1977 conference proceedings held in the CIA reading room.[^16]
Harry Snyder's review of remote-viewing research, Report RV-79-1, describes the design: twelve participants in New York, Florida, Quebec and California, each with a computer terminal at home or work, attempted to describe ten mineral samples held in a geologist's hand at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pacific time, with five of the samples sealed in envelopes as a "double-blind" pool; 33 descriptions from six persons were judged by five judges. The review records that the correct target received the highest score in 8 of 33 responses, against 3.3 expected by chance, and tabulates the scores as "Table 17. Results of Vallee, et al. (1976)." It notes that the paper was received in early May 1976 and, answering [[Hal Puthoff]]'s criticism of multiple-subject studies, lists the Vallee, Hastings and Askevold work among the experiments with simultaneous subjects that returned positive results.[^17]
A 1977 paper by Puthoff and [[Russell Targ]] for the IEEE ELECTRO 77 convention describes a series in which an experimenter in New York City and a subject in the SRI laboratory in Menlo Park, California communicated only by the "ARPA computer net."[^18]
[[Annie Jacobsen]]'s 2017 account says Vallée held a top-secret clearance and was assigned to the SRI psychic research program as a "de facto unpaid consultant." She writes that in early 1973 he worked on a classified [[Department of Defense]] contract for the [[DARPA|Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] involving a multiuser military computer network called ARPANET, which later became the [[Internet]], and that this expertise, together with his study of UFOs, made him a sympathetic figure to [[Ingo Swann]]. Swann, according to her account, called the [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment|outbounder-beacon experiments]] a "trivialization of my abilities." Vallée asked, "What do you do [when remote viewing]? Do you move your consciousness around?" and Swann replied, "Yes, I can position it anywhere." Vallée drew an analogy between long-distance [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and his ARPANET work and suggested that a "virtual addressing" scheme could be applied to [[Remote Viewing]], accessing a virtual address being a means of reaching data beyond sensory grasp; in her telling, this idea led Swann to develop [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]]. Her account also records Vallée's comment that when the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] learned that [[Pat Price]] was a Scientologist, the church became a suspect in Price's death.[^19]
### SRI and the DACOS classifier
The final technical report for SRI Project 1291, the Enhanced Human Performance Investigation, covering October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, was written by [[Edwin May]].[^20] The report states that SRI asked Vallée to act as a consultant and supplied him with the NExpert expert-system shell from Neuron Data of Palo Alto: "Acting as a consultant, Dr. Jacques Vallee was to undertake the initial steps towards the development of such a system."[^21]
Vallée's system, called DACOS (Description and Classification of Sites), grouped the 200 targets in the program's target pool into 40 categories made up of combinations of 27 attributes in six types: Water, Structures, Interfaces, Contours, Land and Features. The report describes DACOS as a hierarchical system.[^21]
The report tested DACOS on 30 transcripts from a single 1987 experiment. "Overall, the DACOS performed only marginally better than chance." Water was identified correctly 17 times, structures 13 times, and the full target classification twice. The report says the series "did not show a significant RV effect, and thus proved a poor test case."[^22]
### The Secret Onion and the Wilson interview
Vallée's journal entry of October 2, 2003, written in Austin, Texas, records that Puthoff met him at the airport and told him the thread began in the late 1980s with "a supposedly top-secret UFO study group for Army Intelligence started by John Alexander," which Vallée had heard of through Col. [[Ron Blackburn]] of [[Lockheed Corporation]] and which was nicknamed "the Secret Onion." Vallée places its advanced-physics meetings between May and August 1985 at the offices of the [[BDM Corporation]].[^23] The same entries describe a transcript of an April 1997 interview of Admiral [[Thomas R. Wilson]], then of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], by [[Eric Davis]] at EG&G in Las Vegas, in which, as Vallée summarizes it, Wilson searched the records of special access programs, found three programs related to UFOs and was referred to a fourth group. Vallée quotes the answer as "We're a reverse engineering program."[^23]
### The 1978 United Nations initiative
On July 7, 1978, Grenada's deputy permanent representative asked that an item on the establishment of a United Nations agency or department for research into unidentified flying objects be included in the agenda of the thirty-third General Assembly. The item was allocated to the [[Special Political Committee]] on September 20, 1978.[^24] The Assembly had heard from Grenada on the subject in each session since 1975, and in the committee on November 27 Prime Minister [[Eric Gairy]] stated that several scientists formed part of Grenada's delegation.[^25]
The committee's summary record of the 35th meeting, on Monday, November 27, 1978, lists Gairy, Minister of Education Wellington Friday, and Hynek (designated as speaking for Grenada), followed by a statement by "Mr. VALLEE," whose entry in the record carries no delegation designation, and then by Lt. Col. Coyne on an October 18, 1973 helicopter encounter over Ohio. Vallée told the committee that the UFO phenomenon had three aspects: a physical manifestation that could be investigated with available instruments, a psycho-physiological phenomenon, and a social belief system created in all nations by the expectation of space visitors. He said he had spent over 15 years studying reports from official and unofficial channels in France and the United States, supported by extensive computer statistics, and that the scientists with whom he was in contact would welcome a structure within which to share data.[^25]
Gairy introduced draft resolution A/SPC/33/L.20, which proposed a group of experts under the [[Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space]]. On December 8, 1978, at the 47th meeting, the committee agreed by consensus on a substitute text.[^26] The General Assembly adopted it as decision 33/426 on December 18, 1978. It took note of Grenada's statements and draft resolutions, invited interested Member States to coordinate scientific research on extraterrestrial life, including unidentified flying objects, at the national level and to inform the Secretary-General, requested the Secretary-General to transmit Grenada's statements to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for its 1979 meeting, and provided that the committee would permit Grenada to present its views at its next session.[^24][^27] The Ralph Bunche Institute, in a June 1, 2026 post, describes the 1978 effort as backed by researchers including Vallée and Hynek, and says the United Nations dismissed the initiative, citing political and scientific resistance.[^28]
Vallée's journal records earlier approaches. In a Chicago entry of June 21, 1966, he recorded that Hynek had gone to New York to see the author John Fuller and U Thant, the Secretary-General, who was anxious to know what the United States would do about the UFO question because some member nations had expressed concern; U Thant said that the initiative could only come from member nations, and Vallée wrote that Hynek asked for his help, that he would ask Aimé Michel to arrange a meeting with a French government representative, and that he would write to Dr. Fontes to prompt similar action by Brazilian authorities.[^29] On November 5, 1966 he wrote that a French official had not answered his group about France's possible interest in a debate at the United Nations, and that "I feel I have been used."[^4] In a Chicago entry of May 15, 1967, he recorded that Hynek had given him advice on the steps to take with the Russians and with the United Nations, which "seem to have a continuing interest in all this."[^30]
### Council Bluffs and Haynesville
A paper by [[Garry Nolan]], Vallée, Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke, "Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics," appeared in [[Progress in Aerospace Sciences]], volume 128, in January 2022.[^31] A 2025 review of UAP science to which Vallée and Nolan contributed describes the material it analyzes as a mass of molten metal that witnesses reported falling from a hovering object into Big Lake Park in [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]] on December 17, 1971. It records that Vallée retained some of the material, that Nolan, Jiang and Lemke reanalyzed it by secondary ion mass spectrometry, and that the titanium, iron and chromium isotope distributions were consistent with terrestrial material, with local homogeneity but considerable diversity in elemental ratios across subsamples. The review quotes the paper's statement that the sample "was incompletely mixed at the time of deposition," and adds that the nature and origin of the material remain unknown.[^32]
[[Luis Elizondo]] wrote in his 2024 book [[Imminent]] that Vallée and Nolan collaborated on a paper analyzing a metallic slag recovered from a 1977 UAP crash in Council Bluffs, that the material's magnesium and iron isotopes were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat Elizondo describes as beyond current technological capability, and he places the work within the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP). Elizondo describes Vallée's approach to UAP as focused on data analysis and the development of a classification system for sightings, writes that Vallée worked closely with Hynek, and lists among his books [[Passport to Magonia]] and *Anatomy of a Phenomenon*, which he says explore parallels between modern UAP encounters and historical folklore and mythology.[^33]
An August 24, 2025 interview page for The Good Trouble Show describes a peer-reviewed paper by Vallée and two co-authors, accepted by Progress in Aerospace Sciences, that re-examines the 1966 [[Haynesville]] case. The page says the case is hidden in the 1968 Condon report and describes "a small object radiating the power output of a nuclear power plant."[^34]
### Lacombe
Elizondo wrote that Vallée was the inspiration for the character of the French scientist [[Claude Lacombe]] in [[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]].[^33] Jason Colavito, in a 2018 post on Vallée's public account of his career, wrote that it is part of Vallée's personal mythology that he served as the inspiration for Claude Lacombe, the French ufologist played by [[François Truffaut]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s film (1977).[^35] Colavito reports that [[Mark O'Connell]]'s biography of Hynek, [[The Close Encounters Man]] (2017), identifies the French astrophysicist [[Claude Poher]] as the more likely model for the character. Colavito also wrote that, according to O'Connell, Vallée sent a message objecting to the book, and quotes O'Connell: "Turned out he really was concerned that my book was being used as a vehicle for CUFOS," the [[Center for UFO Studies]].[^36]
### Trinity
In 2021 Vallée and [[Paola Harris]] self-published a book on a claimed crash in August 1945 near the [[Trinity Test]] site in [[San Antonio, New Mexico]]. Colavito reported that Vallée pulled the book, then titled "The Best-Kept Secret," on the day of its May 4, 2021 release, and that a revised edition titled "Trinity: The Best-Kept Secret" was to appear on June 1. According to the press release Colavito quoted, the authors reconstructed the observations of three witnesses, two of whom are still living, who described the recovery of a nearly intact flying vehicle and its occupants by an Army detachment. The release describes the craft as avocado-shaped, and says Vallée analyzed a piece of debris held by one witness and would suggest that it was of extraterrestrial origin.[^37]
### Venture capital
In September 2006 [[NASA]] named a team of venture capitalists to run a strategic venture fund called Red Planet Capital, based in San Mateo, California. The principals were [[Peter Banks]], co-founder and partner of XR Ventures, [[Graham Burnette]], general partner of the [[EA-Capital Fund]], and Vallée, co-founder of the EA-Capital Fund. NASA was to provide strategic direction and technical input, with a NASA investment of about $75 million over five years. The fund was to focus on eight sectors, including information technology, communications, biomedical support, environmental systems and advanced materials, and the principals could invest as much as about $5 million per company over several rounds.[^38][^39] Vallée's biographical note states that after 1987 he was co-founder and general partner of the Euro-America Ventures group of funds, which invested in over 60 startups, and that in 2006 he and his two partners were selected by NASA to form Red Planet Capital.[^15]
Vallée's own account, in a seminar text published in the Revue française de comptabilité in May 2006, describes him as a general partner of the SBV fund, named for Sigefi, Burnette and Vallée, and as co-founder of the EuroAmerica fund series, which the note to that text says produced eighteen Nasdaq exits since 1988. Vallée wrote that EuroAmerica I ended in 2000 with a net internal rate of return of 15.4 percent and that EuroAmerica II, then in liquidation, stood at 14.7 percent.[^40]
### National Institute for Discovery Science, NARCAP and the Sol Foundation
The [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS), founded by [[Robert Bigelow]], listed Vallée on its Science Advisory Board. The personnel page as captured on December 6, 2000 names [[Warren Burggren]] as chairman of the board and lists Vallée with [[Douglas P. Ferraro]], [[Albert A. Harrison]], [[Edgar Mitchell]], [[Melvin Morse]], [[Martin Piltch]], Puthoff, [[Theodore Rockwell]], [[John F. Schuessler]], [[Jessica Utts]] and [[Jim Whinnery]]; the same capture lists Bigelow as president and founder, [[Colm Kelleher]] as deputy administrator, John B. Alexander as discreet project scout and Eric Davis for aerospace physics and astrophysics.[^41] The page as captured on June 22, 2000 includes [[Peter A. Sturrock]] on the board as well. By the capture of August 6, 2001, Puthoff is named chairman, and captures from October 2002 and April 2004 list Alexander on the board; the capture of May 9, 2008 still lists Vallée.[^42]
Vallée is also named in the 2025 review as a member of the advisory board of the [[National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena]] (NARCAP).[^43]
Vallée spoke at the inaugural symposium of the [[Sol Foundation]], held November 17 to 18, 2023 in Palo Alto, California, hosted by the Nolan Laboratory and the Stanford School of Medicine, alongside [[Avi Loeb]], [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]], Larry Maguire, [[Christopher Mellon]], [[Tim Gallaudet]] and [[Karl Nell]]. Nolan opened the symposium by saying "The objective here is to legitimize and professionalize and then to seek from you your ideas."[^44]
### Publications
* *Forbidden Science 2*
Vallée's books include Passport to Magonia (1969), which compares modern sightings with folklore and mythology,[^45] *Anatomy of a Phenomenon*, and *Forbidden Science 2*, in addition to the journals described above.
### 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]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024.
[^1]: Jacques Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, foreword, p. vii. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^2]: Jacques Vallée, *Forbidden Science*, vol. 5, chapter "September Eleven," entry "New York. Tuesday 23 September 2003" and entry for 24 September 2003 ("This is my 64th birthday"), p. 200 ff.
[^3]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Paris. 12 August 1961," pp. 40-42. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^4]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Saturday 5 November 1966." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^5]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Sunday 13 November 1966," pp. 226-227. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^6]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Saturday 27 May 1967." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^7]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Sunday 18 June 1967," pp. 278-280 (the Pentacle letter of January 9, 1953); the later discussion of the letter and the January 1953 meeting report by Frederic C. Durant addressed to the CIA Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence is at pp. 426-427. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^8]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Friday 30 June 1967," pp. 283-284. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^9]: University of Colorado (Edward U. Condon, director), *Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects*, vol. 1 (1968), discussion of Martian oppositions, citing "Vallee and Vallee, 1966, p. 138," and the bibliography entry for Jacques and Janine Vallee, *Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma* (Chicago: Henry Regnery, 1966). https://archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0680975
[^10]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, chapter 20, entries "Stanford, California. Tuesday 1 July 1969" and "Stanford. Sunday 7 September 1969," beginning p. 398. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^11]: National Science Foundation, award 7505297, "An Investigation of Computer-Based Group Communication in Geoscience," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, April 15, 1975 to October 31, 1977, $166,200. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7505297
[^12]: National Science Foundation, award 7505298, "Extended Field Testing of Computer Conferencing, an Investigation of Social, Managerial, and Economic Issues in Computer-Based Communication," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, January 1, 1975 to July 31, 1977, $133,700. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7505298
[^13]: National Science Foundation, award 7600512, "An Evaluation of the Use of Computer Conferencing to Improve Productivity in Research and Development," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, November 15, 1975 to April 30, 1978, $154,200. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7600512
[^14]: National Science Foundation, award 7820720, "Development of Formal Representations of Computer-Based Group Communication," Infomedia Corporation, principal investigator Jacques Vallee, February 15, 1979 to May 31, 1980, $41,704. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7820720
[^15]: Kevin H. Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2 (March 30, 2025), Appendix A.17, "Dr. Jacques F. Vallée, Documatica Research," p. 145. The ARPA principal-investigator and fund statements are Vallée's own biographical note. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^16]: Jacques Vallee, Arthur Hastings and Gerald Askevold, "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing," *Proceedings of the IEEE*, vol. 64, October 1976, pp. 1551-1552, as listed in reference 6 of the proceedings of the International Conference on Cybernetics and Society, September 19-21, 1977, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080055-4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080055-4
[^17]: Harry L. Snyder, *Summary and Critical Evaluation of Research in Remote Viewing*, Report RV-79-1, section K (Vallee, Hastings and Askevold), pp. 237-245, Table 17, and the discussion of simultaneous-subject experiments, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100260003-2. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000100260003-2
[^18]: Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ, "Direct Perception of Remote Geographical Locations," invited paper, IEEE National Convention ELECTRO 77, New York, April 12, 1977, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080008-6. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080008-6
[^19]: Annie Jacobsen, *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis* (Little, Brown and Company, 2017), passages on Vallée's clearance, his SRI consultancy, the 1973 contract, Ingo Swann, Pat Price and virtual addressing.
[^20]: Edwin C. May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, Final Technical Report, SRI Project 1291, December 1987, covering October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, title page and authorship block. CIA-RDP96-00789R002200150001-1. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002200150001-1
[^21]: May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, December 1987, sections (2) "Initial Goals" and (3) "Description and Classification of Sites (DACOS)." CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000300100001-9
[^22]: May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, December 1987, sections (4) "Results of Testing DACOS with Actual Remote Viewing Data" and (5) "Shortcomings of DACOS." CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000300100001-9
[^23]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science*, vol. 5, chapter "September Eleven," entries "Hummingbird. Monday 29 September 2003" and "Austin. Thursday 2 October 2003," pp. 200-205.
[^24]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, document A/33/512, "Establishment of an agency or a department of the United Nations for undertaking, co-ordinating and disseminating the results of research into unidentified flying objects and related phenomena: Report of the Special Political Committee," December 16, 1978, paras. 1-9 and the recommended decision. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/660888
[^25]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, Special Political Committee, summary record of the 35th meeting, November 27, 1978, A/SPC/33/SR.35, paras. 1-22 (statements of Mr. Gairy, Mr. Friday, Mr. Hynek, Mr. Vallee and Lt. Col. Coyne). https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2FSPC%2F33%2FSR.35&l=en&t=pdf
[^26]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, Special Political Committee, summary record of the 47th meeting, December 8, 1978, A/SPC/33/SR.47, paras. 1-8 (working paper 1 adopted by consensus). https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2FSPC%2F33%2FSR.47&l=en&t=pdf
[^27]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, 87th plenary meeting, December 18, 1978, A/33/PV.87, decision 33/426. https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2F33%2FPV.87&l=en&t=pdf
[^28]: Juan Acevedo, Ralph Bunche Institute post on Jacques Vallée and the United Nations, June 1, 2026. https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/jacques-vallee-uap-and-the-united-nations-a-global-call-ignored/
[^29]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Tuesday 21 June 1966," pp. 189-190. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^30]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Monday 15 May 1967." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^31]: Garry P. Nolan, Jacques F. Vallee, Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke, "Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics," *Progress in Aerospace Sciences* 128 (January 2022), article 100788, doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788
[^32]: Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2, section 5.3.2 "Council Bluffs, Iowa USA," citing Vallée, "Physical analyses in ten cases of unexplained aerial objects with material samples," *Journal of Scientific Exploration* 12 (3) (1998) 359-375, and the Nolan et al. paper. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^33]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent* (William Morrow, 2024), passages on the Council Bluffs slag analysis, AATIP and Vallée's career.
[^34]: The Good Trouble Show, "Jacques Vallée on the First Peer-Reviewed UFO Paper in Progress in Aerospace Sciences," August 24, 2025. https://thegoodtroubleshow.substack.com/p/jacques-vallee-on-the-first-peer
[^35]: Jason Colavito, "A Strange Account of Jacques Vallée's Efforts at Reputation Management," January 18, 2018. https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/a-strange-account-of-jacques-vallees-efforts-at-reputation-management
[^36]: Mark O'Connell, *The Close Encounters Man* (2017), as reported in Colavito, "A Strange Account of Jacques Vallée's Efforts at Reputation Management" (January 18, 2018). https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/a-strange-account-of-jacques-vallees-efforts-at-reputation-management
[^37]: Jason Colavito, "New Book from Jacques Vallée Claims Evidence for 1945 New Mexico UFO Crash," May 7, 2021, quoting the press release for the revised edition of Jacques Vallée and Paola Harris, *Trinity: The Best-Kept Secret*. https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/new-book-from-jacques-vallee-claims-evidence-for-1945-new-mexico-ufo-crash
[^38]: Nextgov, "NASA Partners With Venture Capital Group," September 20, 2006. https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2006/09/nasa-partners-with-venture-capital-group/233363
[^39]: Satellite Today, "NASA Partners With Venture Capital Firm," September 22, 2006 (Red Planet Capital Inc., San Mateo; principals Banks, Burnette and Vallée; NASA investment of about $75 million over five years). https://www.satellitetoday.com/uncategorized/2006/09/22/nasa-partners-with-venture-capital-firm/
[^40]: Jacques Vallée, "Anges et investisseurs dans la Silicon Valley," *Revue française de comptabilité* no. 388 (May 2006), pp. 111 ff., reproducing a seminar of December 14, 2005 at the École de Paris du management, with the editors' note 2 on Vallée's fund roles. Computer History Museum archive copy 102784081-05-01 (French). https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2018/07/102784081-05-01-acc.pdf
[^41]: National Institute for Discovery Science, "Personnel and Science Advisory Board," nidsci.org, Internet Archive capture of December 6, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001206032200/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html
[^42]: National Institute for Discovery Science, personnel page, Internet Archive captures of June 22, 2000 (https://web.archive.org/web/20000622040455/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), August 6, 2001 (https://web.archive.org/web/20010806075913/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), October 4, 2002 (https://web.archive.org/web/20021004033623/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), April 2, 2004 (https://web.archive.org/web/20040402072119/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html) and May 9, 2008 (https://web.archive.org/web/20080509140330/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.php).
[^43]: Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2, section on the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena ("Jacques Vallée who also served on their Advisory Board"), and Appendix A.17. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^44]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation, Academia's New UAP Think Tank, Releases Videos of Lectures from Its Inaugural Symposium," *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^45]: Jacques Vallée, *Passport to Magonia* (Chicago: Henry Regnery, 1969), Internet Archive copy. https://archive.org/details/270532257-passport-to-magonia

12
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis Jolyon West.md
View file

@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ tags:
- MKULTRA
- LSD
- CIA
summary: "UCLA psychiatrist and confirmed CIA contractor who killed an elephant with a massive LSD overdose in 1962, examined Jack Ruby, and proposed a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence to recondition criminals using experimental mind control techniques."
summary: "UCLA psychiatrist and CIA contractor who gave an elephant a massive LSD dose in 1962, examined Jack Ruby, and proposed a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence."
born: 1924-10-06
died: 1999-01-02
location: Los Angeles, California
created: 2026-06-03
updated: 2026-06-03
updated: 2026-10-12
---
Louis Jolyon "Jolly" West was a psychiatrist who chaired the [[UCLA]] Department of Psychiatry and directed the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute from 1969 to 1989. A confirmed [[CIA]] contractor cleared at Top Secret level, West conducted research under [[MKULTRA]] Subproject 43. His career intersected with some of the most controversial experiments and investigations of the Cold War era.[^1][^2]
@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ In 1963, West was appointed as the examining psychiatrist for [[Jack Ruby]], who
West proposed creating a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence in [[California]] that would have used experimental mind control techniques to mentally recondition criminals. The center would have employed drug therapy, sensory deprivation, and psychological conditioning on incarcerated subjects. Then-Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] initially supported the center, but when public opinion shifted against West following criticism of his methods and his MKULTRA associations, Reagan withdrew his backing and the project was abandoned.[^1]
The Center for the Study and Reduction of Violence was proposed under the Neuropsychiatric Institute of the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and sought federal funding through the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]]. Its September 1, 1972 project description listed five lines of research, among them biological and neurological studies of violent individuals and "psychological factors" research on external influences on violence.[^3] The subcommittee's print quotes a memorandum by a staff psychologist at Atascadero State Hospital, one of the institutions participating in the planned center, describing an electro-physiological laboratory able to record heart rate, galvanic skin response, changes in penis volume and alpha and beta brain waves in response to audio-visual stimuli.[^3] West, as director of the proposed center, discussed acquiring an old Nike missile base in the Santa Monica Mountains for it, and the subcommittee quoted the letter's description of the site as "accessible, but relatively remote."[^3] The planned satellite facilities included the state hospitals at Atascadero, Camarillo and [[Vacaville]].[^3] A memorandum of April 5, 1973 by the Committee Opposing Psychiatric Abuse of Prisoners, printed in the subcommittee's appendix, recorded that Ronald Reagan had announced the center in his January 1973 State of the State message.[^4] A letter from LEAA printed in the subcommittee's appendix states that the agency had not received the UCLA project for funding consideration.[^3]
### Victorian Crash Pad, Roger Smith, and the Manson Parole
During the late 1960s, West operated a CIA-funded facility near the [[Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]] in [[San Francisco]], refitting a Victorian house as a fake "hippie crash pad" to study drug addiction and counterculture behavior. [[Charles Manson]] attended weekly meetings with his parole officer [[Roger Smith]] at the clinic following his release from [[Terminal Island]] on March 21, 1967, the same year the CIA launched [[Operation CHAOS]]. Members of the [[Manson Family]] used the clinic for medical treatment. West's proximity to Manson's parole supervision has been identified as circumstantial evidence suggesting intelligence community interest in Manson. West's files from the Haight-Ashbury period have reportedly gone missing.[^3]
During the late 1960s, West operated a CIA-funded facility near the [[Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]] in [[San Francisco]], refitting a Victorian house as a fake "hippie crash pad" to study drug addiction and counterculture behavior. [[Charles Manson]] attended weekly meetings with his parole officer [[Roger Smith]] at the clinic following his release from [[Terminal Island]] on March 21, 1967, the same year the CIA launched [[Operation CHAOS]]. Members of the [[Manson Family]] used the clinic for medical treatment. West's proximity to Manson's parole supervision has been identified as circumstantial evidence suggesting intelligence community interest in Manson. West's files from the Haight-Ashbury period have reportedly gone missing.[^5]
### Sleep Deprivation Research
@ -38,4 +40,6 @@ In 1959, West conducted a well-publicized sleep deprivation experiment with radi
[^1]: A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996.
[^2]: Science, Vol. 138, Issue 3545, December 7, 1962, pp. 1100-1103; hekint.org, "Louis Jolyon West, M.D.: A Dangerous Doctor," January 25, 2024.
[^3]: Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, *Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties*. Little, Brown and Company, 2019.
[^3]: U.S. Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification, committee print (Washington: GPO, November 1974), pp. 36-38, NCJRS digitization. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/142690NCJRS.pdf
[^4]: Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification, appendix memorandum of the Committee Opposing Psychiatric Abuse of Prisoners, April 5, 1973.
[^5]: Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, *Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties*. Little, Brown and Company, 2019.