</s>PAGE EIGHT AT TEN FORTHYTHREE AM DR. MEHDY (PHONETIC) A. REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE ON AMERICAN-ARAB RELATIONS ENTERED THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND EMBRACED MRS. SIRHAN AND ADEL SIRHANA. HE THEN RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS. "MEDI STATED THAT HIS ORGANIZATION HAS OFFERED ITS SERVICES TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE ARAB GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD ASK THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS IN RETURN FOR A PROMISE FROM THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPLY NO FURTHER PHANTOM JETS TO ISRAEL. HE STATED THAT THE HIJACK IS, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, A HUMANE ACT WHEN COMPARED TO THE ASSAULT OF ISRAELL ON THE ARABS. PRESS CONFERENCERENCE TERMINATED AT TEN FIFTYFIVE AM. ADMINISTRATIVE RE NEW YORK TEL SEPTEMBER EIGHT, SEVENTY. END. Q DLK FBI LOS ANGELES CU CLR. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail activities related to ADEL BISHARA SIRHAN, LUKE MC KISSACK, DR. MOHAMED T. MEHDIE, and others connected to the RFK assassination investigation and aftermath. On September 9, 1970, ADEL SIRHAN, MARY SIRHAN, and MC KISSACK checked into the International Hotel in New York City after arriving from JFK Airport via a late-model Chevrolet (New York license plate 3803 KB) registered to MESBAH MELBEM in Brooklyn. MC KISSACK, acting as legal representative for MARY SIRHAN and ADEL SIRHAN, organized a press conference at the hotel to address passport revocations by U.S. authorities, which he claimed were unjustified and prevented travel to Jordan. DR. MEHDIE, representing the Action Committee on American-Arab Relations, participated in a separate press conference criticizing U.S. policies toward Arab nations. The State Department revoked passports of MC KISSACK and MARY SIRHAN under authority of FRED SMITH, deputy administrator of the Bureau of Security and Cultural Affairs. Theodore Charach disrupted an earlier press conference at the International Hotel, later claiming ties to RFK’s assassination and planning a separate press conference. The documents reference ongoing FBI monitoring of ADEL SIRHAN, MARY SIRHAN, and MC KISSACK, including their movements, communications with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and legal actions. MC KISSACK sought passport restoration for the SIRHANS, citing alleged Cairo radio broadcasts about U.S. obstruction of hostage negotiations. ADEL SIRHAN planned travel to San Francisco via TWA Flight 153, arriving in Oakland at 10:30 PM Pacific Time on September 12, 1970, with intended stays at the Fairmount Hotel. Legal actions against MC KISSACK included a bench warrant for contempt of court after his failure to appear at a Black Panther Party (BPP) trial. The BPP is described as a revolutionary, pro-Red Chinese, black nationalist organization. George Shidley, an attorney for ADEL SIRHAN in Beirut, Lebanon, interacted with Arab guerrillas regarding potential demands for Sirhan’s release but allegedly convinced them against such actions due to fears of personal repercussions. The FBI instructed discreet surveillance on MARY SIRHAN and ADEL SIRHAN but advised against surveilling MC KISSACK.  

Key People:  
- ADEL BISHARA SIRHAN (travel plans, connections to Arab guerrillas)  
- LUKE MC KISSACK (legal representative for MARY SIRHAN and ADEL SIRHAN, contempt of court warrant)  
- DR. MOHAMED T. MEHDIE (Action Committee on American-Arab Relations, press conference participant)  
- FRED SMITH (U.S. State Department official involved in passport revocation decisions)  
- THEODORE CHARACH (disruptive press conference participant, alleged ties to RFK assassination)  
- MARY SIRHAN (passport revocation claims, travel details)  
- GEORGE SHIDLEY (attorney for ADEL SIRHAN, interactions with Arab guerrillas)  

Key Locations:  
- New York City (International Hotel, JFK Airport, Flushing, Brooklyn)  
- San Francisco (Fairmount Hotel)  
- Oakland, California (arrival point via TWA Flight 153)  
- Beirut, Lebanon (George Shidley’s location)  
- Washington, D.C. (U.S. State Department and FBI headquarters)  

Key Events:  
- September 9, 1970: SIRHAN, MARY SIRHAN, and MC KISSACK checked into International Hotel in New York after arriving from JFK Airport.  
- Press conferences held by MC KISSACK at the hotel to address passport revocations and hostage negotiations.  
- DR. MEHDIE’s participation in a press conference criticizing U.S. policies toward Arab nations.  
- Theodore Charach’s disruption of an earlier press conference and claims of ties to RFK assassination.  
- Issuance of a bench warrant for MC KISSACK’s contempt of court after failure to appear at BPP trial.  
- Planned travel of ADEL SIRHAN and associates to San Francisco via TWA Flight 153.  
- FBI instructions for discreet surveillance on MARY SIRHAN and ADEL SIRHAN.  
- George Shidley’s alleged influence on Arab guerrillas regarding Sirhan’s release.  

Key Organizations:  
- Action Committee on American-Arab Relations (represented by DR. MEHDIE)  
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  
- Black Panther Party (BPP) (described as revolutionary, pro-Red Chinese, black nationalist organization)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. State Department (involved in passport revocation decisions)  
- Arab guerrilla groups (mentioned in context of potential demands for Sirhan’s release)

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_014_ser_2851-3001-part_8_of_9.pdf

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