Letter to Sulzberger of the NY Times

Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Ph: 415-621-6267

Arthur Sulzberger Jr.
The New York Times
New York, NY 10036

RE: NYT coverage of Kerry and Bush FBI files

Dear Mr. Sulzberger:

On March 23 David Halbfinger wrote a 759-word story about the release of more pages from Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry’s FBI files, all related to his activities protesting the Vietnam war in the 1970s.

No mention was made about the possibility the FBI also has records on Kerry’s Republican opponent, President George W. Bush.

I’ve searched the New York Times’ web archives and can’t find stories about what the FBI may have in its files on Bush.

While I have no evidence suggest a file exists, I believe it is highly probable the FBI has files on Bush, either because of his business dealings in the Texas oil industry or from his tenure as governor of the state, and certainly in his capacity as president.

Enclosed are copies of letters from the FBI in response to my FOIA request and my appeal after the agency denied my request for expedited processing.

In the interests of political fairness, journalistic balance and equal press scrutiny of the two top presidential contenders, I ask, as citizen activist and Times shareholder, that the Times pursue the immediate release of these files and shake the FBI out of its complacent posture.

In the FBI’s July 28, 2004 letter to me, the agency says it has determined I “have not demonstrated any particular urgency to inform the public about the subject matter of your requests."

As you no doubt know, there’s a provision in FOIA requiring fast release of files when there is “exceptional media interest.”

If an election in less than 30 days doesn't demonstrate any particular urgency to know the truth about one of the candidates, then maybe the Times can prevail upon them to see the light.

Sincerely,


Michael Petrelis