This episode in question wasn't exclusively based on the activities of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). Instead, it drew inspiration from a combination of this and another real case, and a case involving undercover LAPD officer James Jarrett in 1969. Jarrett, who worked in the Criminal Conspiracy Section (CSS), collaborated with a group of activists known as The Friends of the Black Panthers. Two of their members, Donald Freed and Shirley Sutherland, approached Jarrett for help in acquiring pepper spray for self-defense. Instead of assisting them with the requested item, Jarrett stole explosives from a Navy arsenal and gave them to Freed and Sutherland. Shortly after he left their home, the FBI, LAPD, and Treasury Department agents raided it and arrested Freed and Sutherland
Though the Pepper and Royster characters weren't based on James Jarrett, the Monica Dunlap character was partially based Patricia Hearst.
Cathey Paine who plays Monica Dunlap (the character loosely based on Patty Hearst) also portrayed Manson Family member/convicted murderer Leslie Van Houten in Helter Skelter the same year (1976).