Post by Rob Caprio on Oct 3, 2022 20:21:26 GMT -5
All portions ©️ Robert Caprio 2006-2024
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The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) looked into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK) in the late nineteen-seventies. They called witnesses that the Warren Commission (WC) either didn’t know about or ignored. This post will cover one of those witnesses.
The HSCA Says…James Wilcott.
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James Wilcott worked for the CIA from 1957 to 1966 in their accounting area being responsible for record keeping and the disbursing of funds.
The HSCA then asked him if he had ever heard of Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO).
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Drawing your attention to the period immediately after the assassination of President Kennedy, at that time, did you come across any information concerning Lee Harvey Oswald's relationship with the CIA?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I did.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And will you tell the Committee what that relationship was?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, it was my understanding that Lee Harvey Oswald was an employee of the agency and was an agent of the agency.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What do you mean by the term "agent"?
Mr. WILCOTT - That he was a regular employee, receiving a full-time salary for agent work for doing CIA operational work.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - How did this information concerning Oswald first come to your attention?
Mr. WILCOTT - The first time I heard about Oswald being connected in any way with CIA was the day after the Kennedy assassination.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And how did that come to your attention:
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I was on day duty for the station. It was a guard-type function at the station, which I worked for overtime. There was a lot of excitement going on at the station after the Kennedy assassination. Towards the end of my tour of duty, I heard certain things about Oswald somehow being connected with the agency, and I didn't really believe this when I heard it, and I thought it was absurd. Then, as time went on, I began to hear more things in that line.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - I think we had better go over that one more time.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many people made this reference to Oswald being an agent of the CIA?
Mr. WILCOTT - At least -- there was at least six or seven people, specifically, who said that they either knew or believed Oswald to be an agent of the CIA.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Was Jerry Fox one of the people that made. this allegation?
Mr. WILCOTT - To the best of my recollection, yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And who is Jerry Fox?
Mr. WILCOTT - Jerry Fox was a Case Officer for his branch the Soviet Russia Branch, XXXXXXXXXX Station, who purchased information from the Soviets. (HSCA Security Classified Testimony of James Wilcott, pp. 6-8)
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This is stunning testimony as it seems that it was common knowledge at the CIA that LHO was an employee there. No wonder it was said in a secure setting. Why was this testimony given in secret when it should have been told out in the open? The person he was most sure of saying that LHO was employed by the CIA was Jerry Fox. (Ibid., p. 9) He wasn’t sure if any of these individuals would corroborate his statement, however. He was also asked if he learned the name of LHO’s case officer at this time and he replied no. (Ibid.) He is then asked if he saw any other things that showed that LHO worked for the CIA while at this station (name of the station was XXXXX out).
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Were there any other times during your stay with the CIA at XXXXXXXXXX Station that you came across information that Oswald had been a CIA agent?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - When was that?
Mr. WILCOTT - The specific incident was soon after the Kennedy assassination, where an agent, a Case Officer – I am sure it was a Case Officer – came up to my window to draw money, and he specifically said in the conversation that ensued, he specifically said, "Well, Jim, the money that I drew the last couple of weeks ago or so was money," either for the Oswald project or for Oswald.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember the name of this Case Officer?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I don't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember when specifically this conversation took place?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not specifically, only generally.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many months after the assassination was this?
Mr. WILCOTT - I think it must have been two or three months after the assassination.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Do you remember where this conversation took place?
Mr. WILCOTT – It was right at my window, my disbursing cage window.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you discuss this information with anyone?
Mr. WILCOTT - Oh, yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - With whom?
Mr. WILCOTT - Certainly with George Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle of social friends that we have.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did this Case Officer tell you what Oswald's cryptonym was?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, he mentioned the cryptonym specifically under which the money was drawn.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And what did he tell you the cryptonym was?
Mr. WILCOTT - I cannot remember.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What was your response to this revelation as to what Oswald's cryptonym was? Did you write it down or do anything?
Mr. WILCOTT - No; I think that I looked through my advance book -- and I had a book where the advances on projects were run, and I leafed through them, and I must have at least leafed through them to see if what he said was true.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And are you saying then that you attempted to investigate this allegation?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I am not saying that. It was more of a casual kind of thing, to my way of thinking.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you check your cash disbursement files?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not the files, no. (Ibid., pp. 11-12)
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This is exciting testimony, but unfortunately according to this testimony there is no way to confirm any of this as it was mentioned that Wilcott’s records were only kept for thirty days and by the time he was allegedly told this information about LHO working for the CIA two or three months had elapsed so his records wouldn't reflect this payout if it existed. Or was there? After a break they revisited this issue and there seems there may be more to the story.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, you indicated that after receiving this information concerning Oswald's cryptonym, you went back to check some files, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not really files; it was my book.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Your book.
Mr. WILCOTT - I flipped through it.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is the name of the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - It was my Request for Advance Book.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And for purposes of clarification, now, if Oswald was already dead at the time that you went to this book, why did you go back to examine the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I am sorry -- if Oswald was what?
Mr. GOLDSMITH - At the time you went to look at the book, Oswald was already dead is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is right.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why did you go back to look at the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, the payments that were made especially to substations like Oswald's was operated -- it was a substation of the XXXXXXXX station, and they had one in XXXXXX and they had one in XXXXXXXXX-- and it may be six months or even a year after the initial allocation that the final accounting for those funds were submitted, and they would operate out of revolving funds or out of their own personal funds in many cases.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, is your testimony then that even though Oswald was already dead at that time, the book might have contained a reference to either Oswald or the Oswald project and that that reference would have been to a period six months or even a year earlier, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT – That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, how long were these advance books retained?
Mr. WILCOTT – They were retained for approximately one year by the finance office, approximately one to two years, and were destroyed at the time of audit.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So that they would be routinely destroyed at the time of auditing?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Did you check any of the earlier books?
Mr. WILCOTT – No, I didn't, as far as the Oswald cryptonym was concerned; no, I didn't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So basically, you checked only one of the advance books, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - My current one that I had on my counter. (Ibid., pp. 16-18)
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So based on this testimony there could still have been a record of payments to either LHO or “Project Oswald” for up to one to two years following the payment date. This is astounding. Why was Wilcott, or anyone with access and knowledge to these financial records, never called before the WC? If the WC was doing a true investigation into the assassination and was not afraid to go where the evidence led they should have called either Wilcott or his supervisor before them in 1964, but their actions illustrate for the reader that only one conclusion can be reached – they were NOT looking for the truth and they were being guided by the very group(s) that were trying to hide things as the WC said during one of their Executive sessions. In this case it was the CIA.
Why was the CIA afraid to admit that LHO worked for them in some capacity if he just went rogue and acted without knowledge or assistance from the Agency? They should not have been afraid IF this was the case, but their actions show us it was NOT the case. LHO was either involved in a plot that included parts of the agency (I never say the “CIA did it” as it is a large agency and many in the CIA would never take part in this kind of action in my opinion.) or he received assistance to carry it out himself from them. Since the evidence shows that LHO never fired a shot on November 22, 1963, we have to go with the first option. His involvement could have been misconstrued by him as well as he may have thought he was trying to stop such an action instead of taking part in such an action. Things like this is why nearly fifty-nine years later many people are still questioning the official conclusion as it seems they didn’t uncover one stone instead of leaving no stone unturned.
Since a cover-up was obvious to most people paying attention from the beginning it forced people like Wilcott to mind his own business as he most likely feared a reprisal if he looked into this matter too deeply.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Assuming that Oswald was an agent for the CIA, would the agency's cash disbursement files have referred to either Oswald or to his cryptonym?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And you have had access to the cash disbursement files at XXXXXXXXXXXXX Station?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, for a limited period.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Were you ever able to check those particular files?
Mr. WILCOTT – I was able to but I never did.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, you never checked the cash disbursement files to see if any reference was made there to Oswald's cryptonym, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is right. It was only my personal files -- my internal files, prior to the end of the month.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - I understand. How long were the XXXXXXXXX cash disbursement files or records retained?
Mr. WILCOTT - The details approximately two years. We had accountings, or we had audits about every two years, and then then files that I kept the requests for advances, the details of the accountings that were done usually on a monthly basis by the XXXXX Station Branches, would be destroyed and then they would be -- and, in fact, I helped destroy them. (Ibid.,p. 20)
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Do you see how these official “investigations” operate? Wilcott said that any disbursement associated with LHO in any way would have his cryptonym associated with it. He then said that he had access to the disbursement files that would contain that information and that they are kept for two years. When he said, “I was able to but never did” all the gentleman from the HSCA did was confirm that he never did check those disbursement files. Should that have been the way that they approached an investigation like this? Of course not. The glaringly obvious question was just hanging out there. I mean Wilcott took such an interest in this topic that he was telling coworkers, family and friends about it, and yet, we are to believe that he had no interest in seeing if LHO’s cryptonym was in the files he had access to? Does this make any sense to you?
The obvious question that he should have been asked is why? Why didn’t you look into those files to confirm your suspicion? Why did you choose not to look into those disbursement files you had access to in order to see what you were told was correct? These are the obvious questions. Even a simple “why” would have been better than his tell us nothing confirmation question. Why was Wilcott hesitant to look at those files? Based on experience with how government groups work I will venture a guess and say because you had to sign in for access and he didn’t want anyone knowing that he was looking into this obviously very touchy subject. How would his boss have reacted if he received a report that his subordinate was checking into whether LHO was receiving payments from the CIA or not? How would the CIA react to this? What action may have been taken against him for doing this? This is what the HSCA should have been finding out, but instead, just like the WC, they had no urge to find this out for us.
He told them over and over that “he never really looked” when asked if he found anything showing that LHO ever received payments from the CIA. Even years afterwards he admitted to discussing this at parties and social occasions with people from the CIA headquarters, and yet, he never looked at the files to confirm it. (Ibid., p. 23)
He is then asked for his opinion on the matter and he gives an interesting answer.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you have an opinion as to how the CIA might [have] handled any projects involving Oswald and for what purpose they might have used Oswald?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I have opinions.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is that opinion?
Mr. WILCOTT – I believe that Oswald was a double agent, was sent over to the Soviet Union to do intelligence work, that the defection was phony and it was set up and that I believe that Marina Oswald was an agent that had been recruited sometime before and was waiting there in Tokyo for Lee Harvey Oswald.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is the basis for that opinion?
Mr. WILCOTT - The basis for that is discussions that I had with people at the XXXXX Station. Those are discussions with people who gave the indication that there was every certainty that Oswald was an agent of CIA, runout of XXXXXXX Station, and that he was freed from Russia there in the final courses in Russia and was trained by CIA people at Atsugi. (Ibid., p. 25)
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Based on conversations with dozens of people within the CIA, Wilcott said that LHO was a “double agent”, that his defection was phony and set up, and that Marina Oswald was an agent too. But for who? CIA? Many researchers have felt that LHO was either an agent or affiliated with the CIA, but I have nevrr read that he was a double agent before. Yes, Richard Case Nagell was a double agent for sure, but I have not heard that LHO was. Could LHO have been in the same group as Nagell? Nagell told researcher Dick Russell that he used the alias “A. Hidell” on a number of occasions and this is the alias that was supposedly tied to the alleged murder weapon of JFK and to LHO after the assassination. Is this just a coincidence? That is unlikely to me.
I have long suspected that Marina Oswald was an agent of some kind so this comment by Wilcott comes as no surprise to me. I would even venture a guess that she was an agent higher up than him as she was “dating” other supposed defectors before LHO. Was she also LHO’s handler? Just a thought to consider.
Wilcott is then asked why all these people have never come forward with their thoughts or information and he gives a very telling answer in regards to why he never looked at those disbursement files.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH – How many people from the CIA did you speak to who speculated that Oswald was an agent?
Mr. WILCOTT – Dozens, literally dozens.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Do you have any explanation for why none of these people have come forward with this story?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is that explanation?
Mr. WILCOTT - I have been trying to talk about this thing and other things for the last ten years. I found it very, very difficult to talk about these things that I think ought to be talked about, very difficult. I talked to reporters from various papers, and I talked to people in other forms of meetings, and to me it is not surprising at all. I think, or I am certain, in my own mind, that, if these people were approached that some of these people –
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why has it been difficult?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, it has been difficult because people don't want to get involved, and people were scared. I was scared until the Carter Administration. I was really scared to go to the Government and talk about any of these things.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you bring your allegation to the attention of the Warren Commission?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I didn't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And what is the reason for that?
Mr. WILCOTT – I really didn't think that the Warren Commission was out to really get at the facts, and I am not saying that they purposely did anything, because I don't know, and maybe they did or maybe they didn't, but certainly, they didn't impress me as really trying to scrutinize the evidence that there was. And their security that there is in the Government didn't strike me as the kind of security that would keep me from getting attacked in some way, if someone wanted to do it.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – When was the first time that you alleged in public that Oswald was a CIA agent.
Mr. WILCOTT – In 1968.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, you first came across this information in November of 1963, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And the first time you alleged in public this allegation was in 1968?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Why did you wait five years?
Mr. WILCOTT - We thought every year, my wife and I and the friends that we had -- we said, "Well, this is one thing that they aren't going to keep a lid on." And we thought every year it was going to be coming out, and especially I didn't think that -- since what I had heard was all hearsay that I would never have seen Oswald or anything like that -- this is not the kind of thing that would be used for even something like the Warren Commission, and they would have to have something more substantial than that to go on, aside from the fact that I never would have done it in the CIA, being a very risky thing to do with the CIA. (Ibid., pp. 25-28)
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He, and others, thought that the lid would come off the obviously fictitious WC conclusion so he didn’t want to get involved by approaching the WC. Furthermore, Wilcott felt that the WC was not out to get the facts so he must have figured that the WC wouldn’t take him seriously. He also admitted that he and other people were scared to get involved. This should never have been the case if the investigation had been an honest one.
Wilcott was asked repeatedly why he didn’t come forward when he learned about LHO being employed by the CIA and said that he was afraid to. Given the amount of witnesses who died within a few years of the assassination he probably had a reason to be afraid.
The fact that the CIA, FBI and the WC never looked into the possibility of LHO working for any agency shows that they were not searching for the truth. They were simply passing on a cover-up.
What do you make of the James Wilcott story? Do you believe him or not? If you don’t, I would sure like to know why he would say this stuff if it wasn’t true. What was he going to gain by lying?
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The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) looked into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (JFK) in the late nineteen-seventies. They called witnesses that the Warren Commission (WC) either didn’t know about or ignored. This post will cover one of those witnesses.
The HSCA Says…James Wilcott.
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James Wilcott worked for the CIA from 1957 to 1966 in their accounting area being responsible for record keeping and the disbursing of funds.
The HSCA then asked him if he had ever heard of Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO).
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Drawing your attention to the period immediately after the assassination of President Kennedy, at that time, did you come across any information concerning Lee Harvey Oswald's relationship with the CIA?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I did.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And will you tell the Committee what that relationship was?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, it was my understanding that Lee Harvey Oswald was an employee of the agency and was an agent of the agency.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What do you mean by the term "agent"?
Mr. WILCOTT - That he was a regular employee, receiving a full-time salary for agent work for doing CIA operational work.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - How did this information concerning Oswald first come to your attention?
Mr. WILCOTT - The first time I heard about Oswald being connected in any way with CIA was the day after the Kennedy assassination.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And how did that come to your attention:
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I was on day duty for the station. It was a guard-type function at the station, which I worked for overtime. There was a lot of excitement going on at the station after the Kennedy assassination. Towards the end of my tour of duty, I heard certain things about Oswald somehow being connected with the agency, and I didn't really believe this when I heard it, and I thought it was absurd. Then, as time went on, I began to hear more things in that line.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - I think we had better go over that one more time.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many people made this reference to Oswald being an agent of the CIA?
Mr. WILCOTT - At least -- there was at least six or seven people, specifically, who said that they either knew or believed Oswald to be an agent of the CIA.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Was Jerry Fox one of the people that made. this allegation?
Mr. WILCOTT - To the best of my recollection, yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And who is Jerry Fox?
Mr. WILCOTT - Jerry Fox was a Case Officer for his branch the Soviet Russia Branch, XXXXXXXXXX Station, who purchased information from the Soviets. (HSCA Security Classified Testimony of James Wilcott, pp. 6-8)
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This is stunning testimony as it seems that it was common knowledge at the CIA that LHO was an employee there. No wonder it was said in a secure setting. Why was this testimony given in secret when it should have been told out in the open? The person he was most sure of saying that LHO was employed by the CIA was Jerry Fox. (Ibid., p. 9) He wasn’t sure if any of these individuals would corroborate his statement, however. He was also asked if he learned the name of LHO’s case officer at this time and he replied no. (Ibid.) He is then asked if he saw any other things that showed that LHO worked for the CIA while at this station (name of the station was XXXXX out).
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Were there any other times during your stay with the CIA at XXXXXXXXXX Station that you came across information that Oswald had been a CIA agent?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - When was that?
Mr. WILCOTT - The specific incident was soon after the Kennedy assassination, where an agent, a Case Officer – I am sure it was a Case Officer – came up to my window to draw money, and he specifically said in the conversation that ensued, he specifically said, "Well, Jim, the money that I drew the last couple of weeks ago or so was money," either for the Oswald project or for Oswald.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember the name of this Case Officer?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I don't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you remember when specifically this conversation took place?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not specifically, only generally.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - How many months after the assassination was this?
Mr. WILCOTT - I think it must have been two or three months after the assassination.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Do you remember where this conversation took place?
Mr. WILCOTT – It was right at my window, my disbursing cage window.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you discuss this information with anyone?
Mr. WILCOTT - Oh, yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - With whom?
Mr. WILCOTT - Certainly with George Breen, XXXXXXXXXXX the circle of social friends that we have.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did this Case Officer tell you what Oswald's cryptonym was?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, he mentioned the cryptonym specifically under which the money was drawn.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And what did he tell you the cryptonym was?
Mr. WILCOTT - I cannot remember.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What was your response to this revelation as to what Oswald's cryptonym was? Did you write it down or do anything?
Mr. WILCOTT - No; I think that I looked through my advance book -- and I had a book where the advances on projects were run, and I leafed through them, and I must have at least leafed through them to see if what he said was true.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And are you saying then that you attempted to investigate this allegation?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I am not saying that. It was more of a casual kind of thing, to my way of thinking.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you check your cash disbursement files?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not the files, no. (Ibid., pp. 11-12)
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This is exciting testimony, but unfortunately according to this testimony there is no way to confirm any of this as it was mentioned that Wilcott’s records were only kept for thirty days and by the time he was allegedly told this information about LHO working for the CIA two or three months had elapsed so his records wouldn't reflect this payout if it existed. Or was there? After a break they revisited this issue and there seems there may be more to the story.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, you indicated that after receiving this information concerning Oswald's cryptonym, you went back to check some files, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - Not really files; it was my book.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Your book.
Mr. WILCOTT - I flipped through it.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is the name of the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - It was my Request for Advance Book.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And for purposes of clarification, now, if Oswald was already dead at the time that you went to this book, why did you go back to examine the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, I am sorry -- if Oswald was what?
Mr. GOLDSMITH - At the time you went to look at the book, Oswald was already dead is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is right.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why did you go back to look at the book?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, the payments that were made especially to substations like Oswald's was operated -- it was a substation of the XXXXXXXX station, and they had one in XXXXXX and they had one in XXXXXXXXX-- and it may be six months or even a year after the initial allocation that the final accounting for those funds were submitted, and they would operate out of revolving funds or out of their own personal funds in many cases.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, is your testimony then that even though Oswald was already dead at that time, the book might have contained a reference to either Oswald or the Oswald project and that that reference would have been to a period six months or even a year earlier, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT – That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Mr. Wilcott, how long were these advance books retained?
Mr. WILCOTT – They were retained for approximately one year by the finance office, approximately one to two years, and were destroyed at the time of audit.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So that they would be routinely destroyed at the time of auditing?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Did you check any of the earlier books?
Mr. WILCOTT – No, I didn't, as far as the Oswald cryptonym was concerned; no, I didn't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So basically, you checked only one of the advance books, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - My current one that I had on my counter. (Ibid., pp. 16-18)
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So based on this testimony there could still have been a record of payments to either LHO or “Project Oswald” for up to one to two years following the payment date. This is astounding. Why was Wilcott, or anyone with access and knowledge to these financial records, never called before the WC? If the WC was doing a true investigation into the assassination and was not afraid to go where the evidence led they should have called either Wilcott or his supervisor before them in 1964, but their actions illustrate for the reader that only one conclusion can be reached – they were NOT looking for the truth and they were being guided by the very group(s) that were trying to hide things as the WC said during one of their Executive sessions. In this case it was the CIA.
Why was the CIA afraid to admit that LHO worked for them in some capacity if he just went rogue and acted without knowledge or assistance from the Agency? They should not have been afraid IF this was the case, but their actions show us it was NOT the case. LHO was either involved in a plot that included parts of the agency (I never say the “CIA did it” as it is a large agency and many in the CIA would never take part in this kind of action in my opinion.) or he received assistance to carry it out himself from them. Since the evidence shows that LHO never fired a shot on November 22, 1963, we have to go with the first option. His involvement could have been misconstrued by him as well as he may have thought he was trying to stop such an action instead of taking part in such an action. Things like this is why nearly fifty-nine years later many people are still questioning the official conclusion as it seems they didn’t uncover one stone instead of leaving no stone unturned.
Since a cover-up was obvious to most people paying attention from the beginning it forced people like Wilcott to mind his own business as he most likely feared a reprisal if he looked into this matter too deeply.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Assuming that Oswald was an agent for the CIA, would the agency's cash disbursement files have referred to either Oswald or to his cryptonym?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And you have had access to the cash disbursement files at XXXXXXXXXXXXX Station?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, for a limited period.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Were you ever able to check those particular files?
Mr. WILCOTT – I was able to but I never did.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, you never checked the cash disbursement files to see if any reference was made there to Oswald's cryptonym, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is right. It was only my personal files -- my internal files, prior to the end of the month.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - I understand. How long were the XXXXXXXXX cash disbursement files or records retained?
Mr. WILCOTT - The details approximately two years. We had accountings, or we had audits about every two years, and then then files that I kept the requests for advances, the details of the accountings that were done usually on a monthly basis by the XXXXX Station Branches, would be destroyed and then they would be -- and, in fact, I helped destroy them. (Ibid.,p. 20)
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Do you see how these official “investigations” operate? Wilcott said that any disbursement associated with LHO in any way would have his cryptonym associated with it. He then said that he had access to the disbursement files that would contain that information and that they are kept for two years. When he said, “I was able to but never did” all the gentleman from the HSCA did was confirm that he never did check those disbursement files. Should that have been the way that they approached an investigation like this? Of course not. The glaringly obvious question was just hanging out there. I mean Wilcott took such an interest in this topic that he was telling coworkers, family and friends about it, and yet, we are to believe that he had no interest in seeing if LHO’s cryptonym was in the files he had access to? Does this make any sense to you?
The obvious question that he should have been asked is why? Why didn’t you look into those files to confirm your suspicion? Why did you choose not to look into those disbursement files you had access to in order to see what you were told was correct? These are the obvious questions. Even a simple “why” would have been better than his tell us nothing confirmation question. Why was Wilcott hesitant to look at those files? Based on experience with how government groups work I will venture a guess and say because you had to sign in for access and he didn’t want anyone knowing that he was looking into this obviously very touchy subject. How would his boss have reacted if he received a report that his subordinate was checking into whether LHO was receiving payments from the CIA or not? How would the CIA react to this? What action may have been taken against him for doing this? This is what the HSCA should have been finding out, but instead, just like the WC, they had no urge to find this out for us.
He told them over and over that “he never really looked” when asked if he found anything showing that LHO ever received payments from the CIA. Even years afterwards he admitted to discussing this at parties and social occasions with people from the CIA headquarters, and yet, he never looked at the files to confirm it. (Ibid., p. 23)
He is then asked for his opinion on the matter and he gives an interesting answer.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH - Do you have an opinion as to how the CIA might [have] handled any projects involving Oswald and for what purpose they might have used Oswald?
Mr. WILCOTT - Yes, I have opinions.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is that opinion?
Mr. WILCOTT – I believe that Oswald was a double agent, was sent over to the Soviet Union to do intelligence work, that the defection was phony and it was set up and that I believe that Marina Oswald was an agent that had been recruited sometime before and was waiting there in Tokyo for Lee Harvey Oswald.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is the basis for that opinion?
Mr. WILCOTT - The basis for that is discussions that I had with people at the XXXXX Station. Those are discussions with people who gave the indication that there was every certainty that Oswald was an agent of CIA, runout of XXXXXXX Station, and that he was freed from Russia there in the final courses in Russia and was trained by CIA people at Atsugi. (Ibid., p. 25)
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Based on conversations with dozens of people within the CIA, Wilcott said that LHO was a “double agent”, that his defection was phony and set up, and that Marina Oswald was an agent too. But for who? CIA? Many researchers have felt that LHO was either an agent or affiliated with the CIA, but I have nevrr read that he was a double agent before. Yes, Richard Case Nagell was a double agent for sure, but I have not heard that LHO was. Could LHO have been in the same group as Nagell? Nagell told researcher Dick Russell that he used the alias “A. Hidell” on a number of occasions and this is the alias that was supposedly tied to the alleged murder weapon of JFK and to LHO after the assassination. Is this just a coincidence? That is unlikely to me.
I have long suspected that Marina Oswald was an agent of some kind so this comment by Wilcott comes as no surprise to me. I would even venture a guess that she was an agent higher up than him as she was “dating” other supposed defectors before LHO. Was she also LHO’s handler? Just a thought to consider.
Wilcott is then asked why all these people have never come forward with their thoughts or information and he gives a very telling answer in regards to why he never looked at those disbursement files.
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Mr. GOLDSMITH – How many people from the CIA did you speak to who speculated that Oswald was an agent?
Mr. WILCOTT – Dozens, literally dozens.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Do you have any explanation for why none of these people have come forward with this story?
Mr. WILCOTT – Yes.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - What is that explanation?
Mr. WILCOTT - I have been trying to talk about this thing and other things for the last ten years. I found it very, very difficult to talk about these things that I think ought to be talked about, very difficult. I talked to reporters from various papers, and I talked to people in other forms of meetings, and to me it is not surprising at all. I think, or I am certain, in my own mind, that, if these people were approached that some of these people –
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Why has it been difficult?
Mr. WILCOTT - Well, it has been difficult because people don't want to get involved, and people were scared. I was scared until the Carter Administration. I was really scared to go to the Government and talk about any of these things.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - Did you bring your allegation to the attention of the Warren Commission?
Mr. WILCOTT - No, I didn't.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And what is the reason for that?
Mr. WILCOTT – I really didn't think that the Warren Commission was out to really get at the facts, and I am not saying that they purposely did anything, because I don't know, and maybe they did or maybe they didn't, but certainly, they didn't impress me as really trying to scrutinize the evidence that there was. And their security that there is in the Government didn't strike me as the kind of security that would keep me from getting attacked in some way, if someone wanted to do it.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – When was the first time that you alleged in public that Oswald was a CIA agent.
Mr. WILCOTT – In 1968.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - So, you first came across this information in November of 1963, is that correct?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH - And the first time you alleged in public this allegation was in 1968?
Mr. WILCOTT - That is correct.
Mr. GOLDSMITH – Why did you wait five years?
Mr. WILCOTT - We thought every year, my wife and I and the friends that we had -- we said, "Well, this is one thing that they aren't going to keep a lid on." And we thought every year it was going to be coming out, and especially I didn't think that -- since what I had heard was all hearsay that I would never have seen Oswald or anything like that -- this is not the kind of thing that would be used for even something like the Warren Commission, and they would have to have something more substantial than that to go on, aside from the fact that I never would have done it in the CIA, being a very risky thing to do with the CIA. (Ibid., pp. 25-28)
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He, and others, thought that the lid would come off the obviously fictitious WC conclusion so he didn’t want to get involved by approaching the WC. Furthermore, Wilcott felt that the WC was not out to get the facts so he must have figured that the WC wouldn’t take him seriously. He also admitted that he and other people were scared to get involved. This should never have been the case if the investigation had been an honest one.
Wilcott was asked repeatedly why he didn’t come forward when he learned about LHO being employed by the CIA and said that he was afraid to. Given the amount of witnesses who died within a few years of the assassination he probably had a reason to be afraid.
The fact that the CIA, FBI and the WC never looked into the possibility of LHO working for any agency shows that they were not searching for the truth. They were simply passing on a cover-up.
What do you make of the James Wilcott story? Do you believe him or not? If you don’t, I would sure like to know why he would say this stuff if it wasn’t true. What was he going to gain by lying?