WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to recently released information that the Federal Bureau of Investigation covertly scrutinized the movements and conversations of Mrs. Coretta Scott King following the death of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) sent the following letter to Director Robert S. Mueller III at FBI Headquarters:

September 18, 2007

Robert S. Mueller III
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice
935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Room 7240
Washington, DC  20535-0001

Dear Director Mueller;

I write this letter to seek your assistance to correct a grave injustice. Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted to secretly eavesdropping on the private conversations of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Additionally, the FBI acknowledged that for years following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. it closely tracked Mrs. King’s whereabouts, often following her to private meetings and public appearances. Her mail was opened and read, her friends were investigated and her family vacations were monitored.

The actions undertaken by the Bureau are reprehensible.  The FBI had no evidence that Mrs. King was involved in any illegal activity. Yet without warrants the Bureau proceeded to record her conversations and observe her every move for years.  The secret monitoring of Mrs. King provided the government sanctioned surveillance nothing more than endless hours of private and innocent conversations.

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, I am alarmed that such shadowing of Mrs. King ever took place.  I am more concerned that such an egregious act has been hidden for more than three decades and that the Bureau seems unremorseful of its illegal surveillance.

I call on the Justice Department and the FBI to issue a formal apology to the sons and daughter of Dr. and Mrs. King for the unwarranted and illegal scrutiny it imposed on their parents.  Such regret will not lessen the anguish associated with such an invasion of privacy but it will help to provide closure to yet another tragic chapter in the life of this great American family.

I look forward to your favorable and timely reply regarding this matter.

Very truly yours,
Chaka Fattah
Member of Congress