James Earl Ray
| Tracking # |
EOUSA-2024-003084 EOUSA-2024-001006 1350673-000 FOIA-2024-00625 1350673-000, DOJ-AP-2017-001917 |
| Submitted | May 11, 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:
James Earl Ray (March 10, 1928 – April 23, 1998) was an American convicted of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Ray was convicted on his 41st birthday after entering a guilty plea to forgo a jury trial. Had he been found guilty by jury trial, he would have been eligible for the death penalty. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He later recanted his confession and tried unsuccessfully to gain access to a retrial. In 1998, Ray died in prison of complications due to chronic hepatitis C infection. His death has been widely reported. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/24/us/james-earl-ray-70-killer-of-dr-king-dies-in-nashville.html?pagewanted=all
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 am a member of the news media and request classification as such.
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: Sobonya, David P. (RMD) (FBI)
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 http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/, http://www.fbi.gov/foia/ or http://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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~WRD322
From: Michael Best
Please also be sure to search all field offices and resident agencies.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
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 May 11, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1350673-000.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 May 11, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1350673-000.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: FOIPAQUESTIONS
Dear Mr. Best,
Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.
Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request
If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.
FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON August 3, 2016
Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]
FOIPA:
Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:
FOIPA:
1234567-000
Case Type:
FOIPA
Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)
The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.
You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.
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
Direct: (540) 868-4854
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 https://www.fbi.gov/services/records-management/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: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the integrity of the search, as no search was performed. I specified "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 later followed up with a request to "please also be sure to search all field offices and resident agencies." The Bureau's search does not constitute even a good faith attempt to fulfill these criteria.
From: FOIPAQUESTIONS
Dear Mr. Best,
You have utilized the improper channel in your attempt to submit an appeal regarding request 1350673-000.
As indicated in correspondence dated December 15, 2016, you may file an appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530-0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP’s FOIAonline portal by creating an account on the following web site: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/home. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within ninety (90) days from the date of the letter in order to be considered timely. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked “Freedom of Information Act Appeal.” Please cite the FOIPA Request Number assigned to your request so that it may be easily identified.
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.
-
~WRD126
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the integrity of the search, as no search was performed. I specified "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 later followed up with a request to "please also be sure to search all field offices and resident agencies." The Bureau's search does not constitute even a good faith attempt to fulfill these criteria.
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
01/27/2017 04:38 PM FOIA Request: DOJ-AP-2017-001917
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
DOJ-AP-2017-001917 has been processed with the following final disposition: Closed for other reasons -- Other -- No Component Response to Adjudicate.
From: M Best
I apologize - I mislead your initial response letter as referring me to previously released documents. This error was entirely on my part. Thank you for agreeing to release the records to the online Vault.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below. 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: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below. 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: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Attached is correspondence from the Department of Justice's Office of Information Policy, which is associated with the above-referenced Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Please do not reply to this e-mail, as this account is not monitored.
Thank you,
-----------------------------------------
Initial Request Staff
Office of Information Policy
U.S. Department of Justice
202-514-3642 (Main Line)
202-514-1009 (Fax)
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
There are too many files to display on this communication. See all files
From: Emma Best
Your agency is quite aware that I legally changed my name years ago.
Stop dead-naming transgender people.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
There are too many files to display on this communication. See all files
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A fix is required to perfect the request.
From: Emma Best
Why are you trying to negotiate the FOIA after three interim releases?
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A fix is required to perfect the request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Please find attached correspondence related to your Freedom of Information Act request.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Please see the attached.
Thank you.
LaShawn Johnson
FOIA Specialist
U.S. Department of Justice
Freedom of Information & Privacy Staff
175 N Street, N.E.,
5th Floor, FOIA Suite
Washington, D.C. 20002
Tel. (202) 252-6057
From: Emma Best
Why are you trying to negotiate the FOIA after three interim releases? I never agreed to pay fees, and the public interest in these records is obvious.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Good morning,
Your original request was sent to the FBI for information. The FBI sent us one page as a referral for processing. We processed this one page and sent it to you. We did not charge you any fees for the referral response. Please contact us with any other questions.
Thank you.
Arla J. Witte-Simpson
Executive Office for the U.S. Attorneys, FOIA/PA
Supervisory Attorney Advisor/FOIA Liaison
175 N Street NE, Suite 5.400
Washington, DC 20530
Office: (202) 252-6036
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image001
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
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Responsive Documents
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.
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Partial Responsive Documents
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.
-
Partial Responsive Documents
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
-
Responsive Documents
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Please see the attached.
Thank you.
U.S. Department of Justice
Freedom of Information & Privacy Staff
175 N Street, N.E.,
5th Floor, FOIA Suite
Washington, D.C. 20002
Tel. (202) 252-6057
