National Archives and Records Administration (WikiLeaks)

A. O'Brien filed this request with the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States of America.
Tracking #

NGC14-043

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Alexa O'Brien

November 27, 2013

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter constitutes a request under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552, and is submitted on behalf of journalist Alexa O’Brien.

I seek any and all documents in the National Archives and Records Administration’s possession that pertain to the WikiLeaks website or organization from January 2006 to the present date.

I am a “representative of the news media” for fee waiver purposes. See Project on Military Procurement v. Department of the Navy, 710 F. Supp. 362, 363, 365 (D.C.D. 1989). My work has been published in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Guardian UK, Salon, and featured by PBS Frontline, On The Media and Public Radio International. Based on my status as a “news media” requester, I am entitled to receive the requested record with only duplication fees asserted. Further, because disclosure of this information will “contribute greatly to the public understanding of the operation or activities of the government,” duplication fees should be waived.

There is a compelling need for the requested documents such that expedited processing is appropriate. I am engaged in disseminating information. There exists an urgent need to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity. As 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(ii)(I) provides, I will anticipate your determination on our request within ten (10) calendar days.

I requests that in the event that access to any of the requested records is denied pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), I be provided with all non-exempt portions which are reasonably segregable. I further request that you describe the deleted material in detail and specify the statutory basis for the denial as well as your reasons for believing that the alleged statutory justification applies in this instance. Please separately state your reasons for not invoking your discretionary powers to release the requested documents. Such statements will be helpful in deciding whether to appeal an adverse determination, and in formulating arguments in case an appeal is taken. I reserve my right to appeal the withholding or deletion of any information and expect that you will list the office and address were such an appeal can be sent.

I requests that documents responsive to this request be provided to me in electronic format on a CD-ROM.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Alexa O’Brien

From: Alexa O'Brien

Please acknowledge my FOIA request dated November 27, 2013.

(see below)

From Alexa O'Brien on Nov. 27, 2013:
November 27, 2013

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter constitutes a request under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552, and is submitted on behalf of journalist Alexa O’Brien.

I seek any and all documents in the National Archives and Records Administration’s possession that pertain to the WikiLeaks website or organization from January 2006 to the present date.

I am a “representative of the news media” for fee waiver purposes. See Project on Military Procurement v. Department of the Navy, 710 F. Supp. 362, 363, 365 (D.C.D. 1989). My work has been published in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Guardian UK, Salon, and featured by PBS Frontline, On The Media and Public Radio International. Based on my status as a “news media” requester, I am entitled to receive the requested record with only duplication fees asserted. Further, because disclosure of this information will “contribute greatly to the public understanding of the operation or activities of the government,” duplication fees should be waived.

There is a compelling need for the requested documents such that expedited processing is appropriate. I am engaged in disseminating information. There exists an urgent need to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity. As 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(ii)(I) provides, I will anticipate your determination on our request within ten (10) calendar days.

I requests that in the event that access to any of the requested records is denied pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), I be provided with all non-exempt portions which are reasonably segregable. I further request that you describe the deleted material in detail and specify the statutory basis for the denial as well as your reasons for believing that the alleged statutory justification applies in this instance. Please separately state your reasons for not invoking your discretionary powers to release the requested documents. Such statements will be helpful in deciding whether to appeal an adverse determination, and in formulating arguments in case an appeal is taken. I reserve my right to appeal the withholding or deletion of any information and expect that you will list the office and address were such an appeal can be sent.

I requests that documents responsive to this request be provided to me in electronic format on a CD-ROM.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Alexa O’Brien

From: Joseph Scanlon

Dear Ms. O'Brien:

I apologize for not responding sooner to your FOIA request. This office
has received your request on November 27, 2013, and have assigned it our
case number NGC14-043. I am awaiting one more office's records regarding
the Wikileaks website or organization from January 2006 to the present
(date of your request). Based on the statute your request should be
answered on December 27th, but due to the volume and complexity I might ask
for an extension. As far as fees, you will not be assessed any.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Kind regards,

Joe Scanlon
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Alexa O'Brien

RE: NGC14-043

Thank you Mr. Scanlon.

Best,

Alexa O'Brien

From: Alexa O'Brien

RE: NGC14-043

Just following up on FOIA NGC14-043.

Best,

Alexa O'Brien

From: Joseph Scanlon

Hi Ms. O'Brien,

I am currently out of the office on leave. Right before I left for the
holidays I had received the last "pile" of documents from my boss. Your
request comprises files from: Gary M. Stern, NARA General Counsel; William
J. Bosanko, Chief Operating Officer of NARA (former Director of ISOO);
Kevin McCoy, Director of Security; and William Circa, Acting Director of
ISOO. I was in the middle of reviewing the documents. A rough guess of
the documents is a bit over 1,000 pages. I will resume my review of the
material this Thursday when I am back in my office. Your case is at the
top of my queue.

I apologize for the delay in processing your request.

Kind regards,

Joe Scanlon
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Alexa O'Brien

RE: NGC14-043

Thank you Mr. Scanlon.

Best,

Alexa O'Brien

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 27, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #NGC14-043.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 27, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #NGC14-043.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 27, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #NGC14-043.

Thank you for your help.

From: Joseph Scanlon

Ms. O'Brien,

I apologize for the delay but the first portion of your request was still
with the program office.

I have attached the first portion of William J. Bosanko's email's regarding
Wikileaks. Due to IT restrictions here at NARA, I will need to break up
the responsive records to you in smaller chunks. Please note that you can
keep track of the individual documents by the "DocId" number at the bottom
of each page.

Mr. Bosanko's is the largest collection of records from the offices that
held responsive records. Many of the records from the other offices will
be duplicative of those records being released to you in Mr. Bosanko's
files.

I will be sending you a signed (scanned ) letter explaining the processing
of your request, and your appeal rights, after I have completed the
redactions of all the files. If you have any questions please feel free
to contact me.

Kind regards,

Joe Scanlon
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Joseph Scanlon

See attached two files.

The first one contains three pages that I missed from the first package.
Sorry about that.

The second contains part 2 of Bosanko's emails.
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Joseph Scanlon

See attached records.
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Joseph Scanlon

Dear Ms. O'Brien,

You will find attached another release of emails from William J. Bosanko's
files regarding Wikileaks.
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Joseph Scanlon

Dear ms. O'Brien,

Attached is the last portion of records regarding Wikileaks in William J.
Bosanko's files. The bulk of NARA's responsive records were in Mr.
Bosanko's files, but there remain the files of Gary M. Stern, William Cera,
and Kevin McKoy. I will be processing those files minus the documents that
are exact duplicates of the records already released to you in Bosanko
files.

See attached.
--
Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

From: Alexa O'Brien

Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) FOIA NGC 14 043

Dear Mr. Scalon,

Thank you.

Best,

Alexa O'Brien
(646)583-1674

From: Joseph Scanlon

Dear Ms. O'Brien,

Attached is the last portion of records regarding your FOIA request
regarding Wikileaks in NARA's files. As I noted to you in previous emails,
the bulk of NARA's responsive records were in Mr.
Bosanko's files, but there remained the files of Gary M. Stern, William
Cera, and Kevin McKoy. I have completed those files and
have attached them. This completes the processing of your request.

If you are not satisfied with our action on this request, you have the
right to file an administrative appeal. Address your appeal to the Deputy
Archivist (ND), National Archives and Records Administration, College Park,
Maryland 20740. Your appeal should be received within 35 calendar days of
the date of this communication and it should explain why you think this
response does not meet the requirements of the FOIA. Both the letter and
the envelope should be clearly marked “Freedom of Information Act Appeal.”
You may also email FOIA@nara.gov an appeal. All correspondence should
reference the tracking number NGC14-043.

Thank you for your patience with me through the technical difficulties and
delays.

Kind regards,

Joseph A. Scanlon
FOIA & Privacy Act Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of General Counsel
(301) 837-0583

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