Petrelis Files

FOIA Requests:
Any FBI Files on Jesse Helms or Tim Russert?

The other day, I had reason to look again at the 534 pages of the FBI's file on the Gay Activists Alliance posted on the agency's web site, which still doesn't have a link to the 1,113 pages the FBI has on the Gay Liberation Front, and after I read the GAA file I had a look at the 5-page file on singer Marvin Gaye.

This is how the FBI describes what's in the Gaye pages, dated from October 1977:

Marvin Gaye, a singer, who performed on stage for a fee of $40,000 per performance, was paid by his production company. However, when he arrived in both Richmond and Norfolk, he insisted he hadn't received the $40,000 from either city and they had to pay him again before he would perform. The company who sponsored Gaye's performance made $10,000 less than it was paid out, therefore, they tried to recover the money they paid out twice.

Sure is curious to see how FBI resources and staff time were spent on a payment dispute with the great soul singer, and it got me thinking about two recent powerful men who died recently, and if the FBI has files on either one of them -- former GOP Sen. Jesse Helms and NBC newsman Tim Russert.

Federal law allows that once a person is deceased, his or her FBI can be requested and released to the media or members of the general public, pursuant to FOIA regulations and requirements. The feds require that such requests have an obituary or death notice attached, as proof that the person is actually dead.

To get the process underway, I snail mailed and emailed FOIA requests to the FBI asking the bureau for any records on Helms or Russert.

Not sure what might be in a file on either man, if the FBI has any files on them. I suspect there's likely to be one on Helms, because of all the political enemies and controversies he attracted over his long tenure doing damage in the Senate chamber. And there must be quite a few things in the agency's archive on Russert, who was interviewed by FBI agents over his knowledge of and involvement in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Here's a copy of my FOIA request related to Helms. A very similar one for Russert is on it's way to FBI headquarters.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Record Information/Dissemination Section
FOIA Officer
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4843

Dear Sir or Madam,

Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, I am hereby requesting copies of, or access, any and all FBI records or files related to former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, who passed away on July 4.

I am requesting any such FBI records on him in all media formats, print or digital or audio/visual, but would most appreciate it if your agency can provide me with any records in electronic format.

Enclosed is an obituary for Sen. Helms that appeared in the New York Times newspaper on July 5.

If you have need for clarification or have any questions, please contact me at 415-xxx-xxxx.

Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis