October Surprise

Emma North-Best filed this request with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America.
Tracking #

A-2023-01588

1360796-000

Est. Completion None
Status
Partially Completed

Crowdfund Request: October Surprise

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Before Donald Trump was accused of colluding with a foreign power to rig an election, his idol Ronald Reagan was too. Since then, several CIA officers have come forward to endorse the October Surprise, adding to a building collection of evidence of collusion. Help cover the request fees needed to free these docs to get to the bottom of it!

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Communications

From: Michael Best

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All materials relating to the alleged October Surprise plot to influence the outcome of the 1980 United States presidential election, including but not limited to materials gathered for and materials given to the House and Senate investigations.

In addition to a manual search reasonably calculated to locate those materials, please conduct a search of the Central Records System, including but not limited to the Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) Indices, 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. Please include a cross-reference search for all individuals associated with the allegations and investigations, including those individuals who testified or wrote about it.

I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the Bureau for AND Magazine, MuckRock and Glomar Disclosure. My articles have been widely read, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established.

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,

Michael Best

From: FOIPARequest

Dear Mr. Best,

The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it will be forwarded to Initial Processing for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOIPA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.

Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOIPA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI's decision.

Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at https://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/, by clicking on the SERVICES link at the top of the homepage and then click on the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy picture, or the direct link is: https://www.fbi.gov/services/records-management/foia, or by accessing the U. S. Department of Justice at https://www.justice.gov/oip. If you require additional assistance please contact us at foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov.

Thank you,

David P. Sobonya
Public Information Officer/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
Ofc: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4286
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON December 7, 2016

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI's FOIPA Program is searching the FBI's indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON January 11, 2017

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI's FOIPA Program is searching the FBI's indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Our complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process.

Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 232 days from the date of receipt for processing, those in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days, and those in the extra-large track are averaging 998 days.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON February 8, 2017

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI's FOIPA Program is searching the FBI's indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Our complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process.

Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 232 days from the date of receipt for processing, those in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days, and those in the extra-large track are averaging 998 days.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request

If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON March 9, 2017

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:

Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:

FOIPA:

1234567-000

Case Type:

FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)

The FBI's FOIPA Program is searching the FBI's indices for potentially responsive documents.

You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Our complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process.

Currently, simple track cases average approximately 181 days from the date of receipt for processing. Requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 232 days from the date of receipt for processing, those in the large processing track are currently averaging approximately 659 days, and those in the extra-large track are averaging 998 days.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

A letter stating the requester must agree to or prepay assessed or estimated fees in order for the agency to continue processing the request.

From: M Best

I agree to pay duplication fees associated with this request and will send a check when instructed to. Please confirm receipt of this when you can.

Thank you!

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

The FBI has received your additional correspondence regarding your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it has been forwarded to the assigned analyst for review.

If you require additional assistance please contact me.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Electronic FBI FOIPA request submissions are accepted at http://efoia.fbi.gov<http://efoia.fbi.gov/>.

Do you have further questions about the FOIPA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia.

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov<https://vault.fbi.gov/> by clicking on the "Check Status of Your FOI/PA Request" link on the right side of the page. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: Emma Best

Due to the size of this file and my desire to see a speedy release due to the considerable public interest, I am happy to hear suggestions from a negotiator about ways to reduce the scope of what needs to be reviewed without significantly impacting the useful scope of the release. I might not be able to agree to all, or even any, of the suggestions - but I would be happy to hear them.

From: FOIPAQUESTIONS

Dear Mr. Best,

The FBI has received your additional correspondence regarding your request for negotiation related to Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request 1360796-000, and it has been forwarded to the assigned analyst for review.

If you require additional assistance please contact me.

Thank you,

Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO Line: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391 or (450)868-4997
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>

Electronic FBI FOIPA request submissions are accepted at http://efoia.fbi.gov<http://efoia.fbi.gov/>.

Do you have further questions about the FOIPA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia.

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov<https://vault.fbi.gov/> by clicking on the "Check Status of Your FOI/PA Request" link on the right side of the page. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Good afternoon Ms. Best,

Reference is made to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request #1360796-000 for FBI records concerning October Surprise. The FBI has located approximately 3,404 pages that are potentially responsive to your request. Once requests go over a certain size, usually in the 50-100 page range, they become increasingly complex, greatly slowing down the time required for processing. Generally the larger the file, the longer it takes to process. Given our current workload and staffing levels, it may be a very long time before you would begin to receive material from this request.

We contact requesters with requests of this size to see if there might be a way to possibly narrow the scope. Is this something you might be willing to consider? If so, please contact me and we can discuss this possibility. We appreciate your patience and hope to hear from you soon.

Leslie Wilson
540-868-4894
Government Information Specialist
Negotiation/RIDS/RMD
Federal Bureau of Investigation

From: Emma Best

Leslie,

Unfortunately I'm not sure how to reduce the scope on this in a way that's helpful to everyone. I'm certainly open to suggestions, especially on the more administrative pieces of the file. However, I'm not sure how to describe that in a way that's useful and wouldn't be overly broad. I'm especially hesitant to reduce the scope for this one because it's an overarching file, and its release may eliminate (or reduce the scope of additional materials needed) for related files or the files of people involved in/implicated in the case.

Emma

From: Emma Best

Leslie,

Unfortunately I'm not sure how to reduce the scope on this in a way that's helpful to everyone. I'm certainly open to suggestions, especially on the more administrative pieces of the file. However, I'm not sure how to describe that in a way that's useful and wouldn't be overly broad. I'm especially hesitant to reduce the scope for this one because it's an overarching file, and its release may eliminate (or reduce the scope of additional materials needed) for related files or the files of people involved in/implicated in the case.

Emma

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Good afternoon Ms. Best,

I have just finished going through the records on the subject of October Surprise. To focus on the significant file sections on this subject for this request would put a page count at about 900 pages. I've eliminated the subfiles because the material was duplicative in main file sections. There appears to be quite a bit of duplication of the documents. There is a perjury file that was determined not to stick for a couple of persons testifying before the House committee on this subject. The main file investigation can be addressed by starting with sections until the documents would exceed the medium-track queue. Some of the material contains articles and congressional handbook material.

Let me know if you are interested in approaching the subject files in a way we can provide the basis of the investigation, overall summary. This approach is basically to "chip" away at the sections in increments under the 950 threshold. Some documents may contain other government agency equities and will be processed when guidance is given on the other equity. The subfiles to eliminate consist of 473 pages, reducing the overall size of your request to under 3,000 pages.

For the medium track processing queue, If sections are processed a few at a time, it will also allow for you to see how exemptions (if applicable) are being used.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Sincerely,
Leslie Wilson

From: Emma Best

Leslie,
It sounds like you're suggesting a rolling release of it? If so, that'd be fine with me.

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Good afternoon,

If you are interested in reducing the size of your request at this time, I can move forward documents from the file that will fit within the medium-track criteria. If you still want more materials on the subject, you will have to initiate a new request citing the current FOIA number which helps streamline the process. Your request can stay in the large track queue and once the request is assigned from the backlog, interim releases will be made it just take a significantly longer time to get materials.

Please let me know if you want your request to be reduced or if you want it processed in whole.

Thanks and sorry for any confusion.

Sincerely,
Leslie Wilson

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Good afternoon Ms. Best,

Pardon me if I've already sent an email inquiry on this request last week. I do not have a specific email address tied to this request for materials on Thomas Hinman Moorer.

Please let me know if you are still interested in receiving records on this subject. I have an estimate of 1,651 pages. If you are interested in reducing the size of this request. Your time and attention to this matter are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ms. Wilson
Government Information Specialist
Customer Support Unit
Records Management Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
540-868-4894

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Good afternoon Ms. Best,

I did not get any response to the email I sent out last week with regards to reducing your request. Therefore, I will be moving your request forward for all materials to be processed.

Sincerely,
Leslie Wilson

From: Wilson, Leslie C. (RMD) (FBI)

Ms. Best,

Please let me know if you are interested in reducing the size of this request on Thomas Hinman Moorer. We have located 1,649 potentially responsive pages.

I will move this request on as a large track request next week. Just wanted to ensure that you weren't looking for anything specific on this subject.

Sincerely,
Leslie Wilson

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

From: Emma North-Best

I am appealing the decision to only review 501 pages, and not the full 3,404 pages identified and agreed upon. After six and a half years, this is unacceptable.

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Office of Information Policy has received your FOIA Appeal.  Please see the attached acknowledgment letter.

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Office of Information Policy has made its final determination on your FOIA Appeal Number A-2023-01588 .  A copy of this determination is enclosed for your review, along with any enclosures, if applicable.  Thank you.

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