CESTA 12.31.22

To Whom It May Concern:

You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting the following:

All bureau files, field office memoranda, and other associated documents on the Committee for the Expansion of Socialist Thought in America (CESTA). The organization is identified on pages 45 and 46 of Book III in the United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities' final report as a "notional group" and a "wholly fictitious organization" created by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for "mailing letters and pamphlets." The report goes on to state that the FBI, under the CESTA moniker, "attacked the [Communist Party of the United States of America] from the 'Marxist right' for at least two years."

CESTA is also identified in a supplemental document to a December 8, 1975 FBI memorandum from F. J. Cassidy to W. R. Wannall, subject line reading "SENSTUDY 75". The document states that the FBI ran CESTA in the Southern California area from 1965 to 1967, using its as a cover to distribute a publication called "Socialist Dialogue", as part of a Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO). I am requesting all Bureau documents that identify the Committee for the Expansion of Socialist Thought in America/CESTA by name in addition to copies of any publications the Bureau may have produced using the CESTA moniker, including "Socialist Dialogue". There should be no expectation of a security risk or embarrassment on the part of the Bureau as it ceased CESTA operations over 50 yers ago.

I am asking you waive any fees associated with this request. As CESTA was a fictitious organization created by the FBI to disrupt the actions of American citizens as part of COINTELPRO, there is an immense public interest in learning more about this organization and the actions of the FBI in producing material on its behalf.

Additionally, I am a member of the news media, with bylines including CovertAction Magazine, Philly Voice, and Atlas Obscura. Please take note of the Office of Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FR 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional publishers as representatives of the news media.

This request is not being made for commercial purposes. All documents will be provided to the general public without charge.

In the event that there are fees, I am willing to pay up to $100. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

To assist in your search, I have attached examples of documents previously released by the FBI addressing CESTA and currently available to the public in the National Archives. 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.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Sincerely,

Robert Skvarla, Jr.