</s>OPTIONAL FORUM NO. USA. FIMER (CAT) CUP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO Carl W. Belcher, Chief DATE: June 11, 1975 General Crimes Section E. Ross Buckley Freedom of Information Control Officer SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Request - Don Edwards Since the attached request appears to involve documents or records maintained by you, or a matter within your cognizance, it is being forwarded to you or for reply. A determination to comply with this request should be made, and a reply sent to the request, not later than June 17, 1975. If a preliminary review reflects that request records may be located in the files of another division that bureau of the Department, or in the office of a United States Attorney, a copy of the request should include immediately delivered to that unit on an expedited basis. It is suggested that the request is hand delivered by special messenger service within the city or by Airmail Special Delivery. Please furnish me and Mrs. Hauser with copies of all corre- spondence related to this request. Please notify me, at the extension 4594, of the name of the attorney who will be handling this request, Crimeal Division Records has been checked and we note one file on Robert F. Kennedy, #166-12C-1. CC: Buckley Hauser FREEDOM C. A. SCENENICH REQUEST EXPEDITE Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 3010-110

Summary  
The documents detail multiple FOIA requests and correspondence related to the investigation into Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. Don Edwards sought access to a ten-volume LAPD summary of the case, while Paul Schrade, who was wounded during the incident, requested investigative records. Doris Currie Leonard claimed obstruction in her inquiry into JFK and RFK deaths, though the Department of Justice stated it lacked authority to intervene. The FBI noted its investigation into Sirhan B. Sirhan remained ongoing but deferred further action without Department direction. James S. McKarns raised concerns about unresolved physical evidence. Separate materials include allegations by George C. Thomson, a civil engineer from Glendale, California, who disputed Sirhan’s involvement in RFK’s assassination, citing his alleged presence in Massachusetts in 1969 and linking the case to broader conspiracies involving Fidel Castro, John Roselli, and the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). A letter dated December 28, 1974, referenced unanswered questions about the number of bullet holes and weapons used in RFK’s assassination, criticizing Joe Busch for failing to address them. An administrative document from 1973 labeled “Official Business” addressed to William Saxbe contained incomplete or unclear content.  

Key People  
- **Don Edwards**: Requested access to LAPD’s ten-volume summary of the RFK assassination investigation.  
- **Paul Schrade**: Injured during RFK’s assassination; sought investigative records.  
- **Doris Currie Leonard**: Claimed obstruction in her inquiry into JFK and RFK deaths; corresponded with the Department of Justice.  
- **J. Stanley Pottinger**: Assistant Attorney General (Civil Rights Division) who responded to record access inquiries.  
- **Maceo W. Hubbard**: Supervisory Trial Attorney involved in correspondence regarding records.  
- **Sirhan B. Sirhan**: Accused assassin of RFK; FBI noted ongoing investigation but deferred further action.  
- **George C. Thomson**: Civil engineer from Glendale, California; author of letters alleging conspiracy theories about RFK’s assassination and other events.  
- **Mary Jo Kopchne**: Identified as RFK’s secretary who died in a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island.  
- **Jack Ruby**: Mentioned as a friend of Sam Gordon, linked to alleged conspiracies.  
- **John Roselli**: Alleged participant in attempts on Fidel Castro’s life; lawyer for Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Lowell Lowenstein**: Attorney referenced in a television program discussing RFK’s assassination.  
- **Joe Busch**: Alleged Los Angeles District Attorney criticized for unanswered questions about the assassination.  
- **James V. Armstrong**: Sender of a letter requesting re-examination of RFK’s assassination evidence.  
- **Allard Lowenstein**: Former New York Congressman referenced in discussions about RFK’s assassination theories.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Site of RFK’s assassination and LAPD’s investigative activities; location of Sirhan’s trial.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Address associated with Doris Currie Leonard.  
- **Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts**: Site of a car accident involving Mary Jo Kopchne.  
- **Oakland, California**: Location of Dr. Marcus Foster’s assassination attributed to the SLA.  
- **San Francisco, California**: Hibernia Bank robbery linked to the SLA.  
- **Omaha, Nebraska**: Address of John Y. McCollister, recipient of a letter discussing RFK’s assassination investigation.  

Key Events  
- **Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests**: Multiple inquiries by Don Edwards, Paul Schrade, and others for access to records related to RFK’s assassination investigation.  
- **LAPD’s ten-volume summary**: Documented as prepared for the U.S. Attorney General regarding the RFK case.  
- **FBI investigation into Sirhan B. Sirhan**: Noted as ongoing but not further pursued without Department direction.  
- **Civil Rights Division involvement**: Addressed inquiries about record access and obstruction claims related to RFK’s assassination.  
- **Car accident on Chappaquiddick Island (July 1969)**: Resulted in Mary Jo Kopchne’s death; questions raised about the driver’s identity and missing body.  
- **Alleged assassination of RFK by Sirhan B. Sirhan (June 5, 1968)**: Disputed by Thomson, who claimed Sirhan was elsewhere at the time.  
- **Attempts on Fidel Castro’s life**: Allege involvement of John Roselli and ties to RFK’s assassination cover-up.  
- **Trial and conviction of Sirhan B. Sirhan in California**: Stated as fully investigated by authorities.  
- **Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) activities**: Including the 1973 murder of Dr. Marcus Foster, 1974 kidnapping of Patricia Campbell Hearst, and bank robbery.  
- **Correspondence with U.S. Senators (Javits, McCollister)**: Requests to reopen RFK’s assassination investigation.  
- **Discussion of RFK assassination investigation**: Letter referencing unanswered questions about bullet holes and weapons used; criticism of Joe Busch for failing to address them.  
- **Administrative document labeled “Official Business”**: Addressed to William Saxbe, U.S. Attorney General, with incomplete or unclear content.  

Key Organizations  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Handled FOIA requests and administrative responses regarding records; addressed obstruction claims related to RFK’s assassination.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted preliminary investigation into Sirhan B. Sirhan but deferred further action without Department direction.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Prepared the ten-volume summary of the RFK assassination investigation.  
- **Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)**: Revolutionary group linked to criminal activities in California, including the 1973 murder of Dr. Marcus Foster and 1974 bank robbery.  
- **House of Representatives (Washington, D.C.)**: Mentioned in context of administrative documents.

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_section_9-part_4_of_6.pdf

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