I want to request my deceased father's FBI files. He had to go through a stringent clearance process because he served on a ship that observed the detonation at Bikini Atoll. Is there any sort of fee, whatsoever, such as $5 a page? How best to begin this process?
2007-01-04 08:02:53 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
In todays's NYTimes (1-4-06), an Op-Ed Contributor, Peter Klein, writes of obtaining his father's FBI files (they thought he was a communist infilitrator from Hungary). If they can release files from a man they thought was a spy, why not my dad?
2007-01-04 11:39:36 · update #1
Google "FOIA request procedures" and follow it from there. There are probably some fees, but I doubt they'll be $5/page. Good luck! :)
2007-01-04 08:05:06 · answer #1 · answered by eatmorec11h17no3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although you can get copies of certain records that the FBI has on yourself under the FOIA, the Privacy Act will probably prevent you from getting any on your father even if he is deceased.
Any requests for classified records would be denied or would be so severely redacted as to be useless.
2007-01-04 16:57:29 · answer #2 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went through a strenuous process to get a top secret NSA clearance when in the Navy. I can't get any of it through FOIA or any other way. Their argument is that someone who was interviewed might still be alive and therefore it would be an infringement on their privacy.
2007-01-04 16:20:19 · answer #3 · answered by Polyhistor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋