WASHINGTON -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation may have more than 1,000 pages in its files on the late Republican Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, but federal officials haven't released a single document more than a year after a San Francisco blogger filed Freedom of Information Act requests.
San Francisco-based blogger and gay rights activist Michael Petrelis sent the FBI a Freedom of Information Act request for information on Helms shortly after the senator's July 4th, 2008 death. The FBI restricts third-party access to information about individuals while they are still alive, but makes it possible for people to request copies of someone else's FBI files after they have passed away.
The FBI's records management division staff sent Petrelis a letter in October 2008, informing him they'd located 1,082 pages that may mention Helms, but that it could cost Petrelis $98.20 to get copies of all the documents. The first 100 pages of FBI records requests are provided for free, but people are charged for copies beyond 100 pages. Petrelis agreed to pay the fee, but nearly a year later has yet to receive a document.
"We've been waiting more than a year to get ANYTHING out of them and we know they've got all those pages," Petrelis told Raw Story, adding that he was able to receive information about threats against former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney--while both were still in office---less than seven months after requesting the information.
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