SAC Seattle Pasenelli to U.S. Attorney Pflaumer re NORJAK prosecutability
Document date 1 June 1998
Report a problem
Email this to [email protected]
Id: Cooper-Part-51:200-201
Subject: Cooper Files: Cooper-Part-51:200-201 Document: Letter SAC Seattle Pasenelli to U.S. Attorney Pflaumer re NORJAK prosecutability Id: Cooper-Part-51:200-201 Page: https://cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-51%3A200-201 What is wrong (title, date, type, which pages belong together, copies)? What does the scan show?
A person reads every report. Corrections are made by hand, to the data — titles, dates, names, which pages belong together — never to the scans, and they can take a while to appear.
FBI 164-81, Vault Part 51 pp. 200–201 (DB Cooper-21319–21320), Letter, dated 1 Jun 1998 — cooper.theunsolved.net/documents/Cooper-Part-51%3A200-201
U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation
In Reply, Please Refer to File No.
915 Second Avenue, Room 710 Seattle, WA 98174 June 1, 1998
---
Honorable Katrina C. Pflaumer United States Attorney Western District of Washington 3600 Seafirst-Fifth Avenue Plaza 800 Fifth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104
Attention: [REDACTED b6/b7C]
Reference: Unknown Subject, also known as Dan Cooper; Crime Aboard Aircraft - Hijacking NORJAK; SE 164A-81; CR 72-0451
---
Dear Ms. Pflaumer:
Pursuant to recent conversations between AUSA [REDACTED b6/b7C] and SA [REDACTED b6/b7C] concerning the statute of limitation concerns connected with this case, I am enclosing record of two communications with your office from February and April of 1976. Both of these were previously faxed to AUSA [REDACTED] on April 24, 1998.
As you are aware, from time to time this investigation continues to garner significant media attention, even though the hijacking occurred in November of 1971. It remains the only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues to receive numerous inquiries and occasional tips which necessitate significant investigation to include or exclude an individual as a possible subject. Although over the years there has been a system developed to streamline the review of these potential suspects, nevertheless, significant investigative resources are expended, not only by the Seattle office of the FBI but numerous offices throughout the United States. It is, of course, the policy of the FBI that any pending investigation, if prosecutable, will continue to be pursued to the fullest extent possible until such time as prosecution becomes unlikely or a deceased subject is identified. In light of the passage of 26 years since this crime, we believe an updated review of the statute of limitation and venue issues is necessary.
---
[Addressee] 164-81 RNH:abs
[Signature - partially legible]
164-81 - 9302 DB Cooper-21319
This crime was considered a capital offense at the time and an opinion was rendered by DOJ that no statute of limitation existed. As you may recall, a "John Doe" indictment was nevertheless returned by Federal Grand Jury in Portland, Oregon, in November of 1976, shortly before the expiration of the normal five-year statute. From the enclosed documents, it appears unclear if this "John Doe" indictment is legally valid.
We would appreciate if your office would obtain a written opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning the current prosecutability of an individual, if identified, for this crime. We would also appreciate if this written opinion expressed by DOJ could include the expected venue for any prosecution (Western District of Washington vs. District of Oregon).
Please direct any response or questions you may have to Special Agent [REDACTED] at telephone number (206) 667-0171.
---
Sincerely,
[signature]
Burdena G. Pasenelli Special Agent in Charge
Enclosures - 2
---
b6 b7C
---
DB Cooper-21320