Letter from Scientologist to Congressman Bilirakis (May 12, 1985)

FBI File No.: 62-116151-7¹

[Return address redacted]

May 12, 1985

Congressman Bilirakis
1100 Cleveland Street
Clearwater, Fl. 33515

Dear Congressman Bilirakis:

I just became aware of a matter which I find quite alarming. There is a strong threat posed by certain internal intelligence operations to the constitutional rights of citizens of the United States. It is being conducted currently by the IRS and the FBi. There are Department of Justice people in cooperation with this operation. This is very undermining to the well being of the American people.

I am sending a copy of this letter to all the people mentioned below and am especially appealing to Don Edwards, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, to have his committee look into this.

I also need your help as my key congressman of this district. This is what has happened: A former Church of Scientology employee has released video tapes made during an undercover sting operation. The video shows a multi-agency plan to disrupt the Church internally and in the confusion, to oust current executives, replacing them with government picked, government controlled persons. You can see the effect this would have on the Church. It is also blatant infringement on religious freedom. If this is let to occur, what indeed is next?! The lion dens? I just have been reading books with my 8 year old son of those first Americans who came to the colonies so they could follow their religion in peace. I didn’t make the stories up — they are our history.

For the reasons stated above, I am requesting that you come to the Church’s aid and to other Americans as well, by supporting a call for hearings into government domestic intelligence operations. I am afraid that this may just be the tip of an iceberg. Heaven forbid! It is harmful if you or I, as citizens, just sit back watching constitutional rights getting whittled away. Its like being a spectator to a severe accident and watching someone who needs an ambulance but doing nothing about it, but on a much grander scale.

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Could you also write the IRS and the FBI requesting an explanation for the above multi-agency plan?

So that you have no missing information I suggest you write FREEDOM magazine: 1413 N. Berendo St., Los Angeles, California 90027, or call them so they can send you their April/May 1985 issue² in which the video tapes have been transcribed.

I await your letter advising me of what you have discovered and of what I am to do next as a concerned (frantic) citizen.

Respectfully yours,

[Name redacted]

(teacher)

cc: Paula Hawkins, Wash, D.C.
Rep. Don Edwards (San Jose, Ca.)
Rep. Jake J. Pickle (Austin, Tx.)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah)
Lawton Chiles

Notes