Request Letter for FBI Records on Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

I am writing to request access to any records or files held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) related to Jason William Mizell, who is also known as Jam Master Jay. Mizell was a founding member of the hip-hop group Run-DMC and a pioneer in the music industry. He was tragically killed on October 30, 2002, at his recording studio in Queens, New York. I am referencing an article from Rolling Stone magazine, published on March 4, 2021, titled "Jam Master Jay Alleged Killer Goes to Trial," which provides some background on the investigation into his death and the subsequent trial of his alleged killer.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), I request that all records be released to me, including any documents, memos, emails, or other materials that reference or relate to Jason William Mizell or his death. Additionally, I request that a key string search be conducted to ensure that all relevant records are provided to me. Specifically, I would like to request that the following key strings be used in the search:

Jam Master Jay
Jason Mizell
Run-DMC
Murder
Homicide
Investigation
Suspect
Arrest
Trial
Evidence
Witness
Statement
Interview
Autopsy
Forensic
Ballistics
Gang
Drug
Criminal
Violence
New York City
I also request any records that may be responsive to the Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) program.

I would like to remind you that the FOIA reflects a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, and that any exemptions to the Act must be narrowly construed. The Supreme Court has held that the FOIA promotes transparency and accountability in government, and that any exemptions to the Act must be based on specific and narrowly defined grounds. See United States Department of Justice v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989); John Doe Agency v. John Doe Corp., 493 U.S. 146 (1989); and Nat'l Archives & Records Admin. v. Favish, 541 U.S. 157 (2004), among other cases.

Therefore, I would like to give notice that I do not consent to any withholding, redaction, or deletion of records that may be responsive to my request, except in cases where the documents are clearly exempt from disclosure under the FOIA.

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,

Good Citizen

Dear FOIPA Appeals Officer,

I am writing to appeal the response I received to my FOIPA request number 1586780000 regarding Jason William Mizell. The response stated that my request was not sufficiently identified because I did not provide my complete name, and that an anonymous request does not meet the requirements of the Department of Justice's FOIA regulations.

However, I believe that case law supports the position that a requester's anonymity does not necessarily preclude access to information under the FOIA. In the case of McGehee v. CIA, the court held that "an agency may not refuse to disclose information merely because it is requested by an anonymous individual" (697 F.2d 1095, 1104 [D.C. Cir. 1983]).

Furthermore, the FOIA provides that upon receipt of a reasonably described request, records can be made available to a "person" (5 USC § 552 [a][3][A]). It does not explicitly require the requester to provide their complete name or any personal information. The Department of Justice's FOIA regulations may require a requester's complete name, but I believe that those regulations cannot override the requirements of the FOIA itself.

Based on the above, I respectfully request that the FBI reconsider its decision to deny my FOIPA request on the basis of my anonymity, and provide access to the requested records. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Jordan Lassiter