Page 1 of 1

Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:25 pm
by os2firefox
Saw the FBI's response to the FOIA for Hillary's missing emails and they refused to release them because of lack of public interest. Is this a legit reason to deny a FOIA?

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/ ... -withhold/

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:37 pm
by jukk0u
Time to file a FOIA request or a thousand.

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:42 pm
by MadPick
I suspect that there's some misinterpretation doing on here . . . .

I bet it's a question of whether it's "in the public interest" (i.e., of value to the citizens), not "if there's enough public interest" (i.e., people are curious enough).

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:22 pm
by usrifle
If even ONE Citizen is curious, that should be enough.

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 10:58 pm
by ANZAC
File a FOIA request for copies of all the FOIAs.... (has been done)

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:47 am
by Guns4Liberty
If they need more public interest, I'm sure we can drum some up.

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 7:24 pm
by os2firefox
MadPick wrote:I suspect that there's some misinterpretation doing on here . . . .

I bet it's a question of whether it's "in the public interest" (i.e., of value to the citizens), not "if there's enough public interest" (i.e., people are curious enough).


Is either one an exception for FOIA? I don't see it on there.

https://www.foia.gov/faq.html#exemptions

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:08 pm
by MadPick
os2firefox wrote:
MadPick wrote:I suspect that there's some misinterpretation doing on here . . . .

I bet it's a question of whether it's "in the public interest" (i.e., of value to the citizens), not "if there's enough public interest" (i.e., people are curious enough).


Is either one an exception for FOIA? I don't see it on there.

https://www.foia.gov/faq.html#exemptions


Me neither. :bigsmile:

The only mention of the public interest is in the section about waiving fees: https://www.foia.gov/faq.html#fees

Re: Can a FOIA be denied due to lack of public interest?

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 10:30 am
by jukk0u
This web site, a click-bait conservative "news" site, is offering to help this guy out by having a poll to demonstrate public interest. (FWIW)

http://independentcitizen.com/fbi-refus ... zy-excuse/