Federal Bureau of Investigation

"RIDS FOIA Buzz" newsletter, 7 issues from 2011

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www.altgov2.org/FOIALand RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 9 January 2011

Message from Section <;:hief David M. Hardy Inside this issue: Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)

Message from It's been a while since the processed. We're just At the same time our qual­ Section Chief last Buzz and a lot has under 2 million pages, ity will improve. happened. Like all you, that number is down from I've been followingthe 2.8 million ten months We've never gotten to that Congressman 2 news about the federal ago. Our pending num­ point before. We were William "Bill" working towards that point budget and the federal bers have dropped to Dickinson in 2005, but the losses in­ work force. i don't see any 2,237 from ;3,500in that curred in the move plus the immediate impact on our same time period. loss of our vacant positions operations. We were well Daniel Schorr 3 placed for the hiring mora­ I believe this trend will reversed our progress. The impact of the AG torium, having only a few continue, although not as vacancies within the sec­ dramatically as the last memo further delayed our ten months. That said, recovery. Now, we're on DIOG 4 tion. Our budget will not Section 4 we're not going to run out our way. Even with the grow in the near future, but of work. As the numbers uncertainties of future liti­ we are at present robustly fall, the backlog will dry gation and the impact of George Steinbrenner 5 supported by the FBI. This up, and there will be no lowering of FOIA fees, I is in recognition of the im­ waiting in the backlog. like the way it looks. Work Process Unit portance of the work we 6 The time required to proc­ "Elephant Eater'' are performing. We are ess requests will start to making great progress to­ decrease until we reach a wards reducing the number steady state. of pages that need to be Specia I Topics: Release Congressman William "Bill" Dickinson files RIDSQ&A FOIPA Unit #1 recently made payments made to the Con- the chosen company, despite • Classification a release of FBI documents gressman by the fuel com- having the low bid. Even regarding the late Congress­ pany Spear Services. This though Spear Services didn't company was one of Uiree have the equipment or trained b6 • Litigation man William "Bill" Dickinson b7C of Alabama. The re uester which submitted a fueling of personnel to handle the job, On the Lighter aircraft contract at the Fort they were willing to purctiase ., Rucker Army Base located in new equipment and have peo­ Side! Alabama in 1969. The, high- pie trained to handle the refuel-, _____....,_ ontract with est bidding company was ing/fueling job. Congressman • FOU Processing the St. Louis Magazine. The awarded the contract but had Dickinson met with two Spear Hot Topics requester was only seeking inadequate machinery and Services executives after a documents before 1973. manpower to do the job. rally in Alabama to discuss • Bolos This release consists of 500 Executives from Spear Ser- their concerns pertaining to the pages of documents from vices contacted Congressman awarded contract. Continued Bae� Page Buzz Dickinson to obtain his help to on page 2. two main files. The first con­ find out why Spear was not sist of alleged bribery Page 2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

Cont'd Release Congressman William "Bill" Dickinson Files

The Spear Services execu­ interviewed. At the end of tives then contributed a the investigation, Congress­ check in the amount of man Dickinson was cleared of $1,000 to the Congress­ any wrongdoing. man's campaign after listen­ The second file consists of "Believe it or not" ing to their concerns. Syndi­ documents concerning a re­ cated columnist Jack Ander­ RIDS received a quest made by Congressman son claimed in a column that FOIA request on ran in the local paper that Dickinson to the FBI concern­ ing marches held in Alabama. November 14, Spear Servics paid Con­ gressman Dickinson $5,000 2010, from a for the contract. Spear was Fi les processed by requester seeking awarded the last five months b6 of the year-long contract the following A b7c when the original contractor L �----­ material: was terminated for lack of FOIPA #1 operation equipment. An "I am writing investigation was opened regarding what and several people were b6 happens if in b7c Electro-Shock/ Release of Daniel Schorr Files by LAS.... _____ I ..., lobotomies Daniel Schorr (1916-2010) was regularly reported on the Wa­ File 161-HQ-8258 is the FBl's an acclaimed journalist· who tergate scandal, winning three Special Inquiry (SPIN) Investiga­ someone is worked for CBS, CNN, and Emmy awards for his cover­ tion of Schorr. A SPIN investi­ assigned to a most recently, National Public age. gation examines the background Radio. Mr. Schorr was known of a high-level nominee to ensure person to talk, for his work as a foreign corre­ This release consists of two that there are no factors in their files. File 97-HQ-1405 is a move, and control spondent working in the Soviet background that would render Union. During his 23-year ca­ "Foreign Agents Registration them unsuitable for such an ap­ them. I am reer at CBS, he became a fo­ Act" investig.ation initiated pointment. In this case, the during World War 11, when emailing because cus of the Nixon Administra­ Nixon Administration requested tion. The FBI was drawn into Schorr took a job as a foreign the investigation for fraudulent of extremely poor this effort when the White correspondent for a Dutch reasons. House requested a background news service. Additional behavior of a investigation on Schorr. The information on Schorr is in­ 97-HQ-1405 July 1942 to Sep-· cluded in the file as he be­ tember 1957, eight pages controller." effort was ended as soon as the FBI realized what had hap­ came a U. S. reporter as­ signed to Moscow. 161-HQ-8258, August 1971 to pened. Subsequently, Schorr September 1976, 291 pages

b6 Release C:>f Material Pertaining to the DIOG by LAS ....____I _. b7C The FBI posted material per­ the FBl's oversight, self­ Freedom of the Press, Free­ taining to Section 4 of the Do­ regulation, and strict adher­ dom of Peaceful Assembly mestic Investigations and Op­ ence to the Constitution of the and to Petition of Government erations Guide (DIOG), Privacy ·united States. Section 4 rec­ for Redress of Grievances, and Civil Liberties, and Least ognizes that it is the FBl's and Exercise of Religion), civil Intrusive Methods- on its web­ responsibility to protect the liberties and privacy issues, site at www.fbi.gov. This ma­ American public, not only from and equal protection of all terial is largely comprised of crime and terrorism, but also Americans under the Four­ presentations which were cre­ from incursions against their teenth Amendment. ated to ·provide instruction re­ constitutional rights. Accord­ 298 pages were released. garding the concepts and prin­ ingly, throughout section 4, ciples underpinning section 4 the DIOG discusses the pro­ Go the HOT TOPICS link at of the DIOG. tection of First Amendment foia.fbi.gov for further informa­ rights (Freedom of Speech, tion. Section 4 of the DIOG outlines Volume 2, Issue 9 Page 3

RIDS Q & A /New Contacts/Reminder Please note the follow­ RIDS personnel are re­ U. S. Bureau of Prisons ing change when corre­ quired to complete 18 Con­ FOIA Service Center sponding with U. S. tinuing Education Credits telephone numper is: Army's FOIA Office at (CEP) for this rating period. Fort George Meade, Ten of those CEP's must be within the employees pay I I MD. The new FOIA Di- grade. . rector is Brad S. Dorris U. -S. Bureau of Prisons who replaced acting February is Black History FOIA contact: Director Joanne Month! Programs will be Benear. held in the Public Confer­ ence Room from 11":30 a.m. ' I b6 until noon on the following Legal Assistant/Tech. b7C dates: Office of General Counsel 320 First Street, NW February 9, 16, & 23, 2011 Washington, D.C. 20534 Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch. Contact ----�• I

b6 Release of George M. Steinbrenner Ill Files by LAs l ..._____.I b7C George Steinbrenner Ill He later received a presiden­ Possible fraud in the fed­ (930-2010) was best tial pardon. His release con­ eral aid highway program known as the principal tains three files. Headquar­ in Ohio, while Baltimore owner and managing part­ ters File 56-4737 was an in­ Division File 73-841 re­ "I couldn't wait for ner of the New York Yan­ vestigation into illegal cam­ lated to Steinbrenner's success, so I went kees for37 years. In 1974, paign contributions made by appeal for a pardon from ahead without it ." he pied guilty to conspiring Steinbrenner and his com­ his conviction for illegal with his employees to pany, the American Shipbuild­ campaign financing and Jonathan Winters make illegal campaign con­ ing Company, to the Nixon obstruction of justice. tributions to President presid!;mtial campaign. HQ58-4737: August 1973 Nixon's 1972 re-election Headquarters File 95-189353 to August 1976, 399 p. campaign and to obstruc­ pertained to a. laboratory HQ 95-189353: Decem­ tion of justice. He was not analysis for the Federal High­ per 1973, 16 p. BA ?3- sentenced to jail time, but way Administration of several 841: June to July 1986, was fined.$15,000. anonymous letters concerning five pages. Work Process Unit = "WPU Elephant Eater" DEFINITION OF Elephant; 90 days or older (1/3 of these the WPU Scope Queue. cases are the ACLU requests This is why we are We ·are eating the cases for DIOG information that up, especially the cases were sent to 48 separate ELEPHANT EATERS! Residence Agencies and that are 90 days-or older in Field Offices). the Queue. In February Submitted by: 2010, the WPU Scope How do you eat an elephant? ONE BITE AT A TIME! b6 Queue was at 1700 cases. LA --- , ...-... ______"""u- -1 - b7C As of February 1, 2001, the WPU has chipped away at the Wack Pc a c e ss n t WPU Scope Queue is 761 number of cases in the Scope _j __ ,.. cases. Additionally, WPU Queue overall and the num­ had 178 cases that were ber of cases that are 90 days or older. Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Elizabeth Edwards, who Richard C. Holbrooke, as the wife of former Sena­ the Obama administra- Don Meredith, the former tor John Edwards gave . tion's special representa­ Dallas Cow.boys quarter­ America an iritirnate look at tive for Afghanistan and back who serv ed as a a candidate's marriage by Pakistan since 2009 and a folksy foil for Howard sharing his quest for the diplomatic troubleshooter Cosell on ABC's "Monday 2008 presidential nomina­ who worked for every De­ Night Football" passed tion as she struggled with mocratic president since away after suffering a brain incurable cancer and, se­ the late 1960s and over­ hemorrhage and lapsing cretly, with his infidelity, saw the negotiations that into a coma in Santa Fe. died on December 14th at ended the war in Bosnia, "Dandy Don," as he was her home in Chapel Hill, died on December 13th in known, was 72. N.C. �he was 6·1. Washington. He was 69 Ron Santo, the famed and lil(edin Manhattan. Blake Edwards, the Hol­ Chicago Cub baseball lywood director who di­ player died on December rected the famous "Pink 2nd. Panther'' movies died on December 15th.

HOT TOPICS continued "Accomplishment is John Wheeler, easiest when we Customs Border Patrol General Van Pao the a former work the hardest, Agent Brian Terry who former Laotian ge�eral Pentagon official whose body was discovered in a and it is hardest was recently killed in the who commanded a secret line of duty during a con­ army of his mountain peo- Delaware landfill and when we work the frontation with individuals pie in a long, losing cam- whose death . _has been easiest." while on patrol near the U. paign against Communist ru_led a hom1c1de. Mr. insurgents, then achieved Wheeler, a West Point ca­ Source unknown S./Mexican Border. rv almost kinglike status as det, a Yale and Ha ard The shooting incident of their leader..:in-exile in the graduate and former gen­ Rep. Gabrielle Gifford eral's aide in Vietnam, dis­ and Judge John Roll United States, died on January 7, 2011 in Califor- appear�d from his resi­ has sparked several re­ nia. General Pao was born dence m New Castle, Del. quests, including files re­ in December 1929 in a vii- He was 66 at the time of his lated to threats against lage in northeast Laos. death. members of Gongress. Back Page Buzz!

The following LAS' have Please welcome a new�_...,,LAS! ..,. _ _ rv_ _ _ _ - _ _..J completed their Disclosure LAS member to RIDS I !is now._ se ing a year t,vho long TDY in the Work· training and have reported I WP to their assigned units. startedm □ on becem-· Process Unit. I ber 6, 2010...... ______. b6 See RMD/RIDS results ront Office b7C 4 LAsl • I!';now ut to film from requester r'------..----lIA O serv ing a TDY as the Pre- -FOIA4 publication Review Office lnvestiga- Coordinator He can be I0n Iscovery Channel, contacted� I Friday, February 18th, 9:00 p.m., "The Injustice Files". f' FEDERAL DURRAH OF lblVESTIGATlON ' � /".' t Freedom of Information Act newsletter for R.IDrJ RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 10 February 2011

Inside this issue: Message from Section Chief David M. Hardy Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)

Message from I received a comment in The unit posters in the Section Chief the RIDS' suggestion box Great Room are both infor­ We have a public face concerning unit bulletin mative and a place where and an internal face. Our boards. In contemplating a unit can express its iden­ Alaska Senator 2 public face is seen in the my response, I thought this tity. This expression var­ Ted Stevens ICRC entryway where a good opportunity to talk ies form WPU's "eating each about bulletin boards in unit periodically pro­ elephants one bite at a vides a poster on some­ general. A couple of time" (if you don't know thing of interest relating to things to start out with; we what this means, ask CIAFOIA 3 that particular unit. This have posted on the section someone in WPU) to provides the public (and board the names and num­ CU3's poster on icons of b6 the rest of the division) bers of our EEO and EAP the civil rights movement. b7C with a look into, the work Black History Month 4 representatives should you They are positive, help we perform. Without desire to contact them. build cohesiveness, and fail, visitors to the ICRC For section information, we generate enthusiasm stop to look at our poster. are now using the two within units. I think they're While there is wide lee­ newly mounted large great. screen monitors. If you way for the content of the entryway poster, we (front have something you think office) look at each one is of section interest, before it is displayed. please contacq·------. I 1or Special Topics: Release of Alaska Senator Theodore "Ted" Stevens files • RIDSQ&A RIDS received good notice Stev.ens served as a U. S. Headquarters. Senator from Alaska from • Classification on the fbi.gov News Blog on The files include material on February 11, 2001: "The FBI December 24, 1968 until • January 3, 2009. extortion threats to the Litigation today released approxi­ senator, press reports and mately 3,600 pages of mate­ Over 2,700 pages of the re­ newspaper articles about • On the Lighter lease on Stevens consists of rial in response to a Freedom public corruption, and corre­ Side! of Information Act request public source material from the media file associated with spondence between Ste­ related to the senator from vens and the FBI. • FOU Processing Alaska [who] died last Au­ the pending POLARPEN pub­ lic corruption investigation Hot Topics gust in a plane crash. He conducted by the Anchorage Continued on Page 2. had been the target of an FBI Field Office. • Bolos public corruption case." The remainder of the release • Theodore "Ted" Stevens died Back Page Buzz on August·e, 2010 at the age consists of 11 main files from the Anchorage and Washing­ of 86. ton Field Offices and from FBI l ,f

Page 2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

Continued Release of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens

194A-AN-13620-M ... This is a in nature, and the investiga- 80-AN-195 ... This file re- "Believe it or not" compilation of press reports tions were combined. cords correspondence be- RIDS received a and newspaper articles re­ . tween Senator Stevens 9-WF-4751 ·:· Th,s fil_e �on- follow-up e-mail to a garding public corruption in . and FBI officials, including cerns -�n ,nvest1gat1on ,nto Alaska. There are nine sec­ Bureau Directors and spe­ pending FOIPA threatenrng lette s sent 0 tions. \ cial agents in charge of the request. "As you Senat�r Stevens . office !m Anchor age Field Office· can see by your Stevens Main Files: Washington, D. C. m 1982. 89A-AN-83... This file in- previous e-mail my This document combines a 9 -WF• 5230 · · · Th", s file .mvo Iv s . . . � volves a threatening voice number of small investiga\ive �n mvest1gat1�n of a threaten- request under FOIA mail message left for files. mg lette� malled to Senator was received by Senator Stevens at his stevens m. 1986· your officeon 9-HQ-68722 ... This file in­ congressional officein volves an investigation into 9-WF-5281 ....Thi s filecon- Fairbanks, A,laska in 1986. October 21, 201 o. threatening letters received cerns a 1985 investigation of Continued below. As of today I have by several congressmen, a threatening letter sent to not received including Senator Stevens, in Senator Stevens. anything reference 1985. It was determined that the letters were similar in to my request. Under the law a Federal Agency is Continued Release of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens required to comply 89A-AN-8663 ... This filei s concerning a threatening received by Senator Stevens' with the request the Anchorage version of 9- voice mail. office in 1998. within 20 business HQ-68722, which centered 94-HQ-64562 ... This file Stevens Reference Files ... on a 1985 investigation of days. This 20 days records correspondence threatening letters sent to This document contains refer­ may be extended by between Senator Stevens _ Stevens. ences to Senator Stevens and FBI officials from 1969 ten days if unusual derived from nearly 100 FBI 89A-AN-90 ... This filecon­ to 1989. It includes re­ circumstances files. In most of these refer­ cerns an investigation of a quests for information, con­ ences, there is only slight exist. My request threatening voice mail left at stituent responses, and mention of Senator.Steven s. was not complex Senator Stevens officein invitations to different 1987. events. This request was processed b6 nor should it be b 7 c by LAS as-·· considered 89-HQ-6020. . This file is the 89A-WF-21251... This file I I . signed to SRU/SST. voluminous. I am Headquarters copy of An­ involves an investigation chorage file89A-AN-89, into a threatening e-mail s s demanding to The relea e wa posted on our HOT TOPICS link. receive the requested material OUT IN THE OPEN-CIA FOIA immediately or be There was an interesting article open government plan on the processed about 130 million provided with an in the February 2011 issue of agency's website, "mindful," pages while responding to explanation as to Government Executive, about as it states, "that continued requests under FOIA, the Privacy Act and mandatory why I have not "OPEN SECRETS-The nation's public support for CIA is very spy ?gency steps into the pub­ much dependent upon public declassification orders. In received what I lic eye, releasing documents understanding of its mission 2009, his team processed 11 and airing candid assessments and activities." million pages. It also received requested." 1, 795 FOIA requests and Request made by of past operation·s." In April a 2010, some of the most secre­ Joe Lambert, director of infor­ processed 2,042, making up rejected SA tive professionals in govern­ mation management services, for a backlog. In 2010, the stated that "deciding when a office received 1,942 FOIA applicant! ment launched their contribu­ tion to the Obama administra­ secret is no longer a secret ilS requests and processed tion's transparency campaign. a very difficult job." Since 1,806. In all, the CIA receives CIA officials released their 1995, his officehas about 4,000 requests for document review·each year! Volume 2, Issue 10 Page 3

RIDS Q &. A/New Contacts/Reminder The Annual Financial I I r e Disclosure Statement for Social Insu ance Sp cialist, AR Specialist r D re individuals with SCI P ivacy & isclosu Aviation Careers Division e r access are due on April Social S cu ity Admin. U. S. Department of Trans­ re M D Baltimo--'_,,,"'"' ""''----­ portation, Federal Aviation 20, 2011. Individuals e Phon f Administration must complete the Fax #4 0-966-0869i Online Security Finan­ 6500 S. MacArthur Blvd. Oklah a City QK ?3129 cial Disclosure Form r (SFDF). Phone I b6 b7C IParalegal SpeJ 1alist, I U.S. General Services Mailing address: U.S. Depart. Of State Office Inspector General "The mode in which A/GIS/IPS/RURC FAA Room 5332 er D the inevitable comes SA-2, #8004 Aviation Care s ivision, 1800 F. Street, N. W. AMH-300 to pass is through 515 22nd Street, NW D Washi ton, .C. 20405 Attn::.-ala..a..a.----- effort." e Phon n1: P. 0. Box 25082. r I Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Oliver Wendell Absb;nafon DC ?Or7 Holmes

b6 Black History Month 2011 by LA�..______. b7C Black . History Month is accomplishment, and to teach been a war fought by or In celebrating the military dedicated to remembering the youth of today so that within the U. S. in which during Black History the r ole that African­ they teach the youth of tomor- African-Americans did not Month, how befitting it is Americans have played in row of the strength, endur- participate, including the that we recognize one of shaping history and culture ance, d etermination and dili- Revolutionary War, the the most well know units: in the U. S. and around the gence of our·blessed people. War of 1812, the Mexi- the Tuskegee Airman. world. We take a look can-American War, the They were an all black pilot This year, the FBl's theme is back, so that we can see Civil War, the Spanish squadron during World African-Americans in the mili- forward to our promised American War, the World War 11, known as the Invisi­ tary. The military history of future. We look back and Wars (I and II), and the ble Eagles. This Army Air African-Ameri ans spans remember, not to fall into � current wars in Afghani­ Corps unit of brave men from the arnval of the first the negative stigmas of the . stan and Iraq, as well as fought two wars; one b ack slaves during the cola- past, but t9 marvel at our ! . . other minor military con­ against the Nazis abroad rnal history of the U. S. to the humble beginnings, many flicts and the other against ra­ present day. There has not cism at home. Despite the been

Black History Month. 2011 Continued burden of discrimination in accomplishments however It is Latin for, "Always mark on society, Semper training and. combat, the were not gained without Faithful." So to those Fidelis! B ecause you have Tuskegee Airman achieved cost or consequence. who have paved the way, and continue .to be, an outstanding combat The Tuskegee Airman lost to the Tuskegee Airman "Always Faithful" .to your record. Streaking through 66 pilots who were killed in who spanned the sky, to fellow brethren. e r r r th ai with the mighty oa combat, and 32 more were the trail blazers who Black HistoryTrivia: of their engines and the shot down · and became spoke out and rallied the exploding sounds of ma­ prisoners of war. masses for equality for . Q: What was th.e name of chine gun fire, they de­ ALL mankind, and to you the first slave ship built in A . well known military stroyed or damaged over as you recognize in your the English Colonies? motto used by the U. S. 400 German aircrafts and own life the knowledge Marine Corps is Semper A: The Desire over 1000 ground and sea that we are ALL 9on­ Fidelis, which is dated targets. These nected and leave your back to the 16th century. ' " I 'l,

Page 4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Dagmar Wilson, the Stephen N. Shulman, a founder of Women Strike Washington lawyer who in Milton Rogovin, a social documentary photographer for Peace, a cold war 1973 helped his client, a who built a life's work by look­ movement that helped or­ onetime-Nixon loyalist, ne-· ing through a lens at people ganize demonstrations gotiate a guilty plea .in a who were invisible to others, around the world calling for case that became a turning died in January at age 101. nuclear disarmament, died point in the Watergate After being blacklisted in the January 6th in Washington. scandal, died on January communist scare of the She was 94 and lived in 22nd of cancer at George­ 1950s, Rogovin dedicated his Leesburg, VA On No­ town University. He.was life to photography. His pic­ vember 1, 1961, about 77. Mr. Shulman served tures documented the lives of an early clerkship with the "Do not be desirous the poor, the dispossessed, 50,000 women brought together by Women Strike U. S. Supreme Court and of having things the working class-in particu­ lar those living in a six-square for Peace marched in 60 by age 30 had become done quickly. Do not block neighborhood in Buffalo cities in the U. S. and general counsel·for the Air look at small near his optometry practice. abroad. Judicial Watch Force. In 1966, he be­ "He referred to these people advantages. Desire filed an FOIA request on came the second chairman as the 'forgotten .ones,"' his Ms. Wilson on January of the Equal Employment to have things done son said. 26th. Opportunity Commission. quickly prevents their being done HOT TOPICS continued thoroughly. Looking at small advantages Anafoly F. Dobrynin, Sargent Shriver, a for- Rene Verdon, whose the Soviet ambassador to mer Democratic vice presi- position as the White prevents great affairs Washington from 1962 to dential candidate and House chef during the Ken­ from being 1986, whose behind-the­ Peace Corps founder, died nedy administration helped accomplished." scenes diplomacy was in January at age 95. him project the allure of Confucius credited by many histori­ President Obama hailed classic French cuisine to ans with helping to resolve Sargent Shriver as "one of the American public, died the Cuban missile crisis the brightest lights of the on February 9th in San and ease tensions in the greatest generation." Francisco. He was 86. cold war era, died, the Serving th� Kennedy and Kremlin announced. He Johnson administrations in was 90. 1960s, Shriver ran the War on Poverty, and was in- volved with the Job Corps.

Back Page Buzz!

Another FOIPA training New Disclosure training The FBI Records: Free- class will begin on March classmates: dom of Information/ 7th through the 25th at the Privacy Act website at b 6 ATB. fbi.gov, sported a new look on February 28, . b 7 c The (allowing LASes have 2011 to align its format been selected to attend and with the new fbi.gov. upon completion will be as­ You can access the signed to their respective website at: new units. fbi.gov http://wwW.fbi.gov/foia/ fr FEDERAL DUREAU OF lNVESTIGATlON )1 A, ( ;; h Freedom of Information Act newsletter for RIDij RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 11 June 2011

Message from Section Chief David M. Hardy Inside this issue: Record/InformationDissemination Section (RIDS)

Message froin Section Chief One of the absolute max­ In the past knowledge By being open, the site ims in any organization is was gained by employees also promotes consistent that great ideas initially over the course of many approaches to issues. flourish, but will over time years of experience. From my perspective, Senator Thomas J. 2 lose momentum. While This is vertical learning. keeping all 270 employees Dodd release there are some exceptions, We don't have that luxury consistent in their efforts is it usually happens. A nor is it very efficient. a principal gqal of the sec­ Director Hoover's 3 1961 letter manager should always The Sharepoint site pro­ tion. It is very important! watch for this phenomenon vides a medium in which Your participation give you and move to re-energize we can accelerate the the opportunity to directly Litigation Support 4 the effort. We have such amount of knowledge contribute to these goals. Unit (LSU) an ·initiative with the Share­ available to all employ­ I'm often asked about how point site. It has been (;les. I think there is the an individual can make a highly successful, but I no­ perception that the site is Discovery Channel 5 visible contribution to the tice that its use is dimin­ only for asking questions. section's mission. Here is ished in some quarters. Not so, in fact, if a ques­ one way. I'd like to go over the pur­ tion is asked and an­ FBI Records 6 New 'Vault' Comes pose of this site briefly. swered outside of the Sharepoint site, that an­ Online Its primary purpose is to swer should be put on the FOIPA Request 7 provide a sit(;) in . which site for others. Status Checks Online knowledge can be shared within the section. Special Topics: Release of Senator Thomas J. Dodd Files • RIDSQ&A Connecticut Senator Thomas Columnists, Jack Anderson expensive gifts, in.eluding a • Classification J. Dodd died on May 24, and Drew Pearson in a series Persian rug; and that in a trip 1971 of a heart attack in his of articles written in the to Germany in his official ca­ • Litigation home. Dodd was an FBI 1960's. The charges against pacity, Dodd allegedly acted as Dodd were in relation to his a representative of Klein. The Special Agent from 1933- • On the Lighter association with General Senator also asked that the 1934 who later became a Julius Klein, a public relations FBI investigate the theft of Side! United States Senator (1952- representative for various documents and correspon­ 1970). West German institutions �nd dence from government offices • FOIA Processing the West German govern­ by several of his former em­ Hot Topics In February 1966, the late ment. Dodd had a close rela­ ployees. He believed the arti­ Senator Dodd requested of tionship with General Klein, cles written by Anderson and • Bolos the Attorney General, a com­ who provided him with pre­ Pearson were based on these plete investigation of the pared speeches and written stolen documents. Back Page Buzz instructions· of meeting with • charges and allegations As· a result, the Attorney Gen­ made against him by West German officials. Dodd also allegedly accepted eral reviewed the requests and Page 2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

Senator Thomas J. Dodd Files

Several of the The fi were processed determined that a complete March 1967. �s FBI investigation wou·ld not files and documents stolen by LA . I be conducted on the. allega- from Senator Dodd's Conl FOIPA 1 tions made by the colum- necticut office were distrib- nists. However, in March uted to newspaper columnists 1966, he approved the inves- Jack Anderson and Drew tigation into the alleged theft Pearson. This material later, of documents and correspon- appeared in Pearson's col- dence from the Senator's umn in The Washington Post, office. Private investigator entitled '"The Washington b6 and former SA! I Merry-Go Round." The files b7C was hired by Dodd to investi- taken from the office con- gate this case. This investi- tained information on the gation led to further investi- Senator's actions in matters gation of Senator Dodd and to other agencies and outside members of his office on persons as a loyalty to their conflict of interest, bribery country over loyalty to their violations and acc;:ounting employer. RIDS received a and tax fraud which began in request seeking the following 1961 Letter from Director Hoover to one of his Assistant Directors information. Here is an interesting letter up to the standards of per­ I shall expect you to make certain e ck sonal appearance ex- "If you would ��� ���,::: +; that if there are any similar cases :•�n I pected of FBI employees. under your supervision that they please provide me assigned to . e In addition, the attitude of are dealt with promptly. Robert Mueller's letter is addressed to an (employee) with regard to Very truly yours, Assistant Director and his Bureau responsibilities email address I marked "personal". Dear and future in the FBI was John Edgar Hoover-Director b6 would appreciate it Mr. AD, You and your sub­ most unsatisfactory when b7C ordinates in the Files and he was interviewed on as the matter of the Communications Division January 25, 1961. This five years of were certainly most derelict employee was obviously a complete misfit and yet harassment, in failing to detect the fact that (employee's name re­ nothing was done in your violence, moved), a File Clerk in your division to correct the vandalism and Division, did not measure situation. defamation and slander requires Litigation Support Unit (LSU) the assistance of Ever wonder what LSU does? role in the resolution of the and support by and among all astute team of FBI Recently, major newspapers Kennedy case. RIDS units is critical to suc­ cessfully defending any case. investigative reported on the life and activi­ ties of Senator Ted Kennedy. LSU is the interface between RIDS and the FBl's Office of. In Kennedy, after months of specialists to work Many of you worked on FOIA hard work, and with the ex­ requests received after his General Counsel (FOIA Litiga­ with me." tion Unit), and the U. S. Attor­ ceptional support of LSU and death. RIDS released a great a host of RIDS teammates, deal of material but also with­ ney's Office. LSU's mission is to ensure that the search, our counsel was able to nar­ held some from disclosure con­ row plaintiffs objection to our sistent with FOIA. One re­ classification review, and FOIA processing are legally use of several exemptions on b6 quester disagreed and filed suit defensible. The work is not just six pag!3s- out of a pro­ b7C to compel relea e at :- roe duction in excess of 2,600 · rial. LSU's l � ,:lone in a vacuum- any ,n,spensaOe lcollaboration, coordination, pages. o,ayed Source-ucl . ' \

Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 3

RIDS Q & A/New Contacts/Reminder Referral Reminder: information goes, for exam­ A new Disclosure training Recently we have had ple, the Defense Security class started on 6-13-2011 referrals that have been Service has two different which includ�s the follow­ improperly referred. contacts, one for FOIA re­ ingLAS': When sending a referral quests and one for Privacy act requests. IFOIA4 make sur� you are using Dead List Reminder: tOIA4 the OGA Referral List I ==:::::;------' that is located on the When submittin peo le for FOIA6 b6 � SharePoint site, FOIA �adList" t n : b7C FOIA6 Tab. This list is up­ L__JinSavanna , p ease be sure to include their IFOIA6 dated on a regular basis name, DOB, and DOD. If ...... ---==;--- "In the End, we will and will contain the most you have any other identify­ ...______.OIA6 remember not the up-to-date infqrmation. ing information, that is icing words of our ene­ In particular, be mindful on the cake. This will en­ of DOD and DOJ enti­ sure that he is able to com­ mies, but the silence ties. It can be hard to pile an accurate list. of our friends." decipher where their Martin Luther King

The Discovery Channel airs three FBI Civil Right Cold Cases

The program "The Injustice The first program aired on while sitting in their patrol murdered along the road­ Files" which airs on the February 18, 2011 at 9:00 car. OfficerYoung Moore side in Alabama. Investigative Discovery p.m. and was titled, "The Se­ was killed but Officer j h □ Channel (Channel 192 on crets of Natchez", and in­ David Rogers survived ��:t ��:�� : t: D��:: Dish Network), recently volved the murder of Wharlest but severely wounded. o provided �e aI s t b6 · aired three FBI Civil Rights Jackson for taking a promo­ show about the tireless Cold Cases during the The final program aired b7c tion in Natchez, MS. hours FBI spent conduct­ month of February. The on March 4 and was ti­ ing nvestigations. shows were produced by The second program was ti­ tled, "He Walked Alone", � tled, "The Ghosts of Boga­ which described how Wil­ UCL__Jiscertain that Director Keith Beauchamp, these shows will have a who worked with the FBl's lusa", which aired on Febru­ liam Lewis Moore, a civil rights activist who positive outcome in assist­ Civil Rights Division and ary 25, and detailed the mur­ OPA in collecting data for der of the 2 first African­ planned a peaceful pro­ jng the FBI investigations. test walk to hand deliver a had filed the shows. American police officers in I Bogalusa, LA. The police letter to the governor of several FOIA requests re­ officers were gunned down Mississippi but was garding civil right cases.

FBI Records: New 'Vault' Comes Online (posted on fbi.gov 4-4-11)

Last April, we launched a have been scanned from time; and files carried over complete overhaul of our paper into digital copies so from our previous electronic FBI Records/Freedom of you can read them in the reading room. Information and Privacy comfort of your own home The Vault includes several Act website, including a or office. new tools and resources for new electronic form for submitting requests. Included here are more your convenience. than 25 new files that have You can access "The Vaulf' Now, we are announcing a been released to the public by accessing: revamping of our electronic but never added to this http://vault.fbi.gov/, reading room-renamed website; dozens of records Vau/f'-which http://www.fbi.gov/foia/ or "The con­ previously posted on our http://www.fbi.gov/ tains more than two thou­ site but removed as re­ sand documents that quests diminished over Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Geraldine A Ferraro, Sidney Harman, an audio Warren M. Christopher, died on March 25, 2011 pioneer who built the first the courtly and reserved sec­ at the age of 75. Ms. high-fidelity stereo .receive, retary of state in President Bill Ferraro was born on Au­ dabbled in education and Clinton's first term and the gust 26, 1935 and was government, and made a chief negotiator for the 1981 late-in-life splash by ac­ release of American hostages an American attorney, a quiring an antiquated in Iran, died on March 18, Democratic Party politi­ Newsweek magazineand 2011. ,Mr. Christopher was 85 cian and a former mem­ wedding it with a sassy and lived in Los Angeles. ber of the United States Web site, The Daily Beast, William Donald Schaefer, House of Representa­ died on April 12, 2011 in who dominated Maryland poli­ tives. She was the first Washington. Mr. Harman tics as governor, state comp­ female Vice-Presidential was 92. troller and Baltimore mayor with a trademark style that candidate representing a Actress Elizabeth Rose­ was impatient, autocratic and major American political mond "Liz" Taylor (1932- "For a man to sometimes offensive, died on party. She grew up in 2011) release consisting of achieve all that is April 18, 2011. Mr. Schaefer. New York and was a 154 pages was recently was 89. demanded of him he former District Attorney. added to "The Vault". must regard himself as greater than he FOIPA Request Status Checks now available online is." In conjunction with 'The Privacy Act guidelines. LAS for further processing. Johann Wolfgang Vault: requesters can now The FBl's FOi/PA Program von Goethe check the status of their The information you re­ FOi/PA request online by is searching the FBl's indi­ quested is part of a previ­ ces for potentially respon­ simply entering their ously requested subject FOIPA request number on sive docum�nts. You may matter and will be preproc­ be contacted via form letter the FBl's FOIA website. essed in accordance to the for all fees and/or negotia­ prior releasable information. Requesters will be pro­ tion issues that may apply. vided one of the following The request is currently in The FBl's FOi/PA Program STATUS RESULTS: appeal status with OIP. has identified potential re­ The FBl's FOi/PA Program sponsive information to The request is currently in is processing your request your request(s) and is for­ litigation with Federal Court. in accordance to the Free­ warding this request(s) for Updates are posted weekly. dom of Information -and assignment to a FOi/PA

Back Page Buzz!

New RIDS assignments: New CJIS address for · Please welcome two new LAS' to RIDS who FOIA2 routing inter-office mail: ..,_ ___ ----4 are undergoing WPU FBI CJIS Division training. BSS Correspondence b I b7C Group I front Office CJIS Fairmont RMD FAMILY DAY 'F=----===1...... 2011 will be held on �FOIA 1 Thursday, June 23rd .,_ ____f_re_p....,ublication Re- from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 view Coordinator (front office) p.m. ..

FEDERAL IlUREAU OF lNVESTIGATlON

Freedom of Information Act newsletter for/iUD� RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 12 July 2011

Inside this issue: Message from Section Chief ·oavid M. Hardy Record/InformationDissemination Section (RIDS)

Message from First in-first out, or FIFO, is have about 1,000 re­ There is one more variable Section Chief one of ttie central elements in quests that are being re­ that is very important. 2 the management of our dy­ viewed, comprising of 1.8 We can process about DRCVisit namic FOIA process. I want million pages. We have 10% of the pending pages to explain why and how we in our queues requests (approximately 180,000 that range from one page pages) in any given month. FBI Suggested lnves- 3 use it beyond the fact that it is tigative Techniques a requirement in FOIA. As to to several hundred thou­ Take all of this, throw it the why, our goal is to get sand pages. A large per­ together, and the result is a Plane Crash into IRS 4 information to the most re­ centage of the requests complex process. require additional declas­ Office, Austin, TX questers as soon as possible. The statue and regulations sification, sensitivity, and/ As to the how,.... assist our goal of getting or subject matter expert U. S. Representative s information to as many reviews. Requests in Daniel Rostenkowski We measure the "first in" time requesters as soon as pos­ litigation may be subject ba�ed· on the date of receipt sible by providing for sepa­ to court-ordered dead­ FOIA Mystery 6 of a request. After requests rate queues-each with its lines. In short, once as­ R�quests are made date ready and own FIFO order-based on signed to a Disclosure • 7 placed in the backlog, they the size of the request. Breaking News on Unit, the requests can't are assigned to a Disclosure Each LAS should work on fbi.gov "TheVault" move at the same speed Unit using FIFO based on that multiple requests using because there are so receipt date. After that, the FIFO; making interim re­ many other factors that process resembles a boiling leases. Continued on enter into the equation. rapid. At any one time, we page four. Special Topics: b6 Department Review Committee (DRC) Visit by LA�.______,j b7C • RIDSQ&A The visit on June 21, 2011 to Several of the DRC members information provided and rela­ • Classification observe the DRC meeting have been on board for years tionship. The committee ac­ was very insightful. This was and their questions were to cepted that we have done our • Litigation a great opportunity to see the point and they offered homework and we are proc­ background information to the essing in light of the current how serious this committee • On the Lighter issue being discussed in ref­ Executive Order. takes our work and the pro­ Side! erence to prior cases. One Q fessionalism reflected by can see that we have really I thank both[:Jand or Ian� allowing me to be an observer, • FOU Proces�ing I I built a reputation on our pres­ in the presentation and ex- entations for justifying mate­ it was worthwhile. Hot Topics planation. Though it does rial which becam.e-,ac.qarent Submitted by: take us away from work for a with an appeal. L.__Jcited • Bolos day, it's important to see how the categories within the auto­ LAs.__l ----J�u-1 our day to day work has an declass guide corresponding • Back Page Buzz to the reasoning and refer­ impact in the bigger scheme. enced the GF-1 guide for Page 2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ b 6 b7c Real FBI Suggested lnvestfg�tive Techniques by LA� ....------­ ln 1947, the FBI prepared a of a fugitive thereof by acquir- man's and woman's glove memo where special agents ing his friendship through a in order to provide a suit- submitted suggestions for small gift of candy." able pretext to approach "The· fellow who investigative techniques and . . doormen in exclusive clubs " ight su eilla_nce ?f _a�tomo- methods to Headquarters. � '""'. and apartments for the does things that b!les are simp�ified if it is pos- These suggestions included purpose of inquiring as to count, doesn't sible to pr�v,ously _m�ke a special techniques to appre- the identity of unknown . small c�ac m the tail_ h ht of usually stop to hend fugitives, sample pre- � � contact who has entered the subjects automobile. count them." texts, cbnducting surveil- the house or club." lance, obtaining confessions, '.'Practi�ally no noise is ma·de As stated in the memo, "It Source Unknown and other topics. This mate- �n walking through the_ woods is believed that this proce­ rial was prepared for distribu- 1f fee are wrapped m food ! dure will serve to correlate tion to all agents as a regular bags. , such material, stimulate bulletin. Some of the sug- "Where voluntary participation by gestions are as follows: dogs guard a house, consider obtaining a female the Agents, maintain a "It is possible at times to de- dog in heat to act as a lure." fresh flow and interchange_ termine from a child member of investigative ideas and " It �as been found to be of of a family the whereabouts in time create a reservoir assistance to carry an extra RIDS received a for future reference." request seeking the · Plane Crash into IRS Office, Austin, Texas by LA following information. On February 18, 2011 An­ Mr. Hunter was a Vietnam drew "Jo�eph" Stack flew a veteran. The FBl's inves­ "If you would small engine plane loaded tigation revealed that Mr. please provide me with extra fuel and crashed Stack was having marital into Building I of the Eche­ problems and being au­ Robert Mueller's lon office complex in Austin. dited for the second time email address I Mr. Stack was killed during by the IRS. Nothing in the would appreciate it the attack, which also killed investigation revealed that an IRS employee (Vernon Mr. Stack was part of any as the matter of the Hunter), as well as injuring . homegrown terrorist, or five years of several other individuals. ·anti-government move- I; ... ,,. The IRS field office was lo­ ment and acted alone. In �> -I' harassment, cated in the four-story office June, RIDS released 539 violence, complex along with other documents, 412 photo- , · state and federal agencies. graphs, and one audio CD. vandalism and defamation and slander requires Former U.S. Representative (Illinois) Daniel David Rostenkowski the assistance of The FBI made it's first interim Rostenkowski died on. August regarding a single erilbezi;le­ ment charge against a single astute team of FBI release of 725 responsive re­ 11, 2010, in Powers Lake, cords to twelve requesters. Wisconsin. employee of the Congres­ investigative Daniel Rostenkowski, former sional Post Office. The FBI Four of the five main investi­ investigation was composed specialists to work United States Representative from Illinois, from 1959 to gative files contain information of allegations in two areas. with me." 1955. He served as chairman, regarding telephonic and writ­ One case involved the use of Committee on Ways and ten threats by Rostenkowski's the House Post Office to ob­ Means (Ninety-seventh through offices. tain cash from their campaign One Hundred Third Congress), fund accounts. The other The main investigative file case involved the use of U. S. • and Joint Committee on Taxa­ consists of volumes 1 through Post Office boxes to circum­ tion (Ninety-seventh through 4 of an investigation which One Hundred First Con­ vent campaign fund laws. was initiated by the U. S. The request is being proc­ gresses). Capitol Police in April 1991. essed by the Savannah team. Volume 2, Issue 12 Page 3

RIDS Q & A/New Contacts/Reminder

CONTACTS: Due to the introduction of FOIA counselor Service: the FBl's new Electronic e, er> Reading Room, "The Vault", OIP provides individual­ U.S. Secret Service requesters have been re- ized cj!dvice to agency per­ TEAMWORK Liaison Division questing a copy of "ALL" sonnel and other inter­ b6 files currently placed in the ested parties regarding b7C reading room. For those FOIA-related issues. You interested in copying "ALL" may contact an OIP FOIA files please access the fol- Crn10seloc at I __ __. lowing link: I 1-I http://vault.fbi.gov/pdf- Paralegal feed.xml "'" Referral Contact: ..._sp-e-c1...... 11st-, -s-ra ...... oadcastingI Board of Governors, USA The XML feed will show all I 330 Independence Ave, PDF's and their links for USCENTCOM FOIA Team I downloading "ALL" of "The oc MacDill AFB-Florida i���ot::: I Vault's" current files. I I FOIA Mystery Requests (Can you answer, solve or explain?) "If Columbus had Can you answer, solve or Request #2-Do you know how an emergency Death Cer­ explain the following which I can search for an email that tificate from the Provin·ce turned back, no one were actually received as was sent to an email address of Manitoba because I would have blamed FOIA requests: Solve the with the domain name have no ID (lost wallet). him. Mystery? @fbi.gov frqma person? My name (redacted), a victim of war on terror, U. Of course, no one Request #1-Greetings from Is there anyway for you to S. terrorist attack on Air would have remem­ Sweden! I have a question look at all emails -that were Canada flight #### shot regarding the 9/11? Let us bered him either." sent to anyone with the ad­ down. I perished on Janu­ say that a plane crashed dress @fbi.gov in its domain? ary 8, 2000 and my re­ Source Unknown into Pentagon, how come Does the FBI keep all emails mains are located some­ the hole is approximately and . phone calls that were where in between Cairo, 70 feet if the leingth be­ sent to it or made to its of­ Egypt and Amsterdam, tween the wing tips on a fices? Holland. I was resur­ Boeing 747 is 124 feet? rected by God. Request #3-1 am requesting

Breaking News on fbi.gov June 14, 2011

Visit the FBI Vault was specific topics or persons listed as one of the Break­ (like Al Capone or Marilyn ing News stories on fbi.gov Monroe). Thanks to new for June 14, 2011. technology we have devel­ oped, you can now search The Vault, at vault.fbi.qov, -·­ for- key words or phrases is our new electronic read­ within some individual ..... -,.U'l..,,....�- ....,__ digital copies so you can feed to get the newest files --- read them in the comfort of when they are released. your home or office. You can browse or search for Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot .Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Fazul Abdullah Moham­ "LulzSec", a group of med, a terrorist who was 9omputer hackers who Dr. Jack Kevorkian, died on June 3, 2011 at the age of shot dead on June 7, 2011 control the twitter account 83. Dr. Kevorkian was known at a checkpoint in Somalia. http:1/twitter.com/LulzSec. as a fierce advocacy and Mohammed was a native practice . of assisted suicides. of Comoros Islands and Kevorkian was convicted in was on the FBl's most 1999 of second-degree mur­ wanted list for nearly 13 .------. of b6 der and served eight years of years. Mohammed was _J t-----,___ b7C prison time. He admitted be­ known as the leader of al- has been ing present at about 130 sui­ c rge w1 destruction of cides. Since his first acknowl­ Qaida in Africa and the allege mastermind of at- property and firearm viola­ edged assisted suicide in 9 tions involving five sepa­ 1990, authorities had tried to tacks on two u. s. embas- sies in Africa that killed 224 rate shootings at military rein in Kevorkian as the toll of installations in Northern his clients soared. Kevorkian people. Mohammed had was charged four times with been on the run for more Virginia between October murder only to have three than a decade with a $5 and November 2010. · juries acquit him and one million u. s. bounty on his Press release June 23rd, case collapsed in mistrial. head. 2011.

'Recently Added' files to "The Vault"

June 14, 2011-Morton So­ voice of the Free Speech lyrics led some people to bel was an electrical engi­ Movement. He was in- suspect the song was ob­ neer who was found guilty vestigated by the FBI from scene. The FBI was asked in 1951 of spying for the July 1964 until January · to investigate whether or Soviet Union. These files 1975, following his arrest in not those involved with the range from 1942 to 1977. March 1964 at a civil rights song violated laws against The bulk of material con­ demonstration in San Fran- the interstate transportation sists of the investigation cisco. of obscene material. The into Sobell's connections to 6, 2011-Louie limited investigation lasted the Rosenberg spy ring. June Louie (The Song). In 1963, a from February to May 1964 June 7, 2011-Mario Savio rock group named the and discovered no evidence was a political and human Kingsmen recorded the of obscenity. rights activist from the Uni­ song "Louie, Louie." The Click on "Recently Added" versity of California at popularity of the song and at http://vault.fbi.g�v/ Berkeley who became the difficultyin discerning the

Back Page Buzz! i Section Chief's Comments 99.5% of our requests within A nev addition to RIDS? Continued from Page One. two years by end of this fis­ A recent envelope was cal year and to have no re­ This process maintains mailed to RIDS from the b6 quests over three years old. "relative FIFO" while com­ National Security Staff b7C We're doing it. p·ensating for any delays due containing FOIA related to reviews, etc., thereby en­ material. The envelope suring that requesters re­ was sent via "registered ceive materials as soon. as mail" and was addressed possible, The focus on "must to: dos" ensures consistent Ft:sI,I RIDS, I 170Marcel overall FIFO processing. Drive, Winchester, VA? Our goal is to complete J?EOERAL BURRAII OF lNV.ESTIGATlON ,_jif t r Freedom of Information Act newsletter for R.JD_ RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 13 August 2011

Message from Section Chief David M. Hardy Inside this issue: Record/InformationDissemination Section (RIDS)

Message from Based on my informal poll, I six years ago, we did have We're open to any of your Section Chief believe the recent - presenta­ one of our employees pass­ suggestions regarding other tion by the Counter Intelli­ ing information to criminal topics. Geraldine A. Ferraro gence Division was very well elements. So, this is not On a somewhat unrelated received. It was a great re­ theoretical at all and requires topic, requesters can now minder of the sensitivity of all of us to be vigilant. check the status of their re­ ASALA 2 much of the information we quests on the Vault, eliminat­ see every day and the interest The presentation on the "Russian Illegals" was also ing the need for the 90-day others may have in that infor­ status letters. In your next Operation SOLO 2 mation. well received. The presen­ tation gave a great overview letter to a requester, please One of the lessons I took of counterintelligence ·trade­ inform them that they can away was it is not just a mat­ craft and should assist us in check the Vault at any time to Field OfficeTraining 3 ter of physical security, but our processing. . get the status of their request. that security requires us to be While the time to generate vigilant for "socialization" ef­ Recognizing the benefit of one 90 day letter is not all that forts. Please heed the warn­ this presentation and those much, our volume is such that time saved overall does add ings about placing information we received already on poly­ about what you do on Face­ graphs and .financial records, up to something meaningful. book and other social media. we will schedule a session on counterterrorism investi­ As we strive to make FBI gations overview as well. FOIA "requester friendly," be We will also bring back or­ mindful of the amount of infor­ ganized crime and domestic Special Topics: mation about yourself that you terrorism investigations over­ disclose. Unfortunately, about views. • RIDSQ&A • Classification New York Congresswoman Geraldine Anne Ferraro • Litigation Geraldine Ferraro was a con­ House of Representatives, to an FBI investigation into gresswoman from New York representing Queens as a how she raised some of her • On the Lighter who later became the first Democrat. campaign funds. President Reagan won in a landslide. Side! female candidate for vice By 1984, Ms. Ferraro had president. After teaching in made a· name for herself in After her failed run for vice • FOIA Processing public schools, Ms. Ferraro Washington politics and was president, Ms. Ferraro ran sev­ Hot Topics earned a law degree from chosen to be the Democratic eral more times for public of­ Fordham- Law School in Platform Committee leader. A fice. She ran for seats in the • Bolos 1960. She took several few months later, she was Senate in 1992 and 1998, but chosen by Walter F. Mondale lost both attempts. President years off from working full­ • Back Page Buzz t6 be his r1.Jnning mate in the Clinton selected Ms. Ferraro time and later joined the 1984 presidential election as an ambassador to the Queens prosecutor's office in against Ronald- Reagan. United Nations Human Rights 1973 as an assistance dis­ There were constant concerns Commission, and she also trict attorney. In 1978 she about Ms. Ferraro's financial hosted news programming for ran for and won a seat in the records, which eventually led CNN. Page 2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

Geraldine Anne Ferraro

Investigative files outline Investigation into Ms. Congressman Norman F. several threats made. toward Ferraro's campaign finances. Lent, which includes "Always bear in Ms. Ferraro and include a It alleges that she took a loan threats against a list of look into how she funded her from· a family member and people in the public eye, �ind that your 1978 bid for Congress. paid it back by selling real including Ms. Ferraro and own resolution to estate. Prosecutors decided Frank Sinatra. 164-HQ-5694: In this file, a hat there wa� not enoug ill _ succeed is more­ man threatens the lives of ! h 89 H _5813: This file in- mtent or evidence to file 0 important than Presidential candidate Walter charges. vesf 1ga t_es a I ett er s�nt . b y any other" F. Mondale and Ms. Ferraro, · a man m Texas to his sis- in addition to acting err?tic­ 89-HQ-5794: In this file, an ter which threatens Ms. Abraham Lincoln ally on a flight. No charges unknown male associated Ferraro's life. were filed as the subject was with the Ku Klux Klan calls an 183A-NY-2934: These being transported between FBI field office and says that d�c�ments are a reference Veteran's Affairs facilities for Ms. Ferraro will never be- within t�e file, as Ms. treatment of mental disorders come vice president. . Ferraro Is only mentioned at the time of the incident. 9A-HQ-9215: This threat file in the newspaper articles 46-HQ-75010: This is the investigates a letter sent to concerning her husband. "The greatest b6 LASI �OIA 6 b7C tragedy in America is not the The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) destruction of our ASALA was a militant or­ nation attempts and at- since then. ganization that operated tacks throughout the Mid- . natural resources, FOIA ? recentI.Y firns e from 1975-1986 and was die East, United States, h � processing a , �ehemo!h though that listed as a terrorist organi­ and Canada, which killed e uest for material pertam- zation by the United States 46 eople a n d in·ured 299 � q tragedy is great. P J · mg to ASALA. There were during the 1980s. Like Due to law enforcement a total of 48,459 pages re­ The truly great many other terrorist organi­ intervention and internal viewed and 24,703 pages zations, ASALA was sup­ tragedy is the conflicts, the group be- released in response to this ported financially by contri­ b 6 destruction of our came relatively inactive by request. b 7 c butions from individuals 9 human resources from around the world and mit ed by LAS im ��• u�������sf�� Sub t LJ through criminal activities �= �� fOIA2 by our failures to attack on the Turkish am-I such as robberies, kidnap­ bassador to Hungary. The fully utilize our pings and extortions. The organization has not en- group engaged in assassi- abilities, which gaged in militant activity means that most men and women Operation SOLO go to their graves In April 1958, a representative and their deep interest in re­ talking to President Dwight with their music of the Communist Party of the storing connections with the Eisenhower, the vice presi­ United States (CPUSA) named CPUSA. Then he went to dent, the secretary of. state, still in them." Morris Childs made important Beijing, where he made simi­ and a select group of other Oliver Wendell trips to the Soviet Union and lar inroads and met with Pre­ U. S. officials. China. His purpose: to re­ mier Mao Tse Tung. Holmes establish formal contact be­ Morris, you see, was actu­ tween the CPUSA and these After three months, Morris ally one of the FBl's great­ countries. returned home and reported est Cold War agents. all he'd learned to CPUSA First, Morris visited with key leaders. But, as a new Free­ To read more please visit the Communist Party and Soviet dom of Information Act re­ FBl's Vault and access the leaders in Moscow. He lease in the FBI Vault makes word 'SOLO'. learned of their wider political clear, he was also secretly http://vault.fbi.gov/ goals, their concerns and fears, Volume 2, Issue 13 Page 3

RIDS Q & A/New Contacts/Reminder Teamwork CONTACTS: I I 1______I I Program Analyst Staff Action Officer Paralegal Specialist BIA OJS District IV US Army Medical Re­ National Records Center (Bureau of Indian Affairs, search and Material Com­ Office of Justice Services) mand (USAMRMC) P. 0. Box 648010 1001 Indian School Road Attn: MCMR-SG Lee's Summit, MO Albuquerque, NM 87104 504 Scott Street b6 64064-8010 Fort Detrick, MD b7C 21702-5012 USCIS FOIA/PA Program Office Ii------,,...... Off: .....___I __, BIA, Assistant Special Fax: (301) 619-2982 Agent in Charge/FOIA Gaacciioator

Coming soon... Field Office Training A project is underway to The purpose of this site is to launch training for the field aid the field in understanding offices about what we do who we are and why we need here in RIDS. This train- their assistance with our ing will be set up in a web- FOIPA cases. Stay tuned for site that the field offices the launch of this site! can access. Included on the ·site will be training ma- terials (examples: What is RIDS?, b7A, FOIA v. PA), "talking heads", contact information for the field etc.

Off the Beaten Path Death Row-Three prison­ The last requests a plate Please note the new ers are on death row. The of strawberries. The war­ change of address for a night of the execution they den is surprised and re­ requester who has numer­ are asked what they wish plies "STRAWBERRIES?" ous pending requests.* to have for their last meal. "Yes," replies the inmate, The first asks for lobster, "strawberries." which he is served and b6 "But they are out of sea­ then taken away. . ·• b7C son!" responds the war­ The second· requests a filet den. *Information also placed on mignon, which he is served Sharepoint "That's OK. I'll wait.. .." and also taken away. ' '

Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Robert Ettinger-A phys- Betty Ford-died at age 93 . ics teacher and science . on July 8, 2011. She was a lawyer Charles Manatt, fiction writer who believed known primarily for her who founded one of the death is only for the unpre- work post-whitehouse and country's largest law firms pared and unimaginative, for founding one of the and served as chairman of died July 23 at his home in most famous rehabilitation ·the Democratic National Michigan. He was 92. Mr. facilities (The Betty Ford Committee during the Ettinger is widely consid- clinic) in the world. . She Reagan administration, ered the father of the cry- was married to the late died on July 22nd. He was onics movement, whose president Gerald Ford. 75. Mr. Manatt served- as adherents believe they c;:an co-chairman of Bill Clin­ achieve immortality ton's presidential campaign 0 through quick-freezing their in 1992, and he was re bodies at death in anticipa- warded with an ambassa­ tion of future resurrection. dorship to the Dominican His frozen body is pres- Republic. ently being stored in a vat of liquid nitrogen at a facil- ity near Detroit.

�� Recently Added to The Vault � July 22 July 29 Machine Gun William Walter This release contains ma­ Kelly ( 1895-1954): Remington (1917-1954): terials relating to the inves­ George "Machine Gun A government economist tigation of the espionage Kelly" Barnes was a noto­ accused by Elizabeth Bent- matters and his security rious criminal during the ley of cooperating in espio- clearance investigations. gangster era. This re­ nage for the Soviet Union The files cover from 1941 lease covers the investiga­ during World War II. He to 1954. tion of the Charles Urschel was convicted of perjury in kidnapping and the result­ 1953 for denying that he Additional interim releases ing court case. The re­ had provided Bentley with have been made regarding lease covers the years technical data relatE?d to the late Senator Edward 1933 -1959. war production and earlier Kennedy and Illinois ties to a communist group. Congressman Daniel Remington was murdered Rostenowski. in jail in 1954.

Back Page Buzz!·

New RIDS ehlp oye : QSI Awards: Congratula- Time is running out! welcome LAS , I tions to.all RIDS personnel Personnel must com­ f � � to the RIDS amI y. who recently received a QSI plete their CEP's prior to t==Tbegan his WPU train- award on August 3, 2011. September 30; 2011. mg on August 3. The awards were presented Personnel need to com­ by AD Michelle Jupina and plete 18 CEP's; b6 SC David Hardy. b7C CEP Credit Hours for Books: 1 page = 2 min. 30 pages = 3 hrs. 100 pages = 3 hrs. 300 pages = 10 hrs. f- TI D TI R A L n URE A {l O F 1 NV Es T f G AT l O N

Freedom,<�{ Information Act newsletterfor RID$J i RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 14 September 2011

Message from Section Chief David M. Hardy Inside this issue: Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)

Message from The flooding of the FBl's re­ two rows of warehouse pods and the large air com­ Section Chief cords warehouse in Alexan­ shelving were placed in pressor blowing air into the dria on September 9 certainly freezers before any mold warehouse. A Bobcat and a b6 New Asel 2 came out of nowhere. Near grew. The FBI moved nine shovel brigade did their best b7C the facility was what best rented truck trailers to the to move the mud; carpenters could be described as a drain­ site, constructed shelving in built shelves; the truck tractor Lizard Creature 3 age ditch. By my calculations, each one, then loaded the maneuvered trailers, and a it filled with more than ten feet wet boxes with files into tow truck worked to retrieve of water, spreading across a them. Six freezer pods were the buses. Inside the ware­ Checking Status of 4 parking lot and into the ware­ also brought in to hold files. house crews moved boxes your FOi/PA Request house. The file boxes were nasty, and cleared debris. All were often coming apart and going the best they could in The current was strong Can you identifythe 5 soaking the person carrying the slick mud. enough to float boxes from them. Because the water baseball player? By Saturday evening the park­ their shelves into open spaces could contain not so nice in the aisles. It also lifted a stuff, everyone wore plastic ing lot was clear of mud, and the pods were full. We had car and two mini-buses in the gloves and had the option to loaded six trailers. Two more parking lot and floated them wear protective coveralls. were loaded that night and the downstream. There was a Thanks to the mud, footing last one was loaded on Tues­ slick layer of mud across the in the warehouse and park­ ·day. The files now sit frozen parking lot and throughout the ing lot was slippery at best. warehouse. in their trailers and pods wait­ The scene on Saturday was ing to have the water removed Special Topics: RMD had to move fast to pre­ one of intense activity. Sev­ from them. :. vent mold from growing in the eral generators powered the .-_;�t.:·�·:t_,---.·�/� -�� :, ·�·- files. Wet files from the bottom .�BJD..S..Q;,&.i�'_:�-t ···�. �-� .�la -·�·�.·� ...siificam� -�···:·=--� -.:-, -"- SC Hardy's Comments Continued % We were asked to provide sup­ :8iJlFJ;�YJ������- port late Friday. I know many • · (jri.tt{�·ti�h/tbr-·. of you were already engaged with something else, but I am . Sid�L · :: · \ ·.-_,:_ very appreciative of those who ' ' cam� all the way down to Alex­ • -, · F.01.A.,froc;�;sing andria to assist. I know AD ,;:.:;;.'$,::ri>�"'-�•t�,::m=.. ' ,';",'fJ:1.-flv,:wop:i.�s�-::.?,t'�.. - Jupina is likewise. I came Friday night and worked I • /, _ o·zf>s _ he en ire ni h n Sa urda

�;;>�:iffif;tff!f:/�'·- b6 b7C Thanks!!! . '

Page2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

New RIDS Assistant Section Chief (A;C�

"Don't find fault, Please welcome RIDS ' new data base. He and his ASC ASC team also planned for the find a remedy" entered on duty with orderly transition of CJIS ._____,I _ on March 17, 1996 I services,0 000 consisting of over John D. Rockfeller and as a Computer Special- === ------'5 , fingerprint submis­ I= = ist in the Criminal Justice I sions in per day and daily & . I st a rt ed h"1s career . . . . b6 In,orma t· 10n Services (CJIS) .... ____._ . qnmma 1 h"1s tory f"I I e mqu1r- . . w1"th th e FBI m 1996 an d was . . 0 000 b7C "Good enough D"ivision ies m excess O f 15 · . ______..., instrumental in developing the I ' never is" Born in I I integrated Automated Finger- The permanent provisions I !grew up out- print Identification System of the Brady Act, which J.P. Morgan ) side of Chicago. He gradu- (IAFIS . He created the IAFIS went 0into effect on Novem­ ated from Arizona State, Uni- Transition Plan and subse- ber 3 , 1998, required the versity in 1987, and later quently coordinated transition Attorney General to estab­

earned a master's degree in activities that directly 000im- lish the National Instant Information Systems at Re- pacted approximately 2, Criminal Background(NICS). gis University. staff members. He also over- System saw the conversion to the o.served as the first I new system of 35 million sub- pera ions Manager and jects in the criminal master played a key role in transi- Believe it or not? AS� !continued

RIDS recently tioning th_e NICS from d�vel- a_nd a b_road �an�e of profes- priate level of resources to received a request opment mto an · operational s1onal mvest1gat1ve support 0 services eliminateoo,ooo the backlog of from a female who entity with over 52 employ- I During this tim�, over 4 name checks b 6 stated that a group ees. I was sell?cte_d by his while increasing quality b 7 c 0 0 00 peers as _the Co-Chairp�rson From 2 0 _2 7 ...... every year. of men were ...... ' ...... for the Director's Adm1rnstra- ·& serve d as the Admm1s ra 1ve . c attempting to steal t1ve Off"1cers Ad v1sory• o - an d h"1s w11e, Off�cer an d Ch"ie f Opera t· mg her intellectual . mittee. ave three sons. Officer of the San Diego and 00 properties and Phoenix Divisions, where he In October 2 7, i------' wanted to know was responsible for human was named the Operations their identities! resource management/ Manager for the National administration, budgeting and Name Check program. He This is a true financial management, pro- was later promoted to Assis- statement. curement and contracting, tant Section Chief. He property/space management, brought on-board the appro- "Lizard Creature"

Believe it or not, RIDS recently the road. They were about The witness attempted to ap­ received the following FOIA three feet tall, had gray skin, proach them but "must have request for records related to and seemed to be wearing lost consciousness," told law the "Lizard Creature." The re­ tight-fitting gray clothes or had enforcement personnel, be­ quester lists under Description skin that appeared so. They cause the witness found him­ of Records: "Any investigation had froglike faces, long slen­ self driving to the police sta­ reports, correspondence, etc. der arms, normal eyes, but no tion without remembering concerning a reported 'lizard eyebrows. Oddly, they what took place in the mean­ creature' sighting in or near seemed to have lop-sided time. The incident allegedly Branch Hill or Loveland, Ohio chests. One of the things occurred around 4:00 a.m. in March of 1955. The witness held a dark object, which while the witness was driving reported to local law enforce­ emitted blue flashes, between home. ment seeing three manlike its raised arms. Do you believe? "trolls" kneeling on the side of Volume 2, Issue 13 Page 3

RIDS Q & A/New Contacts/Reminder CONTACTS: Leadership I I The next FOIA training FOIA Analyst, Information will begiri on. October.. 17, Disclosure 2011. Intelligence Specialist elude: Office of Resource Manage­ (OPS Support) ment USA INSCOM Office of Foreign Assets Thd-n.,,...,."T"'Tft,.,.,,.. Attn: IAMG-C-FOI Control b6 lysts will report to b7C 4552 Pike Road Department of the Treasury FOIA 3's new Single Sta­ Fort Meade, MD 20755 Annex, FOIA Office, Room tion Processing Team. 2004 Thanks to all of you for COMM: I --- your wonderful contribu­ _ ­ tions and hard work in FAX: (301) 677-2956* Fax:01____ (202) 622-6967 _ WPU. *Unsecure FOIA looks forwardto hav­ ---- ing you! _____1-1

Checking the Status of your FOi/PA Request

Need to know how to Second: www.fbi.gov/foia 1@@search-fdps check the status of a FOIA links directly to the FBl's Closed requests are not request? There are four FOIA website (FBI Records: listed on the site. options available. Freedom of Information/ Privacy Act). From the FOIA Status reports are up­ First: www.fbi.gov. Click site follow the instructions dated weekly.· the Freedom of Information above. Act link at the bottom of the page, which directs you to Third: vault.fbi.gov links di­ the FOIA webpage. rectly to The Vault. Scroll down the page until you see On the right side look for "Check Status of Your FOi/PA the FOIA Index. Click Request." "Check Status of Your FOi/ PA Request" under the Fourth:The direct web link to "Records Available Now." 'Check Status of Your FOi/PA Request' is vault/.fbi.gov/fdps-

Off the Beaten Path (Can you name the baseball player?) teambuilding

Recently an individual sub­ left a partial print, and then Any way that I could re­ mitted an e-mail to RIDS ran the print run­ quest that this partial print seeking the following: recording his print for all to be searched for? see!). "I am a researcher working I know this is not your nor­ on a book about 1952 I know it's a long shot that mal request, but I didn't Topps baseball cards. the FBI would have his know who else to contact." Stunningly, I h·a ve print on record, but it When in doubt, contact 'discovered' a partial fin­ would be a huge discovery RIDS! gerprint that was actually for the baseball community printed on one of the cards to identify the printer of the itself (the printer must have most famous baseball touched the printing press, cards produced. Is there • >: ,J j.-.1 .-

Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Mark 0. Hatfield: The FOi/PA Weekly: RIDS former governor and sena­ SharePoint Team Site: If Clair George: A widely tor who transformed Ore­ you are posting a discus­ respected veteran of the gon's economy and land­ sion board question, re­ CIA's clandestine service scape while becoming one member to include details who oversaw all global es­ of the nation's most promi­ about the file- (date frame, pionage activities for the nent opponents of the war file classification etc.). agency in the mid-1980s in Vietnam. Senator Hat­ Also, it may be useful to and was later convicted of field once served as the include the FOi/PA number lying to Congress during chairman of the Senate and FDPS page number. investigation ihto the Iran­ Appropriations Committee. Ultimately, we want to en­ Contra scandal. Mr. He died in August 2011. sure that questions are George was the highest­ He was 89. getting answered correctly ranking CIA official to and the only way to do that stand trial over the biggest is to have a good idea of White House scandal since what you are encountering. Watergate. Mr. George died on August 11, 2001, of cardiac arrest.

Recently Added to The Vault "Go as far as you September 12, 2011-The August 18 RYMUR (The Jonestown, the cult's can see; when you FBI posted to The Vault a Leo Ryan Mu rder/ South American com­ number of 9/11 videos and Jonestown Investigation). get there, you'll be pound, to investigate. Fol­ other materials related to On November 18, 1978, lowing Ryan's murder, the 9/11 attacks. The vid­ while investigating human able..... to see father." Jones ordered his follow­ eos and images show only rights abuses by a large _ Jim Rohn ers to commit mass sui­ the terrorist attack on the cult led by James Warren cide; more than 900 bod­ Pentagon, and do not "Jim" Jones (1931-1978), ies were later found, ·most cover the World Trade Congressman Leo Ryan having died by taking poi­ Center or Shanksville, PA, (1925-1978) and several son. The FBI conducted a attacks. companions were mur­ violence against public dered by Jones' followers. vault.fbi.qov officials investigation. At the behest constituents with family members in the cult, Ryan had traveled to

COU-RlGI Back Page Buzz! Reminder-Please be sure A BIG THANK YOU to doesn't always------LAS, RIDS EOD'd at Butte to send your DOJ referrals to ASa !for all of • OSC on May 23.! I the correct location within his guidance and accom­ . , • , _ • completed WPU training by DOJ. Many referrals should plishments while as­ VTC with I Un go to the ISD and not the signed to the RIDS fam- b6 · (" R-s· +;OAR d • the June and attended two Criminal Division. Share- ily.- We wish you nothing b'7I� Omeume�,cqurave)S weeks of trainin at Win- Point has instructions and but the best in your new <1met voice chester wit samples to follow. Thank assignment as the Re­ ...,______,.. ______, at 1heend ofthe day, saying; jn July ease we come you. cords Automation Sec­ ....,ho the RIDS fam- tion's new ASC. '"lwilltry again tomorr ow," ....ily._I _ .r/.")

Freedom of I,�format.ion Act; newsletter for RID�1 i RIDS FOIA BUZZ Volume 2, Issue 15 October-November 2011

Message from Section Chief David M. Hardy Inside this issue: Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)

We finished the fiscal year in increase our consistency and share point site and peer review Message from g,roups, we will be providing more Section Chief excellent shape. October quality. From a systematic brought a rush of new requests perspective, the certification opportunities for growth. This that present new challenges, process will continue to be includes continuing mentoring assignments in WPU. We will Senator John Tower 2 both in numbers and complex­ our basic building block for ity. In addition, we have to both consistency and quality. expand the declassification liai­ dedicate more processing to In this regard, the certification son responsibilities. We already are establishing teams to resolve William Saxbe 3 litigation. This all reflects that program will be fully imple­ our work flow is dynamic and mented at OSC Savannah/ very complex processing chal­ never routine. That said, we FOIPA 5 and OSC Butte. lenges-including litigation. We have in place a great team that There will be continuing em­ will put in place new working White House Pledges 4 I'm certain will adjust to the phasis on use of the share groups to assist in identifying and to Expedite FOIA Re­ new pressures. That is a point site, on quality assess­ resolving inconsistencies and quests great feeling from the front ments, tr�ining opportunities, inefficiencies in our work proc­ ess. office perspective. and peer reviews. While we will provide op­ Nigeria's FOIA 5 portunities, the single most im­ We are going to continue to As this is all moving forward, portant indicator of leadership Santa Claus FOIA 6 improve our capabilities we are trying to lay the potential is reflected in your eve­ through IT enhancements and ground work for the future. ryday work and interaction with creating greater flexibility The future is not systems or your team. The FBl's new lead­ through additional single sta­ work flows, but the leadership ership development program tion processing. The transition and innovation potential emphasizes this point as well. of FOIPA 3 to single station within the section. We are Be engaged, think of new ways has started already and will be deliberate in encouraging the of doing business, encourage complete by end of the FY. growth of this potential. In your team and peers, and don't Correspondingly, we need to addition to participation in the accept the so-so, marginal way of way of doing business.

Former TexCfs Senator John Goodwin Tower RIDS recently released re­ of Defense, which was and several other passen­ sponsive records regarding Tower's life-long goal. gers, in the crash of a small the late Senator John Good­ Senator Tower was denied airplane in Georgia on April win Tower who served as a the nomination due to con­ 5, 1991. United States Senator from flicts of interest with de­ The responsive investiga­ Texas from 1961-1985. fense contracting compa­ tive files on Senator Tower Senator Tower was also se­ nies that he was involved consist mostly of the back­ lected to lead the Tower with, but other major con­ ground investigation to sup­ Commission, the investiga­ siderations were wide­ port his Cabinet nomination. tive body looking into the Iran spread and highly publi­ -Contra Affair. cized accusations of infi­ There are 40 separate files delity and alcohol abuse. and additional interim re­ President George H. W. leases will be forthcoming. Bush nominated Senator Senator Tower died along b6 Tower to become Secretary with his daughter, Marion, LA� fOIA3 b7C J

Page2 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

Former U. S. Attorney General and Ohio Senator William Saxbe

RIDS recently released the client's estate before the IRS material. "The measure of files of William Bart Saxbe while serving as U. S. Sena- . 161-H0-�9�3- T�e �le w�s who served as the Attorney tor was a conflict of interest. success is not the special mqu ry mt? hi General of the State of Ohio It was determined that he did � � whether you have a background to deter�me 1f and Senator before being not violate Section 203 of Ti- tough problem to he ould be a su1!able appointed to the position of tie 18 or any other statute. � deal with, but candidate to be appointed Attorney General- of the whether it is the 9-HQ-57083: William Saxbe as the Attorney General of United States by President and other major public figures the U. S. by President same problem you Richard Nixon in January of the 1970's received threat- Nixon. The appointment b6 had last year." 1974. Mr. Saxbe's overall ening and harassing letters was s ignificant as it was b7C political career held very little · · John Foster Dulles from a during the Watergate scandal, and his FBI investi­ named Scandal. gative files revealed the same: 17_ 8- : This file con- wa:;;:;. s;:-:::::ev:-;:e::;:n:r.tua:-:: ::,r.;-y-r.o::7u-;;:n:;:rl·1 [J � 111�3 . r--""-l....-t. tamed various letters be- 9-H Q-57083 and 9-WF- ...g""u ... y"'"o 1 respassing, served 6 een Mr. �axbe and FBI 58919: Investigation into months in ·ail lost his� irector Wilham Webster. Hdit·w it 01· not'! whether or not Mr. Saxbe's s part � representation of long time pro a 10n, an was forbidden LAS RIDS ret·t•ntly n·t·eived a I to distribute defamatory FOIA 6 I- rt•11m·st fo1· tlw following infonnation...• l m·t·d an White House Pledges To E�pedite FOIA Requests expedih·d 1·t·11m·st from New 'Open Government' Ini­ Obama administration, which your ol'lit·t•, as I han· citizens in decision­ tiative Supports Transparency pledge_d to �ake govern- making, implement the hrain implanlt•d dt•vi(·(•s article by John Eggerton­ men� information more ac- highest standards of pro­ in Ill(', of a 1w111·01 rans- Multichannel News on 9-20- cess1ble. The new n ?P� fessional integrity and in­ 111it11•r and ('[('('lrod(•s, 11. The White House said Government Partnership 1s crease access to new and m,(' th1·m in Ill(' Tuesday it will leverage tech­ descr!b_e_d �s "a new multilat- or technologies. t·an lt·:ul to IH'ain (":tll<'('I', nology to try to expedite Free­ eral m1t1at1ve that supports tumors :uul t•n•n d(•ath dom of Information Act re­ national [and international] For its part, the U. S. also quests. That came in the efforts to promote transpar- pledged to "expand the for Ill('. ,\ dol'tor at the announcement of the latest ency, fight corruption, use of technology to J?HI Quantit·o lab told open government initiative. strengthen accountability, achieve greater efficien­ me that lw dot·s brain As anyone who follows the and empower citizens." Par- cies in FOIA administra­ devit·es studit•s FCC knows, openness and ticipating countries (38 are tion, including utilization of daily.... ,�'<· may have transparency are the watch­ signed on so far) pledged to: technology to assist in been FHI/DOJ "Human words/catch phrase§; of gov­ Promote openness, engaged searching for and process- Test Subjt•t·ts" for FBI ernment agencies under the ing records." brain dt•vit·es .. Hdieve it! "Nigeria's New FOIA''

If you ever wondered if for­ twelve years after the bill Wale Soyinka, who once eign countries operate un­ was first drafted, isn't had an underground news­ der FOIA laws s imilar to the about to change that over- paper operating out of his U. S. A, here is an interest­ night. But having strug- garage, told a public meet­ ing news article about Nige­ gled through decades of ing in Lagos this summer. ria's New FOIA (Reporters repression under military The new law overrides the enjoy new freedoms in a rule, advocates of press antiquated Official Secrets long-repressive society). freedom in Nigeria are in Act, which was imposed by Journalism in Nigeria has unusually optimistic mood. imperial Britain in 1911. never beer., easy work, and "This law will help to shred For the first time, public the new Freedom of Infor­ the web of silence," the institutions are legally mation Act (FOIA), which Nobel-Prize winning writer obliged to keep proper finally became law in May Volume 2, Issue 13 Page 3

RIDS Q & A/New Contacts/Reminder Challenge yourself CONTACTS: An RMD Day for Pizza, Salad Movie-Public Enemies & Baked Goods! CPT I RIDS is hosting a training _ ---- Thursday, November 17, 2011 Event on December 1st. FOIA Officer from 11 :30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and RIDS will show Public Ene­ 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. mies for this learning experi­ Chief, Operations Proceeds wil be donated to ence and a small homework U. S. Army Medical Re­ #58960 (Big Brothers Big Sis­ assignment will be distributed immediately following. search Institute of Infec­ ters of Winchester-Frederick­ tious Diseases Clark Counties) Movie schedule: b6 Value Meal Deal ... $5.50 (2 b7C (USAMRIID) Session 1: 0745-0945-CU1, slices of Pizza, Salad, & Drink) CU2, and CU 3 1425 Porter Street Pie Only Meal.. ..$4.00 (2 Slices Session 2: 10-12-LSU, FOIA Fort Detrick, MD 21702- of Pizza & Drink) 1, FOIA2 5011 Salad Only Meal ... $4.00 Session 3: 1215-215-FOIA 3, (Dinner Salad & Drink) Com� I FOIA4 Tickets should be purchased in Session 4: 230-430-FOIA 6& I.... ------'· I advance from your CFC key- WPU worker. Pizza-$2.00 a slice

'Nigeria's New FOIA'' Continued

records and must respond publisher of TheNEWS, a journalism," says Sowore. to requests for information venerable weekly magazine. "It is the passion, individ­ "The most important within seven days. There "For journalists, it's an em­ ual hard work, diligence, single ingredient in the is also a provision for the powering thing, but for this and most importantly the formula of success is conscience of a reporter protection of whistleblow­ law to work we, as a society, knowing how to get ers from prosecution. will have to do extraordinary that will [make for good things, perhaps even amount­ reporting], not the FOIA." along with people." Senior figures in Nigerian ing to a complete overhaul." journalism have celebrated To access the entire arti­ Theodore Roosevelt the law's passing, but Omoyele Sowore who is the cle: http://www.cjr.org/ stress that the work of publisher of Sahara Report­ behind_the_news/ opening up their country ers, a popular citizen journal­ nigerias_new/foia.php. has only just begun. ism site that he runs from Source-Elliott Ross, Cen­ New York says, "There is "It's a remarkable achieve­ ter on Media, Crime & nothing in the FOIA law any­ ment," said Kunle Ajibade, Justice where that makes a genius of

RIDs recently received a by reindeer during the ings' over the years by peo­ FOIA request from an indi­ night of either 24 Decem­ ple who claim when they vidual residing in the coun­ ber or 25 December. were children to have seen try of Australia concerning the real Santa Claus on Please search the FBl's Old Saint Nick. The re­ Christmas Eve. indices to the Central Re­ quest list Description of cords System .... for above The requester states that Request: Records/files records and for the individ­ he is willing to pay $0 for confirming the existence of the processing of this re­ the supernatural or para­ ual called Santa Claus, possible. aliases (Father quest. The legendary figure normal phenomenon called Christmas). The requester Santa Claus existences Santa Claus and records/ provided various internet depends on the results of files detailing a sighting of links regarding the alleged this FOIA request. No pres­ a flying sleigh being pulled real 'Santa Claus sight- sure for RIDS here! Page4 RIDS FOIA BUZZ

FOIA Processing "Hot Topics"

Recent FOi/PA requests: Anwar al-Awlaki, an Samir Khan, an American American-Born Al Qaeda who was the editof of In­ Clair George: A widely Leader was killed in spire Magazine was also respected veteran of the Yemen on September 30, killed during the airstrike CIA's clandestine service 2011. Reports indicate which killed Anwar al­ who oversaw all global es­ that Awlaki was killed while Awlaki. Mr. Khan wrote pionage activities for the traveling between Marib an article in the October agency in .the mid-1980s and al-Jawf provinces in 201O's issue of the maga­ and was later convicted of northern Yemen which is zine entitled, "I Am Proud lying to Congress during known of having an Al to be a Traitor to America." investigation into the Iran­ Qaeda presence. Mr. Aw­ FOIA requests have been Contra scandal. Mr. \ laki and several of his received requesting re­ George was the highest­ bodyguards were killed cords that explain and jus­ ranking CIA official to during an alleged drone tify the standards of evi­ stand trial over the biggest aircraft strike. Mr. Awlaki dence for killing a U. S. White House scandal since has been linked to numer­ citizen without judicial Watergate. Mr. George ous plots against the U. S., process. died on August 11, 2001, including the botched un­ of cardiac arrest. "Believe in yourself! derwear bombing. Have faith in your abilities! Without a Leaves by Elsie N. Brady humble but How silently they tumble At other times, they reasonable down wildly fly confidence in your And come to rest upon Until they nearly reach the ground the sky. own powers you To lay a carpet, rich and Twisting, turning through cannot be rare, the air successful or Beneath the trees with­ happy." out a care, • Norman Vincent Content to sleep, their Peale work well done, Colors gleaming in the To wait, like children, for sun. the snow.

Back Page Buzz!

Welcome-New WPU class Recently added to The Vault: A FOIA requester from the country of Argentina Please welcome the follow­ Ghost Stories: Russian sent an e-mail to RIDS .. The ing new LAS' to the RIDS Foreign Intelligence Ser­ .... Congratulations to the RIDS family. vice (SVR) lllegals.. videos FBI for avoiding an Ira­ b6 and images are included nian attempt to assassi­ b7C 2011 version of the DIOG nate the Saudi Arabian Ambassador ...The press George Orson Wells here is talking about a General George S. Patton possible attack to the v-­ Four additional contractors Israeli and Saudi embas­ n have also joined WPU. Mickey Mantle sies at Buenos Aires.