Part 51, page 195

Transcript

The scan is the source; the transcript is machine-generated from it.

(12/31/1995)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 05/19/1998

To: Seattle

From: Seattle Squad 5/ PSVCTF Contact: [REDACTED] 206-667-0171 b6 b7C Approved By: [REDACTED]

Drafted By: [REDACTED] rnh 9300 Case ID #: SE 164A-81 (Pending)

Title: NORJAK; CAA - Hijacking

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Synopsis: To outline status of requested DOJ statute of limitations and venue review and highlight significant leads currently outstanding.

Details: Following a comprehensive review of investigation possible in this case at this date, the following steps have been taken:

Statute of Limitations and Venue Issue Previous opinions from the Seattle U.S. Attorney's Office and DOJ from 1976 (serial 6841, Sub JJ and DOJ letter dated 8/11/1975 - attached) indicate that this was a capital offense and thus not subject to a statute of limitations. It is this opinion that has been used as a basis for the case remaining pending. In addition, Portland filed a "John Doe" indictment in 1976, just prior to the tolling of a normal five year statute. It was apparently the opinion of the Seattle USA's Office and DOJ in 1976 that subject COOPER was not sufficiently identified to present such an indictment. Portland decided at the last minute to file an indictment apparently as a fail-safe. The investigative file for this case has always resided in Seattle. On 4/24/1998 SA [REDACTED] requested that Seattle AUSA [REDACTED] [REDACTED] request a DOJ review of A) If this matter would be prosecutable now or in the future pursuant to the capital offense opinion, B) the validity of the "John Doe" indictment returned in Portland in 1976, and C) the likely venue (Seattle or Portland) for a prosecution should a subject be identified.

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Significant Pending Investigative Efforts

Seattle continues to get a fair number of tips concerning this case. Although the majority are quickly eliminated, perhaps

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DB Cooper-21310