Thread by @doctorow

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of my first blog post; some anonymous axe-grinder gave me a hell of a bloggiversary present: they complained about one of my posts to the FBI, triggering an investigation.

pluralistic.net/2021/01/15/hoo…

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Even though my @EFF colleague Mark Rumold called the (very professional) special agent, got him to agree that the post (a link to a Popular Mechanics article on the science of toppling monuments) was within my First Amendment rights, I wasn't done.

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Today, thanks to the help of the self-described #FOIAfiend @aaron_d_mackey, I sent the FBI a FOIA request for:

* Any and all records that reflect or otherwise describe any investigations, assessments, or other actions taken by the FBI concerning my July blog post,

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* Any and all records, such as reports, memoranda, or notes relating to, or describing me that reflect or otherwise describe the January 12 communications between the FBI agent, me, and my legal counsel, and

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* Any and all records created, collected, or maintained by the FBI that otherwise describe or relate to any FBI investigations, assessments, or other actions concerning me regarding any other protected First Amendment activities.

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But that's just for openers!

* Pursuant to the Privacy Act, I further request that I be allowed to inspect and correct any records maintained about me. 5 U.S.C. §§ 552a(d)(1)-(2).

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* I further request that the FBI—after allowing me to inspect and correct any and all records maintained about me—expunge or otherwise destroy records it collects and maintains that document, reflect, or otherwise describe my exercise of First Amendment rights.

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So: let me see what you've got, then delete everything about my protected speech activities. This is a right that every person who is investigated for protected speech is entitled to under the Privacy Act.

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Here's the letter I sent; I'm not a lawyer, and you probably aren't either, but it might help you draft your own letter if you get into the same absurd predicament:

craphound.com/images/Doctoro…

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You will need to include a U.S. Department of Justice Certification of Identity Form DOJ-361 (don't worry, it's an easy one):

fbi.gov/file-repositor…

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And you'll need to send it to your local FBI field office, mine is the LA one:

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Los Angeles Field Office
11000 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90024

eof/