tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post4235017275786460227..comments2024-03-27T02:19:13.052-07:00Comments on Quiet Highway: Saga of a Gentleman: CIA and FBI: Results of My FOIA/FOIPA RequestMatt Rafathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-5139445114217021952010-04-16T21:31:29.404-07:002010-04-16T21:31:29.404-07:00Yeah true mate. If i can ask you K_Yew, do you hap...Yeah true mate. If i can ask you K_Yew, do you happen to know if bloggers such as you and me are officially considered under FOIA regulations as "representatives of the news/media" ? <br /><br />Im planning on making a new FOIA request to the Air Force and it would be useful to know if bloggers are officially representatives of the news media as I would hope not to pay search fees or anything, unless pay for over 100 pages, you know? <br /><br />Thanks again. Much appreciated. All the bestMr. ?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12382866415611943524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-43409023137791876592010-03-29T22:43:12.963-07:002010-03-29T22:43:12.963-07:00@Mr. ?: sounds like ODNI is just expressly reservi...@Mr. ?: sounds like ODNI is just expressly reserving certain rights under the statute: <br /><br />http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/usc_sec_05_00000552----000-.html<br /><br />In my case, ODNI said no unclassified records existed. I don't necessarily expect ODNI or any other agency to give me any classified records without a lawsuit demanding an "in camera" review of such records (if any). <br /><br />It would, however, be a good idea to minimize litigation and have an independent commission of retired judges who could do an independent review of classified documents. <br /><br />Anyway, I didn't get the impression ODNI had any records on me. The letter appears to be a form letter that notifies the FOIA/FOIPA requester that ODNI has the right to keep certain sensitive records classified in the interests of national security. Now, why ODNI took its sweet time in getting back to me, I have no idea. It was the slowest agency in terms of responding to my FOIA/FOIPA request.Matt Rafathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-55778822899796631832010-03-27T20:41:57.042-07:002010-03-27T20:41:57.042-07:00Hello again. Yes, that's very similar to the r...Hello again. Yes, that's very similar to the response I got from the ODNI last year. Say K_Yew, do you happen to know if an agency says they "can niether confirm no deny the existence or nonexistence of records responsive to your request" what exactly does this response mean? Do records exist but cannot be released, or am i reading too much into this statement? <br /><br />It seems when I sent a request for records on myself under the FOIA to both the ODNI and CIA, I got the same similar response regarding that they "can neither confirm nor deny" under FOIA Exemptions (b)(1) and (b)(3) under Executive Order 12958. <br /><br />Its very interesting. Anything you think you can make of all this please mate? <br /><br />Thanks again. Have a good Easter if you celebrate it. Cheers.Mr. ?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12382866415611943524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-55061662122949337542010-03-21T21:01:12.486-07:002010-03-21T21:01:12.486-07:00@Mr. ?: I finally got a substantive response from ...@Mr. ?: I finally got a substantive response from ODNI, but they took their sweet time. Pursuant to my December 21, 2009 request, they answered on March 11, 2010 as follows: <br /><br />"ODNI conducted a search for unclassified records responsive to your request and no records were located. Pursuant to FOIA Exemptions 1 and 3, 5 USC 552(b)(1) and (3), the ODNI can neither confirm nor deny the existence of classified records responsive to your request." <br /><br />Interesting stuff. And they misspelled my name on the envelope.Matt Rafathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-36981916257517153272010-01-01T23:29:54.450-08:002010-01-01T23:29:54.450-08:00Hope 2010 treats you well too K__Yew. If you do se...Hope 2010 treats you well too K__Yew. If you do send a FOIA request to the ODNI, let me know how it goes. All the best for the new year mate!Mr. ?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12382866415611943524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-60854542275188734212009-12-20T21:29:38.256-08:002009-12-20T21:29:38.256-08:00@Mr. ?: thank you for your comment. May 2010 trea...@Mr. ?: thank you for your comment. May 2010 treat you well.Matt Rafathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-37644192781189117282009-12-19T21:47:58.236-08:002009-12-19T21:47:58.236-08:00Well you might also have some luck filing a FOIA/P...Well you might also have some luck filing a FOIA/PA Request to the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Maybe they might have records about you perhaps. Might be worth trying. Merry Christmas K_Yew.Mr. ?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12382866415611943524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-53256345491706320342009-11-23T01:03:01.904-08:002009-11-23T01:03:01.904-08:00Mr. ?: actually, it was the CIA--not the FBI--that...Mr. ?: actually, it was the CIA--not the FBI--that initially denied my FOIA request. After I provided them with the information they demanded, the CIA gave me the following information:<br /><br />"We were unable to identify any information or records filed under your name." <br /><br />I did not see the need to appeal, but perhaps I should have.Matt Rafathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-76812228580933951112009-11-22T23:16:32.542-08:002009-11-22T23:16:32.542-08:00Did you appeal the FBI's denial of your FOIA/P...Did you appeal the FBI's denial of your FOIA/PA Request?Mr. ?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12382866415611943524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-48391418486195075172009-11-16T22:02:15.662-08:002009-11-16T22:02:15.662-08:00Yes It does sound a bit anti climatic, but hey its...Yes It does sound a bit anti climatic, but hey its the CIA afterall. At least you did get some success from the FBI though. Have you considered making an FOIA Request with the National Security Agency? I recommend its worth trying, although when i sent my request it was "sort of" denied due to an FOIA regulation and some Executive Order or something about information is classified for purposes and such and such etc. Good luck and all the best for the future mate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-47001644477560161722009-11-16T12:38:15.491-08:002009-11-16T12:38:15.491-08:00After much thought, I decided to give the CIA the ...After much thought, I decided to give the CIA the information it wanted, even though it made me feel like a second-class citizen. <br /><br />The CIA finally responded to my request: "We were unable to identify any information or records filed under your name." A bit anti-climactic, isn't it? <br /><br />(I added an update at the very end of the post in September, but I will add a sentence in the post itself to make the result more clear.)Matt Rafathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256519881560435397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607093527751357203.post-79947907059395253592009-11-16T02:44:44.574-08:002009-11-16T02:44:44.574-08:00G'day mate. Just curious after reading this ar...G'day mate. Just curious after reading this article you wrote, as of today have you heard more from the CIA regarding your original FOIA Request? Even if you didnt succeed, in my opinion its worth a shot giving them the information they need to process you original FOIA Request, hopefully. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com