Letter: FBI Director William H. Webster to US Attorney Hon. Earl J. Silbert re: Civil Action 74-744 (August 14, 1974)

[…]

NOTE: In the complaint in this civil action plaintiff alleges that an illegal wiretap was placed on one of its telephones by the FBI. Plaintiff seeks an injunction and money damages. A motion for a temporary restraining ord[er] was filed by plaintiff, supported by an affidavit of an officer of plaintiff, who averred that as she was attempting to place a call she was interrupted by a male voice who stated he was Bob Wiclomore, a Special Agent of the FBI, and that he was operating an FBI switchboard and monitoring the calls on plaintiff’s phone. At a hearing on the motion, the Government submitted an affidavit of Assistant Director John J. McDermott stating that at no time has the FBI conducted any form of electronic surveillance on plaintiff and that there was no past or present employee by the name of Bob Wiclomore. The court denied plaintiff’s application for temporary restraining order but indicated plaintiff would be allowed to take a deposition of Mr. McDermott to clarify certain points in his affidavit.

Mr. McDermott was deposed on 6/21/74. Plaintiff has now filed a motion to compel answers propounded upon oral deposition. On 8/14/74, the Government will file a motion in opposition to plaintiff’s motion and also move for summary judgment.