SNAFU with Ed Helms S2E7: The 'Do Not File' File
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Aug 14, 2024 Locke Johnson, a special assistant to Frank Church during the Church Committee hearings, sheds light on the explosive revelations of the FBI's COINTELPRO program. He discusses the shocking tactics the FBI used to suppress political dissent and discredit civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and actress Jean Seberg. Johnson emphasizes the importance of government accountability while recounting the personal toll of these covert operations. His insights highlight the lasting impact of these investigations on trust in federal institutions.
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Poolside FOIA Document Mishap
- A court clerk accidentally left classified FBI COINTELPRO files at a poolside chair.
- A young woman found the documents and returned them, eventually marrying the clerk.
COINTELPRO's Secret Scope Revealed
- COINTELPRO was an umbrella term for FBI programs using unconstitutional tactics against American citizens.
- These operations occurred without attorneys general knowledge, reflecting deep government secrecy.
The "Do Not File" File Trick
- FBI used a "do not file file" to conceal evidence from illegal break-ins.
- This bureaucracy trick kept secret files locked away, preventing legal scrutiny.