No leads in Corte Madera document theft case (Kerry-VVAW FBI files)

Marin Independent Journal ^ | March 30th, 2004 | Richard Halstead

[Sabertooth]

Gerald Nicosia sits in the dining room of his Corte Madera home from where he says FBI documents were stolen. Alan Dep photo

Police say they have no clue who stole documents - detailing the FBI's surveillance of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the 1970's - from the home of Gerald Nicosia, a Corte Madera author.

Last week, the Los Angeles Times broke the story that Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, had been closely monitored by FBI agents for more than a year due to his work with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Times reporter John Glionna said he wrote the story after briefly skimming through a mountain of documents obtained by Nicosia under the Freedom of Information Act.

No one knows what is in the missing files - including Nicosia, who submitted his Freedom of Information request in 1988 while working on his book "Home to War: A History of the Vietnam Veterans Movement."

The information he requested - 14 boxes of files detailing the FBI's spying on the VVAW - arrived in 1999, too late for him to incorporate in his book.

"By the time I got the files, the book was about to go to press," Nicosia said.

Nicosia, who needed to move on to another project, set the files aside. It wasn't until a month ago, after a writer from the New York Sun called him with questions about a 1971 VVAW meeting in Kansas City, that he began to read some of the files. At the end of their conversation, Nicosia says the Sun writer told him: "By the way, you know John Kerry was at that meeting."

Nicosia said all of the information he'd seen until then had indicated otherwise. Kerry had stated that he resigned four months prior to that four-day Kansas City meeting - during which some members of the VVAW suggested that the group initiate peace talks with North Vietnamese officials. One member at the meeting even suggested the possibility of assassinating U.S. senators who still backed the war, Nicosia said.

The information in the files that Nicosia obtained from the FBI indicated that Kerry resigned during this Kansas City meeting in November 1971. Nicosia, a Kerry supporter, said he notified the Kerry campaign when he noticed the discrepancy, and Kerry corrected his mistake shortly after. He chalked the error up to a faulty memory.

Nicosia said his files also contained information supporting a story that ran in the Boston Globe Wednesday. The story said that Kerry traveled to Paris in 1971 and spoke to North Vietnamese negotiators. Kerry has since issued a statement saying the talks were informal, Nicosia said.

Kerry, who requested his FBI dossier in 1987, was surprised to learn of the information in the files obtained by Nicosia because it demonstrated an extensive amount of surveillance that hadn't been revealed to him.

Following publication of the Los Angeles Times article, Kerry released some of the documents he had been given. The memos reported that there was nothing to associate Kerry with any violence or violent group. They recommended that no further investigation be conducted.

A tireless researcher, Nicosia, 54, spent 12 years interviewing more than 600 veterans and doctors for "Home to War." Published by Crown/Random House in 2001, the book runs 690 pages. His other books include "Memory Babe," a biography of Jack Kerouac published in 1983.

Nicosia first noticed the missing documents on Thursday evening. His wife had closed the doors leading to his children's bedrooms because they were messy and didn't want Glionna, who was coming over to do a follow-up interview, to see them. When she came home in the afternoon and found them open, Nicosia said she blamed him.

Nicosia first noticed the missing documents on Thursday evening. His wife had closed the doors leading to his children's bedrooms because they were messy and didn't want Glionna, who was coming over to do a follow-up interview, to see them. When she came home in the afternoon and found them open, Nicosia said she blamed him.

Then several hours later, Nicosia noticed that four folders laced with references to Kerry, which he had already book-marked - as well as three entire boxes of documents - had disappeared from the dining room.

"Then it clicked on me," Nicosia said.

Someone could have entered the house during the afternoon when Nicosia went out and his wife and children were also out of the house. But Twin Cities Police Cpt. Michael Casteen said there was no sign of forced entry, and a construction crew working nearby said it saw nothing.

Nicosia said a repairman was working on the sliding glass door in the room where the documents were kept earlier on Thursday while he was upstairs being interviewed by Glionna. Nicosia said the police are attempting to question the repairman, who works for a Sonoma County business.

But Casteen said, "Right now, we have very little to go on."

Early last week, a CNN reporter interviewed Nicosia at this house and broadcast pictures of the room with the documents.

"Everyone saw what the boxes look like," Nicosia said.

While he has no evidence, Nicosia said he suspects political motives.

"There is obviously a lot of sensitive stuff in that material - stuff that could really be used against Kerry in a big way in the campaign," Nicosia said. " Maybe we're back in the era of dirty tricks."

Contact Richard Halstead via e-mail at rhalstead@marinij.com

[Sabertooth]

Following publication of the Los Angeles Times article, Kerry released some of the documents he had been given. The memos reported that there was nothing to associate Kerry with any violence or violent group. They recommended that no further investigation be conducted.

Which only proves that Kerry never reported to any authorities his knowledge of the VVAW leadership's discussion of the plot to assassinate six U.S. Senators.

That FBI report is not exculpatory, it's damning.

[Sabertooth]

FYI

(Freepmail me if you want on or off the Kerry-VVAW ping list)

[concerned about politics]

"By the time I got the files, the book was about to go to press," Nicosia said.

As for the thief, it's a breaking and entering charge.
The break in is the small issue, the documents are the most important issue. My guess is the Kerry team didn't want them out there. The right wing would have been happy to have them published, and would have wanted the writer to spread the word.
Yep. The Kerry team wanted them gone, I'll bet.

[Rivendell]

"There is obviously a lot of sensitive stuff in that material - stuff that could really be used against Kerry in a big way in the campaign," Nicosia said. " Maybe we're back in the era of dirty tricks."

This whole thing stinks of dnc RAT droppings. Either this guy is a complete dupe or he is working hand in hand with the kerry camp to a) Preempt any potential criticism of kerry's anti-war activity and/or... b) Try to tag the Bush campaign/supporters with another "Watergate".

Reading the last quote of the article...I'd say "b" is the leading possibility.

I have my doubts that these files were "stolen" at all.../tinfoil hat

[concerned about politics]

"There is obviously a lot of sensitive stuff in that material - stuff that could really be used against Kerry in a big way in the campaign," Nicosia said. " Maybe we're back in the era of dirty tricks."

Yep. The Kerry supporters want the files GONE! Imagine if they were to get out to the public. Kerry would be toast.

BTW, I overheard a low life democrat "meet up" team talking at Burger King last week (I've never seen so many fat, dirty people in one place in all my life!).
They're telling pollsters they're Republicans, so the pollsters "will have an equal amount of democrat and Republican opinions".
No wonder the polls say someone, somewhere, is voting for Kerry.
Democrats are easier to contact because they're waiting by their phones hoping someone will call for kinky sex or watching TV waiting for their government check. Conservatives are too hard to contact because they work and raise families. If democrats are playing "Conservative" to sway the polls, that would explain it.
AND, if the polls continue to claim neck and neck numbers up until the election and Bush wins by a landslide, they'll claim it's a fascist take over or something, even though it was them being the deceivers in the first place (again).

[Diver Dave]

Someone could have entered the house during the afternoon when Nicosia went out and his wife and children were also out of the house. But Twin Cities Police Cpt. Michael Casteen said there was no sign of forced entry, and a construction crew working nearby said it saw nothing.

No need for forced entry when one has been given a key to the house and a list of the boxes in question marked with a big red check mark.

[GrandMoM]

"There is obviously a lot of sensitive stuff in that material - stuff that could really be used against Kerry in a big way in the campaign," Nicosia said.....how would anyone know which boxes contained the sensitive stuff unless they were told??????

" Maybe we're back in the era of dirty tricks.""DUH"....since the start of this campaign what party has been playing dirty tricks??????

[TrueBeliever9]

Police say they have no clue who stole documents - detailing the FBI's surveillance of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the 1970's - from the home of Gerald Nicosia, a Corte Madera author.

Ask Hillary...

[concerned about politics]

No need for forced entry when one has been given a key to the house and a list of the boxes....

Yep. It's to silence the truth.
Now, if someone talks about Kerry's history, Kerry can claim the info "could only be found in the 'stolen' (cough cough) files, and it's a VRWC. Kerry's tongue will really be flipping in and out of his mouth like a great serpent then! (Ever notice that? His tongue goes in and out like a snake when he speaks).
The democrats will always try to create another Watergate. It was the highlight of their miserable little lives. Just like the Vietnam war, they continue to live in the beatnik era. They've never grown up like the rest of the country. They've been left behind (in more ways than one).

[hoot2]

"I have my doubts that these files were "stolen" at all.../tinfoil hat "

gosh; were these the "fbi originals?". can't he just get another copy?
where was he during the klinton years? all the break-ins n thefts of "evidence" against the klintons...
darn; now we'll never know the truth...

[MizSterious]

We must buy our tinfoil hats at the same hat store. I've been saying that for a few days now. Something smells really rotten about this entire story. Some here are saying it's Team Kerry--well, this author is actually part of that team.

[MizSterious]

" They're telling pollsters they're Republicans..."

This has been going on a long time. If you listen to any of the call-in shows, you'll hear some liberal dufus say something along the lines of, "I'm a lifelong registered Republican, BUT..." yada yada--usually followed by the usual dem-o-cr*p spiel. I also see it in some of the "man on the street" interviews. Despicable, but that's what they do.

[concerned about politics]

Early last week, a CNN reporter interviewed Nicosia at this house and broadcast pictures of the room with the documents. "Everyone saw what the boxes look like," Nicosia said.

CNN set the stage for the setup. Go figure.
Something smells, and it smells like a Jewish/Catholic French guy who served in Vietnam over 30 years ago.
The Democrats are extremely desperate to try this kind of thing. I smell a Bush landslide coming.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Nicosia, a Kerry supporter, ... While he has no evidence, Nicosia said he suspects political motives.

Gee, we have a Kerry supporter claiming files were stolen, but the police saying there's no evidence of a break-in and no one on a construction crew working in the neighborhood saw anything, yet Nicosia suspects a politically motivated break-in. So we have another Dick Clarke-like conspiracy theory. I suspect this is meant somehow to innoculate Kerry against whatever might be in those files, to make him look like a "victim" of the vast-right-wing conspiracy which controls the FBI.

[the Real fifi]

The Boston Globe printed a story some time ago to the effect that in his first successful run for the Senate, Kerry's ex-brother in law was caught at the office of Kerry's opponent, implying he had been there to cut the guy's telephone wires the night before the election.

[FourtySeven]

Good points bump.

[concerned about politics]

The Boston Globe printed a story some time ago to the effect that in his first successful run for the Senate, Kerry's ex-brother in law was caught at the office of Kerry's opponent, implying he had been there to cut the guy's telephone wires the night before the election.

Yep. I can see Kerry playing dirty. He still thinks he's fighting in Vietnam. He's using "gorilla" politics. What a toad.

Now, they say he needs an operation on his shoulder from falling down on his bus. My guess is Lurch is so out of shape from living in luxury off his wifes bank account he hurt himself shaking hands begging for votes. What a TOAD!

[Rivendell]

gosh; were these the "fbi originals?". can't he just get another copy?

Exactly...these files were obtained via a FOIA request and can be done so by anyone wishing the information. The Republicans have no need to "steal" them from this guy, as they probably already have them!

Somethin' mighty strange 'bout all this!!!

[big gray tabby]

"Gerry, we really need you to "disappear" those files before you find anything else we need to be corrected on, okay?"

"Can't do it. If you want the files the back door is always open. Got it?"

"Thanks for being a team player, Gerry. Take the wife out for a nice dinner on us, eh?"

[Mo1]

Nice picture of the area where the boxes were kept and the "supposed" door that was used to break in

It looks like the one my mother put in her house some 30 years ago when I was a kid .. It could be popped open easliy .. I know because I there were a few times I forgot my keys :0)