What did the declassified documents reveal?

FBI Files: Television Networks. Released 2023-03-01. The Black Vault entry: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/fbi-files-television-networks/. Canonical PDF: https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/fbifiles/historical/ABC-FBI1.pdf. The FBI released documents related to television networks under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. The documents were obtained by The Black Vault. May 5, 2017, MR. JOHN GREENEWALD JR. FOIPA Request No.: 1345514-000. Subject: American Broadcasting Company. Dear Mr. Greenewald, The enclosed documents were reviewed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIPA), Title 5, United States Code, Section 552. Deletions have been made to protect information which is exempt from disclosure, with the appropriate exemptions noted on the page next to the excision. In addition, a deleted page information sheet was inserted in the file to indicate where pages were withheld entirely. The exemptions used to withhold information are marked below and explained on the enclosed Explanation of Exemptions: Section 552, Section 552a (b)(1) (b)(7)(A) (d)(5) (b)(2) (b)(7)(B) (j)(2) (b)(3) (b)(7)(C) (k)(1) 50 U.S.C., Section 3024 (i)(1) (b)(7)(D) (k)(2) (b)(7)(E) (k)(3) (b)(7)(F) (k)(4) (b)(4) (b)(8) (k)(5) (b)(5) (b)(9) (k)(6) (b)(6) (k)(7). 106 page(s) were reviewed and 88 page(s) are being released. Documents were located which originated with, or contained information concerning, other Government Agency [OGA]. This information has been referred to the OGA for review and direct response to you. We are consulting with another agency. The FBI will correspond with you regarding this information when the consultation is completed. In accordance with standard FBI practice and pursuant to FOIA exemption (b)(7)(E) and Privacy Act exemption (j)(2) [5 U.S.C. § 552/552a (b)(7)(E)/(j)(2)], this response neither confirms nor denies the existence of your subject's name on any watch lists. For your information, Congress excluded three discrete categories of law enforcement and national security records from the requirements of the FOIA. See 5 U.S. C. § 552(c) (2006 & Supp. IV (2010). This response is limited to those records that are subject to the requirements of the FOIA. This is a standard notification that is given to all our requesters and should not be taken as an indication that excluded records do, or do not, exist. Enclosed for your information is a copy of the Explanation of Exemptions. For questions regarding our determinations, visit the www.fbi.gov/foia website under “Contact Us.” The FOIPA Request Number listed above has been assigned to your request. Please use this number in all correspondence concerning your request. Your patience is appreciated. You may file an appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530-0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIAonline portal by creating an…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-005

FBI Files: Television Networks

JUL 6 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-fbi-files-television-networks4 minLast updated July 6, 2026

The short version

FBI Files: Television Networks. Released 2023-03-01. com/documentarchive/fbi-files-television-networks/. pdf. The FBI released documents related to television networks under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. The documents were obtained by The Black Vault. May 5, 2017, MR. JOHN GREENEWALD JR.

Date: JUL 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

↯ Dispatch — press play

0:004:19

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

FBI Files: Television Networks. Released 2023-03-01. The Black Vault entry: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/fbi-files-television-networks/. Canonical PDF: https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/fbifiles/historical/ABC-FBI1.pdf. The FBI released documents related to television…

Questions about this case

What was FBI Files: Television Networks about?: FBI Files: Television Networks. Released 2023-03-01. com/documentarchive/fbi-files-television-networks/. pdf. The FBI released documents related to television networks under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. The documents were obtained by The Black Vault. May 5, 2017, MR. JOHN GREENEWALD JR.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Questions about this case

Get the next declassified case in your inbox