The CIA vs. Rob Reiner's 'Who Killed JFK?'

The clandestine service rebuts the Hollywood producer's podcast — and he punches back

Last week, I asked the CIA about the popular “Who Killed JFK?” podcast, cohosted by Rob Reiner and Soledad O’Brien. The 10-part show, which has been downloaded 7 million times since November, asserts that President John F. Kennedy was killed by enemies in the CIA and Pentagon.

I asked the CIA 1) if the podcast was factually accurate in its depiction of senior CIA officers James Angleton, William Harvey and David Phillips; and 2) did Angleton, Harvey or Phillips surveil Lee Harvey Oswald?

On Monday, March 18, a CIA spokesperson called me, and an off-the-record conversation ensued. Ethically speaking, I cannot share the substance of what was said, but the Agency did give me this statement:

“The notion that CIA was involved in the death of John F. Kennedy is absolutely false.”