EFTA00605183.pdf

MARTIN G. WEINBERG, P.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW 20 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 1000 EMAIL ADDRESSES: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116 NIGHT EMERGENCY May 1, 2015 Via Certified Mall FOIPA Public Liaison Officer Federal Bureau of Investigation Record/Information Dissemination Section RE: Request No 1203982-001 (Jeffrey Epstein) Dear Mr.M In November 2012, I applied under the FOR for relevant FBI files relating to Jeffrey Epstein. The FBI declined to produce any such files. On April 25, 2013, following an administrative appeal, which found 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(A) inapplicable as a basis to withhold all records of past investigations, the FBI reopened the above- numbered FOIA request and stated that it had started its processing and searching for responsive records. On June 24, 2013, on Mr. Epstein's behalf, the FBI was informed that we would pay the costs of copying. On August 8, 2014, I was informed that the FBI had sent the first batch of processed pages to its Miami field office to authorize their release, and on August 18, 2014, you informed me that the FBI had processed the first 500 pages, that 372 pages would be released, and that each successive 500 page batch would be processed on an average of every 60 days. On August 29, 2014, you informed me that you were in error on August 18, 2014, and that the Miami FBI had not approved the initial release. On September 16, 2014, you informed me that the Miami FBI had sent the first batch of processed documents to the United States Attorney's Office. We spoke again on October 16, 2014, when you informed me that the interim release had not yet cleared, and on October 21, 2014, you informed me that the delay was due to the FBI's decision to conduct a second review to determine the necessity of further redactions, a review that you predicted would take another 30 to 60 days. Finally, on December 16, 2014, the first batch of redacted reports were sent to my office with the expectation that every 60 (or maximum 90 days) there would be further productions i.e. we had a right to expect that no later than March 16, 2015 there would be a further production. When we spoke again, you said the production was schedule for April. We spoke today, and you 1 EFTA00605183 said that the analysis was complete by FBI FOIA but it was in review in South Florida and that you could not even promise that the review would result in the production in May. To date, I have received just 372 pages of the approximately 12,000 page file in the two year period after the FBI was directed to process the FOIA request (2 1/2 years from the FOIA request in November 2012), and we are approaching the fifth month after the initial production without a second batch. At 500 pages each five months (rather than two or three), the 12,000 page production will, at the current pace, not be complete for 10 years (twenty-four 500 page productions taking five months for each production) i.e. not until December 2024. I think you would agree that the past and projected delays are completely inconsistent with the purposes and policies of the FOIA and the legitimate expectation of citizens seeking productions of their FBI files subject to appropriate redactions. I would request (a) that you provide me with a definite date when the processing and review of the second batch of documents will be concluded and then released to me on Mr. Epstein's behalf, and (b) that you agree to expedite the processing of successive batches of 500 pages so that the pattern of past delays do not result in an unacceptable overall delay of the FOIA required production. I make these requests without waiving Mr. Epstein's rights to pursue other remedies to assure that the FBI has made timely responses to his FOIA requests. Yours truly, 4ant Martin G. Weinberg (S) cc: =IS, Section Chief 2 EFTA00605184