My Family’s Long and Painful Relationship With the FBI
I never knew my uncle, Marvin Risen, who was an FBI agent in Nashville and tragically died in a plane crash in 1943, long before I was born. Growing up, my family was troubled by the lack of answers surrounding Marvin’s death, leading to wild speculations about wartime sabotage and espionage rings. Decades later, the full story of Marvin Risen and the FBI would finally be revealed, shedding light on the painful treatment our family received from the bureau.
The Legacy of J. Edgar Hoover
Marvin’s death occurred during J. Edgar Hoover’s reign as FBI Director, where he ran the bureau like a dictatorship, focusing on glorifying high-profile cases while neglecting agents who died in accidents or from illnesses. Marvin’s plane crash was initially suspected to be an act of sabotage but was later determined to be an accident due to icing conditions on the aircraft.
The FBI’s Callous Handling of Marvin’s Death
After Marvin’s death, Hoover took a personal interest in the case but quickly lost interest once sabotage was ruled out. The FBI’s focus shifted to finding Marvin’s badge and gun, neglecting to honor him on the FBI Wall of Honor reserved for agents killed in the line of duty. Hoover and his associate Clyde Tolson decided that an accidental plane crash did not qualify as dying in the line of duty, excluding Marvin from the Wall of Honor.
A Long Overdue Recognition
Decades after Marvin’s death, the FBI revisited its standards for inclusion on the Wall of Honor, leading to Marvin’s posthumous recognition along with seven others. The ceremony held at FBI headquarters honored Marvin and those whose names were recently added to the wall, marking a significant change in the bureau’s approach to honoring fallen agents.
A Painful History with the FBI
As a journalist covering national security issues, my interactions with the FBI have been fraught with surveillance, intimidation, and leak investigations aimed at discrediting me and my reporting. Despite ongoing investigations into my work, I continued to engage with the bureau for interviews while remaining wary of their motives. The FBI’s aggressive tactics culminated in an attempted ambush during a meeting with a source in Europe.
Moving Forward
While I acknowledge the long-overdue recognition of Marvin Risen by the FBI, I chose not to attend the ceremony due to my complicated history with the bureau. My experiences have shaped my perspective on the FBI, and I remain cautious in my interactions with them, both personally and professionally.
In conclusion, the story of Marvin Risen sheds light on the complexities of the FBI’s history and its treatment of agents who died in service. While his posthumous recognition is a step towards rectifying past injustices, it also serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of historical actions on individuals and families.