BOLO on alleged Iranian threat to Pentagon leader (Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

- The BOLO bulletin issued in response to a September 22, 2020 incident involving a senior Pentagon official allegedly tailed by an Iranian national in a vehicle with Virginia license plates; and
- Any other reports on the above-referenced incident.

According to NBC News, a leader at the Department of Defense "left the Pentagon that evening in a government-owned black SUV driven by a member of his security detail, when an unknown vehicle immediately began to follow them, officials said. The driver, identified as an Iranian national, was in a vehicle with Virginia license plates and trailed closely behind the official SUV for five to seven miles, at times driving aggressively, according to officials who described a report on the incident that was created by the Pentagon." (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/top-u-s-officials-were-briefed-active-threat-against-pentagon-n1245273)

The NBC News report states that the Department of Defense later issued a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) alert about the incident and "shared the information with federal law enforcement."

If any part of these documents are exempt from disclosure, please be sure to review and release all reasonably segregable nonexempt portions of responsive documents, as the FOIA requires.

I request that I be properly classified as a media requester. I am an investigative journalist who has written numerous articles on topics of public interest for the Asia Times, Responsible Statecraft, the National Interest, Reason Magazine, America Magazine and the Armenian Weekly, and I am requesting these documents in an editorial capacity. Please contact me if you have any questions about my media status.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Matthew Petti

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to follow up on my Public Information Act request, originally submitted on Oct. 29, 2020. The request is copied below. Would you be able to confirm whether you have received it?

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

Best regards,
Matthew Petti