Author Reports Theft of Some of Kerry's FBI Files (New Info - New Spin)

L.A. Times ^ | March 27th, 2004 | John Gilonna

[Sabertooth]

Nicosia said he suspected that the thieves were specifically in pursuit of the files because a camera and other expensive items in the home were left untouched. He added that he did not know exactly what material was taken because it was not cataloged or marked. Three of 14 boxes of files that had been stacked in his kitchen are missing. He said he was moving the remaining documents to a secure location Friday afternoon. Nicosia has not yet looked at all the files. Last week he allowed The Times to photocopy 50 pages concerning the FBI's monitoring of Kerry in the fall of 1971. The author also supplied the same 50 photocopied pages to Kerry. The Times published a story about the files Monday.

< -snip- >

Nicosia said he left home Thursday and returned to find several doors inside his house ajar. He said he did not realize until Friday morning that there had been a theft. "The police told me that burglars very easily could have come in through a sliding door without signs of a forced entry," he said. He added that he had no idea why the thieves didn't take all 14 of the boxes. "My guess is that they were surprised during the act and didn't have time to take everything — maybe the dog next door barked," Nicosia said. He said that while the boxes had been tightly packed when released by the FBI, he saw signs that ones not previously opened had been riffled. Lovenguth said police were investigating the case as a burglary. "Our investigating is ongoing," he said. "We're waiting for the victim to tell us exactly what was missing so we know what we're looking for." "Whoever did this wanted to know something about John Kerry," Nicosia said. The author said that he promised at one point to deliver the files to Kerry so the senator could more fully review the information gathered about him. "But in the meantime, somebody got there first," Nicosia said.

[Sabertooth]

The Boston Globe has a different, non-subscription excerpt of this story here.

[Savage Beast]

Gerald, call Hillary. I think she has a duplicate set.

[HarryCaul]

"Whoever did this wanted to know something about John Kerry,"

Or, just as likely, didn't want you to know something about John Kerry.

But given the nature of political campaign (this is *not* an uncommon incident in politics), it could be either side.

[CathyRyan]

Paging Hillary! Paging Hillary! Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[PhiKapMom]

Give it a rest -- Republicans have no need to go steal files obtained under the Freedom of Information act. To equate both parties in this is absurd!

[elbucko]

Or, just as likely, didn't want you to know something about John Kerry.

I agree. A more likely possibility.

[William McKinley]

I am not buying this.

He just happened to be moving some uncataloged stuff to a secure location? Why would someone do this, unless he was concerned about them being stolen.

And lo and behold, he leaves them in his kitchen, in plain sight.

And lo and behold, someone steals them while they are there.

Something stinks here, and I don't think Nicosia is uninvolved.

[Sabertooth]

Nicosia said he left home Thursday and returned to find several doors inside his house ajar. He said he did not realize until Friday morning that there had been a theft.

When I come home to find doors ajar, it doesn't occur to me that there might have been burglars in the house until the next day, either.

"The police told me that burglars very easily could have come in through a sliding door without signs of a forced entry," he said.

Ain't that convenient?

Nicosia's sitting on some of the hottest files in the country, and he's got a sliding door that can be opened without sign of forced entry?

Was it even locked?

He added that he had no idea why the thieves didn't take all 14 of the boxes. "My guess is that they were surprised during the act and didn't have time to take everything — maybe the dog next door barked," Nicosia said.

I suspect the dogs that aren't barking are the real reason.

How indeed did the burgllars know what to look for, unless they knew what to look for?

He said that while the boxes had been tightly packed when released by the FBI, he saw signs that ones not previously opened had been riffled.

He hasn't even read all the files!

Even if he submits a new Freedom of Information request to the FBI, he won't know if he's getting all the same files.

Lovenguth said police were investigating the case as a burglary. "Our investigating is ongoing," he said.

The other option being filing a false police report.

"We're waiting for the victim to tell us exactly what was missing so we know what we're looking for."

Nicosia doesn't even know what's missing.

"Whoever did this wanted to know something about John Kerry," Nicosia said.

Or knows sometthing about John Kerry they don't want anyone else to know.

The author said that he promised at one point to deliver the files to Kerry so the senator could more fully review the information gathered about him. "But in the meantime, somebody got there first," Nicosia said.

Maybe they just took an early delivery.

[doug from upland]

After my conversation with an L.A. TIMES editor about the assassination plot, she assigned the story to Glionna. The piece he originally did was crap and I told him so.

[Sabertooth]

Give it a rest -- Republicans have no need to go steal files obtained under the Freedom of Information act. To equate both parties in this is absurd!

No, read this again:

"He said that while the boxes had been tightly packed when released by the FBI, he saw signs that ones not previously opened had been riffled."

Nicosia didn't even read all the files. He has no idea what was in the missing files. Even if he submits a new Freedom of Information request to the FBI, he won't know if he's getting all the same files.

This burglary is very fishy. Nicosia is a Kerry partisan.

[Sabertooth]

After my conversation with an L.A. TIMES editor about the assassination plot, she assigned the story to Glionna. The piece he originally did was crap and I told him so.

This article makes no mention of the Kansas City meeting either, but does recap this type of fluff:

"Kerry told The Times that while he was aware that the FBI had monitored his activities in the early '70s, he was surprised and angry at the scope of the surveillance."

[Cicero]

The LA Times, which has a long record of crooked reporting, photocopied 50 pages to use for their hitpiece blaming J. Edgar Hoover for persecuting an innocent man like Kerry. Then the next day all the Kerry files disappeared.

Of course the stooges they sent over to Nicosia's house didn't photocopy anything that would have demonstrated Kerry's complicity in treason, planned assassination of senators, or the like. But they may have seen some other stuff of a different sort and reported back on it to their masters in LA.

It seems to me that someone at the LA Times probably passed on the word to Terry McAuliffe or some other appropriate contact, and the DNC ordered the files to be stolen and destroyed. It's the usual clinton M.O.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[Rome2000]

Before this is over Kerry will be blaming the White House for stealing his files.

[MeekOneGOP]

[VadeRetro]

Give it a rest -- Republicans have no need to go steal files obtained under the Freedom of Information act. To equate both parties in this is absurd!

The files are not original with Nicosia. In theory, anyone could obtain them under the FOIA. What exactly does this crime accomplish except cover Nicosia's butt?

[doug from upland]

KFWB news in L.A. has been running the story. I just talked to the newsroom and, of course, they were reading form the wire. The nitwit Nicole, to whom I spoke, would not let me talk to or email the person on KFWB editing the story. I gave her info about the assassination attempt, and she said, "OK, we'll add it to the story." There is a better chance that Hillary is not a lesbian than she will run with the info.

Who wants to call KFWB? Maybe they'll get off their butts if they receive loads of calls. 323.462.5392. Don't listen to the long, long menu. Punch No. 2, then No. 1 for the newsroom. Come on, let them hear from you.

[expatpat]

Something stinks here, and I don't think Nicosia is uninvolved.

You're exactly right, Nicosia's story is very fishy, and it is very convenient that now the story is beginning to hit the news, files disappear.

[VadeRetro]

This burglary is very fishy.

Yeah. It's a big wet blanket on the Nov. 71 meeting story. It's like Nicosia was faking it all along, or got his price and made it look like he'd been faking it.

Anyway, there's not much to point to for supporting data, suddenly. The man with the files doesn't have the files.

[HarryCaul]

FOIA requests aren't instant.

If someone wanted to prevent the info in the files from seeing the light of day, stealing them forces another FOIA request, which in all probability wouldn't get filled until after November, or close enough as to make no difference.

If someone wanted to know what was in the files, this theft provides a much faster way of learning.

It also has the side-effect of tossing just a tiny bit more paranoia into the Kerry camp. Who knows who has what information now? It's out there, roaming free in the world, and noone knows what it is.

[armymarinemom]

Stolen Files Found

John Kerry Computer

[VadeRetro]

It also has the side-effect of tossing just a tiny bit more paranoia into the Kerry camp.

Maybe.

Who knows who has what information now?

The person who has it.

[technomage]

Evidently the person(s) stealing these files either did not know they too could get a copy under the FOI act or they were concerned about going that route for some reason (like giving their name?) and decided to steal them.

Or, I guess one other possibility is a set up. Steal the files, blame the theft on Republicans. Of course, this possibility does not stand up either as anyone can get copies through the FOI act.

[mean lunch lady]

Re: John Kerry Compuer -- Good one, thanks for the laugh!!

[Sabertooth]

Flagging folks from last night's thread:

Author who uncovered
John Kerry surveillance files
reports some stolen
AP ^ | March 26th, 2004 | Ron Harris

Sorry for any duplicate pings.

[Sabertooth]

The files are not original with Nicosia. In theory, anyone could obtain them under the FOIA. What exactly does this crime accomplish except cover Nicosia's butt?

See my #10.

Files were taken that Nicosia never read, therefore he won't know if he's gotten them back from the FBI, whenever it is that he happens to get them back.

[GailA]

Don't suppose hanoi john had a hand in this do you?

[Sabertooth]

Anyway, there's not much to point to for supporting data, suddenly. The man with the files doesn't have the files.

Well, not all of the files were taken, and we don't know at this point if the files on the Kansas City meeting where Kerry debated the Senatorial assassination plot with other members of the VVAW.

In any case, there are VVAW eyewitnesses who have placed Kerry at the meeting.

[Mo1]

Nicosia said he left home Thursday and returned to find several doors inside his house ajar. He said he did not realize until Friday morning that there had been a theft. "The police told me that burglars very easily could have come in through a sliding door without signs of a forced entry," he said.

He comes home and the doors are open and he doesn't think anything of it??

These boxes are sitting in his kitchen and he didn't notice any missing till a day later?

Either this guy is a complete idiot or there is something more that he's not telling

[Mo1]

EXACTLY!!

[Sabertooth]

Author who uncovered John Kerry surveillance files reports some stolen
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[onyx]

"Exactly" to you too.
Doug, you're fabulous.

[cyncooper]

The author said that he promised at one point to deliver the files to Kerry so the senator could more fully review the information gathered about him. "But in the meantime, somebody got there first," Nicosia said.

Sweet.

Is it me or does he not seem the least disturbed at the idea that someone was skulking around in his home. I'd be creeped out and not chirping about maybe someone wanted a piece of posterity like the Berlin Wall, for crying out loud.

This would lend itself more to the notion that he helpfully 'lost' the boxes so any nosy reporters who could nail down via records how many boxes of documents had been delivered to Nicosia and asked him, this is his way of explaining why 3 boxes are no longer in his possession.

My guess, the Kerry camp has them safe out of the reach of any other curious people and they know a new FOI request would take months if not years to fill and never be done before November.

[cyncooper]

We're on the same wavelength.

[Mo1]

Oh and the sliding door without signs of a forced entry theory? It's possible that could have happened but the other signs .. like open doors and missing boxes is a clue he should have noticed

Years ago, my mothers house was broken into. They guy came through the sliding doors. When I came down early in the morning to leave for work .. I noticed the doors were open .. A clue I noticed that something happened .. so I looked around and found the keys to my mothers car were missing ... along with the car.

So I go back .. either this guy is an idiot or there is something he's not telling

[Mo1]

My guess, the Kerry camp has them safe out of the reach of any other curious people and they know a new FOI request would take months if not years to fill and never be done before November.

That is what I'm thinking

[BARLF]

Must be a California thang.

[Yaelle]

So what do we still have on Kerry now? How much of the evidence needed to break open the VVAW assassination vote story was possibly in those files?

Why hasn't this story been more widely reported, even by conservatives? What is stopping people from going with this?

I don't know if this Nicosia was "told to leave his sliding door unlocked" and went to dinner, or what. Perhaps no one was even in his house. Perhaps no boxes were even touched, but he needed to "claim" that things were missing. His story sounds fishy for sure.

If Mister Senator was really in a room, voting on whether or not his predecessors could continue to inhale and exhale, the American people need to hear about it. NOW. How can we get them to?

[Yaelle]

Who wants to call KFWB?

Doug, I will be glad to. However, to what evidence do I point them to get a fuller picture of the story? I don't want to reinvent the wheel. If you could provide me with a talking point or two... LOL!

[cyncooper]

It's a big wet blanket on the Nov. 71 meeting story. It's like Nicosia was faking it all along, or got his price and made it look like he'd been faking it.

The story about the meeting was backed by several witnesses and had other sources. Nicosia's revelation that the FBI pegged Kerry in attendance is what had the Kerry camp finally admit he must have been there after all, but his memory about the event is hazy (he claims--I don't believe him).

At any rate, the story did not hinge on Nicosia.

[BushisTheMan]

Knowing what the Clintons did to anyone who opposed them, the beatings (Gennifer's neighbor who filmed Clinton visiting her), the tax audits, the vilifications upon their characters, the breakins, the murders...why would anyone be so stupid as to leave these files in their home?

I hope copies exist. Didn't he get them from the Freedom of Information act? I'm assuming they are copies, if he did and the real files are safely in the government hands.

[Lancey Howard]

He said he was moving the remaining documents to a secure location Friday afternoon.

Yeah. NOW the guy gets a brain, lol.

Meantime, the whole things still smells fishy and makes no sense. There's no motive. Various publications have copies of the files, Bush's people can get them anytime they want, and, in fact, anybody else who wants to obtain the files through the FOIA can get them the same way Nicosia did.

I can't figure out if there is even a story here, but my first overriding suspicion is that this clown Nicosia, of San Fransicko, is trying to get his name in the news; make a name for himself. Nothing else makes sense.

[bayourod]

These were copies I presume, and the originals are still at the government archives? FOIA requests are always for copies and reasonable charges are made for copying them.

[cyncooper]

Particular files from the remaining 11 boxes were also taken, Nicosia said, including files containing documents about Kerry that hadn't been reviewed yet by others

Hmmmmm

Thanks for the other links, too. I see I missed some recent threads due to my concentrating more on the Richard Clarke brouhaha.

[cyncooper]

You're talking about open doors, aren't you!

LOL

[eggman]

The easiest way to poison the original story is to create a new story that implicates the opposition. This is just too convenient.

[BykrBayb]

Kerry Computer - I love it!

[Bogey78O]

At least not till after the election. Man, it would be sweet to have some type of recorded meeting between him and Fonda or some other known Soviet agent.

I know Nixon wasn't fonda Kerry so who knows.

[doug from upland]

The following is an excerpt from a book, "Winter Soldiers," by Richard Staciewicz, pp 294-295:

In the fall of 1971, tensions over the direction in which the organization was heading, as it spread out into various community activities and took on a more consciously anti-imperialist position, were becoming more evident. In November, an emergency meeting of the steering committee was held in Kansas City. This meeting was a result of the growing friction among members of the steering committee, and between new members and the old leadership.
[snip]

[Terry DuBose] TDB: That was also where there was actually some discussion of assassinating some senators during the Christmas holidays. They were people who I knew from the organization with hotheaded rhetoric.

They had a list of six senators ... Helms, John Tower, and I can't remember the others, who they wanted to assassinate when they adjourned for Christmas. They were the ones voting to fund the war. They approached me about assassinating John Tower because he was from Texas. The logic made a certain amount of sense because there's thousands of people dying in southeast Asia. We can shoot these six people and probably stop it. Some of us were willing to sabotage materials, but when it came to people ... I mean, there were a lot of angry people...

The following is from Gerald Nicosia's book, "Home To War," pp 221-223:

[Scott] Camil proposed VVAW return in force to Washington, D.C., and there apply pressure in every conceivable way to the legislators who were still voting to fund the war. After the assembly of coordinators defeated the plan, he was told it was “a closed issue at this point." Camil replied that such a tactic was "never a closed issue." He then made known an even more radical proposal, which he intended to submit to the coordinators for their approval. If undertaken, he claimed, it would guarantee the end of congressional support for the war. It was this proposal that nearly blew the Kansas City convention wide open, and which branded Camil as both dangerous and crazy for the remainder of his time in the organization.

What Camil sketched was so explosive that the coordinators feared lest government agents even hear of it. So they decamped to a church on the outskirts of town with the intention of debating the plan in complete privacy. When they got the church, however, they found that the government was already on to them; their "debugging expert" uncovered microphones hidden all over the place. An instantaneous decision was made to move again - to Common Ground, a Mennonite hall used by homeless vets as a "crash pad," on 77th Terrace. This time a vote was taken to exclude anyone but regional coordinators and members the national office. The rest of the members, even trusted leaders such as Randy Barnes and John Upton (who had earned their credibility in the mud and tears of Dewey Canvon III), were forced to wait outside on the grass, where messeng­ers brought frequent word of what was going on inside. According to Barnes, everybody knew that the discussion in that hall "was grounds for criminal indictment of conspiracy."

[armymarinemom]

Notice that there is no W on the keyboard.