Luke LaManna

The Citizens Commission to investigate the FBI was a bigger success than they ever could have imagined. About a year after the robbery in 1972, NBC reporter Carl Stern was studying the stolen FBI files. He zeroed in on the FBI program called COINTELPRO. Stern was determined to figure out what it meant, but the FBI refused to tell him.

So, he and NBC successfully sued to obtain government documents about the program, and it was more shocking than Stern could have predicted. The FBI wasn't just targeting activist groups. They were also trying to undermine prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. One of their main targets was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Stern learned the FBI had spied on and harassed King.

So, he and NBC successfully sued to obtain government documents about the program, and it was more shocking than Stern could have predicted. The FBI wasn't just targeting activist groups. They were also trying to undermine prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. One of their main targets was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Stern learned the FBI had spied on and harassed King.

They mailed him letters urging him to commit suicide. They sent King's wife a recording of what the FBI alleged was him having sex with other women and offered to share it with journalists, too. After Stern published his findings, the public was outraged.

They mailed him letters urging him to commit suicide. They sent King's wife a recording of what the FBI alleged was him having sex with other women and offered to share it with journalists, too. After Stern published his findings, the public was outraged.

It seemed to them that the FBI was above the law and that the Bureau could do whatever they wanted and keep it a secret in the name of national security. In January 1975, the Senate created a committee headed by Senator Frank Church to look into abuses by the FBI and other intelligence agencies.

It seemed to them that the FBI was above the law and that the Bureau could do whatever they wanted and keep it a secret in the name of national security. In January 1975, the Senate created a committee headed by Senator Frank Church to look into abuses by the FBI and other intelligence agencies.

The Church Committee eventually provided 96 legislative and regulatory recommendations that would keep the FBI in check in the future. But the identity of the burglars who started it all remained a secret until 2014, when journalist Betty Metzger published her book, The Burglary, The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI. The burglars had kept their code of silence for more than 40 years.

The Church Committee eventually provided 96 legislative and regulatory recommendations that would keep the FBI in check in the future. But the identity of the burglars who started it all remained a secret until 2014, when journalist Betty Metzger published her book, The Burglary, The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI. The burglars had kept their code of silence for more than 40 years.

Follow Redacted Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to every episode of Redacted early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.

Follow Redacted Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to every episode of Redacted early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, hosted by me, Luke LaManna. A quick note about our stories. We do a lot of research, but some details and scenes are dramatized. We used many sources for our show, but we especially recommend The Burglary. The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI by Betty Metzger.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, hosted by me, Luke LaManna. A quick note about our stories. We do a lot of research, but some details and scenes are dramatized. We used many sources for our show, but we especially recommend The Burglary. The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI by Betty Metzger.

The second season of the podcast Snafu called Medburg and the Documentary 1971. This episode was written by Natalie Pritzofsky. Sound design by Andre Plews. Our producers are Christopher B. Dunn and John Reed. Our associate producers and researchers are Sarah Vytak, Teja Palakonda, and Rafa Faria. Fact-checking by Sheila Patterson. For Ballin Studios, our head of production is Zach Levitt.

The second season of the podcast Snafu called Medburg and the Documentary 1971. This episode was written by Natalie Pritzofsky. Sound design by Andre Plews. Our producers are Christopher B. Dunn and John Reed. Our associate producers and researchers are Sarah Vytak, Teja Palakonda, and Rafa Faria. Fact-checking by Sheila Patterson. For Ballin Studios, our head of production is Zach Levitt.

Script editing by Scott Allen. Our coordinating producer is Samantha Collins. Production support by Avery Siegel. Produced by me, Luke LaManna. Executive producers are Mr. Ballin and Nick Witters. For Wondery, our head of sound is Marcelino Villapando. Senior producers are Loredana Palavoda, Dave Schilling, and Rachel Engelman. Senior managing producer is Nick Ryan.

Script editing by Scott Allen. Our coordinating producer is Samantha Collins. Production support by Avery Siegel. Produced by me, Luke LaManna. Executive producers are Mr. Ballin and Nick Witters. For Wondery, our head of sound is Marcelino Villapando. Senior producers are Loredana Palavoda, Dave Schilling, and Rachel Engelman. Senior managing producer is Nick Ryan.

Managing producer is Olivia Fonte. Our executive producers are Aaron O'Flaherty and Marshall Louis. For Wondery.

Managing producer is Olivia Fonte. Our executive producers are Aaron O'Flaherty and Marshall Louis. For Wondery.

Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to redacted, declassified mysteries early and ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. On the morning of September 21st, 2001, Ana Montes got up early and stepped into her shower. She turned on the hot water and then started using her many bars of soap, one after another, as she meticulously cleaned every inch of her body.