Ex-intelligence chief to be sued over book

September 22, 1981

The Justice Department plans to sue William E. Colby, former director of central intelligence, for publishing his 1978 memoir "Honorable Men" without clearing all editions with the government, Newsweek reports.

The magazine said the Reagan administration is using Mr. colby -- whose book was favorable to the CIA -- as an example to show that security leaks or breaches of legal contracts will not be tolerated between the government and its workers, regardless of their political leanings.

The alleged breach of security occurred when galley proofs of the book reached a French publisher before the CIA could demand that certain passages be deleted Newsweek said.