-------------------------------------------------------- The following text is from a photocopy of a letter that was originally sent to former Polk County Deputy Prosecutor Charles E. Black on January 9, 1992 by Tom Brown, then-Treasurer of the Arkansas Committee. -------------------------------------------------------- THE ARKANSAS COMMITTEE Student Union #517 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 9 January 1992 Chuck Black Texarkana, Arkansas Dear Chuck, The Arkansas Committee, under the FOIA of the State of Arkansas, is making this request for copies of all records, including, but not limited to, all letters, memorandum of meetings, telephone records and financial records pertaining to the authorization of expenditure of $25,000 in state funds you may have received from Tommy Goodwin of the Arkansas State Police for the funding and/or support of prosecution of Barry Seal's drug smuggling operation at the Mena Airport. As you know, the Arkansas Committee is committed to a full and complete exposure of the coverup of this drug smuggling operation. It is clear from the investigation already completed by the state police that major criminal acts of drug trafficking, gun smuggling, and money laundering, occurred as a part of the Contra resupply operation located at Mena Airport. With your help, the citizens of Arkansas will realize a new level of political accountability and moral responsiveness on the part of the state government. Sincerely, T O M B R O W N Tom Brown Treasurer ------------------------------------------------------- The following text is from a photocopy of a letter that was sent in response to Brown's FOIA request from Charles E. Black, former Polk County Deputy Prosecutor, on January 13, 1992. ------------------------------------------------------- BRENT HALTOM Eighth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney MILLER COUNTY COURTHOUSE TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS 75502 (501) 774-1002 January 13, 1992 THE ARKANSAS COMMITTEE Student Union #517 University of Arkansas Att: Mr. Tom Brown Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 RE: response to FOIA request Dear Mr. Brown: This letter is in response to your request, via your letter received January 13, 1992, for material described in your letter (copy attached). Unfortunately , I do not currently have (and have never had) any records as described in your request. As I have previously stated, I did (quite some time ago) in my capacity as deputy prosecuting attorney for Polk County , Arkansas, make an in-person request to Governor Clinton for any available State-level financial aid to assist in the local-level effort to investigate the rather wide array of illegal activities by Barry Seal, and accomplices, in Polk County. To the best of my recollection, Governor Clinton's verbal response was to the effect that he would have someone (not identified to me) check on the availability of financial aid and get word to me. Thereafter, I never personally received any word or information, from anyone, that any amount of state funds was available. Quite frankly, even if I had been made aware that $25,000.00 was available, that specific amount would have been tantamount to trying to extinguish a raging forest fire by spitting on it. That characterization is made due to the interstate and international ramifications of the illegal activities disclosed in the mammoth investigative file compiled by Russell Welch and Bill Duncan, among others. I heartily commend and applaud the efforts and goal of The Arkansas Committee to fully expose what I, too, believe to be a coverup of the above-referenced illegal activities. Perhaps the efforts of Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh will foster this goal. I personally stand ready and willing to do anything I can to attain that goal. Sincerely, C H A R L E S E . B L A C K Charles E. Black Deputy Prosecuting Attorney CB/cn enclosure ------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Brown also sent an identical letter to Joseph Hardegree, the former Polk County Prosecutor, on January 9, 1992. The following text is from a photocopy of a letter that was sent in response to Brown's FOIA request on January 21, 1992. ------------------------------------------------------- JOE HARDEGREE P.A. ATTORNEY AT LAW 507 Hickory Street Mena, Arkansas 71953 (501) XXX-XXXX January 21, 1992 The Arkansas Committee Student Union #517 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 71701 Re: Mena Airport Your letter of 1/9/92 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: I am in receipt of your letter of January 9, received by my office while I was out of the State. Please be advised that I am no longer a public person and I have none of the records of the office of the prosecuting attorney of 18th Circuit West, which office I held through 1990. Mr. Orvin W. Foster of Mena is the present prosecuting attorney for this circuit. You have asked for letters, memoranda and records pertaining to "the authorization of expenditure of $25,000.00 in State funds" which I may have received from Tommy Goodwin of the Arkansas State Police for the funding and/or support of prosecution of Barry Seal's drug smuggling operation at the Mena Airport. During my tenure as prosecuting attorney, I did not receive $25,000.00 in State funds, or any part of this amount of money, nor did I hear anything concerning these State funds, from Col. Goodwin or anyone at Arkansas State Police or anyone in the governor's officer. The only investigation that I am aware of which has expended funds or resources has been the Grand Jury investigation of the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. You will need more than lots of luck to obtain any information about this investigation, but that's all I can wish you, and I have no information of any kind to share with you on your request. Sincerely, J O E H A R D E G R E E Joe Hardegree JH/bjm