Craig J. Spence

Joseph Lloyd filed this request with the Boston Police Department of Boston, MA.
Submitted June 1, 2017
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Joseph Lloyd

Subject: Public Records Law Request: Craig J. Spence

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all files you hold on Craig J. Spence a Republican lobbyist who was found dead in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston in 1989.

Spence's name came to national prominence in the aftermath of a June 28, 1989 article in the Washington Times identifying Spence as a customer of a homosexual escort service being investigated by the Secret Service, the District of Columbia Police and the United States Attorney's Office for suspected credit card fraud. The newspaper said he spent as much as $20,000 a month on the service. He had also been linked to a White House guard who has said he accepted an expensive watch from Mr. Spence and allowed him and friends to take late-night White House tours.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/12/us/lobbyist-linked-to-sex-case-is-found-dead.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/11/13/dc-sex-scandal-figure-taped-farewell-to-friends/1c2fcd73-876f-4394-84c1-50948d41589d/

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Joseph Lloyd

From: Media Relations

Subject: Re: Public Records Law Request: Craig J. Spence

Email

Mr. Lloyd,

Pursuant to G. L. c. 66, § 10 (b), this correspondence is to confirm
receipt of your request for documents that are potentially in the
possession, custody or control of the Boston Police Department.
Specifically, you have requested:

Any and all files you hold on Craig J. Spence a Republican lobbyist who was
found dead in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston in 1989.

Spence's name came to national prominence in the aftermath of a June 28,
1989 article in the Washington Times identifying Spence as a customer of a
homosexual escort service being investigated by the Secret Service, the
District of Columbia Police and the United States Attorney's Office for
suspected credit card fraud. The newspaper said he spent as much as $20,000
a month on the service. He had also been linked to a White House guard who
has said he accepted an expensive watch from Mr. Spence and allowed him and
friends to take late-night White House tours.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/12/us/lobbyist-linked-to-sex-case-is-found-dead.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/11/13/dc-sex-scandal-figure-taped-farewell-to-friends/1c2fcd73-876f-4394-84c1-50948d41589d/

We will contact you as soon as possible with our findings, and will send
you a cost estimate for your requested materials if fulfilling the request
is expected to exceed $10.00, per 950 C.M.R. 32.06(1); 950 C.M.R. 32.03;
M.G.L. c 66 § 10(a).

Please be advised that we research each request in the order it was
received, and it may take longer than ten days to be fulfilled. If your
request requires a substantial amount of research, reviewing and redacting,
fulfilling the request will take a significant amount of time. Please plan
accordingly.

thank you,

Office of Media Relations

From: Media Relations

Subject: Re: Public Records Law Request: Craig J. Spence

Email

2 October 2017

via email
requests@muckrock.com
Re: October 2, 2017 Public Records Request #B000402-063017

Dear Mr.Lloyd,

The Boston Police Department (BPD) received your June 1, 2017 request for
public records. This letter shall act as the response to your request for
public records. A response to a public records request must be provided
within ten (10) business days from the business day a written request was
received. G. L. c. 66, § 10 (a); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(b). It is expected that
all public records responsive to a request will be provided within
twenty-five business days from the business day a written request was
received. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(i). This response
applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the BPD. See
A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115. It is
expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her
records with respect to responses to public records requests. 950 CMR
32.04(5).

Specifically, you requested: Any and all files you hold on Craig J. Spence
a Republican lobbyist who was found dead in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in
Boston in 1989.

Pursuant to the Massachusetts law a municipal records custodian is
permitted to assess fees for the provision of public records. G. L. c. 66,
§ 10 (d); 950 CMR 32.07. There is a presumption under the Massachusetts
Public Records Law that government records are public; however, government
records custodians are permitted to redact or withhold portions of public
records. See G. L. c. 4, § 7 (26).

Please find all responsive documents attached in this email.

Under Massachusetts law you may appeal this response to the Supervisor of
Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 66, §
10A; 950 CMR 32.08. If you have any questions or concerns, please call
617.343.4520.

Respectfully,
Lieutenant Detective Michael McCarthy
Director, Media Relations

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