Giuseppe Santovito
Person·government·AI Enriched
Relationships:1
Events:9
Library:3
Confidence:
90%
Key Facts
Type
Person
Sector
government
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
Italy
Nationality
Italian
Birth Date
8/12/1918
Death Date
2/6/1984
Sex
Not specified
Also Known As
Joe SantovitoG. SantovitoSantovito
Tags
generalmilitary_intelligence
Overall Confidence
90%
Internal Notes
No notes
Career & Education
Positions
Capo Ufficio
Reparto R
Officer
Reparto D
1965 - 1966
Direttore
SISMI
1978 - 1981
Education
No education added
About
Giuseppe Santovito (August 12, 1918 – February 6, 1984) was an Italian military intelligence officer born in Taranto, Italy. He attended the Accademia Militare and pursued a career in the Italian armed forces, serving in various intelligence roles, including heading the 'R' department office and assignment to the 'D' department during 1965-1966. From 1978 to 1981, he directed Italy's SISMI military intelligence service from its inception. A member of the Propaganda Due (P2) Masonic lodge, his tenure ended amid the P2 scandal, leading to his dismissal by Prime Minister Giovanni Spadolini. Santovito testified before the Italian parliament about Michael Ledeen's collaboration with Italian intelligence services. He died in Florence, Italy.
Key Relationships
Michael Ledeen
undisclosed_payment
SISMI Director Giuseppe Santovito authorized Ledeen's work for Italian military intelligence in 1980. SISMI assigned Ledeen a coded identification: Z-3. Pazienza alleged Ledeen received at least $120,000, with at least some paid into a Bermuda bank account. Ledeen partially confirmed this: he said he 'may have received $100,000 and travel expenses' and 'believed he had a personal account in Bermuda for a period of months.' Santovito testified before the Italian parliament that 'Ledeen had collaborated with the Italian services' and that 'Ledeen and two former CIA agents taught Italian agents.' Federico Umberto D'Amato, described as 'the J. Edgar Hoover of Italy,' gave similar testimony. Ledeen served as an unofficial conduit between Secretary of State Haig and Santovito.
Since 1980
Recent Events
Residence in Firenze ended
Residence in Firenze, Italy ended (death place)
1/1/1984
Testified before Italian parliament
Testified before the Italian parliament about Michael Ledeen's collaboration with Italian intelligence services
1/1/1981
Military service ended
End of military service in Esercito Italiano with rank of Generale
1/1/1981
Dismissed as SISMI director
Tenure ended amid the P2 scandal, leading to his dismissal by Prime Minister Giovanni Spadolini
1/1/1981
Undisclosed payment: Giuseppe Santovito → Michael Ledeen
SISMI Director Giuseppe Santovito authorized Ledeen's work for Italian military intelligence in 1980. SISMI assigned Ledeen a coded identification: Z-3. Pazienza alleged Ledeen received at least $120,000, with at least some paid into a Bermuda bank account. Ledeen partially confirmed this: he said he 'may have received $100,000 and travel expenses' and 'believed he had a personal account in Bermuda for a period of months.' Santovito testified before the Italian parliament that 'Ledeen had collaborated with the Italian services' and that 'Ledeen and two former CIA agents taught Italian agents.' Federico Umberto D'Amato, described as 'the J. Edgar Hoover of Italy,' gave similar testimony. Ledeen served as an unofficial conduit between Secretary of State Haig and Santovito.
1/1/1980