FBI cites ongoing investigation and national security exemptions for file on deceased WikiLeaks director

Bureau cites six different exemptions, hints at a Confidential Informant in WikiLeaks case

In some ways, Gavin MacFadyen is the investigative journalist we all strive to be. For decades, he covered topics ranging from the Nicaraguan revolution and Iran-Contra, neo-Nazi violence, Watergate, the history of CIA, arms trafficking, and organized crime. MacFadyen went on to organize events at which whistleblowers and former intelligence personnel spoke publicly, and the early days of WikiLeaks he acted as an advocate for Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, eventually becoming a director of WikiLeaks himself. With his history, I had no doubt that the FBI would have kept a file on him, so when he died in October 2016, I requested his file.

The FBI finally responded in a letter dated January 27, but not received until yesterday (February 8). The letter contained several rejections, some of which appear legitimate while at least one isn’t allowed by statute and case law.

The first rejection is the most straightforward - the FBI believes some files may have relevant records, but they transferred those files to the National Archives and claim to not have any copies left. A follow-up FOIA for these records, and anything NARA can find on MacFadyen, has been filed.

http://buff.ly/2kSSfyc