An Activist Wrote a Script to FOIA the Files of 7,000 Dead FBI Officials by Joseph Cox.
From the post:
One of the best times to file a Freedom of Information request with the FBI is when someone dies; after that, any files that the agency holds on them can be requested. Asking for FBI files on the deceased is therefore pretty popular, with documents released on Steve Jobs, Malcolm X and even the Insane Clown Posse.
One activist is turning this back onto the FBI itself, by requesting files on nearly 7,000 dead FBI employees en masse, and releasing a script that allows anyone else to do the same.
“At the very least, it’ll be like having an extensive ‘Who’s Who in the FBI’ to consult, without worrying that anyone in there is still alive and might face retaliation for being in law enforcement,” Michael Best told Motherboard in an online chat. “For some folks, they’ll probably show allegations of wrongdoing while others probably highlight some of the FBI’s best and brightest.”
On Monday, Best will file FOIAs for FBI records and files relating to 6,912 employees named in the FBI’s own “Dead List,” a list of people that the FBI understands to be deceased. A recent copy of the list, which includes special agents and section chiefs, was FOIA’d by MuckRock editor JPat Brown in January.
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Points to remember:
- Best’s script works for any FOIA office that accepts email requests (not just the FBI, be creative)
- Get 3 or more people to file the same FOIA requests
- Publicize your spreadsheet of FOIA targets
Don’t forget the need to scan, OCR and index (topic map) the results of your FOIA requests.
Information that cannot be found may as well still be concealed by the FBI (and others).