Document text
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D.C. 20535
August 20, 2025
MR. KEN KLIPPENSTEIN
APARTMENT 407
110 D STREET, SOUTHEAST
WASHINGTON, DC 20003
Request No.: 1341276 -001
Subject: Council on American -Islamic
Relations
Dear Mr. Klippenstein :
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Please see the paragraphs
below for relevant information specific to your request as well as the enclosed FBI FOIPA Addendum for
standard responses applicable to all requests.
The FBI has completed its review of records subject to the FOIA that are responsive to your
request. We made these records available in the FBI’s electronic FOIA Library (The Vault) on the FBI’s
public website, http://vault.fbi.gov . On the right -hand side of the home page, under the heading “Vault Links”
you can search for your subject alphabetically (click on “A -Z Index”), by category (click on “Categories”), or
by entering text into our search engine (click on “Search Vault”). For records responsive to this request,
please enter insert appropriate Vault search term here as the search term.
The available documents represent a final Vault posting of information responsive to your FOIA
request.
Please see the selected paragraphs below for relevant information specific to your request.
Additional records potentially responsive to your subject may exist. Please inform us by
emailing [email protected] or replying through standard mail if you would like the
FBI to conduct a search of the indices to our Central Records System.
Additional records responsive to your request were processed but are not currently
available on The Vault. Please inform us by emailing [email protected] or replying
through standard mail if you would like to receive these records.
Please refer to the enclosed FBI FOIPA Addendum for additional standard responses applicable to
your request. “Part 1 ” of the Addendum includes standard responses that apply to all requests. “Part 2”
includes additional standard responses that apply to all requests for records about yourself or any third-party
individuals . “Part 3” includes general information about FBI rec ords that you may find useful. Also enclosed
is our Explanation of Exemptions.
Additional information about the FOIPA can be found at www.fbi.gov/foia . Should you have
questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact [email protected] . Please reference the
FOIPA Request number listed above in all correspondence concerning your request.
Please be advised that if you are seeking a new search for records, you may wish to narrow the
scope of your request based on material that you have already received, e.g., timeframe or locality.
Additionally, be advised that “unusual circumstances” may apply. See 5 U.S.C. § 552 (a)(6)(B)(iii). These
“unusual circumstances” will delay our ability to make a determination on your request within 20 days. See 5
U.S.C. § 552 (a)(6)(B). Additionally, the payment of pertinent fees may apply to your request. See 5 U.S.C. §
552 (a)(4)(A)(viii). The application of “unusual circumstances” is not a determination of how the FBI will
respond to your substantive request.
If you are not satisfied with the FBI’s determination in response to this request, you may proceed
under any or all of the following options:
• You may seek dispute resolution services through the FBI directly by emailing our FOIA Public
Liaison at [email protected] . The subject heading should clearly state “Dispute
Resolution Services.” Please also cite the FOIPA Request Number assigned to your request
so it may be easily identified.
• You may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), who serves as the
federal FOIA Ombudsman. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of
Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601
Adelphi Road -OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740 -6001, e -mail at [email protected] ; telephone
at 202 -741-5770; toll free at 1 -877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202 -741-5769.
• You may file an administrative appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy
(OIP), United States Department of Justice, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C.
20530, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIA STAR portal by cr eating an account
following the instructions on OIP’s website: https://www.justice.gov/oip/submit -and-track -
request -or-appeal . Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 16.8(a), your appeal must be postmarked or
electronically transmitted within ninety (90) days of the date of this response to your
request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly
marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal." Please reference the FOIPA Request Number
listed above in your correspondence so it may be easily identified. If possible, please provide a
copy of your original request and this response letter with your appeal.
Note: Utilizing the FBI’s dispute resolution services or requesting mediation through OGIS does not
toll the ninety (90) day limit to file a timely appeal with OIP.
Sincerely ,
Record/Information Dissemination Section
Information Management Division
Enclosure s
FBI FOIPA Addendum
As referenced in our letter responding to your Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts (FOIPA) request, the FBI FOIPA Addendum
provides information applicable to your request. Part 1 of the Addendum includes standard responses that apply to all requests. Part
2 includes standard responses that apply to requests for records about individuals to the extent your request seeks the liste d
information. Part 3 includes general information about FBI records, searches, and programs.
Part 1: The standard responses below apply to all requests:
(i) 5 U.S.C. § 552(c). Congress excluded three categories of law enforcement and national security records from the
requirements of the FOIPA [5 U.S.C. § 552(c)]. FBI responses are limited to those records subject to the requirements of the
FOIPA. Additional information about the FBI and the FOIPA can be found on the www.fbi.gov/foia website.
(ii) Intelligence Records . To the extent your request seeks records of intelligence sources, methods, or activities, the FBI can
neither confirm nor deny the existence of records pursuant to FOIA exemptions (b)(1), (b)(3), and as applicable to requests for
records about individuals, PA exemption (j)(2) [5 U.S.C. §§ 552/552a (b)(1), (b)(3), and (j)(2)]. The mere acknowledgment of the
existence or nonexistence of such records is itself a classified fact protected by FOIA exemption (b)(1) and/or would reveal
intelligence sources, methods, or activities protected by exemption (b)(3) [50 USC § 3024(i)(1)]. This is a standard response
and should not be read to indicate that any such records do or do not exist.
Part 2: The standard responses below apply to all requests for records on individuals:
(i) Requests for Records about any Individual —Watch Lists. The FBI can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any
individual’s name on a watch list pursuant to FOIA exemption (b)(7)(E) and PA exemption (j)(2) [5 U.S.C. §§ 552/552a
(b)(7)(E), (j)(2)]. This is a standard response and should not be read to indicate that watch list records do or do not exist.
(ii) Requests for Records about any Individual —Witness Security Program Records. The FBI can neither confirm nor deny
the existence of records which could identify any participant in the Witness Security Program pursuant to FOIA exemption
(b)(3) and PA exemption (j)(2) [5 U.S.C. §§ 552/552a (b)(3), 18 U.S.C. 3521, and (j)(2)] . This is a standard response and
should not be read to indicate that such records do or do not exist.
(iii) Requests for Confidential Informant Records. The FBI can neither confirm nor deny the existence of confidential
informant records pursuant to FOIA exemptions (b)(7)(D), (b)(7)(E), and (b)(7)(F) [5 U.S.C.§ § 552 (b)(7)(D), (b)(7)(E), and
(b)(7)(F)] and Privacy Act exemption (j)(2) [5 U.S.C.§ 552a (j)(2)]. The mere acknowledgment of the existence or nonexistence of
such records would reveal confidential informant identities and information, expose law enforcement techniques, and endanger
the life or physical safety of individuals. This is a standard response and should not be read to indicate that such records do or do
not exist.
Part 3: General Information:
(i) Record Searches and Standard Search Policy. The Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) searches for reasonably
described records by searching systems, such as the Central Records System (CRS), or locations where responsive records
would reasonably be found. The CRS is an extensive system of records consisting of applicant, investigative, intelligence,
personnel, administrative, and general files compiled by the FBI per its law enforcement, intellig ence, and administrative
functions. The CRS spans the entire FBI organization, comprising records of FBI Headquarters, FBI Field Offices, and FBI Legal
Attaché Offices (Legats) worldwide; Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) records are included in the CRS. The standard search
policy is a search for main entity records in the CRS. Unless specifically requested, a standard search does not include a search
for reference entity records or administrative records of previous FOIPA requests.
a. Main Entity Records – created for individuals or non -individuals who are the subjects or the focus of
an investigation
b. Reference Entity Records - created for individuals or non -individuals who are associated with a case
but are not known subjects or the focus of an investigation
(ii) FBI Records. Founded in 1908, the FBI carries out a dual law enforcement and national security mission. As part of this dual
mission, the FBI creates and maintains records on various subjects; however, the FBI does not maintain records on every
person, subject, or entity.
(iii) Foreseeable Harm Standard. As amended in 2016, the Freedom of Information Act provides that a federal agency may withhold
responsive records only if: (1) the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by one of the
nine exemptions that FOIA enumerate s, or (2) disclosure is prohibited by law (5 United States Code, Section 552(a)(8)(A)(i)). The
FBI considers this foreseeable harm standard in the processing of its requests.
(iv) Requests for Criminal History Records or Rap Sheets. The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division provides
Identity History Summary Checks – often referred to as a criminal history record or rap sheet. These criminal history records
are not the same as material in an investigative “FBI file.” An Identity History Summary Check is a listing of information taken
from fingerprint cards and documents submitted to the FBI in connection with arrests, federal employment, naturalization, or
military service. For a fee, individuals can request a copy of their Identity History Summary Check. Forms and directions can
be accessed at www.fbi.gov/about -us/cjis/identity -history -summary -checks . Additionally, requests can be submitted
electronically at www.edo.cjis.gov . For additional information, please contact CJIS directly at (304) 625 -5590.
EXPLANATION OF EXEMPTIONS
SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552
(b)(1) (A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign
policy and (B) are in fact properly classified to such Executive order;
(b)(2) related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency;
(b)(3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), provided that such statute (A) requires that the
matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on issue, or (B) establishes particular criteria for withholding
or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld;
(b)(4) trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential;
(b)(5) inter-agency or intra -agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with
the agency;
(b)(6) personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of pers onal privacy;
(b)(7) records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcem ent records
or information ( A ) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, ( B ) would deprive a person of a right to a
fair trial or an impartial adjudication, ( C ) could reasonably be expected to constitute an un warranted invasion of personal privacy, ( D )
could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any
private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of record or information compiled b y a criminal law
enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigati on, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence
investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, ( E ) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforce ment
investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guide lines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could
reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or ( F ) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physic al safety of any
individual;
(b)(8) contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agenc y responsible for
the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or
(b)(9) geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells.
SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552a
(d)(5) information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action proceeding;
(j)(2) material reporting investigative efforts pertaining to the enforcement of criminal law includin g efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime
or apprehend criminals;
(k)(1) information which is currently and properly classified pursuant to an Executive order in the interest of the national defense or foreign
policy, for example, information involving intelligence sources or methods;
(k)(2) investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other than criminal, which did not result in loss of a right, b enefit or
privilege under Federal programs, or which would identify a source who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity
would be held in confidence;
(k)(3) material maintained in connection with providing protective services to the President of the United States or any other individual pursuant
to the authority of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056;
(k)(4) required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records;
(k)(5) investigatory material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian
employment or for access to classified information, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the perso n who furnished
information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence;
(k)(6) testing or examination material used to determine individual qualifications for appointment or p romotion in Federal Government service
the release of which would compromise the testing or examination process;
(k)(7) material used to determine potential for promotion in the armed services, the disclosure of which wo uld reveal the identity of the person
who furnished the material pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence.
FBI/DOJ