ROBERT SCHERRER'S LIFE: AN OVERVIEW
Robert Scherrer Overview
Scherrer & Operation Condor: An Inside Look
Notably, Scherrer played a prominent role in Operation Condor. As a legal attaché to South America, he transmitted important information to the United States. Moreover, one instance of this was the FBI Report to Chilean Military on Detainee, which was published on June 6, 1975. This document was sent by Scherrer to Chilean General Ernesto Baeza, who offered confidential information during the questioning of Jorge Isaac Fuentes, a Chilean leftist. Specifically, this letter acknowledged the United States' interference with Chile’s military regime. [15] It also guaranteed supervision of dissenters that resided in the United States, which shifted espionage was handled at home. Due to Operation Condor, Jorge Issac Fuentes was arrested. And, subsequently, he was lacerated in Paraguay, released to the Chilean security force, and vanished. [9]
Chiefly, Scherrer provided information on the whereabouts of individuals that could have potentially been helping Fuentes by spreading communist ideologies in the United States. The addresses disclosed were in New York, New York, Dallas, Texas, and Puerto Rico. [10]
The disclosure of this information by Scherrer allowed preemptive measures to take place that halted the further possible dissemination of communism. Indeed, his espionage was pivotal in securing vital information for the United States as the threat of dangerous military regimes and human right violations heightened.
FBI Cable, “Recent Death of Montonero leader Marcos Osatinsky in Cordoba,” Secret, August 26, 1975.
Source: National Security Archive- The George Washington University
Description: "In this cable, legal attaché in Buenos Aires, Robert S. Scherrer, reports on the detention and execution of Montoneros’ leader Marcos Osatinsky. Osatinsky was arrested by the security forces of provincial governor Raul Lacabanne and so severely tortured that a decision was made to execute him, according to a secret FBI report. The authorities then staged his death to make it appear he had been killed during an effort to rescue policemen the Montoneros had supposedly taken hostage. To hide evidence of their abuses, Lacabanne’s security personnel went so far as to hijack the hearse that was transporting Osatinsky’s body from Cordoba to Tucuman. “The purpose of stealing his body was to prevent the body from being subjected to an autopsy, which would have clearly shown he had been tortured,” Scherrer reported. 'It is doubtful that Osatinsky’s body will ever turn up.' ”
Source: Argentina Declassification Project, 2019
Source: National Security Archive- The George Washington University
Description: "In this cable, legal attaché in Buenos Aires, Robert S. Scherrer, reports on the detention and execution of Montoneros’ leader Marcos Osatinsky. Osatinsky was arrested by the security forces of provincial governor Raul Lacabanne and so severely tortured that a decision was made to execute him, according to a secret FBI report. The authorities then staged his death to make it appear he had been killed during an effort to rescue policemen the Montoneros had supposedly taken hostage. To hide evidence of their abuses, Lacabanne’s security personnel went so far as to hijack the hearse that was transporting Osatinsky’s body from Cordoba to Tucuman. “The purpose of stealing his body was to prevent the body from being subjected to an autopsy, which would have clearly shown he had been tortured,” Scherrer reported. 'It is doubtful that Osatinsky’s body will ever turn up.' ”
Source: Argentina Declassification Project, 2019
FBI memorandum, "[Abduction and Assassination of Jesus Cejas Arias and Cresencio Galanena Hernandez]," for the Ambassador from Legal Attaché, Secret/Eyes Only, October 19, 1976.
Source: National Security Archive-The George Washington University
Description: "Legal attaché Scherrer reports that the two Cuban diplomatic staff bodies “were cemented into one large storage drum and thrown into the Rio Lujan.” Scherrer’s source estimates that 'Because Cejas and Galanena had been immersed in water for such considerable period of time… it is doubtful that they will be identified.' The remains were identified in 2012 through DNA by the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology."
Source: Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019
Source: National Security Archive-The George Washington University
Description: "Legal attaché Scherrer reports that the two Cuban diplomatic staff bodies “were cemented into one large storage drum and thrown into the Rio Lujan.” Scherrer’s source estimates that 'Because Cejas and Galanena had been immersed in water for such considerable period of time… it is doubtful that they will be identified.' The remains were identified in 2012 through DNA by the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology."
Source: Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019
FBI report, "{U.S. Criticism of Argentina for Alleged Human Rights Violations]," Secret, June 15, 1977.
Source: National Security Archive-The George Washington University
Description: "In this report to the FBI Director, Scherrer reports on his sources’ objections to the Carter administration’s new emphasis on human rights, and the obstacles created by “the human rights problem” to gathering information and maintaining intelligence liaisons. 'Several Argentine military contacts have privately informed Legat that they suspect the Central Intelligence Agency provided information [to the State Department] concerning Argentine intelligence service methods used in repressing terrorists, which admittedly were harsh,” Scherrer noted in the report. “For this reason, it has become apparent that Argentine Government officials in Buenos Aires are being extremely cautious, in order not to divulge information which might be harmful to Argentina in the human rights area.' Scherrer reported that he had 'successfully been able to avoid lack of cooperation by his contacts because of the human rights problem by pointing out that he represents the FBI and his duties do not include gathering intelligence on human rights in Argentina.'"
Source: Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019
Footnotes
[1] "OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[2] John, Dinges. The Condor Years : How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents / John Dinges. New York: New Press, 2004, 89-90.
[3] Dinges, 90-91.
[4] Landau, Saul, and Sarah Anderson. "Autumn of the Autocrat." Covert Action Quarterly (1998): 33-38.
[5] Landau, Saul, and Sarah Anderson, 33-38.
[6] "OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[7] Letter of 6 June 1975 from Scherrer to Chilean General Ernesto Baeza (on the National Security Archives site)
[8]"OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[9] Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, Report of the Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation (1991)
[10] Letter of 6 June 1975 from Scherrer to Chilean General Ernesto Baeza (on the National Security Archives site)
[1] "OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[2] John, Dinges. The Condor Years : How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents / John Dinges. New York: New Press, 2004, 89-90.
[3] Dinges, 90-91.
[4] Landau, Saul, and Sarah Anderson. "Autumn of the Autocrat." Covert Action Quarterly (1998): 33-38.
[5] Landau, Saul, and Sarah Anderson, 33-38.
[6] "OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[7] Letter of 6 June 1975 from Scherrer to Chilean General Ernesto Baeza (on the National Security Archives site)
[8]"OBITUARIES: ROBERT SCHERRER DIES; WAS FBI SPECIAL AGENT." The Washington Post (1974-), Nov 29, 1995.
[9] Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, Report of the Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation (1991)
[10] Letter of 6 June 1975 from Scherrer to Chilean General Ernesto Baeza (on the National Security Archives site)