Hugh Montgomery
| Tracking # |
1377753-001 1377753-000, DCSA-Q 020-063, DOJ-AP-2020-002028 1377753-000, DCSA-Q 020-063 1377753-000 |
| Submitted | June 11, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Emma Best
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Records relating to or mentioning Hugh Montgomery (November 29, 1923 – April 6, 2017) was a United States diplomat and intelligence officer. He served for 63 years with the Central Intelligence Agency and has been called one of the CIA's founding fathers.
Please conduct a search of the Central Records System, including but not limited to the ELSUR Records System, the Microphone Surveillance (MISUR) Indices, the Physical Surveillance (FISUR) Indices, and the Technical Surveillance (TESUR) Indices, for both main-file records and cross-reference records for all relevant names, individuals, agencies and companies. If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or transferred to NARA, then I request copies of the destruction or transfer slips as well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said transfer or destruction, to include but not be limited to confirmation that the Bureau has no other copies of said records (as the Bureau has posted copies of records that it previously said were transferred to NARA such as the Tokyo Rose file).
I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I am freelance writer who has previously written about the government and its activities for MuckRock, Motherboard, AND Magazine and Glomar Disclosure. My articles have been widely read, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. My work has been further discussed in outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and BBC. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through the non-profit Internet Archive, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance. Additionally, case law states that “proof of the ability to disseminate the released information to a broad cross-section of the public is not required.” Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Dep’t of Justice, 365 F.3d 1108, 1126 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see Carney v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 19 F.3d 807, 814-15 (2d Cir. 1994). Further, courts have held that "qualified because it also had “firm” plans to “publish a number of . . . ‘document sets’” concerning United States foreign and national security policy." Under this criteria, as well, I qualify as a member of the news media. Additionally, courts have held that the news media status "focuses on the nature of the requester, not its request. The provision requires that the request be “made by” a representative of the news media. Id. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). A newspaper reporter, for example, is a representative of the news media regardless of how much interest there is in the story for which he or she is requesting information." As such, the details of the request itself are moot for the purposes of determining the appropriate fee category. As such, my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available and I therefore request that fees be waived. Per DOJ FOIA guidance, "a requester should be granted a fee waiver if the requested information (1) sheds light on the activities and operations of the government; (2) is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of those operations and activities; and (3) is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." As this FOIA meets all of those requirements (see above regarding the subject and how I will apply the information), a fee waiver is warranted.
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,
Emma Best
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
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1377753-0-HQ 62-80750 Serial 4744-Section 76.PDF
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1377753-0-SI 161A-2450-Section 01.PDF
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1377753-0-HQ 161-20819-Section 01.PDF
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1377753-0-HQ 161-18248 Serials 2881-3119-Section 63.PDF
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1377753-0-43-WF-235467-Serial 1958-Section 01.PDF
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1377753-0-HQ 161-18248 Serials 2881-3119-Section 57.PDF
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1377753-0-BH 161A-R724-Section 01.PDF
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Ms. Best,
Please find attached Letter and Responsive Documents regarding your request. Your request was referred to us by the FBI.
V/r,
Mark Mackowiak
FOIA PA Specialist
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134
☎ 571-305-6741
Mark.e.mackowiak.civ@mail.mil
From: Emma North-Best
I am appealing redactions such as the Social Security Number of a dead man, who has no expectation of privacy. This redaction is inappropriate and calls into question the validity of other redactions.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
This message is to notify you of a new appeal submission to the FOIAonline application. Appeal information is as follows:
* Appeal Tracking Number: DOJ-AP-2020-002028
* Request Tracking Number: 1377753
* Requester Name: Emma Best
* Date Submitted: 01/24/2020
* Appeal Status: Submitted
* Description:
FBI Appeal
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Office of Information Policy has made its final determination on your FOIA Appeal Number DOJ-AP-2020-002028 . A copy of this determination is enclosed for your review, along with any enclosures, if applicable. Thank you.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
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Responsive Documents
Files
pages