Part 8/14:
A recurring theme is how internal and external oversight failures permitted these abuses to persist. Farrell recounts opportunities where CIA internal inspectors knew these activities were unethical or illegal but remained silent due to fear of career repercussions. The destruction of files, including Sidney Gottlieb’s efforts to erase incriminating documents, prevented full accountability.
He discusses the systemic issues—lack of transparency, compartmentalization, and the absence of independent oversight—that fostered a culture of reckless experimentation. This environment contributed to incidents like Frank Olson’s mysterious death after exposure to MK Ultra experiments, possibly a cover-up to prevent scandal.