David John Moore Cornwell (1935 – 2020)
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
21-038 |
| Submitted | Dec. 14, 2020 |
| Est. Completion | Jan. 22, 2021 |
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Communications
From: T. McElwee
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
All records mentioning, concerning, or communicating with the late David John Moore Cornwell (October 19, 1931 – December 12, 2020), a Britsh novelist and writer under the pen name John le Carré. My request is for records falling under both the given name Cornwell as well as the pen name le Carré, both as an intelligence agent of the United Kingdom and as a writer.
To assist in the location of records, the following is known: by his own description, Cornwall was employed in the United Kingdom's Security Service (M.I.5) from 1958-1960 and Secret Intelligence Service (M.I.6) from 1960-1964. Cornwall's writing career (as le Carré) overlapped and followed this period, beginning with the publication of his first novel in 1961; he frequently wrote on subjects of espionage, the Cold War, and the U.S.-U.K. relationship in both fiction and non-fiction formats, until his death in 2020.
Cornwell's death was widely reported (see attachment for obituary); the requested records regarding Cornwall should be assumed to have diminished privacy interests from the FOIA Exemption 6, 7(C) as well as the Privacy Act. As Cornwell fits the description of a public figure as a popular novelist, there is also a public interest in disclosure of records concerning him as a subject.
Systems of Records that may hold matching records include NSD-001 (Foreign Intelligence and Counterintelligence Records System) and NSD-003 (Registration Files of Individuals Who Have Knowledge of, or Have Received Instruction or Assignment in, Espionage, Counterespionage, or Sabotage Service or Tactics of a Foreign Government or of a Foreign Political Party).
If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or transferred to NARA, then I request copies of the destruction or transfer slips as well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said transfer or destruction, to include but not be limited to confirmation that the Bureau has no other copies of said records.
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,
T. McElwee
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Justice, National Security Division
T. McElwee
411A Highland Avenue
Muckrock News Dept Mr 105825
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com
Re: FOIA/PA #21-038
Dear Mr. McElwee:
This is to acknowledge your email dated December 14, 2020 for information pertaining to David John Moore Cornwell aka le Carre'. Our FOIA office received your Freedom of Information Act request on December 14, 2020.
In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the NSD FOIA staff is teleworking full time. Our FOIA operations have been diminished while we are teleworking and our FOIA intake and FOIA processing will be slower than normal.
Our policy is to process FOIA requests on a first-in, first-out basis. Consistent with this policy, every effort will be made to respond to your request as quickly as possible. The actual processing time will depend upon the complexity of the request, whether it involves sensitive or voluminous records, and whether consultations with other agencies or agency components are appropriate. Also, the National Security Division does not handle Delegation of Authority.
You may contact our Government Information Specialist, Arnetta Mallory, for any further assistance and to discuss any aspect of your request at:
U.S. Department of Justice
Records and FOIA Unit
3 Constitution Square
175 N Street N.E. 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 233-2639
Sincerely,
Arnetta Mallory
Government Information Specialist
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: T. McElwee
To whom it may concern:
I wish to request an update on my request, assigned tracking number FOIA/PA #21-038 (original subject line: "David John Moore Cornwell (1935 – 2020)"). This was sent 12/14/2020.
I request an update with any reasonable estimates of the following: page count, the request's place in any queue, date of completion.
Thank you,
T. McElwee
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on . You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Justice, National Security Division
Hello Mr. McElwee
The National Security Division is still searching for possible responsive documents to your request.
Sincerely,
Arnetta Mallory
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 14, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Jan. 22, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #21-038.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Justice, National Security Division
T. McElwee
411A Highland Avenue
Muckrock News Dept Mr 105825
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com August 31, 2022
Re: FOIA/PA #21-038
Dear Mr. McElwee:
This is to acknowledge your letter for information pertaining to David John Moore Cornwell aka le Carre'. Our FOIA office received your Freedom of Information Act request on December 14, 2020.
This office conducted a file search of the National Security Division Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Counterterrorism Section, we did not locate any responsive records subject to FOIA.
If you are not satisfied with the National Security Division's determination in response to this request, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20530, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIA STAR portal by creating an account on the following website: https://foiastar.doj.gov. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of my response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal.
Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, e-mail at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769.
Sincerely,
Arnetta Mallory
Government Information Specialist
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