Robert Altman

Robert Alan Altman (February 23, 1947 – February 3, 2021) was an American lawyer and businessman, best known for his involvement in the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) scandal and his later career in the video game industry. Born in Washington, D.C., Altman graduated from the University of Wisconsin and earned a law degree from George Washington University. He joined the law firm Clifford & Warnke, becoming a close associate and protégé of Clark Clifford, a prominent Democratic advisor and former Secretary of Defense. Altman served as president of First American Bankshares, a U.S. bank secretly controlled by BCCI, and was implicated in the bank’s illegal activities when the scandal broke in 1991. Indicted in New York for fraud and bribery related to BCCI’s acquisition of First American, he was acquitted in 1993. Later, Altman co-founded ZeniMax Media in 1999, serving as chairman and CEO, overseeing franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. He was married to actress Lynda Carter and had two children.

CIA Connections

Role in BCCI’s Acquisition of First American

In the late 1970s, Altman, as a partner at Clifford & Warnke, worked with Clark Clifford to represent BCCI in its acquisition of First American Bankshares, a Washington, D.C.-based bank. BCCI, founded by Agha Hasan Abedi, used nominees to conceal its ownership, violating U.S. banking laws. Altman served as president of First American, managing its operations alongside Clifford, who was chairman.

BCCI’s CIA Links: BCCI was used by the CIA to facilitate covert operations, including funding the Afghan mujahideen and the Iran-Contra affair. A 1992 Senate report confirmed the CIA held accounts at BCCI and used the bank for “sensitive intelligence operations.” Altman’s role at First American placed him in proximity to these activities, as the bank was a BCCI front.

Allegations of CIA Complicity: Senate investigations (1991–1992) suggested BCCI’s operations, including its control of First American, were tolerated by U.S. authorities, including the CIA, due to the bank’s utility in covert operations. Reports, such as those by Peter Dale Scott, speculate that Altman’s legal work for BCCI aligned with CIA interests, given the bank’s role in intelligence operations.

Legal Representation and Proximity to Intelligence Figures

Work with Clark Clifford: Altman’s partnership with Clifford, who helped create the CIA and served on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, placed him in a network with access to intelligence community figures. Clifford’s representation of former CIA Director Richard Helms, a BCCI associate, suggests an overlap between their legal work and CIA-adjacent activities.

BCCI’s Intelligence Connections: BCCI’s ties to intelligence agencies, including the CIA, Saudi intelligence, and the Safari Club (a covert alliance involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, France, and Morocco), created an environment where Altman’s work for BCCI intersected with intelligence operations. BCCI shareholder Kamal Adham, a former Saudi intelligence chief, was linked to CIA activities, and Altman’s interactions with BCCI executives like Abedi placed him in this orbit.

Congressional Investigations and Indictment

Senate and New York Investigations: The 1991–1992 Senate investigations, led by Senators John Kerry and Hank Brown, scrutinized Altman’s role as president of First American. He and Clifford were indicted in New York in 1992 on charges of fraud and bribery related to BCCI’s illegal acquisition of the bank. The investigations highlighted BCCI’s CIA connections, noting the agency’s use of BCCI accounts and its failure to share information with regulators. Altman testified that he was unaware of BCCI’s secret control of First American, claiming he and Clifford were misled by Abedi.

Acquittal in 1993: Altman was acquitted of all charges in New York, and federal charges were dropped after a $5 million settlement to resolve civil claims. The investigations underscored the CIA’s secrecy about its BCCI accounts, which limited what Altman could have known about the bank’s intelligence-related activities.

Allegations by BCCI Insiders: A former BCCI officer, cited in reports by Peter Dale Scott, claimed Abedi had ties to the CIA from his time at United Bank Limited, with Richard Helms allegedly encouraging BCCI’s creation as an intelligence front. Altman’s role as BCCI’s U.S. legal representative and First American’s president could imply he was part of this network.