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A Bad FOIA Request Letter
Dear Sir: 1 My name is Mrs. Gigi Smith2 and when I was in college in Michigan in the late 1980's we had a lot of protests against American involvement in Nicaragua and South Africa. I was written up in the local paper3 and I think there are probably files of me at the Defense Department.4 Is there a CIA file on me?5 I don't want to pay a lot of money so I hope you can help me out.6 Sincerely7 Gigi Farmer Smith8 |
1. Should be addressed to specific agency's office or officer
2. Should include personal identifying information including address, SSN, date of birth
3. Indicating the name of the paper, or at least the town, will help
4. Specify which branch -- Army? Air Force?
5. Should specify the documents requested. (N.B. CIA records are exempt)
6. Give a reason for requesting a waiver or else avoid such language
7. Does not indicate the purpose for which the information is requested
8. Was she Gigi Farmer then?
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