When Hoover asked for the wiretaps, Bobby consulted me (I was then his deputy) and Burke Marshall, head of the Civil Rights Division. Both of us agreed to the tap because we believed a refusal would lend credence to the allegation of communist influence, while permitting the tap, we hoped, would demonstrate the contrary.
Yes, it would lend credence because there WAS communist influence. King had -- naively, in my opinion -- made Levison his close advisor. There was reason to investigate.
Nice spin