Scientology FBI
| Tracking # |
1364000-000 |
| Submitted | Nov. 30, 2016 |
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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 records, specifically including previously unreleased records, relating to or mentioning the Scientology or Church of Scientology.
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 for all relevant names, individuals, agencies and companies. Please search HQ records as well as ALL field offices and resident agencies.
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
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~WRD000
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. 30, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: FOIPARequest
Good morning Mr. Best,
The request is presently in Initial Processing, where the assigned analyst is searching for, retrieving and reviewing potentially responsive records. If appropriate, correspondence regarding the request and search results will be forthcoming.
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.
Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/ or http://www.fbi.gov/foia/. If you require additional assistance please contact the Public Information Officer.
Thank you,
Leanna Ramsey
Public Information Officer
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
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>
PLEASE REPLY DIRECTLY TO FOIPAREQUESTS@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.
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~WRD000
From: Michael Best
I would love to check the status online, but despite filing the request two months ago (about 3x the statutory limit for fulfilling the request) I have yet to receive an acknowledgment letter with a FOIA tracking number. Would you kindly provide one?
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A fix is required to perfect the request.
From: FOIPAQUESTIONS
Dear Mr. Best,
Your FOIPA Request number is 1364000-000. Correspondence concerning the request was mailed to your attention on 01-04-2016.
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.
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image001
From: Michael Best
The request was more than adequately described for a search on the organization to be performed. An appeal has been filed, but you can slightly improve your statistics by rendering the appeal moot and processing the request as required by statute and caselaw.
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 appropriate, a response will be forthcoming.
Your FOIA request is currently under appeal. Appeals are handled by the Office of Information Policy (OIP), U.S. Department of Justice, not the FBI. Once OIP renders a decision regarding your appeal, the FBI will be notified of the decision. For all appeals or appeal status updates please contact OIP (you must clearly cite your FOIPA number in any correspondence to OIP to have your request properly identified).
You can track the status of your appeal at http://www.justice.gov/oip/efoia-request-portal or call 202-514-3642.
When writing to OIP please use the following address:
Director
Freedom of Information Appeal
Office of Information Policy (OIP)
U.S. Department of Justice
1425 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 11050
Washington D.C. 20530-001
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.
-
~WRD000
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the decision that I did not adequately describe the materials requested. I specified the organization, and the Bureau has been known to maintain files on specific organizations. This is more than adequate to perform a search for records, especially as the Bureau has previously released records on this group.
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
01/31/2017 11:39 AM FOIA Request: DOJ-AP-2017-001967
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
DOJ-AP-2017-001967 has been processed with the following final disposition: Affirmed on Appeal -- Records not reasonably described.
From: FBI
Records released after lawsuit
From:
There are too many files to display on this communication. See all files
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Good morning Mr. Best.
Please find attached the final response and document, pertaining to your November 30, 2016, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records directed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
V/R,
Mr. Stephen L. Fisher
Files
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