Editing Clark Clifford (section)

==Alleged CIA Connections Through BCCI==
===BCCI and First American Bankshares===
In the late 1970s, Clifford and his law partner, [[Robert Altman]], were approached by [[Agha Hasan Abedi]], the founder of BCCI, to represent the bank in acquiring First American Bankshares, a Washington, D.C.-based bank. Unbeknownst to Clifford, BCCI illegally controlled First American through nominees, violating U.S. banking laws. Clifford became chairman of First American, and the bank was later revealed to be a front for BCCI’s illicit activities, including money laundering and support for covert operations.

===CIA’s Use of BCCI===
As detailed in the response to your previous query about Abedi, BCCI was used by the CIA to funnel funds for covert operations, such as arming the Afghan mujahideen and facilitating the Iran-Contra affair. A 1992 Senate report confirmed the CIA held accounts at BCCI and used the bank for “sensitive intelligence operations.” Clifford’s role as chairman of First American placed him in proximity to these activities, though no direct evidence shows he was aware of or complicit in the CIA’s use of BCCI.
===Allegations of CIA Complicity===
Some sources, including investigative reports and former BCCI insiders, speculate that Clifford’s involvement with BCCI was tolerated by the CIA because the bank served as a useful tool for covert operations. For example, a former BCCI officer claimed Abedi had ties to [[Richard Helms]], a former CIA director, who later became a legal client of Clifford’s law firm. This connection suggests a potential overlap between Clifford’s legal work and CIA interests, though it remains circumstantial.

===Congressional Investigations===
The 1991–1992 Senate investigations into BCCI, led by Senators John Kerry and Hank Brown, scrutinized Clifford’s role. Clifford testified that he was unaware of BCCI’s illegal control of First American, claiming he was misled by Abedi. Critics argued that Clifford, given his intelligence background and access to CIA briefings, should have suspected BCCI’s activities. However, the CIA’s own secrecy about its BCCI accounts limited what Clifford could have known, and he was never charged with wrongdoing.