FBI: Letter from United States Attorney’s Office [?] to Assistant Attorney General Henry Peterson; United States Attorney Earl J. Silbert (August 7, 1974)

Re: The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D. C., Inc., v. William B. Saxbe, et al. (U.S.D.C., D.C.) Civil Action No. 74-744

At the deposition, plaintiff’s counsel attempted to make a detailed inquiry into the internal operations of the local FBI office, including staffing, details of processing wiretap applications, investigative techniques and the technical method of conducting a wiretap. We objected to these questions as being outside the scope of the deposition as we interpreted Judge Richey’s order, as being irrelevant in light of Mr. McDermott’s testimony that no wiretaps had even been placed on plaintiff’s telephones, and, in part, on grounds of privilege. On advice of counsel, Mr. McDermott refused to answer these questions.

Plaintiff has now filed a motion to compel answers, a copy of which is attached. Our response is due on August 14, 1974. […]