Catholic Worker NATO Chicago

May 23, 2012

David M. Hardy, Chief
Record/Information Dissemination Section
Records Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4843

FOIA REQUEST
Expedited processing requested

Dear FOIA Officer:

Pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. � 552, I request access to and copies of any and all correspondence, documents, emails, files, letters, memos, tapes, cds, audio, video, electronic, and/or other records detailing the extent and nature of alleged FBI surveillance, monitoring, and investigation on "Catholic Worker" and "Holy Innocent Convent" during the lead-up to and including the anti-G8/NATO protests in Chicago May 11-21.

I also ask that all searches for this FOIA request include main, cross-indexed, and see files at your regional office in Chicago.

As a representative of the news media organization Muckrock.com I am only required to pay for the direct cost of duplication after the first 100 pages.

Through this request, I am gathering information on alleged federal and state law enforcement surveillance of nonviolent domestic dissident groups that is of current interest to the public because national, state, and local media reports have alleged FBI involvement in the active monitoring and repression of grassroots Occupy Wall Street protests across the country.

Please waive any applicable fees. Release of the information is in the public interest because it will contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations and activities. 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.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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.

If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. I, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.

As I am making this request as a journalist and this information is of timely value, I would appreciate your communicating with me by telephone, rather than by mail, if you have questions regarding this request.

Please provide expedited processing of this request which concerns a matter of urgency. As a journalist, I am primarily engaged in disseminating information. The public has an urgent need for information about FBI surveillance and monitoring of nonviolent domestic dissident groups because there is an urgent need for the public to address serious allegations of governmental wrongdoing in a timely manner and because there is an impending presidential election in November 2012 to which informed members of the public might contribute through lobbying or other contacts with public officials and in these instances delay would simply rob the public of its ability to make known its views in a timely manner.

I certify that my statements concerning the need for expedited processing are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

I look forward to your reply within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,
David Goodner

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 23, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.