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James Phelan, FBI Informant

James Phelan was a widely published author, writing for magazines as well as penning perhaps the most widely-read biography of Howard Hughes. Phelan was friends with CIA assassination plotter Robert Maheu. Phelan wrote some of the most vehement articles against Jim Garrison when he was trying to pursue his case against Clay Shaw.

Now, it turns out that James Phelan was not just a writer. He was working for the FBI, as these documents will show. How many other journalists are double-dipping in this manner?

FBI Document #1

  1 - Mr. Lenihan

  4-12-67 Airtel

To: SACs [Special Agents in Charge], New Orleans (89-69) (Enclosures - 2) (Personal Attention) Dallas (89-43) (Enclosuers - 2) (Personal Attention)

From: Director, FBI (62-109060)

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY NOVEMBER 22, 1963 DALLAS, TEXAS

On 4-3-67 Mr. James Phelan, writer for the "Staruday Evening Post," contacted a Bureau official at Seat of Government and furnished data he had obtained regarding New Orleans District Attorney James C. Garrison's investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy. Mr. Phelan aslo made available a copy of an interview of Perry Raymond Russo by one of Garrison's investigators, Adnrew J. Sciambra, which occured 2-25-67. This data was summarized in a letterhead memorandum prepared at Seat of Government, a copy of which is enclosed for each office. Also enclosed is a copy of the interview of Russo, mentioned above.

  The information furnished by Mr. Phelan should be closely held in each office and must not be disseminated outside the Bureau. According to Phelan, his story on the Garrison investigation will appear in the "Saturday Evening Post" which is scheduled to come out on 4-24-67.

  For the added information of each office, a copy of the letterhead memorandum and a copy of the interview of Russo by Sciambra has been disseminated at Seat of Government to the White House and to the Attorney General.

REL: cls  (6)

[Assorted date stamps, "ENCLOSURE" stamp and some faint initials and notes.]

FBI Document #2

1 - Mr. Lenihan

4/21/67

Airtel

To: SACs, New Orleans (89-69) (Enclosures - 2) (PERSONAL ATTENTION) Dallas (89-43) (Enclosures - 2) (PERSONAL ATTENTION)

From: Director, FBI (62-109060)

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY NOVEMBER 22, 1963, DALLAS, TEXAS

Re airtel 4/12/67 which advised you that [white out - 1 line] made available to a Bureau Official data he had received in connection with his inquiries of the investigation of the assassination being conducted by New Orleans District Attorney James C. Garrison.

On April 18, 1967 [white out] contacted the Bureau and made available a three-page memorandum prepared by Andrew J. Sciambra which set forth results of an interview of Perry Raymond Russo at Mercy Hospital in New Orleans when Russo allegedly had undergone an injection of sodium pentothal. [white out] also made available a thirteen-page meomrandum which sets forth questions by Dr. Esmond A. Fatter, private physician associated with the New Orleans Coroner's Office (Dr. F) and answers by Perry Raymond Russo (PR) [Archivist's Note - This is the second, not the first hypnotic session.] at which time Russo allegedly was under hypnosis by Dr. Fatter. A copy of each of these memoranda is enclosed for each the [sic] New Orleans and Dallas Office.

The information furnished by [white out] should be closely held in each office and must not be disseminated outside the Bureau. [white out - 3 1/2 lines].

REL: as

NOTE: Memorandum Mr. Wick to Mr. DeLoach dated 4-18-67 reported that [whiteout] furnished the data being sent herewith to New Orleans and Dalls to Supervisor H.P. Leinbaugh. The enclosures give further indication that Garrison's key witness Russo is a fraud. [See the

[Various date stamps, initials.]

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