Reply to SpyTalk on the Joannides File

Baseless attacks aside, "I stand behind my 45+ years as a news researcher"

In addition to my freelance work as a researcher and factchecker for investigative journalism, data journalism, non-fiction books, documentary films and podcasts, I am the research director for the JFK Facts Substack. I work with a team of journalists and researchers there with more than combined century of expertise on that pivotal topic in American history, founded by author and journalist Jefferson Morley. [Jeff is my partner as well as my colleague.]

This month, due to the efforts of the House of Representatives Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, an important file was released, regarding a deceased CIA undercover officer who was commended for his work with Cuban exiles in the 1960s and for misleading Congressional investigators in the 1970s looking into the relationship between US intelligence agencies and assassinations.

Jeff Morley published his analysis of this file — called the Joannides File — and described its revelations on July 14, here.

At the same time, The Washington Post published a Page One story on the file by reporter Tom Jackman, and posted the story online here.

Left: July 14 online edition of the Washington Post article. Right: July 15 print edition, with Joannides story on page 1A (Credit: Washington Post)

Chad Nagle and I collected the media reactions to these stories and posted here.

Unfortunately, although reaction to the stories about the newly declassified documents was broad and positive, a seemingly coordinated attack by proponents of the CIA’s “nothing to see here” position on the documents has involved not only denial of the facts, but insults to the journalistic integrity of JFK Facts’ editor Morley, repeatedly referring to him as a “conspiracy entrepreneur.” Because he runs a Substack site with a $60 annual subscription fee? Big bucks, right?
These defamers have published their attacks on the Spy Talk Substack, which, by the way, offers a $99 annual subscription fee. I have now cancelled my subscription.

According to their stories, they have approached the Washington Post demanding corrections and even a retraction of Jackman‘s Page One story. Really?

I actually know the men behind this attack and have worked with them but won’t be lunching with them again. I don’t know if they understand that attacks on stories to which I have been the researcher are attacks on me as well. I stand behind my 45+ years as a news researcher.

Thanks for reading. I’m hoping to put this behind me and continue my work.