Update on Bush's FBI file

Dear Friends:

Over the weekend I received a reply from the Department of Justice regarding my appeal of the FBI denying me expedited processing for George W. Bush's FBI file. As you can see, DOJ is in no hurry to grant my Freedom of Information Act request for the president's FBI dossier.

It is my understanding, after speaking with both DOJ and the FBI last week, that once an appeal number has been assigned, it means a DOJ lawyer was appointed to handle (thwart?) my appeal.

Of course, my appeal would be moot, if reporters, pundits, media outlets and the voting public created an exceptional reason and interest in the Bush FBI file. I believe with little more than four weeks before the November election, there is ample time to force the FBI, or the White House, to release Bush's records.

In reading news accounts again from the spring about the thousands of pages of FBI files on Sen. John Kerry and his role in Vietnam Veterans Against the War, which are in the public sphere, I am reminded of how unfair and imbalanced the stories were. Not one story raised the topic of Bush's FBI file -- the focus was strictly on Kerry.

How is it Kerry supporters and the Democratic National Committee allowed the press to give Bush a free ride about his FBI dossier? I also wonder why the Associated Press has filed FOIA requests for Bush's National Guard files, and written extensively about them, but the wire service has apparently failed to request whatever the FBI may have on Bush.

In my opinion, Kerry voters and the DNC have an important responsibility to demand media outlets ask for Bush's FBI file.

Finally, my friend Clinton Fein, a San Francisco artist and political activist who operates the fantastic annoy.com web site, has created a great image depicting the unavailability of Bush's FBI file, which accompanies my column, Where is Bush's FBI file?

Cruise on over to http://www.annoy.com/home.html and check out Fein's artistry.

^^^


September 27, 2004

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Information and Privacy
Flag Building
Washington, DC 20530

Telephone: 202-514-3642

Mr. Michael Petrelis
2215-R Market Street, #413
San Francisco, CA 94114

Re: Request No. 1001866 [My FOIA request for Pres. Bush's FBI file]

Dear Mr. Petrelis:

This is to advise you that your administrative appeal from the action of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on your request for information from the files of the Department of Justice was received by this Office on September 7, 2004.

The Office of Information and Privacy, which has the responsibility of adjudicating such appeals, has a substantial backlog of pending appeals received prior to yours. IN an attempt to afford each appellant equal and impartial treatment, we have adopted a general practice of assigning appeals in the appropriate order of receipt.

Your appeal has been assigned number 04-2795. Please mention this number in any future correspondence to this Office regarding this matter.

We will notify you of the decision on your appeal as soon as we can. The necessity of this delay is regretted and your continuing courtesy is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Priscilla Jones
Administrative Specialist