Culprits in 1971 FBI office break-in come forward with stolen documents

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Culprits in 1971 FBI office break-in come forward with stolen documents

• Five of eight citizens come forward to publish revelations

• Documents relate to surveillance state under J Edgar Hoover

When a group of anti-war activists broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, on 8 March 1971 they hoped that they would be hitting the bureau’s overweening director, J Edgar Hoover, where it hurt most. They would grab whatever documents they could find and in that way expose the culture of Big Brother illegality that Hoover had created.

The plan went better than they could ever have dreamed. Among a huge stash of confidential documents the group retrieved were secrets about the FBI’s blanket surveillance of the peace and civil rights movement, the tactics of disinformation and deception the bureau used to silence protesters and even an attempt by agents to have Martin Luther King commit suicide.

Yet despite a massive police hunt, in which Hoover threw 200 agents, the perpetrators of that audacious break-in have never been identified. They had carried out the perfect political crime, and got away scot-free.

Now, almost 43 years later, five of the eight ordinary citizens who carried out the break-in have come forward and revealed themselves. They have co-operated with Betty Medsger, the former Washington Post journalist who was the first to publish the revelations contained in the stolen documents and who has written a new book on the saga called The Burglary: The Discovery of J Edgar Hoover’s Secret FBI.

Later on Tuesday some of the burglars – Keith Forsyth, John and Bonnie Raines – were due to speak at a press conference organised by the book’s publisher, Knopf. They have also talked to the New York Times, which first disclosed the decision of the five to out themselves. They can no longer be prosecuted for the burglary.

John Raines told the Times that they knew they were risking long prison terms in carrying out the break-in, but were convinced they could get away with it. “It looks like we’re terribly reckless people. But there was absolutely no one in Washington – senators, congressmen, even the president – who dared hold J Edgar Hoover to accountability. It became pretty obvious to us that if we don’t do it, nobody will.”

There are obvious parallels between the act of the eight anti-war protesters in 1971 and Edward Snowden’s disclosure of National Security Agency documents relating to mass surveillance. Forsyth said: “When you talked to people outside the movement about what the FBI was doing, nobody wanted to believe it. There was only one way to convince people that it was true, and that was to get it in their handwriting.”

The Media, Pennsylvania, burglary is credited with having led to the unraveling of the vast and cavalier web of surveillance that Hoover built up over many years. The Washington Post ran with Medsgers stories despite the efforts of the Nixon administration to strong-arm the newspaper into foregoing publication.

The most incendiary element of the stolen documents was the existence it revealed of a programme called Cointelpro – or Counterintelligence Program – a massive effort by the FBI to infiltrate and disrupt the peace, civil rights and black power movements and put many of their leaders under surveillance. One notorious letter sent by the FBI to Martin Luther King contained materials relating to his extra-marital sexual activity intended to blackmail him into suicide, with a note that said: “King, there is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is.”

Edited January 7, 2014 by Papa Lazarou

[luckytxn 2,265]

They still commit illegal activities. Nothing has changed.

Thanks Obama.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They still commit illegal activities. Nothing has changed.

Thanks Obama.

So all was cool between Nixon and Obama?

[luckytxn 2,265]

Obama learned from the best.

So all was cool between Nixon and Obama?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Obama learned from the best.

That doesn't answer the question, though.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Yes it does. Just not the way YOU want it to.

That doesn't answer the question, though.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Obama learned from the best.

How was Nixon 'the best'? He was forced to resign.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yes it does.

No, it really doesn't.

[luckytxn 2,265]

A crook becoming president is pretty good. Paved the way for the Obama's.

How was Nixon 'the best'? He was forced to resign.

Yes it does.

No, it really doesn't.

[JohnR! 5,495]

A crook becoming president is pretty good. Paved the way for the Obama's.

Yes it does.

This ought to help you illustrate your point...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A crook becoming president is pretty good. Paved the way for the Obama's.

Yes it does.

Who do you think was the most corrupt US president? Edited January 7, 2014 by Papa Lazarou

[luckytxn 2,265]

It is a beautiful thing when someone actually gets it.

This ought to help you illustrate your point...

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Who do you think was the most corrupt US president?

George Washington

James Madison

[JohnR! 5,495]

It is a beautiful thing when someone actually gets it.

[GandD 5,966]

Who do you think was the most corrupt US president?

Grant. Gotta be Grant