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The '''Intelligence Identities Protection Act''' of 1982 (PL97-200, 50 United States Code  Secs. 421&ndash;426) is a [[United States]] [[law]] which makes it a federal crime to knowingly reveal the identity of a covert [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent. It was written after the 1975 assassination of CIA Athens Station Chief [[Richard Welch]] by the [[Greece|Greek]] [[terrorist]] group [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]]. He was outed by a magazine called ''[[CounterSpy]]'' edited by [[Timothy Butz]].<ref>''[[Washington Post]]'', [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/137503422.html?did=137503422&FMT=ABS&FMTS=AI&date=Dec+29%2C+1975&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&desc=Richard+S.+Welch Obituary: Richard S. Welch], 29 December 1975, A16. ISBN 01908286 </ref> A local paper checked with ''CounterSpy'' confirmed his identity.<ref>[http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1994_cr/s940715-halperin.htm Morton H. Halperin and National Security Issues—A Partial Record], Congressional Record, United States Senate - July 15, 1994, pg. S9109.</ref>

The '''Intelligence Identities Protection Act''' of 1982 (PL97-200, 50 United States Code  Secs. 421&ndash;426) is a [[United States]] [[law]] which makes it a federal crime to knowingly reveal the identity of a covert [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent. It was written after the 1975 assassination of CIA Athens Station Chief [[Richard Welch]] by the [[Greece|Greek]] [[terrorist]] group [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]]. He was outed by a magazine called ''[[CounterSpy]]'' edited by [[Timothy Butz]].<ref>''[[Washington Post]]'', [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/137503422.html?did=137503422&FMT=ABS&FMTS=AI&date=Dec+29,+1975&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&desc=Richard+S.+Welch Obituary: Richard S. Welch], 29 December 1975, A16. ISBN 01908286 </ref> A local paper checked with ''CounterSpy'' confirmed his identity.<ref>[http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1994_cr/s940715-halperin.htm Morton H. Halperin and National Security Issues—A Partial Record], Congressional Record, United States Senate - July 15, 1994, pg. S9109.</ref>

The activities of ex-CIA agent [[Philip Agee]] during the 1960s and 1970s may have also led impetus to the Acts passage as some commentators have noted the law was very specifically targeted at his actions.  Congressman [[Bill Young]] said during a debate in the House of Representatives, "What we're after today are the Philip Agees of the world."<ref>[http://www.reason.com/links/links071405.shtml Agee's Revenge], It's past time to kill the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, Jesse Walker, ''Reason'', July 14, 2005.</ref>

The activities of ex-CIA agent [[Philip Agee]] during the 1960s and 1970s may have also led impetus to the Acts passage as some commentators have noted the law was very specifically targeted at his actions.  Congressman [[Bill Young]] said during a debate in the House of Representatives, "What we're after today are the Philip Agees of the world."<ref>[http://www.reason.com/links/links071405.shtml Agee's Revenge], It's past time to kill the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, Jesse Walker, ''Reason'', July 14, 2005.</ref>

:Agee...left the agency in 1968 and began exposing CIA officers and operations through lectures, magazines and books.<ref>"To The Surprise Of A Few....," Security Intelligence (24 August 1992), 5. </ref>

:Agee...left the agency in 1968 and began exposing CIA officers and operations through lectures, magazines and books.<ref>"To The Surprise Of A Few....," Security Intelligence (24 August 1992), 5. </ref>

Referring to ''Counterspy'', a ''[[Washington Post]]'' editorial asked, "What other result than the killing [of Richard Welch] did Mr. [Timothy] Butz and his colleagues at ''Counterspy'' expect when they fingered Mr. Welch?"<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/137503422.html?did=137503422&FMT=ABS&FMTS=AI&date=Dec+29%2C+1975&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&desc=Richard+S.+Welch Obituary: Richard S. Welch], ''[[Washington Post]]'', 29 December 1975, A16. ISBN 01908286 </ref>

Referring to ''Counterspy'', a ''[[Washington Post]]'' editorial asked, "What other result than the killing [of Richard Welch] did Mr. [Timothy] Butz and his colleagues at ''Counterspy'' expect when they fingered Mr. Welch?"<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/137503422.html?did=137503422&FMT=ABS&FMTS=AI&date=Dec+29,+1975&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&desc=Richard+S.+Welch Obituary: Richard S. Welch], ''[[Washington Post]]'', 29 December 1975, A16. ISBN 01908286 </ref>

The Intelligence Identities Protection Act was passed soon thereafter. U.S. Senator [[John Chafee]], a ranking member of the Select Committee on Intelligence pointed out in the Congressional Record:  

The Intelligence Identities Protection Act was passed soon thereafter. U.S. Senator [[John Chafee]], a ranking member of the Select Committee on Intelligence pointed out in the Congressional Record:  

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[[Category:United States law]]

[[Category:United States Law]]