</s>REQUEST TO PARSONS FOR INTERVIEW OF SIRIHAN On July 7, 1968, Sergeant L. Sandlin had a telephone conver- station with Attorney Russell Parsons and made two requests: (1) that the Sirhan brothers be viewed in a show up, and (2) investigators be allowed to interview Sirhan B. Sirhan. The show up would either eliminate or establish the possibility that Sirhan was accompanied by one of his brothers at the time some ammunition was purchased. The show up would be viewed by employees of the Lock Stock 'N Barrel Gun Shop. Larry Arnot, an employee there, recalled that he had sold some ammunition to Sirhan and tenatively identified Munir Sirhan as being in the store at the Time. Parsons indicated he would have to speak to the family before he could give an answer to this request. He was asked if an interview with Sirhan could be arranged. Parsons stated, "I don't believe it's permissible for you to interview Sirlhan at this time. I don't believe a court would make an order. I'll give it some thought and notify you within two days." On July 24, 1968. Sergeants Sandlin and T. Strong went to Parson's office and reiterated their requests. Parsons quoted Justice Black of the United States Supreme Court as saying, "A lawyer who permits his client to talk to the police isn't worth his salt." Parsons stated he would talk to to the Sirhran family regarding the show up and give an answers after the week- end. Parsons has not contacted officers, and the requests were not renewed. -682- 2029 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
On July 7, 1968, Sergeant L. Sandlin requested Attorney Russell Parsons to arrange an interview with Sirhan B. Sirhan and conduct a show-up identification at the Lock Stock 'N Barrel Gun Shop to determine if Sirhan was accompanied by his brother during ammunition purchases. Parsons declined, citing legal restrictions on police interviews without court orders. On July 24, 1968, Sandlin and Sergeant T. Strong reiterated their requests, with Parsons referencing Justice Black’s opinion on attorney-client privilege. Parsons delayed further action until after the weekend but did not follow up.  

Following RFK’s assassination in June 1968, the Pasadena Police Department stationed officers at Sirhan’s residence (696 East Howard Street) for security, maintaining a 24-hour detail until December 13, 1968. An open phone line was installed for emergency contact. No violence occurred at the home during the first six months post-assassination.  

Robbery of Saidallah Sirhan’s apartment (1659 North Lake Avenue) on June 5, 1968, involved an unidentified man who threatened to take a photograph from him after breaking in. The door was forced open, and latent prints were found but not identified. The Pasadena Police Department closed the case after Sirhan declined further investigation.  

Threats against the Sirhan family included an anonymous letter (June 20, 1968) stating that Sirhan’s family would be killed if he did not confess to RFK’s assassination. A threatening phone call (June 21, 1968) targeted Sharif Sirhan at I.T.T. Cannon Electric Company, with the caller claiming intent to harm him upon his departure. The suspect, Marine Aguirre, denied involvement but admitted to missing work and drinking.  

A freeway shooting incident on July 3, 1968, was reported by Saidallah Sirhan, who claimed a Volkswagen bus and Chevrolet attempted to cut him off while driving on the Pasadena Freeway. He alleged the driver pointed a gun at him, resulting in two bullets shattering his windshield. A polygraph examination by the Pasadena Police Department concluded Sirhan fabricated the incident, as he showed deceptive patterns and admitted to firing shots himself.  

A threatening phone call (July 4, 1968) warned Saidallah Sirhan that "we will get you all at the trial." A letter from Vietnam (August 8, 1968), purportedly from "The Gang in Vietnam," threatened RFK’s innocence and vowed to kill him during his trial. The FBI examined the letter but found no conclusive handwriting matches.  

Attorney Russell Parsons received a threatening message (September 2, 1968) from an unknown caller claiming retaliation if Sirhan was harmed. A letter to Nixon Headquarters (October 25, 1968) warned of potential violence during RFK’s trial.  

A letter from Sharif B. Sirhan, addressed to an unspecified recipient, was mailed from Pasadena, California, on October 23, 1968. The two-page typewritten document criticized U.S. policy in the Middle East and included threats against American politicians supporting Zionism. It claimed Sirhan had previously asked Senator Robert F. Kennedy about U.S. involvement in the region but was ignored. Sirhan stated he ordered Palestinian commandos to assassinate Zionist-aligned politicians, including a reference to Israeli leader Dayan’s December 1968 visit to the U.S. The letter concluded with Sirhan expressing willingness to die for America and Palestine while condemning Zionism and Communism. The Secret Service investigated this as a thinly veiled threat against President-elect Richard M. Nixon, but Sirhan denied authorship and refused to provide handwriting exemplars.  

A disturbance occurred at the Sirhan home on November 1, 1968, when Saidallah Sirhan (likely his son) confronted Officer W. Saltsman of the Pasadena Police Department, demanding money from his mother, Mrs. Mary Sirhan, whom he accused of receiving funds from Arabian church groups. Mrs. Sirhan denied this, and Saidallah threatened her with violence before being persuaded to leave.  

Rex Westerfield, a writer for the John Birch Society, authored an article in June 1968 alleging a Marxist conspiracy behind RFK’s assassination. His claims included unverified assertions about Sirhan’s associations, such as his alleged ties to the W.E.B. Du Bois Club and pro-Communist mail delivery. Investigators found Westerfield’s allegations lacked substantiation, with no evidence supporting his claims about Sirhan’s political affiliations or connections to specific individuals.  

Theodore R. Chiarach, a freelance journalist, claimed he witnessed RFK’s assassination from close proximity but later admitted not seeing the shooting. He provided information about bumper stickers promoting conspiracy theories related to JFK’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel and alleged possession of film footage from U.C.L.A. students. The film was deemed of poor quality and unhelpful in identifying suspects. Chiarach also claimed contact with figures like Mark Lane and John Fahey, who were involved in conspiracy theories.  

Fernando Faurá, a reporter for Los Angeles newspapers, promoted conspiracy theories about RFK’s assassination, including the existence of a female conspirator. His claims were disproven by investigations.  

John G. Christian, a freelance writer, alleged a conspiracy involving Jerry Owen (a self-styled minister) and Sirhan, based on discrepancies in Owen’s statements to authorities. However, the Los Angeles Police Department found no evidence supporting Christian’s claims, and Owen was cleared of involvement.  

William Turner, a former F.B.I. agent dismissed for misconduct, was associated with Christian’s investigation. He appeared on a television show discussing conspiracy theories but was later discredited by investigations.  

A text discusses a book by Turner titled *The Police Establishment*, which criticizes law enforcement. The F.B.I. reported Turner's association with New Orleans District Attorney James Cinnision's campaign alleging President John F. Kennedy’s assassination was part of a highly organized plot, not the work of a single individual. Turner ran as a Democrat Party candidate for Congress in California's 6th District in 1968 but lost the primary. The document also details letters received by S.U.S. as of January 14, 1969, including 296 unsolicited letters forwarded to the unit, with 53 containing case-related information, 26 referencing the "polka dot girl" investigation, and 28 complaints about non-investigation topics. Thirteen letters were threats against Sirhan or his attorneys, thirty-three were classified as crank letters, sixteen-two were anonymous, six required responses, and thirty-nine necessitated investigative follow-ups. No significant investigative phases were opened from the letters.  

Key People  
- Sirhan B. Sirhan (suspect in RFK assassination)  
- Saidallah Sirhan (brother of Sirhan B. Sirhan)  
- Sharif Sirhan (brother of Sirhan B. Sirhan)  
- Sergeant L. Sandlin (investigator)  
- Sergeant T. Strong (investigator)  
- Attorney Russell Parsons (legal counsel for Sirhan family)  
- Lt. G. W. Wright (Pasadena Police Department investigator)  
- Frank Thornton (gate guard at I.T.T. Cannon Electric Company)  
- Marine Aguirre (employee linked to threatening phone call)  
- Rex Westerfield (writer for John Birch Society)  
- Theodore R. Chiarach (freelance journalist)  
- Fernando Faurá (reporter promoting conspiracy theories)  
- John G. Christian (writer alleging conspiracy involving Jerry Owen and Sirhan)  
- William Turner (former F.B.I. agent, discredited investigator)  
- James Cinnision (New Orleans District Attorney)  

Key Locations  
- 696 East Howard Street (Sirhan family residence)  
- 1659 North Lake Avenue (Saidallah Sirhan’s apartment)  
- Pasadena Freeway (scene of alleged shooting incident)  
- I.T.T. Cannon Electric Company (location of threatening phone call)  
- Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles) (site of RFK’s assassination; referenced in conspiracy theories)  
- New Orleans (association with James Cinnision's campaign)  

Key Events  
- Request to interview Sirhan B. Sirhan and conduct show-up identification (July 7, 1968)  
- Robbery of Saidallah Sirhan’s apartment (June 5, 1968)  
- Threats against the Sirhan family via anonymous letter and phone calls (June–August 1968)  
- Freeway shooting incident reported by Saidallah Sirhan (July 3, 1968)  
- Polygraph examination concluding Sirhan fabricated the shooting (July 5, 1968)  
- Threatening letter from Vietnam (August 8, 1968)  
- Threatening message to Attorney Russell Parsons (September 2, 1968)  
- Letter to Nixon Headquarters warning of potential violence during RFK’s trial (October 25, 1968)  
- Submission of Sharif Sirhan’s threatening letter to U.S. officials (October 23, 1968)  
- Disturbance at the Sirhan home involving Saidallah Sirhan’s confrontation with Officer Saltsman (November 1, 1968)  
- Rex Westerfield’s article alleging a Marxist conspiracy behind RFK’s assassination (June 1968)  
- Theodore R. Chiarach’s claims about bumper stickers and film footage from U.C.L.A. students (unverified)  
- Fernando Faurá’s promotion of conspiracy theories, including the existence of a female conspirator  
- John G. Christian’s allegations of a conspiracy involving Jerry Owen and Sirhan (disproven)  
- William Turner’s association with Christian’s investigation and discredited claims about RFK’s assassination  
- Campaign to investigate JFK assassination as organized plot (linked to James Cinnision and Turner)  
- Receipt and classification of letters related to RFK assassination investigation (January 14, 1969)  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.)  
- Pasadena Police Department  
- Los Angeles Police Department  
- John Birch Society  
- Secret Service  
- S.U.S. (unit receiving and classifying letters)

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_002_ser_06-1968-02-1969-part_7_of_7.pdf

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