NARA: Ulrike Meinhof FBI Files

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=NARA-NGC-2021-001217&type=request)

* Tracking Number: NARA-NGC-2021-001217
* Requester Name: Arne Semsrott
* Date Submitted: 08/01/2021
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All documents and files at NARA pertaining to German journalist and founding member of the RAF Ulrike Meinhof (7 October 1934 – 9 May 1976), an article about whom was published in the New York Times on May 10, 1976 with the title "Ulrike Meinhof, an Anarchist Leader In Germany, Is Found Hanged in Cell". A copy of this article is attached to this e-mail and may be found at https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/10/archives/ulrike-meinhof-an-anarchist-leader-in-germany-is-found-hanged-in.html.

A previous FOIA request to the FBI resulted in Michael G. Seidel at the FBI identifying files at NARA with the file numbers 100-HQ-467965 Serial 326, 100-HQ-484251 Serial 1, 100-HQ-460048 Serials 10 and 12 109-HQ-539 Serial 454.

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,

Arne Semsrott

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/arnesemsrott/99173/meinhof-ny.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Dear Mr. Semsrott:

Thank you for submitting your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request,
dated August 1, 2021, to the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) via the *FOIAOnline* website. We received your request on August 2,
2021. Your request concerns FBI files related to Ulrike Meinhof.

Our office uses the *FOIAonline* portal for FOIA and Privacy Act requests
for the National Archives and Records Administration's operational records
(records created by this agency). Your *FOIAOnline *request is for records
that may be archival records (records created by or originated in a
different agency but that may have been transferred to the legal custody of
NARA), to which access may be restricted. Therefore, we have forwarded it
to our *Office of Research Services, Special Access and FOIA* (RF) staff
who handle FOIA requests for such archival records.

Since *Research Services* does not process FOIA requests through
*FOIAOnline*, we removed your request from the *FOIAOnline* website. *Special
Access *staff will assign you a new tracking number, and respond directly
to you. In the future, if you need to follow up with that office directly,
please contact them at the address below, or electronically via email
(email is preferred).

The National Archives and Records Administration
Special Access and FOIA Staff (RF)
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740

By phone: 301-837-3190
By fax: 301-837-1864
By email: specialaccess_foia@nara.gov

For your reference, a copy of your request is below. In the future, you
may submit any new requests for FBI files directly to Special Access and
FOIA at their email address above.

Please visit our website at www.archives.gov/foia for further information
about submitting a FOIA request to NARA. On our main website,
www.archives.gov, you can learn more about the resources we offer to the
public, and you can access our online catalog.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and pursuant to guidance received from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal
operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work
while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of
our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may
experience a delay in receiving a substantive response to your FOIA
request. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your
understanding and patience.

Sincerely,
Susan Gillett
Government Information Specialist
Office of General Counsel
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, MD 20740-6001
susan.gillett@nara.gov

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <admin@foiaonline.gov>
Date: Mon, Aug 2, 2021 at 4:24 PM
Subject: FOIA Request Deletion: NARA-NGC-2021-001217
To: <susan.gillett@nara.gov>

Below is an export of the submitted request information for the FOIA
request NARA-NGC-2021-001217.

- *Name and Address*
- First Name: Arne
- Middle Initial:
- Last Name: Semsrott
- Organization:
- Mailing Address Location: United States/U.S. Territories
- Address Line 1: MuckRock News DEPT MR 116955
- Address Line 2: 411A Highland Ave
- City: Somerville
- State/Province: MA
- Zip/Postal Code: 02144-2516
- *Contact Information*
- E-mail Address: requests@muckrock.com
- Phone Number:
- Fax Number:
- *Agency and Fee Information*
- Assigned Agency: NGC - Office of General Counsel
- Will Pay Up To: $0.00
- *Description*
- To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the
following records:

All documents and files at NARA pertaining to German journalist and
founding member of the RAF Ulrike Meinhof (7 October 1934 – 9
May 1976), an
article about whom was published in the New York Times on May
10, 1976 with
the title "Ulrike Meinhof, an Anarchist Leader In Germany, Is
Found Hanged
in Cell". A copy of this article is attached to this e-mail and may be
found at
https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/10/archives/ulrike-meinhof-an-anarchist-leader-in-germany-is-found-hanged-in.html
.

A previous FOIA request to the FBI resulted in Michael G. Seidel at
the FBI identifying files at NARA with the file numbers 100-HQ-467965
Serial 326, 100-HQ-484251 Serial 1, 100-HQ-460048 Serials 10 and 12
109-HQ-539 Serial 454.

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,

Arne Semsrott

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/arnesemsrott/99173/meinhof-ny.pdf
Upload documents directly:
https://www.muckrock.com/
- *Fee Waiver*
- Fee Waiver Requested: No
- Fee Waiver Reason:
- *Expedited Processing*
- Expedited Processing Requested: No
- Expedited Processing Reason:

Dear Arne Semsrott,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act request for records in the
custody of the National Archives and Records Administration. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to process FOIA requests according to
our normal procedures. We have assigned your request the temporary tracking
number *RF-935*. When we resume normal operations, we will log requests
into our system in the order they were received. At that time, we will
provide you with a new FOIA tracking number and a more substantive
response. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your
understanding and patience.

Sincerely,
Ashney Randle
Special Access & FOIA Program

Dear Arne Semsrott <requests@muckrock.com>,
Your password has been updated per your request. You can change your password in the future from your
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This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

Dear Arne Semsrott,

I am writing in response to your request for an updated status on the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request received by this office for
records in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to provide status updates for
FOIA requests. Once normal operating procedures resume, we will provide you
with a response to your status update request. We apologize for this
inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience. Please note
we will not respond to status update requests more than once every six
months.

Sincerely,
Brigitte Flynn
Special Access and FOIA Program

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

Arne Semsrott,

I am writing in response to your inquiry for a status update on your case
*RF-935* in regard to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The National Archives at College Park, Maryland is closed to researcher
visits and has suspended reproduction and digitization services until
further notice due to COVID-19. Once normal operating procedures resume, we
will provide further information as it is available, please monitor our web
pages https://www.archives.gov/coronavirus or
https://www.archives.gov/college-park for future developments. We apologize
for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Sincerely,

Jason Mincey
Special Access and FOIA Program

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

Dear Arne Semsrott:

This email is in response to your request for a status update for your
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request under interim tracking number
*RF-935*.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has created many unprecedented
challenges in our work. The majority of the records that our customers
request require our staff to be on-site to search for and review microfilm,
microfiche, or original textual records. Even as we expand our reopening,
operations may be temporarily curtailed due to limited staffing and/or
deteriorating local health conditions.

Due to limitations on staff in our facility over the course of the
pandemic, the backlog of FOIA requests has significantly expanded, and we
are continuing to work on logging in and providing initial responses to the
FOIA requests we received over the past 22 months. Our small staff will
continue to work diligently to process each request as quickly as possible,
but please be aware that the process is taking longer than usual.

When we receive a request, we inform you in writing that we received your
request and provide you with an interim FOIA tracking number. Once we have
logged in your request, we will provide an updated FOIA tracking number and
a more substantive response. At this time, your request has been assigned
the new permanent FOIA tracking number of *RD 66086*. Please reference this
number in all communications concerning this request going forward.

As soon as we are able, an archivist will conduct a search and provide you
a response containing the results of that search and the estimated date of
completion for the processing of your request. Please note, we will not
respond to requests for status updates more than once every six months.

We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your continued patience
and understanding.

Sincerely,

Ashney Randle
Government Information Specialist
Special Access & FOIA Program (RF)
National Archives and Records Administration

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

Dear Arne Semsrott:

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
of August 1, 2021, for records in the custody of the National Archives and
Records Administration. Your request was received in this office on August
3, 2021, and assigned FOIA tracking number 66086, interim tracking number
RF-935.

You requested access to the following case files identified by the FBI as
potentially responsive to your request for records relating to Ulrike
Meinhof.

FBI file 100-HQ-467965 Serial 326. Our initial assessment is that the
Investigation of New Left – Extremist False Identities is the subject of
this file, created on August 31, 1973, and consisting of an estimated 36
pages.

FBI file 100-HQ-484251 Serial 1. Our initial assessment is that David Bruce
Dunars is the subject of this file, created on November 13, 1975, and
consisting of an estimated 13 pages.

FBI file 100-HQ-460048 Serials 10 and 12. Our initial assessment is that
Kenneth Randall Light is the subject of this file, created on June 7, 1972,
and July 10, 1972, and consisting of an estimated 6 pages.

FBI file 109-HQ-539 Serial 454. Our initial assessment is that Hamburg
Crypto Communist Publication “Konkret” Carries – Article by Fidel Castro is
the subject of this file, created on April 19, 1961, and consisting of an
estimated 2 pages.

We also conducted a search of all available indexes transferred to the
National Archives for Ulrike Meinhof and were unable to identify any
additional FBI case files responsive to your request in our holdings.

Based on our initial evaluation, the above listed files are deemed
unresponsive to your request because Ulrike Meinhof is not the subject of
the file.

*If we do not receive a response from you within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of this letter to indicate you believe the records are
responsive, we will administratively close your case.*

If you are not satisfied with our action on this request, you have the
right to file an administrative appeal within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of this letter. Appeals must be in writing and may be
delivered by regular U.S. mail or by email. By filing an appeal, you
preserve your rights under the Freedom of Information Act and present the
deciding agency with an opportunity to review your request and reconsider
its decision. If you submit your appeal by regular mail, it should be
addressed to the Deputy Archivist of the United States (ND), National
Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 4200, College
Park, Maryland 20740-6001. Both the letter and envelope should be clearly
marked “FOIA Appeal.” If you submit your appeal by email, please send it to
foia@nara.gov, addressed to the Deputy Archivist, with the words “FOIA
Appeal” in the subject line. Please be certain to explain why you believe
this response does not meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information
Act. All communications concerning this request should reference your FOIA
tracking number.

If you would like the opportunity to discuss our response and attempt to
resolve your dispute without initiating the appeals process, you may
contact our FOIA Public Liaison for assistance:

Accessioned Executive Branch Records – Washington, DC Area

FOIA Requester Service Center: 301-837-3190

FOIA Public Liaison: Rebecca Calcagno

8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500

College Park, MD 20740-6001

dc.foia.liaison@nara.gov

301-837-3190

You may also contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS),
the Federal FOIA Ombudsman’s office, for assistance. OGIS offers mediation
services to help resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal
agencies. The contact information for OGIS is:

Office of Government Information Services

National Archives and Records Administration

8601 Adelphi Road–OGIS

College Park, MD 20740-6001

Email: ogis@nara.gov

https://www.archives.gov/ogis

Phone: 202-741-5770 or 1-877-684-6448

This concludes the processing of your request. If you have additional
questions, please contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Jason Mincey

Archives Specialist

Special Access and FOIA Program (RF)

(301) 837-1624

https://www.archives.gov/research/foia

Your FOIAonline user account for requests@muckrock.com will be deactivated in 5 days due to inactivity.

This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.

We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.

If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.

Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Thank you.

Dear Arne Semsrott:

On April 27, 2022, archives specialist Jason Mincey responded to your
request. In his email, he stated that the files you requested were deemed
unresponsive because Ulrike Meinhof was not the subject. Additionally, Mr.
Mincey stated, "If we do not receive a response from you within ninety (90)
calendar days from the date of this letter to indicate you believe the
records are responsive, we will administratively close your case." Since we
did not hear a response from you within 90 days, your case was closed. For
your reference, I am attaching a copy of the letter (it is also directly
within this email thread).

Sincerely,
Brigitte Flynn
Archives Specialist
National Archives at College Park, MD

Your FOIAonline user account for requests@muckrock.com will be deactivated in 5 days due to inactivity.

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