Please send as far and wide as possible. Thanks, Robert Sterling Editor, The Konformist http://www.konformist.com If you are interested in a free subscription to The Konformist Newswire, please visit http://www.eGroups.com/list/konformist/ and sign up. Or, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject: "I NEED 2 KONFORM!!!" (Okay, you can use something else, but it's a kool catch phrase.) Visit the Klub Konformist at Yahoo!: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/klubkonformist Leary FOIPA Follow Up Kenn Thomas ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] August 23, 1999 John M. Kelso, Jr., Chief Freedom of Information-Privacy Section Office of Public and Congressional Affairs US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC 20535-0001 Dear Mr. Kelso: I mailed the enclosed letter to your office on March 16 and have yet to receive a reply. I understand about the delays as explained in your letter of March 9, but since then the FBI has witnessed a lot of publicity attendant to the select release of some files on Dr. Leary to the public. Please explain why this has happened and yet no action has been taken on my request for the release of the full file. I would greatly appreciate a prompt reply. Sincerely, Kenn Thomas POB 23715 St. Louis, MO 63121 March 15, 1999 John M. Kelso, Jr., Chief Freedom of Information-Privacy Section Office of Public and Congressional Affairs US Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC 20535-0001 Dear Mr. Kelso: This letter is responsive to yours of March 9 asking that I respond in writing to criteria necessary to be met before consideration of a fee waiver in my FOI/PA request for files on Dr. Timothy Leary. Enclosed is a copy of your letter listing the criteria. (i) In its letter to me of September 8, 1998, the FBI has acknowledged three FBIHQ files on Timothy Leary. This demonstrates that Dr. Leary was the subject of at least three FBI investigations, which are of course "operations or activities of the government." (ii) The informative value of these files includes the information that the FBI sought in these investigations, why it sought that information and how it was used. The files will demonstrate how Dr. Leary came to the attention of the FBI and why the Bureau decided to proceed in its investigation of him The files document important aspects of Dr. Leary's biography, including passport fraud investigation from his time in exile, an unspecified "security matter" labeled as an "anarchist/extremist investigation" and a 1948 government loyalty investigation. (iii) Dr. Leary was involved in the important controversies of private drug use and wrongful imprisonment. Disclosure of how this notoriety affected interest in him by police authorities will contribute substantially to public understanding of this debate. The public understanding also will be served by an examination of why it was important for the FBI to have Dr. Leary investigated. (iv) The history of Dr. Leary's life and career has so far only been documented in his autobiographies and various press accounts. These files will provide a new look at pivotal times in the life of this important public figure. Disclosure would make a very significant contribution to understanding Dr. Leary's biography and recent US history, including the interest in him by the FBI. It will provide a new primary source for future biographers and historians. References to prior articles/book: "Further FOIPA Adventures: Liberating Leary's FBI Files," Flatland, February 1999 "King Leary: The Lord of Acid Leaves a Trippy Legacy," Conspire.com web site, July 1998 Flying Saucers Over Los Angeles, appendix by Timothy Leary, Adventures Unlimited Press, 1998 "Party at Tim Leary's," in the book Popular Alienation, IlliumiNet Press, 1996 "You Too Can Be A Researcher: Tips On Using the Freedom of Information Act and the National Archives," Flatland, February 1996 This should meet the criteria requirements listed in your letter. I understand the delays in processing this request that you mention and would appreciate anything you can do to expedite. Sincerely, Kenn Thomas POB 23715 St. Louis, MO 63121 enc.: letter from FBI, 3/9/99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Was the salesman clueless? Productopia has the answers. http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/555 eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/konformist http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
