Chapter 26

Tyranny

The Story of an American Family

“The only foundation of a free constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies.”

John Adams

Following is the manuscript I submitted to the CIA for pre-publication review. xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx deleted several pages that were blacked out entirely.

In an important First Amendment case, United States Court of Appeals,

Fourth Circuit decision; UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Victor L. MARCHETTI (Nos. 72-1586, 72-1589) ruled:

“35. Because we are dealing with a prior restraint upon speech, we think that the CIA must act promptly to approve or disapprove any material which may be submitted to it by Marchetti. Undue delay would impair the reasonableness of the restraint, and that reasonableness is to be maintained if the restraint is to be enforced. We should think that, in all events, the maximum period for responding after the submission of material for approval should not exceed thirty days.”

The CIA did not return my manuscript for six months, despite several requests.

In addition, this was a violation of Executive Order 12958, as amended by Executive Order 13292, which forbids the CIA from blacking out unclassified information simply because it is embarrassing to the Agency.

Following is the actual manuscript I submitted to the CIA for prepublication review. It includes CIA blackouts of public, open source information, readily available in public records. In keeping with my CIA Secrecy Agreement, below is the CIA’s approved, blacked out version of our story.

“The story you are about to read is true. I am a former career Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During my career at the Agency, I functioned as a Staff Security Officer, Protective Agent for the Director of Central Intelligence, Chief of Training for the CIA police force, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Counterintelligence Investigator, Counter Terrorism Center Training Officer and Polygraph Examiner. I was a Category I employee. Because of my previous employment with the CIA, I must abide by my duty to protect CIA sources and methods. I owe much of my career training to the CIA, have many fond memories of my tenure there and have many close friends who still work in the organization. In addition, the goal of this writing is to abide by any xxxxxxxxxxxxx oversight regarding the following information. Although, there are no direct intelligence sources or methods, or specifics of xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx, discussed in this manuscript, I have been careful to protect the true names of CIA employees, locations and any other information, the majority of which is overt, that could jeopardize the Agency or my former co-workers. Thus, I do not discuss my employment status (during my career I have also been assigned to several other government agencies), specific locations, true names of individuals or any other organizations involved. I use pseudonyms for all individuals discussed in this book, their positions and the names of all locations involved. The only true names used in the pages that follow are members of my immediate family and the former Director of the CIA, George Tenet. Because this account involves those I love the most, my wife and children, it is a story that must be told.

It was a beautiful sunny summer day in the Plains, Virginia. My wife, three children and I had purchased a home just behind Great Meadows, home of the International Gold Cup races. Life was good. My wife and I spent precious amounts of family time together with our children in learning exercises, field trips, etc. My children were the most important thing in my life. Several years before, I had been diagnosed with serious kidney disease and initially, was given six weeks to live. My kidneys had disintegrated and did not show up on X rays. I was bleeding internally. My mother, a skeptic at the time, asked her close friend and a small group of Christians to pray. The doctors took additional X rays, and learned that my kidneys were back. They could not explain what had happened. It was a clear medical miracle. My kidney tests became normal. However, doctors told me that, because of the drugs and radiation I had been exposed to, I would never have children. They were wrong. My wife and I had three. Because of this, Lorena and I loved our children more than life itself. These were days of love, loyalty and laughter.

During our time in the Plains, I was ordered by the organization I worked for to take an assignment as the Executive Officer at a xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. My wife was reluctant to move xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and leave the life she loved behind. In the end, we chose duty over preference. We sold our house, packed our things and moved to our new surroundings. I had been directed by the Chief xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx so I could take over the responsibility of responding to emergencies. I learned later that another reason xxxxxx wanted me to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx was so that he could sneak off late in the evening, spend the night with his secret mistress, and not be responsible for anything that could occur in his absence. Although I knew this, I dutifully complied.

Upon seeing xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, I made a request to xxxxxx to xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Although he had promised to do so xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, the request was ignored. I made several more requests which were ignored as well. My verbal requests to xxxxxx were met with sarcasm and claims that xxxxxxxxx could not afford it.

During my tenure xxxxxx, I found several significant security lapses and unreported criminal activity. Because of the nature of xxxxxxxxx, I was ordered not to report these past xxxxxx.

During this time xxxxxx abruptly retired and left the facility. He was replaced by the new Chief xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx was also joined by xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxx denied there was a problem and did nothing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx After several requests, xxxxxxxxxx and xxxxx refused, claiming it was not necessary.

Because of the seriousness of the situation, I, as the Executive Officer, made the request myself to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To our relief, I located xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Following the visit of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, I documented his comments and provided the information to xxxxx. Within hours, I received an emergency call from xxxxx. He advised that there had been a “terrible mistake,” and that xxxxxxxxxxx had found nothing. I responded that he was mistaken. The following day, xxxxxxxxxxx delivered a memorandum to me from xxxxxxx stating that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx We were shocked. This was an obvious fabrication. Unknown to xxxxxxxxxx and xxxxx, we had taped the conversation with xxxxxxxxxx. We became convinced that, for some reason, the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx was being covered up; at high levels. We prepared ourselves accordingly and began to document everything.

I again requested that xxxxxxxx have xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The request was refused. I finally had enough. Subsequently, I sent a message back to headquarters in Washington documenting xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. A response came back ordering xxxxxxxxxx to xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. xxxxxxxxxxx took us into his office, ordered us xx xxxxxxx to use a government credit card for expenses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We requested that he put his orders to use the credit card in writing. He refused, feigning being offended that we did not trust him. He later lied to investigators and claimed he had ordered us not to use the card. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Once again, I demanded that xxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxx have xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx finally conceded and gave me permission to xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I did so, and the date for xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx was set. My wife and I again felt a sense of relief. Finally, we would find out, from an impartial source, what xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Finally, the date of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwas upon us. My wife and I were excited about the prospect of finding out what xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The day before xxxxxxxxx was to take place, I called xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to confirm the appointment. To my surprise, I was advised that xxxxxxxxxxx had called and cancelled xxxxxxxx. I was livid. I called xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and was advised that xxxxxxxxxx had scheduled xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

After the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx were issued in a report. I was called to a tense meeting xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx advised that xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I requested a copy of the xxx xxxxxxx, which xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx handed over.

Following the meeting, I sent xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, all open source and unclassified, to a xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I also sent the xxxxxxxx to a xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Both issued reports, in writing, stating that there xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I issued a lengthy report calling the organization xxxxx erroneous and documenting the errors. We had the official documentation we needed. I sent xxxxx to Washington. My wife and I hoped that the organization would now listen. We were gravely mistaken. The documents were ignored.

“A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”

John F. Kennedy

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I filed an official, internal grievance. For a Category I Officer, filing a grievance was inconceivable. Although you were a top performer, your career would be forever tainted because you had rocked the boat. I had to choose between my career and my family. My family won.

The internal grievance I filed within the organization was extensive, documenting the chronology of events surrounding, what I now knew, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and the erroneous procedures and findings of the organization’s xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The redress I requested in the grievance was a second, objective xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The majority of the document was unclassified. As a classifying authority, I appropriately marked each paragraph unclassified relating to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To protect the identities of xxxxxx personnel mentioned in the document I dutifully classified the overall report. Legally and with proper approval, paragraphs marked as unclassified can be removed from the document for the appropriate release. I sent the document through protected, official channels to headquarters.

Four weeks transpired after my filing of the grievance and I heard nothing. I contacted the office that was to receive the grievance and was advised that they had not received any correspondence from me. Livid, I located the grievance officer responsible for my office xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Since I was scheduled to travel to headquarters on official business the next week, I requested a meeting. The appointment was scheduled for the day following my arrival.

On my visit to Washington, I checked into a local hotel regularly used by other officers of my organization. Early the second morning, I traveled to the organization’s outer building to meet with the grievance officer. Prior to meeting with her, I visited the mail registry to inquire if they had received the package I had sent them. They advised they had not. While I was there, I noticed an envelope addressed to the grievance officer from the officer who was the subject of the grievance. I smelled a rat. That morning, I met with the grievance officer and presented her with xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx She acted shocked at seeing xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx She advised that she would look into the situation. I felt a great sense of relief. However, again, that relief was to be shattered. I returned to my hotel room to find the door standing slightly open. As I always do, I had double checked the door, making sure it was locked, before I left for my meeting. Someone had been in the room. I checked with the front desk to see if the maids had cleaned the room. The hotel manager advised that the maids had not cleaned the rooms yet and no one from the hotel had been in that room.

During my visit to headquarters, I requested a meeting with the main office of the internal mail registry. I had the registry official, xxxxxx check to see what had happened to my grievance correspondence. xxxx entered the internal mail tracking system and located my package, tracking it xxxxxxxx to the mail registry. To my and xxxxx surprise, the package was transported to headquarters, arrived; then disappeared. xxxx was dumfounded. I asked him what that meant. He responded that the package had been lost and would probably never be recovered.

When I returned to my office back xxxxxxxx, I noticed that the boxes containing my personal records had been searched. Whoever did it did not even bother to close the boxes properly. A close friend in the building advised that he had seen xxxxxxxxxx Executive Administrator going through my desk. I knew the game had begun.

“When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen.”
George Washington

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Based on the new evidence I presented to the grievance officer, for a second time, xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We reported the incident to the security guards who investigated and filed an official report. The guards advised us later that xxxxxxx had ordered them to remove the report from the official records. Two of the guards gave us statements in writing.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxx security guards, who we had befriended because of my new support for their staff and their mission, began to confide in us that they had been ordered to conduct surveillance on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The security guards, several of whom xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, confided in us, partly in hopes getting assistance with the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

After these events, to bring some humor to a terrible situation, as our family drove through the xxxxxxxxxxx check point (knowing the guards were ordered to keep xxxxxxxxx under surveillance), we wore joke eye glasses and mustaches; as a comic way of letting xxxxxxx know we knew what he was up to. The guards appreciated the humor.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I began to curse and swear. I turned around and looked towards xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The thought crossed my mind to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx punch him in the nose. As I turned to do so, my conscience got the best of me. It was like a small voice inside said, “Kevin, you know you can’t do that, it is against what you believe.” Then, I also realized; that is exactly what they wanted me to do. The idea was to place me under enough pressure, so I lost my temper, brand me as security risk and use it in their defense xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I was not going to let that happen. Instead, I drove my wife and the kids back to xxxxxxx, took a long walk and prayed. The next year was one of constant discipline and self control. I could not have done it without the support of my wife and my faith.

Looking ahead, I put in a request for a new assignment at headquarters as a Polygraph Examiner. I was accepted into the program. I was ordered to move my family back to Washington. As we drove out xxxxxxxxx, I asked one of the guards, a friend of our family’s, if I could borrow his radio one last time. With a smile, he handed it to me. Knowing that xxxxx was monitoring our xxxxxxx movements and the radio communications, I contacted xxxxxxxxxxxx. The dispatcher responded. I requested that the dispatcher, “Please advise Mr. xxxxxx that Elvis has xxxxxxxxxxxx.” The guards found it hilarious. We will miss them. They were good to our family and to xxxxxxxxx

Late one evening, as our family drove from the hotel on our journey back to Washington, we noticed that a vehicle had been following us for several miles. Because it was late, there were very few other vehicles on the road. As we progressed down the four lane highway, I altered my speeds in order to see if the vehicle was indeed correlating with our movements. The vehicle did the same. I slowed the car down to 10 miles an hour. The vehicle did the same. Then the driver of the vehicle turned off the headlights and continued to follow us in the dark. My wife and the kids became terrified. At this point, I increased our speed to 70 miles per hour. The vehicle did the same. Now, absolutely convinced we were being followed, I accelerated to 90 miles per hour. The dark vehicle did the same. I increased our speed to over 100 miles per hour and, once again, the vehicle did the same. Now knowing that there was a potential danger to our family, I waited for an exit. When one appeared, I drove as if we were going to pass it, then, at the last minute, took the exit rapidly. The vehicle did not make the exit. I drove a circuitous route through the little town; then pulled off in a dark parking lot where we waited. My wife and the kids were frantic. After waiting 30 minutes, we pulled back onto the freeway. We never saw the vehicle again.

Upon arriving in Washington, DC our family checked into a local hotel, where we would live for the next three months. Our children continued to have nightmares. Late one evening, I received a call from xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We had to pay the balance on their bill immediately, or they would put our property out on the street. I had to place $15,000 on a credit card xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We were now deep in debt and in financial trouble, greatly adding to our family’s anxiety. At this point, we had xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx significant xxxxxxxxxxxxxx expenses and my credit rating, which had been spotless, was now in jeopardy.

In August of 2001, through some sort of miracle, we were able to qualify for and purchase a house in Virginia. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The mover’s delivered the property we had kept with a storage company near xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Several months later, as we entered our new house late in the evening after church, we opened the door to find our Labrador Retriever asleep in her cage by the door. We had gotten her to keep the house secure while we were gone. She was a watchdog and was never asleep when we arrived, especially right by the entry door. I had to shake her to wake her up. As we went upstairs, I found the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx The lock to the entry door was broken. We felt as if we were under a bizarre assault by some sort of organized monster.

“The judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.”

John Adams

After the litany of break-ins to our house, our family being surveilled, being followed and the corrupt activity of organization xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I was called to several meetings in the organization where I was cross examined over the information contained in my grievance and the findings of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxI gracefully and professionally stuck to the truth. It was clear that headquarters was in an uproar over the documents and xxxxxx that had just hit their offices. They were also terrified of the case reaching the news media.

I sought out the grievance office again, requesting help. My phone calls and e-mails were not returned. I was advised later by an internal source that a reporter had contacted the organization’s Inspector General’s Office about xxxxxx and was demanding an interview with me by name. Apparently, I was difficult to locate, because the reporter never contacted me.

I was given a temporary office in the organization’s outer security building. I kept documents from xxxxx in the cabinet above the desk. I secretly trapped the closed cabinet with a magnetic strip. If the cabinet was opened the magnetic strip would be ajar. Upon my return to the office one afternoon, I checked the strip. It was out of place. Someone had been in the cabinet.

In Washington, I took on my assignment as a polygraph examiner. I received an award for preventing an attempted penetration of the organization by a foreign intelligence service. This did not matter; I had awakened the sleeping monster that had no tolerance for being exposed xxxxxxxxxxxxx It was a strange feeling to walk through the halls of the organization I once loved, with the knowledge that they now knew xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx My grievance had exposed their bogus xxxxxxxxxxxx and they knew it. I knew my movements were being monitored. I knew how they were doing it. I used to be them. I was called and advised that I was under “Administrative Investigation.” I was brought to several meetings where I was interrogated by several organization officials regarding the credibility of my grievance. I was accused of misusing the credit card xxxxxxxxxx ordered us to use during xxxxxxxxxxx.

Knowing that my movements and e-mails were all being monitored and an attempt was being made to find a way, or create a way, to accuse me of anything that would damage my credibility xxxxxxx, I submitted a surprise letter of resignation. Knowing they would accuse me (I used to be one of their CI interrogators) of resigning to hide something, I documented the effective date as 30 days later. It was slightly humorous. After laying the resignation letter on my supervisor’s desk, I went in to conduct a polygraph test on a Subject. As I was conducting the test, I could hear the feet of my managers bumping up against the wall as they all crowded around the two-way mirror, watching me do the test and planning their next move.

Immediately afterward, I was called in to a meeting. When I advised I had resigned because of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, they all feigned ignorance, claiming they knew nothing about xxxxxxxxxxxx. I had grown tired of an organization that promotes lying as a way of doing business. I advised them that they better find resolution quickly because my wife and son, who were civilians and not employees of the organization, were about to contact the news media. That caused a firestorm of internal attempts to block our family from going public with what had happened.

Just after my resignation letter was submitted, I went to my organization’s credit union, where I had excellent credit, and requested a “hardship loan.” This loan was designed to lower the interest rates on member’s car and signature loans and reduce the financial strain on the member. The application was completed and the loan was approved. When we received the loan paperwork, the organization’s credit union had INCREASED the interest rate on all the loans and the payments had gone up significantly. Incensed, I paid a visit to the credit union office. The credit union manager advised that the person that handled our loan no longer worked there and there was nothing he could do. Subsequently, I called the credit union loan department and asked the representative to check our internal records. He responded that he was shocked by what he saw. He had never seen the interest rate on a loan be processed to be higher, instead of lower. He commented, “This looks like some sort or retribution.” I tape recorded the conversation, which is legal in the state of Virginia.

I continued to demand that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx be allowed to review my personnel folder and my internal grievance. Several of these requests were refused because they claimed the document was “classified,” even though xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx had the necessary clearances. I continued to turn up the heat internally, letting them know that I knew how to press it through the system. Finally, the organization’s legal office agreed to arrange a meeting at headquarters for xxxxxxxxxxx to review the grievance document. The day soon came when I met xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx at the headquarters building. We were escorted to the legal office by a young legal employee who kept popping her knuckles as we rode up the elevator. I knew by her behavior that she knew the significance of our case. Negative stress has to leak out somewhere; many times it is through the hands.

As we entered the legal office, we were place in a small “interview room” with no windows. After waiting for over thirty minutes, an organization attorney entered the room, presenting to me what she claimed was my grievance. It was a single page document in someone else’s handwriting. My document was written on a computer and was circa 15 pages long. I became incensed and backed to woman against the door demanding to see the real grievance. xxxxxxxxxxxxx gently advised me to calm down and that they would handle it. The legal representative departed and was replaced by another official who claimed they did not have a copy of my original document and would have to do some “checking.” The meeting was ended. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx were visibly nervous and shocked by the events they had just witnessed.

Following the meeting, I again demanded that my attorneys and I be allowed to see the real grievance. I pressed the organization to produce it. Again, the organization scheduled a meeting at headquarters where they would let only xxxxx see the document. I met xxxxx at headquarters and, because I had escort privileges, escorted him to the legal office. We were again placed in a small “interview room.” xxxxx was presented with the real grievance and my personnel file. He now knew my internal background. For him, it was a genuine eye opener. We were left sitting there for an hour. Finally, xxxxx and I decided we had had enough. We got up, exited the room and advised the secretary that we were leaving the building. As we walked down the external hallway, two legal representatives ran from the legal office shouting, commanding us to stop and demanding that we could not leave. xxxxx advised that the meeting was over and no one was going to treat him or his client that way. I demanded, for the fourth time, that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx It had been a year since the request had been madexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The representatives feigned ignorance regarding my previous requests, which were made to their office. xxxxx subsequently advised them that the meeting was over and we were leaving the building. I escorted xxxxx to his car and we said goodbye.

I arrived back at my office to find four organization representatives waiting for me. They demanded that I sign documents admitting to misusing a government credit card and to insubordination. They also demanded that I report immediately to the headquarters building xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx I respectfully refused. I advised them that I knew exactly what they were doing. I was escorted out of the building and placed on “Administrative leave.” xxxxx became alarmed that the organization was trying to use its power to have us silenced by accusing us of security violations or being a threat to “National Security.” I resigned from the organization effective immediately, to fight the battle with no internal controls over my actions. The organization immediately called and ordered me to report to headquarters to answer questions “about my travel records.” This was a typical organization threat I had seen them use before to intimidate employees. I told the representative on the phone to convey to the official personally from me to, “Pound sand.” The organization’s legal office subsequently called xxxxx and claimed that I had used profanity and refused to be cooperative. I must admit, that was a good feeling.

Immediately after my resignation, I requested that the cash amount, minus the withdrawal penalty, of my retirement be distributed to me. Our family needed it to survive. Several weeks went by, with no response. I called the OPM official responsible for these disbursements. She advised that she had been ordered by my organization not to provide me with the funds. This is a violation of federal law. I tape recorded the conversation. I called my organization’s security department and demanded to know why they had done this. The representative on the other end of the line advised that they had withheld the funds xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I tape recorded that conversation. I called the OPM representative back and advised her that withholding my retirement funds was a violation of federal law and, she better consider that over my organization’s threats. I had the check in two weeks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx began receiving threatening letters accusing them of “security violations” and commanding them not to exchange correspondence with our family unless it went through the organization. The organization’s attorneys ordered them not to communicate xxxxxxxxx with anyone until they received a computer and safe from the organization. Despite xxxxxxxxxx repeated requests, two years went by and the organization never provided these. We began to see that the organization had set up a complex internal system designed to make sure xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx were never made public. We learned that it had used this process to silence xxxxx against it several times in the past. However, we had collected signed letters from xxxxxxxx employees exposing this, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx of organization officials confirming their actions. We were not going away.

A few months later, we learned from press reports that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx had examined the organization’s false xxxxxxxxxxx report and issued us a detailed report regarding the errors it contained had xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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“Fear not, I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:13

Late one evening, as I lay in bed next to my wife, I reached the end of my own strength. It had been five years. I was mentally and physically exhausted. With tears running down my cheeks, I raised my right hand to heaven and prayed. I told the Lord that I did not have any more strength left to defend my family. I could not go on anymore without His help. I asked Him to take my right hand. I fell asleep holding my hand in the air.

The next morning, still devastated, I sat in our living room and randomly opened the Bible, hoping to find strength. The verse I read jumped off the page. I had opened to Isaiah 41:10-13: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. FOR I THE LORD THY GOD WILL HOLD THY RIGHT HAND, SAYING UNTO THEE, FEAR NOT; I WILL HELP THEE.”

Three months later the Director of the organization, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx, resigned in public shame. The resignation was on the front page of the major newspapers. The internal investigator in the organization refused to continue with the “Administrative Investigation,” two of the organization officers that had cross examined me had left the organization. Later, I was given the job of Program Manager over a major US government Antiterrorism Program, making a salary almost twice what I was making before.

I began a new career managing the US government’s global Antiterrorism Assistance program. The position was demanding, but very rewarding. I was issued a clearance by State and began my new life and career. I am now CEO of my current company, Ascent Protection, Training and Intelligence, LLC. These events have only strengthened our family’s resolve and love for the Constitution and its importance in checking the abuse of government power over citizens. I continue to fight for the rights of government employees and their families who have had their rights taken away, their finances ruined and their reputations tarnished, all in secrecy and out of public view.”

- End of the blacked out version of the story -

The author and his xxxxxx

(Photo courtesy of the author)

Our story is a tragic example of the power the CIA uses to circumvent the Constitution and how far it will go to conceal its mistakes and negligence. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Before the creation of the CIA by President Harry S. Truman, the soon to be Secretary of State Dean Acheson Stated:

“I considered it very important to this country to have a sound, well-organized intelligence system, both in the present and in the future. Properly developed, such a service would require new concepts as well as better training and more competent personnel…it was imperative that we refrain from rushing into something that would produce harmful and unnecessary rivalries among the various intelligence agencies. I told Smith (Director of the Bureau of the Budget) that one thing was certain—this country wanted no Gestapo under any guise or for any reason. I had the gravest forebodings about this organization and warned the President (Truman) that as set up neither he, the National Security Council, nor anyone else would be in a position to know what it was doing or to control it.”

Secretary of State, Dean Acheson

Truman administration Secretary of State, Dean Acheson

Apparently, President Truman regretted what the CIA had become. In a December 22, 1963 op-ed in The Washington Post, Truman wrote:

“For some time I have been disturbed by the way CIA has been diverted from its original assignment. It has become an operational and at times a policy-making arm of the Government. This has led to trouble and may have compounded our difficulties in several explosive areas.

But there are now some searching questions that need to be answered. I, therefore, would like to see the CIA be restored to its original assignment as the intelligence arm of the President, and that whatever else it can properly perform in that special field—and that its operational duties be terminated or properly used elsewhere.

We have grown up as a nation, respected for our free institutions and for our ability to maintain a free and open society. There is something about the way the CIA has been functioning that is casting a shadow over our historic position and I feel that we need to correct it.

The most important thing … was to guard against the chance of intelligence being used to influence or to lead the President into unwise decisions.”

Harry S. Truman, December 22, 1963

This article by Truman was later was excised by the paper. Why did the Post remove it? Was it because of the “shadow” the CIA was casting over our historic position on freedom? Based on first-hand experience, this author is convinced this shadow is darker than ever before in US history.