FBI file of Jim Barnett

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I should be categorized as a media requester. This request is part of my reporting process, and I will use the materials in my coverage (for various outlets including VICE, Wrestling Observer, Fighting Spirit Magazine, and Death & Taxes) of news in the public interest. I hereby request the following records:

A copy of the FBI file on James E. Barnett, also known as Jim Barnett, a professional wrestling promoter and National Council on the Arts appointee (by President Carter) who passed away in 2004. His death was covered by the Charleston Post and Courier in an article archived at http://www.mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/ and another article from the paper alludes to his death as well: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20070930/ARCHIVES/309309920

Please provide not just main file records, but also for cross-reference records, the products of an ELSUR search, and all records of past requests and denials for records pertaining to this investigation. For anything not produced, please send a proper Vaughn Index.

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

David Bixenspan

I provided articles about his death in the original request, but here's as much as I can find:

Going by articles about when he died that indicated his age at death (80), date of death (September 17, 2004), and location of death (Atlanta, GA), plus cross-referencing with online people search databases,it appears that he's Social Security Number 446-14-0248, with his date of birth being June 9, 1924.

Obituaries/death notices/death reports:
Atlanta Journal Constitution: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=james-barnett&pid=2632749
Pro Wrestling Torch (archived version): http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_10026.shtml#.V3QmyVeMBsM
More from Pro Wrestling Torch (archived version): http://web.archive.org/web/20040923015155/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_10028.shtml
Originally published in the Charleston Post & Courier, archived on the author's website: http://www.mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/
From a pro wrestling fraternal order's website: http://mrkurtnielsen.com/CAC-RIP/JimBarnett-RIP.html
WrestlingObserver.com (archived by a message board): http://www.wrestling-titles.com/forum/nwa/rip-jim-barnett-t3638.html
From a genealogy forum sourcing various obits: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.obits2/12041/mb.ashx

Other articles mentioning his death:
Charleston Post & Courier article: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20070930/ARCHIVES/309309920
Wrestling website profile: http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/jim-barnett/
Message board discussion: http://www.infinitecore.ca/superstar/index.php?a=mss&t=28765&f=41&page=0&code=00

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below (along with a subsequent proof of death communication), and originally submitted on June 19, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1352817-000.

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

---

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I should be categorized as a media requester. This request is part of my reporting process, and I will use the materials in my coverage (for various outlets including VICE, Wrestling Observer, Fighting Spirit Magazine, and Death & Taxes) of news in the public interest. I hereby request the following records:

A copy of the FBI file on James E. Barnett, also known as Jim Barnett, a professional wrestling promoter and National Council on the Arts appointee (by President Carter) who passed away in 2004. His death was covered by the Charleston Post and Courier in an article archived at http://www.mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/ and another article from the paper alludes to his death as well: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20070930/ARCHIVES/309309920

Please provide not just main file records, but also for cross-reference records, the products of an ELSUR search, and all records of past requests and denials for records pertaining to this investigation. For anything not produced, please send a proper Vaughn Index.

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

David Bixenspan

---

I provided articles about his death in the original request, but here's as much as I can find:

Going by articles about when he died that indicated his age at death (80), date of death (September 17, 2004), and location of death (Atlanta, GA), plus cross-referencing with online people search databases,it appears that he's Social Security Number 446-14-0248, with his date of birth being June 9, 1924.

Obituaries/death notices/death reports:
Atlanta Journal Constitution: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=james-barnett&pid=2632749
Pro Wrestling Torch (archived version): http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_10026.shtml#.V3QmyVeMBsM
More from Pro Wrestling Torch (archived version): http://web.archive.org/web/20040923015155/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_10028.shtml
Originally published in the Charleston Post & Courier, archived on the author's website: http://www.mikemooneyham.com/2004/09/26/barnett-an-unforgettable-figure/
From a pro wrestling fraternal order's website: http://mrkurtnielsen.com/CAC-RIP/JimBarnett-RIP.html
WrestlingObserver.com (archived by a message board): http://www.wrestling-titles.com/forum/nwa/rip-jim-barnett-t3638.html
From a genealogy forum sourcing various obits: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.obits2/12041/mb.ashx

Other articles mentioning his death:
Charleston Post & Courier article: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20070930/ARCHIVES/309309920
Wrestling website profile: http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/jim-barnett/
Message board discussion: http://www.infinitecore.ca/superstar/index.php?a=mss&t=28765&f=41&page=0&code=00

To whom it may concern,

I'm a media requester as noted in my request, please change my classification for fee waiver purposes.

Thanks,
David Bixenspan

To whom it may concern,

No later than the July 27, 2016 update, the status of this FOIA in the Vault.FBI.gov status checker was listed as "The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file." However, an acknowledgment letter (which also had my requester/fee status listed incorrectly as general instead of news media) was dated/sent on July 29, 2016.

I have not received any kind of final response, whether the documents I requested or a "no responsive documents" letter. I'm following up to inquire as to whether or not the closure is in error, or if this response was sent and never received. The date on the acknowledgment letter makes me think it could be the former. Please let me know what the actual status of this FOIA request is and if any final response has been sent, if it needs to be re-sent, etc.

Either way, there appears to be some kind of error and this needs to be resolved.

Thanks,
David Bixenspan

To whom it may concern,

It's been two weeks since my last letter. It has been a month since this request was listed as "closed" on the FOIA status checker even though an acknowledgment letter was sent to days after that, indicating that you were searching for the responsive documents. I have not received any communication indicating the actual disposition of this request, or whether it's actually closed, or anything like that, since the July 29th acknowledgement letter. There appears to be some sort of issue on your end, but nobody has explained what's going on. If something was sent, I never got it.

Please, please let me know what the actual status of this request is, attaching all correspondence (and responsive documents, if applicable) you have sent me to date to make sure I have gotten everything.

Thanks,
David Bixenspan

To whom it may concern,

How much longer should it take to get this request to a Government Information Specialist for further processing?

Thanks,
David Bixenspan

To whom it may concern,

Could someone tell me how much longer it should take to get this request to a Government Information Specialist for further processing?

Thanks,
David Bixenspan