Was Guy Banister a CIA/FBI Mastermind?

If you believe the conspiracy books, Guy Banister was some sort of CIA/FBI mastermind whose detective agency was up to all sorts of no-good government business.

For instance, Joan Mellen writes in her book A Farewell to Justice: (page 68)

Virtually everyone connected with Banister worked for one intelligence agency or another, so that Garrison finally said, "It's almost semantics to discuss whether Banister was ONI or CIA. What difference does it make?"

The truth is that by 1963 Banister was a violent drunk who could not even pay his rent:

New Orleans Times-Picayune June 18, 1964

And that wasn't all -- Banister had troubles with the IRS. Here is an excerpt from a Garrison memo, dated January 18, 1967, on an interview with Sam Newman:

You would have thought that the FBI and the CIA could have straightened out Banister's issues with the IRS and at least sent enough business his way to pay the rent.

In 1960, the CIA did consider using Banister's business as a cover:

Here is another CIA memo about the possible usage of Banister's agency:

Here is a memo with their decision:

The CIA did not use Banister's agency::

Here is the CIA evaluation of Guy Banister's business:

The rest of the document has additional information on Guy Banister and his business.

You can read more of the CIA Office of Security file on Banister here.

Of course, much is made of this document about Banister supplying information to the CIA about the sale of jeeps:

Here is an article from the October 1, 1960 edition of the New Orleans Times-Picayune about the jeeps:

Here is a CIA document on their relationship with Banister:

Garrison might have believed that Banister "had intimate ties with the CIA and the Office of Naval Intelligence," yet he also knew that Banister was evicted for not paying his rent. You'd think he might have thought that was a clue to the real relationship between Banister and the intelligence agencies.

Previous Relevant Blog Posts on the Fake Handbill

"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads Viewers on Oswald's "Hands Off Cuba!" Handbills

An analysis of the handbill used in Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK: Destiny Betrayed.

"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads Viewers on Oswald's "Hands Off Cuba!" Handbills, Part Two
 An examination of where the fake handbill came from.

"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads Viewers on Oswald's "Hands Off Cuba!" Handbills, Part Three

A look at James DiEugenio's use of the fake handbill.

"JFK: Destiny Betrayed" Misleads Viewers on Oswald's "Hands Off Cuba!" Handbills, Part Four

Jefferson Morley is the latest researcher to use a fake Oswald handbill.

How about a "Hands Off Cuba" Coffee Mug?

First-generation researcher Paul Hoch shows off the latest conspiracy tchotchke - a "Hands Off Cuba" coffee mug featuring the fake handbill.
 

Previous Relevant Blog Posts on Guy Banister

Mancuso's Restaurant

Some pictures of Camp and Lafayette streets.

"JFK Revisited" Misleads on Guy Banister

Oliver Stone's so-called documentary, JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, makes the claim that Guy Banister gave Lee Harvey Oswald an office at 544 Camp Street in New Orleans.

Did Delphine Roberts see Oswald in Banister's Office?

Roberts was interviewed by Garrison's office in 1967 and she said nothing about seeing Oswald in Banister's office.

Did Delphine Roberts See Lee Harvey Oswald in Banister's Office? (Part Two)

Mary Brengel worked for Banister for a few months, and she also did not see Oswald in the office.

Did David Ferrie Introduce Jack Martin to Lee Harvey Oswald in Banister's office?

Jack Martin loved to tell stories. He said nothing about Oswald being in Banister's office when he blabbing to the FBI and the Secret Service in 1963 and 1964.

Exclusive: Jim Garrison Talks to Jack Martin

Jim Garrison interviewed Jack Martin in his office on December 14, 1966. Here is a link to a tape recording of that interview and a transcript. Martin talks about seeing Oswald in Banister's office with Sergio Arcacha Smith. But there are problems with his story.

Don't miss the Viewer's Guide to JFK: Destiny Betrayed and JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass.