◆ SpookStack

The Attorney cence , . 3 form to the Public Integrity fection of the Criminal Division, enclosina a copy of an article in the “Now York Times of the sane date, noting that the inforiation contained thercin midht involve a violation of tha Privacy Act. In his reply, *3sistant Attorney Ceneral Nicnard i. Thornburch requested that no investigation be conducted at that time, but advisnd that the Criminal Division would “review this decision at Such time as the Civil Richts Bivision nas conducted its inquiry into the illegal entries.” In ny opinion, tho deliberate disclosure of this information iray constitute a violation of the criminal provisions of tha lrivacy Act. It is certainly contrary to explicit veculations of the Department of Justice, which are subject to severe administrative penalties. ‘There may also have Lean a flagrant breacn of the secrecy of grand jury proceeaings and of tne ethical and professional stancards of 7 Che Har. Ono can only speculate on wnethrr the resultant publicity has prejudiced the ability of prosrective Ccefercants ¥o obtain a fairy trial. I am sure youWill evrea thes these rathors take cn svecial sivenificance-where personnel of the Repartment of Justice nay be involved. Io certainiv cdo not intend to mininize the sericosness of the charaes that have seen aio acainst vresent and forrer meinvers Of hig burcau. F rececnize also the necessity for investication end the need for a rroeint and impartial resoluticn of the allevacions. It is fer this reason that I deferras to the benartrent of Justice and avoiced makino anv incuiries regarcing tha invesvication. Gut a5 wirector of the rer Ihave a special resvonsinility co insure that our eroloyecs are treated in a Farr one imearsdel manner, rarticularly where allocations of masconauet may result in criminal charges. Whey ara enxuiticd to no moere--and certainly no less--than any other cilizen an sivcilar circurstances. I thereferyrecneetfully request that this matter be referred to the Otfien of Professional Responsibility in accordance with 24 C.F... g 9.39a and that I he kept advised of the predress of the inyuiry. Fer your further information, TI have attached coptes ef some of the newspaper articles that have anpeared concerning tnis investication. -