Gabe Briguglio, the last surviving FBI suspect in the decades-old Jimmy Hoffa disappearance case, is appealing for a formal declaration of innocence from the Justice Department. Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) has written to Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging him to issue a "letter of clearance" to clear Briguglio's name and alleviate the torment he has endured for nearly five decades.
For the past 50 years, Gabe Briguglio has carried the burden of being labeled one of the killers of labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa. Now 85 years old, Briguglio is the sole surviving FBI suspect, and after all these years, he has enlisted powerful support to finally clear his name.
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
"This man has been a victim for half-a-century," says Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.). "He did nothing wrong, and the FBI should apologize."
Van Drew has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting the Justice Department review Briguglio's case and issue a letter of clearance, an official declaration that Briguglio was not involved in Hoffa's murder.
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
Briguglio's name emerged a few months after Hoffa disappeared in 1975 from a New Jersey inmate, Ralph Picardo. Picardo told the FBI his speculations about Hoffa's fate, and the unsupported claims led to the impaneling of a grand jury in Detroit. However, the FBI, a Justice Department special prosecutor, and a federal grand jury later exposed Picardo as "a pathological liar" with a history of fabrications.
"The FBI, quite frankly, should not have used his testimony so freely," says Van Drew. "They should apologize."
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
In his letter, Van Drew highlights the significant impact these allegations have had on Briguglio's life and reputation. He argues that a formal declaration of innocence is necessary to restore Briguglio's standing and provide closure for his family.
James Hoffa, the legendary labor leader and former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, vanished on July 30, 1975, presumably en route to a meeting with Mafia leaders. He was last seen entering a maroon Mercury belonging to the son of a Detroit mobster, Anthony "Tony Jack" Giacalone.
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
Briguglio has consistently denied any involvement in Hoffa's disappearance, despite repeated accusations in the media, books, and even on the big screen. He maintains that he was home with his family in New Jersey at the time of Hoffa's vanishing.
"I had nothing to do with it," Briguglio told Fox Nation in an exclusive interview. "I don't know how much longer I have to live, but I want to clear my name."
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
Picardo, a convicted murderer, had ulterior motives for implicating Briguglio, according to the latter. He believes Picardo fabricated the story to seek leniency in his own murder sentence, which was eventually forgiven, leading to his release from prison.
Multiple former FBI and Justice Department officials have expressed skepticism about Briguglio's involvement in the Hoffa case. They have characterized Picardo as untrustworthy and his claims as baseless.
Last Living Jimmy Hoffa Suspect Demands Exoneration after Decades of False Allegations
Retired FBI agent Jim Dooley, one of Picardo's case agents, stated that he "would not believe a word that came out of (Picardo's) mouth." Similarly, Melvin Gudknecht, a retired IRS special agent, described Picardo as "a pathological liar" and "unsavory character."
Briguglio's case is reminiscent of the experience of Charles "Chuckie" O'Brien, another Detroit Hoffa suspect who sought a letter of clearance in 2013. However, an internal procedural issue blocked the issuance of the document, and O'Brien passed away in 2020 without receiving the vindication he sought.
Briguglio's brother, Sal, was shot and killed in 1978, allegedly for considering turning state's evidence against "Tony Pro" Provenzano. Briguglio insists he was not involved in organized crime and had only limited interactions with Provenzano through union business.
Briguglio's family believes his treatment is a miscarriage of justice, highlighting the devastating impact of delayed justice. His daughter, Jonna, expresses gratitude to Congressman Van Drew for his efforts to clear her father's name and provide the redress they have been seeking for nearly five decades.
"For God's sake, let's end this and clear his name," says Van Drew. "This is something that deserves to be rectified. It is so wrong, and it is truly un-American."
