Hoover has been credited with building the FBI into a larger crime-fighting agency than it was at its inception and with instituting a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories. Hoover is also credited with establishing and expanding a national blacklist, referred to as the FBI Index or Index List, renamed in 2001 as the Terrorist Screening Database which the FBI still compiles and manages.

Document Archive

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Releases

Hoover, J. Edgar – FBI Release #1 – J. Edgar Hoover Files – [573 Pages, 297MB]
Hoover, J. Edgar – FBI Vault Release #1 – J. Edgar Hoover Files – [1,920 Pages, 315MB]
Hoover, J. Edgar – FBI Vault Release #2 – J. Edgar Hoover Appointment and Phone Logs – [3,994 Pages, 1.2GB]
Hoover, J. Edgar – FBI Vault Release #3 – J. Edgar Hoover Official and Confidential (O&C) Files – [1,903 Pages, 59MB]

Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Releases

Hoover, J. Edgar – NCIS Release #1 [7 Pages, 0.5MB]

Postal Inspection Service (PIS) Releases

Hoover, J. Edgar – PIS Release #1 [21 Pages, 2.1MB]

The post FBI File Collection on J. Edgar Hoover first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman. The act also created a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to serve as head of the United States intelligence community; act as the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the National Security Act to provide for a Director of National Intelligence who would assume some of the roles formerly fulfilled by the DCI, with a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Below you will find a collection of CIA agents and various personnel connected with the agency.

FBI Files

Abramson, Harold Alexander – [20 Pages, 9.9 MB] – Harold Alexander Abramson (November 27, 1899 – September 1980) was an American physician (allergist and pediatrician) noted as an early advocate of therapeutic LSD. He played a significant role in CIA’s MKULTRA program to investigate the military applications of LSD.

Angleton, James Jesus – FBI Release #1 – [347 Pages, 83.4 MB] Angleton, James Jesus – FBI Release #2 (Final) – [97 Pages, 7MB] – James Jesus Angleton (December 9, 1917 – May 11, 1987) was chief of CIA Counterintelligence from 1954 to 1975. His official position within the organization was “Associate Deputy Director of Operations for Counterintelligence (ADDOCI)”. Angleton was significantly involved in the U.S. response to the purported KGB defectors Anatoliy Golitsyn and Yuri Nosenko. Angleton later became convinced the CIA harbored a high-ranking mole, and engaged in an intensive search. Whether this was a highly destructive witch hunt or appropriate caution vindicated by later moles remains a subject of intense historical debate.

Bissell, Richard – FBI Release #1 – [36 Pages, 3MB]  Bissell, Richard – FBI Release #2 – [9 Pages, 3.5MB] – Richard Mervin Bissell Jr. (September 18, 1909 – February 7, 1994) was a Central Intelligence Agency officer responsible for major projects such as the U-2 spy plane and the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Buckley, William Francis – William Francis Buckley (May 30, 1928 – June 3, 1985) was a United States Army officer and CIA station chief in Beirut from 1984 until 1985. His cover was as a Political Officer at the US Embassy.  He died on or around June 3, 1985—five months before the date claimed by his captors—while in the custody of Hezbollah. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and is commemorated with a star on the Memorial Wall at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Colby, William – FBI Release #1 – [128 Pages, 8.7MB] – Colby, William – FBI Release #2 – [134 Pages, 9.5MB] – William Egan Colby (1920-1996) was an American intelligence officer and diplomat who served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1973 to 1976 during a transformative period for the U.S. intelligence community. A World War II veteran and Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operative, Colby had a long, varied career in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), beginning in 1950. He was instrumental in controversial covert actions like the Phoenix Program during the Vietnam War, aimed at dismantling the Viet Cong’s infrastructure. As DCI, Colby faced a tumultuous time marked by increased scrutiny of CIA activities; he was a key figure during the Church Committee hearings of the 1970s, where he divulged classified information about the Agency’s questionable practices, leading to significant changes in oversight and control of American intelligence operations. His candid approach brought both commendation for transparency and criticism for revealing too much, the latter leading to his forced resignation in 1976.

Conein, Lucien – [45 Pages, 8.3MB] – Lt. Col. Lucien Emile Conein (born 29 November 1919, Paris, France – died 3 June 1998, Bethesda, Maryland) was a noted U.S. Army officer and OSS/CIA operative. Among other exploits, he was instrumental in the November 1963 coup against Ngô Đình Diệm that resulted in Diệm’s assassination, having served as Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.’s liaison officer with the coup plotters and delivering $42,000 of the known cash disbursements.  He later ran secret operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Although the FBI said that additional possible records could exist, they claim they could not find/locate them.

Cameron, Donald Ewen – [21 Pages, 8.3MB] – Donald Ewen Cameron (24 December 1901 – 8 September 1967) — known as D. Ewen Cameron or Ewen Cameron — was a Scottish-born psychiatrist who served as President of the American Psychiatric Association (1952–1953), Canadian Psychiatric Association (1958-1959), American Psychopathological Association (1963), Society of Biological Psychiatry (1965) and World Psychiatric Association (1961-1966). In spite of his high professional reputation, he has been criticized for administering electroshock therapy and experimental drugs to patients without their informed consent. Some of this work took place in the context of the Project MKUltra mind control program.

Clarridge, Duane –  [17 Pages, 2.8MB] – Duane Ramsdell “Dewey” Clarridge (April 16, 1932 – April 9, 2016) was an American senior operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and supervisor for more than 30 years. Clarridge was the chief of the Latin American division from 1981 to 1987 and a key figure in the Iran-Contra Affair.

George, Clair– FBI Release #1 –  [64 Pages, 9MB] George, Clair – FBI Release #2 –  [64 Pages, 2.2MB] – Clair Elroy George (August 3, 1930 – August 11, 2011) was a prominent American intelligence officer in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Over his three-decade career, he became known for his expertise in espionage and counterintelligence, holding several key positions, including Deputy Director for Operations. George played a pivotal role during the Cold War, overseeing clandestine operations globally. His career was marked by controversy during the Iran-Contra affair, where he was indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice, though later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Clair George’s legacy remains a significant chapter in the history of U.S. intelligence operations.

Gottlieb, Sidney – FBI Release #1 – [43 Pages, 15.4MB] – Sidney Gottlieb (born Joseph Scheider; August 3, 1918 – March 7, 1999) was an American chemist and spymaster best known for his involvement with the Central Intelligence Agency’s 1950s and ’60s assassination attempts and mind control program, known as Project MKUltra.

Harvey, William King – [376 Pages, 172 MB] – William King “Bill” Harvey (September 13, 1915 – June 9, 1976) was a Central Intelligence Agency officer, best known for his role in Operation Mongoose. He was known as “America’s James Bond”, a tag given to him by Edward Lansdale.

Helms, Richard – [342 Pages, 190 MB]  Helms, Richard – Letter stating additional FBI Records were destroyed – [2 Pages, 0.4MB]Richard McGarrah Helms (March 30, 1913 – October 23, 2002) served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from June 1966 to February 1973. Helms began intelligence work with the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Following the 1947 creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) he rose in its ranks during the Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy administrations. Helms then served as DCI under Johnson, then Nixon.

Maheu, Robert – [1,151 Pages, 852MB] – (Note: This is a large file. It is recommended you right click and select “save as” instead of opening in a browser).   Robert Aime Maheu (October 30, 1917 – August 4, 2008) was an American businessman and lawyer, who worked for the FBI and CIA, and as the chief executive of Nevada operations for the industrialist Howard Hughes. Maheu said: “The CIA was my first steady client, giving me ‘cut-out’ assignments [those jobs in which the Agency could not officially be involved].”

Marchetti, Victor– [30 Pages, 2.2MB] – Victor Leo Marchetti, Jr. (December 23, 1929-October 19, 2018) was a special assistant to the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency who later became a prominent critic of the United States Intelligence Community and the Israel lobby in the United States.

McCone, John – [746 Pages, 46.4MB] – John Alexander McCone (January 4, 1902 – February 14, 1991) was an American businessman and politician who served as Director of Central Intelligence during the height of the Cold War.  After the disaster of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, president John F. Kennedy forced the resignation of the CIA director Allen Dulles and some of his staff. McCone replaced Dulles on November 29, 1961.

Millis, John I. – [184 Pages, 103MB] – John I. Millis was a former case officer with the Central Intelligence Agency who also served as the top staff member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Montgomery, Hugh – [746 Pages, 46.4MB] – Hugh Montgomery (November 29, 1923 – April 6, 2017) was a United States diplomat and intelligence officer. He served for 63 years with the Central Intelligence Agency and has been called one of the CIA’s founding fathers.

Paisley, John – [297 Pages, 183.3MB] – John Arthur Paisley (August 25, 1923 – September 24, 1978) was a former official of the Central Intelligence Agency.  Paisley served in the CIA from 1963 to 1974. During his career, he was heavily involved in Soviet operations. Paisley retired as deputy director in the Office of Strategic Research, the branch that monitored Soviet military movements and nuclear capabilities.

Shackley, Theodore “Ted” – [340 Pages, 96MB] – Theodore George “Ted” Shackley, Jr. (July 16, 1927 — December 9, 2002) was an American CIA officer involved in many important and controversial CIA operations during the 1960s and 1970s. He is one of the most decorated CIA officers. Due to his “light hair and mysterious ways”, Shackley was known to his colleagues as “the Blond Ghost”. Note: There are 1,092 (approximate) additional pages which will require $40 to get. Please CONTACT if you are interested in sponsoring the file.

Tofte, Hans – FBI Release #1 – [33 Pages, 3.4MB] Tofte, Hans – FBI Release #2 – [41 Pages, 5.4MB] – Hans V. Tofte (1911–1987) was a Danish-American intelligence officer who played a significant role in Allied and U.S. covert operations during and after World War II. Born in Copenhagen, he fled Nazi-occupied Europe and joined the British Special Operations Executive, training guerrilla fighters in Burma and China. He later served with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Yugoslavia and Italy, where he supported resistance groups and earned the Legion of Merit. After the war, he joined the CIA and became known for bold paramilitary missions, including a 1951 operation that intercepted medical supplies bound for Chinese forces in Korea. Tofte was also involved in Cold War operations in Latin America, including the 1954 coup in Guatemala. His CIA career ended in 1966 amid controversy over classified documents found in his home. He retired with his pension and lived out his final years in New York, passing away in 1987.

White, George Hunter FBI Release #1 (to The Black Vault) – [53 Pages, 3.5MB]  White, George Hunter FBI Release #1 (third party requester, archived here for reference) – [19 Pages, 12.9MB]  White, George Hunter FBI Release #2 (third party requester, archived here for reference) – [31 Pages, 20.7MB] – George Hunter White was a CIA operative who had worked on the MKULTRA / Mind Control projects.  He was also heavily involved in the previous OSS “truth drug” experiments.

Wilson, Edwin Paul – [651 Pages, 304MB] – Edwin Paul Wilson (May 3, 1928 – September 10, 2012) was a former CIA and Office of Naval Intelligence officer who was convicted in 1983 of illegally selling weapons to Libya. It was later found that the United States Department of Justice and the CIA had covered up evidence in the case. Wilson’s convictions were overturned in 2003 and he was freed the following year.

The post FBI Files: Directors, Agents and Personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Majestic 12 is the purported code name of a secret committee of scientists, military leaders, and government officials, supposedly formed in 1947 by an executive order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman. The purpose of the committee was to investigate UFO activity in the aftermath of the Roswell incident – the purported crash of an alien spaceship near Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947. This alleged committee is an important part of the UFO conspiracy theory of an ongoing government cover up of UFO information.

Document Archive

The following FBI files were requested, which are the alleged members of MJ-12 and even the FBI’s file on MJ-12 itself.

Although some of these files may have nothing to do with UFOs or MJ-12, these are the alleged members and are archived here.

Original Alleged MJ-12 Members

Majestic-12 FBI File – [24 Pages] Subject concerns an FBI inquiry into a possible unauthorized disclosure of classified information when a document marked “Top Secret” was made public. According to the FBI, the investigation was closed after it was learned that the document was completely “bogus.”

Berkner, Lloyd – [135 Pages, 10.43 MB]  Berkner, Lloyd, Release #2 – [12 Pages, 2.4 MB] – Lloyd Viel Berkner (February 1, 1905, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – June 4, 1967, in Washington, D.C.) was an American physicist and engineer. He was one of the inventors of the measuring device that since has become standard at ionospheric stations because it measures the height and electron density of the ionosphere. The data obtained in the worldwide net of such instruments  were important for the developing theory of short wave radio propagation to which Berkner himself gave important contributions.Additional information was found at the FBI, that originated at the CIA.  The FBI forwarded these records to the CIA for review, and declassification, and the CIA information me that all material on Berkner is classified.  Berkner, Lloyd CIA Documents Denial Letter – [ 2 Pages, 0.5 MB ]

Bronk, Detlev – [ 248 Pages, 7.18 MB ] – Detlev Wulf Bronk (August 13, 1897 – November 17, 1975) was a prominent American scientist, educator, and administrator. He is credited with establishing biophysics as a recognized discipline. Bronk served as President of Johns Hopkins University from 1949 to 1953 and as President of the The Rockefeller University from 1953 to 1968. Bronk also held the presidency of the National Academy of Sciences between 1950 and 1962. Please note: According to the FBI, more pages exist on Bronk and are being sent to another government agency for release. Will post when available.

Bush, Vannevar – [ 241 Pages, 78.1 MB ] – Vannevar Bush (March 11, 1890 – June 28, 1974) was an American engineer, inventor and science administrator, whose most important contribution was as head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) during World War II, through which almost all wartime military R&D was carried out, including initiation and early administration of the Manhattan Project. He is also known in engineering for his work on analog computers, for founding Raytheon, and for the memex, an adjustable microfilm viewer with a structure analogous to that of the World Wide Web.  Bush was also an alleged member of the Majestic-12 (MJ-12) group.  Please note: As admitted by the FBI, an entire file on Bush was destroyed. According to the FBI: “One record (161-BS-1452) which may be responsive to your FOIA request was destroyed in April of 1998.”

Forrestal, James – [290 Pages, 32.66MB] – James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense. Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers. In 1954, the world’s first supercarrier was named USS Forrestal in his honor, as is the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy. He is also the namesake of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the United States Naval Academy, which brings prominent military and civilian leaders to speak to the Brigade of Midshipmen, and of the James Forrestal Campus of Princeton University in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey.

Gray, Gordon – FBI Release #1 – [349 Pages, 88.8MB]  Gray, Gordon – FBI Release #2 – [23 Pages, 2.5MB]  Gray, Gordon – FBI Release #3 – [44 Pages, 4.2MB]  Gray, Gordon (State Department Release) – [3 Pages, 1.1MB] Gordon Gray (May 30, 1909 – November 26, 1982) was an official in the government of the United States during the administrations of Harry Truman (1945–53) and Dwight Eisenhower (1953–61) associated with defense and national security.

Hillenkoetter, Adm Roscoe Henry – [ 32 Pages, 20.70MB ] – Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter (May 8, 1897 – June 18, 1982) was the third director of the post-World War II United States Central Intelligence Group (CIG), the third Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), and the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency created by the National Security Act of 1947. He served as DCI and director of the CIG and the CIA from May 1, 1947 to October 7, 1950 and after his retirement from the United States Navy was a member of the board of governors of National Investigations Committee On Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) from 1957 to 1962.

Hunsaker, Jerome – [ 3 Pages, 0.9MB ] – Jerome Clarke Hunsaker (August 26, 1886 – September 10, 1984) was an American airman born in Creston, Iowa, and educated at the Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.According to the FBI, Hunsaker’s file was destroyed September 24, 2004

Menzel, Donald – [ 209 Pages, 24.10MB ] – Donald Howard Menzel (April 11, 1901 – December 14, 1976) was one of the first theoretical astronomers and astrophysicists in the US. He discovered the physical properties of the solar chromosphere, the chemistry of stars, the atmosphere of Mars, and the nature of gaseous nebulae.

Montague, Robert M. – [ 2 Pages, 0.3MB ] – Robert Miller Montague (August 7, 1899 – February 20, 1958) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. He achieved prominence as the deputy commander of Fort Bliss, Texas and commander of the Sandia Missile Base in New Mexico during the start of modern ufology and head of the U.S. Caribbean Command.  The FBI claims that they could not find a file on Montague.

Souers, Sidney Adm. – [ 691 Pages, 47.53MB ] – Sidney William Souers (March 30, 1892 – January 14, 1973) was an American admiral and intelligence expert. ear Admiral Souers was appointed as the first Director of Central Intelligence on January 23, 1946 by President Harry S. Truman. Prior to this, as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, Souers had been one of the architects of the system that came into being with the President’s directive. He had written the intelligence chapter of the Eberstadt Report, which advocated a unified intelligence system. Toward the end of 1945, when the competing plans for a national intelligence system were deadlocked, Souers’ views had come to the attention of the President, and he seems to have played a role in breaking the impasse.

Twining, General Nathan – [ 23 Pages, 15.43MB ] – Nathan Farragut Twining, (October 11, 1897 – March 29, 1982) was a United States Air Force General, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1957 to 1960 he was the first member of the Air Force to serve in that role.

Vandenberg, Hoyt – [ 98 Pages, 6.12MB ] – Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg (January 24, 1899 – April 2, 1954) was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence. During World War II, Vandenberg was the commanding general of the Ninth Air Force, a tactical air force in England and in France, supporting the Army, from August 1944 until V-E Day. Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central coast of California is named for General Vandenberg. In 1946, he was briefly the U.S. Chief of Military Intelligence. He was the nephew of Arthur H. Vandenberg, a former U.S. Senator from Michigan.

Other Alleged MJ-12 Members

The post FBI File: Majestic-12 first appeared on The Black Vault.

In May of 2017, a FOIA request was filed by The Black Vault, seeking all emails sent to and from Andrew G. McCabe containing the keyword “Comey” (referring to James Comey) from May 1, 2017, until the date of the request’s processing. That date has not been confirmed, as of yet, but is likely the beginning of 2018.

The timeframe of May 2017 stands as a particularly significant period in both FBI history and the broader narrative of American politics, marked by President Trump’s dismissal of James Comey as FBI Director on May 9, 2017. The letter from President Trump to Comey stated, “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.” This termination occurred amidst the FBI’s investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which included examining possible connections between Russia and Trump campaign associates, casting a long shadow over the administration and raising questions about the independence of federal investigative agencies.

The documents released to The Black Vault, dating from this turbulent time, provide a window into the internal communications within the FBI, specifically those involving then Deputy Director Andrew G. McCabe, who briefly served as acting director after Comey’s departure. The content of these documents is crucial for understanding what was going on internally at the highest levels of the FBI during a time when its leadership, objectivity, and decision-making processes faced intense public and political scrutiny.

However, the path to actually getting these records was not straightforward. The FBI initially rejected the request, citing a lack of detail within the request in order to conduct a proper search. The first appeal in March of 2018 fighting that decision appeared to be successful. Yet, the FBI followed up with another rejection, this time claiming that the request, although did have the detail needed to specify what was being request, would be too burdensome to process given the broad nature of it.

Refusing to accept this second denial, The Black Vault filed a second appeal in May of 2018. This second appeal was also granted, leading to the interim release of 180 pages of records more than 5 years later. These documents are just the beginning, with additional records expected to be disclosed over time.

As The Black Vault continues to receive more pages, the document archive below this article will be systematically updated to ensure that interested individuals have access to the unfolding narrative of this significant chapter in FBI history.

Stay tuned to The Black Vault for further updates as more documents are revealed.

UPDATE June 6, 2025: Additional records have been added that were released to The Black Vault in April.

Document Archive

FBI Releases First Batch of McCabe Emails After FOIA Battle – FBI Release #1 – October 2023 [185 Pages, 130MB]

FBI Release #2 – April 2025 [309 Pages, 8.46MB]

The post FBI Releases Internal Emails on Comey Following FOIA Appeal Win by The Black Vault first appeared on The Black Vault.

The FBI has released a set of documents related to O.J. Simpson following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by The Black Vault.

This release, dated May 30, 2024, includes nearly 500 pages of material detailing the federal agency’s involvement in the high-profile case of the former NFL star.

The documents reveal extensive information about the federal oversight and inter-agency cooperation during the investigation.

One of the notable elements of the FBI file is the documentation of the agency’s support for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during the investigation of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

A communication dated June 12, 1995, illustrates the depth of FBI involvement, stating, “Due to the intense media interest in captioned matter, and the potential prejudicial impact that public dissemination could have on pending criminal proceedings, the following information should be handled on a strict need to know basis.”​. This highlights the high stakes and media sensitivity surrounding the case, and how the FBI handled that reality.

The documents also reveal detailed efforts to track down leads, including the infamous Bruno Magli shoes believed to be worn by the murderer. An airtel from October 3, 1994, indicates that the FBI was asked to assist in tracing the sale of these shoes across the United States and Puerto Rico. The report notes, “FBI Laboratory Examiners have been able to conclude, through examination of bloody footwear impressions left at the SIMPSON homicide crime scene, that the murderer wore size 12 Bruno Magli, style ‘Lorenzo’ or ‘Lyon’ shoes”​​.

Another aspect of the FBI’s involvement was the handling of public tips and theories, which were documented and either pursued or dismissed based on their credibility.

The released documents also cover various communications and surveillance efforts, including forensic analyses and inter-agency exchanges. In one memo addressed to The Honorable Lance A. Ito, the FBI discusses the results of toxicological tests on blood samples from Simpson, stating, “No methamphetamine was identified in the K68 blood”​​.

Despite this release, The Black Vault has noted that additional documents responsive to this case were not included, but were reviewed for release. These documents may contain further details about the FBI’s role and findings in the case, and have been requested. Once released, they, too, will be posted on The Black Vault.

This initial release from the FBI provides a compelling and detailed look into the extensive involvement of federal authorities in one of the most infamous criminal cases in recent history.

###

Document Archive

 Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #1 – [479 Pages, 89.2MB]
 Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #2 – [789 Pages, 146MB]
 Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #3 – [369 Pages, 49.3MB]
 Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #4 – [45 Pages, 3.5MB]
 Simpson, O.J.– FBI Release #5 – [65 Pages, 7MB] – Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson, born July 9, 1947, is a former American football running back, broadcaster, actor, and convicted felon. Known by the nickname “The Juice,” Simpson gained fame as a record-breaking NFL player with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season in 1973. Following his football career, he pursued acting and sports broadcasting. However, his life took a dramatic turn in 1994 when he was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Despite the acquittal, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil trial. In 2008, Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, leading to a prison sentence from which he was released in 2017. His life remains one of the most controversial and widely publicized in American history.

The post FBI Releases Files on O.J. Simpson first appeared on The Black Vault.

Above Video Recorded June 2021

On February 23, 2021, The Drive’s WarZone broke a story about a UFO encounter on February 21, which involved American Airlines Flight 2292 and an encounter with a “cylindrical-shaped” object moving at a high speed.

According to articles written by Tyler Rogoway:

“American Airlines Flight 2292, an Airbus A320 flying between Cincinnati and Phoenix on February 21st, 2021, had a bizarre close encounter with what its crew described as a “long cylindrical object that almost looked like a cruise missile” moving extremely fast over the top of their aircraft as it cruised along at 36,000 feet and 400 knots. The incident occurred over the remote northeast corner of New Mexico, to the west of the tiny town of Des Moines.”

Then he published:

“Less than 48 hours after our initial reporting on an outright strange incident involving American Airlines Flight 2292 as it flew at 36,000 feet over the northeastern corner of New Mexico on February 21st, 2021, we have confirmation that the event in question did indeed occur and that it is being investigated by the FBI. The incident involved pilots of the Airbus A320 being buzzed by an unidentified cylindrical-shaped object moving at high-speed, which resulted in them querying the FAA’s Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center.”

The Black Vault filed numerous FOIA requests, including ones to the FBI and to the FAA, based on the above reporting.

The FAA Records

In this case, as responded to on June 21, the FAA refused to confirm or deny whether records exist on the event. Their letter is below:

After an appeal, on July 22, 2021, the FAA sent The Black Vault records pertaining to the above flight. Interestingly, some of the responsive records found were the property of the Department of Defense (DoD).

The number of records is unknown that will be reviewed by the DoD, but the FAA did release a small number of their own.

Here they are:

DOWNLOAD [6 Pages, 0.85MB]

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Then, in mid December 2024, all of the ATC recordings and radar track information was released along with the ATC recordings.

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The raw downloads of all data released is found here (note the letter above for instructions on the audio files and their channel assignments):

	21-02-21 Video – AAL2292.mp4		1.9M
	P50 FOIA AAL2292 APACHE 02-21-21 2004-2043Z.wav		74M
	P50 FOIA AAL2292 FREEWAY 02-21-21 2013-2047Z.wav		65M
	PHX FOIA AAL2292 LN 02-21-21 2017-2056Z_Exmpt 3 DCRIT Military.wav		74M
	ZAB 21-02-21 AAL2292 AUDIO.wav		13M

.ZIP File of all files above:

2021-002114.zip

2024-12-18 08:07

95M

The FBI Records

Despite American Airlines recommending to The WarZone to contact the FBI for more information; the FBI told The Black Vault in a FOIA response dated March 2, 2021, that they were unable to find any records relating to the event.

(story continues below…)

The FBI DOES Have Records

After the above article was published, it came to The Black Vault’s attention that another FOIA request, William Puckett, received information from the FBI on this case. Despite the response given to The Black Vault above, there were responsive records. This is outlined at the video above, and the documents are archived here:

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The post American Airlines Flight 2292 UFO Encounter, February 21, 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Reports detail the use of bacteriological weapons in the Korean War, allegedly by U.S. forces, as claimed by various organizations in China and North Korea. Chinese trade unions and women’s organizations made appeals to international bodies to denounce and act against these actions .

Some sections include accounts of individuals suspected of being involved in subversive activities or espionage. For instance, John T. Brady alleged bacteriological warfare conducted in Illinois, raising concerns about potential German agents during World War II. Further investigation found Brady had a neurotic obsession with disease and that his claims were largely unfounded .

Correspondence between the FBI and other government agencies like the Chemical Corps and Bureau of Public Health indicates collaborative efforts to monitor, investigate, and share sensitive information regarding biological warfare .

Download multiple releases below.

Document Archive

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to The Black Vault December 2005 [361 Pages, 23MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to third party requester (first release) [366 Pages, 52MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to third party requester (second release) [102 Pages, 13MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to third party requester (third release) [422 Pages, 75MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to third party requester (fourth/final release) [880 Pages, 75MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to third party requester [852 Pages, 75MB]

Bacteriological Warfare – Released to researcher Russ Kick (first release) [278 Pages, 37MB]

The post FBI File: Bacteriological Warfare first appeared on The Black Vault.

“What is the FBI? How did it come into being? What has it accomplished? What are its powers? Above all, what does the mere fact of its existence mean to Every Citizen of the United States? This book, written with the cooperation of J. Edgar Hoover and FBI Personnel will answer these questions once and for all. THE FBI STORY, written by one of America’s top reporters, Don Whitehead, and with a Foreword by J. Edgar Hoover, takes you behind the scenes to reveal the record of America’s crusade against crime and subversion. THE FBI STORY names names, places and events. You’ll read about cases which have made today’s headlines as well as about the celebrated cases and notorious events which made yesterday’s. You’ll read about the Black Tom explosion and other acts of sabotage which were the prelude to America’s entrance into World War I. You will find the case histories of the Wall Street Explosion and “Palmer’s Raids”; the Harding Era and Gaston Means. The gangsters’ rise to power in the roaring twenties and the “lady in red”, Pretty Ana Cumpanas, who betrayed John Dillinger, and Al Capone. Here too are the Lindbergh Kidnapping, the Kansas City Massacre and many other cases which placed the FBI in the forefront of the public’s imagination. THE FBI STORY is the story too of Pearl Harbor, the capture of the Japanese espionage messages, the German saboteurs’ invasion of the United States and their capture, and other behind the scenes dramas of World War II. The book tells of the FBI’s secret operations in South and Central America and the experiences of its Special Intelligence Service (SIS). How the FBI tricked the Germans through double agent radio stations is a “stranger than fiction” story. You’ll read of the FBI’s role in combating postwar crime as Don Whitehead reports on the kidnap murder of little Bobby Greenlease and the murder of a mother by her son high over a Colorado beet field when a plane fell carrying passengers and crew to their deaths. The fight against Communism in the United States, Smith Act prosecutions and the gathering of evidence which made these prosecutions possible are all portrayed. Also related are the cases of Hiss and Klaus Fuchs and the theft of the atomic secrets and the Rosenberg and Greenglass cases, which are revealed in detail. The history of the FBI in reality represents the people’s efforts to achieve government by law. THE FBI STORY, then, is the story of America itself and the struggles to attain this ideal.”

Document Archive

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #1 – [499 Pages, 270MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #2 – [503 Pages, 313MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #3 – [500 Pages, 94MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #4 – [519 Pages, 93MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #5 – [504 Pages, 52MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #6 – [497 Pages, 50MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #7 – [452 Pages, 251MB]

FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People, by Don Whitehead – FBI Release #8 – [247 Pages, 44.1MB]

The post FBI File: The FBI Story A Report to the People (Book), by Don Whitehead first appeared on The Black Vault.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the FBI’s Carnivore system drew considerable attention and debate. Unveiled during this period, Carnivore was a sophisticated email wiretapping system designed to intercept and analyze digital communications. The system’s capabilities and the implications for privacy and civil liberties were subjects of intense scrutiny and concern among privacy advocates, Internet service providers (ISPs), and the public at large.

Carnivore, officially known as DCS1000, was a network diagnostic tool utilized by the FBI to monitor and intercept email and other online communications. The system was installed at an ISP’s premises and was capable of scanning vast amounts of digital data passing through the ISP’s network. Carnivore specifically targeted communications of suspects under investigation, allowing the FBI to capture emails, chat sessions, and other forms of online interactions.

The Carnivore system operated by tapping into the ISP’s network and filtering the data packets that flowed through it. According to an internal FBI document, the system was designed to “ensure that only the exact communications authorized by the court to be intercepted are what is intercepted”​​. This meant that Carnivore could be configured to capture only the communications of a specific target while excluding all other traffic.

The deployment of Carnivore was subject to strict legal guidelines and required a court order based on probable cause. The FBI had to demonstrate that the interception of communications was necessary for an ongoing investigation and that it would yield evidence of criminal activity. The court order specified the scope of the surveillance, including the types of communications to be intercepted and the duration of the surveillance.

Despite these legal safeguards, privacy advocates raised significant concerns about the potential for abuse and the broader implications for digital privacy. A key issue was the transparency and accountability of the Carnivore system. ISPs and privacy groups worried that the system could be used for more extensive monitoring than intended, potentially capturing the communications of individuals not under investigation.

In a letter to Congress, John E. Collingwood, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs, emphasized that Carnivore was used “only when Internet Service Providers are unable on their own to restrict interceptions within the narrow confines of the controlling court order”​​. However, ISPs expressed doubts about their ability to verify that the FBI adhered strictly to these limitations once Carnivore was installed on their networks.

The reaction from the Internet industry was mixed. Some ISPs resisted the installation of Carnivore on their networks, citing concerns about the system’s impact on network performance and the privacy of their customers. In one notable case, EarthLink, a major ISP, refused to install Carnivore, arguing that it could cause disruptions to their service and compromise customer privacy​​.

EarthLink’s concerns were not isolated. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other privacy organizations filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to uncover more details about Carnivore’s technical capabilities and its use in investigations. The ACLU’s efforts aimed to obtain the source code of Carnivore, which would reveal the inner workings of the system and potentially confirm whether it could be used for broader surveillance than officially stated​​.

The controversy surrounding Carnivore led to calls for greater oversight and transparency in the deployment of digital surveillance tools. Critics argued that without independent verification of the system’s operations, there was no way to ensure that the FBI’s use of Carnivore was consistent with legal requirements and respected individual privacy rights.

In response to these concerns, the FBI conducted briefings with industry specialists and members of Congress to explain how Carnivore worked and the measures in place to prevent abuse. However, skepticism remained, and the debate over digital surveillance and privacy continued to evolve.

By circa 2005, it was reported that Carnivore had been replaced by more commercially available software​​. This shift indicated an evolution in the FBI’s approach to digital surveillance, moving away from proprietary systems like Carnivore to leveraging advancements in commercial technology.

Carnivore represented a significant development in law enforcement’s ability to monitor digital communications. While it provided a powerful tool for investigating and preventing criminal activity, it also raised critical questions about the balance between security and privacy in the digital age. As technology continues to advance and digital communication becomes even more integral to daily life, the need for clear legal frameworks and robust oversight mechanisms remains essential to protect civil liberties while enabling effective law enforcement.

In June of 2018, The Black Vault requested all FBI documents about the system. In July of 2018, the first release of records was received. In June of 2024, a second batch of records were released.

Document Archive

 FBI Release #1 on CARNIVORE – [608 Pages, 377MB] – Released July 2018

 FBI Release #2 on CARNIVORE – [468 Pages, 220MB] – Released June 2024

 FBI Release #3 on CARNIVORE – [443 Pages, 265MB] – Released August 2024

The post CARNIVORE (DCS1000): FBI Files on Their Email and Electronic Communication Monitoring Software first appeared on The Black Vault.

When Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are processed by the FBI, they will sometimes send CD’s (or printed pages) of “pre-processed pages”. This speeds up processing time, and generally (according to the FBI) the pre-processed pages that were released in previous FOIA requests, generally satisfies each respective request.

If the pre-processed package does not seem to contain what a requester is looking for, they can then go after additional pages, and file another request (which generally gets tacked on to the first case number, unless 30+ days pass).

In April of 2017, I went after what I believed should exist, which is a reference list of all pre-processed pages, of various file subjects. It took until August of 2020, but the FBI released the 192-page list, in FULL.

In November of 2022, The Black Vault filed a new request for the list, since quite a few years had elapsed since the release of the last one. On May 8, 2024, that new version was released, but in a much more scrambled way wherein nothing was alphabetical like the first one.

Both downloads are available below.

Document Archive

The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files, Received May 8, 2024 [246 Pages, 69.7MB]

The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files, Received August 28, 2020 [195 Pages, 4.2MB]

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The post The FBI’s Pre-Processed List of Previously Released Files first appeared on The Black Vault.

This request (case number 1363960-000), filed on December 16, 2016, asked for a review of the FBI’s Cyber National Threat Assessment for the year 2008, as found in the reference citation above. The document, dated June 22, 2009, is an intelligence assessment by the FBI.

The document provides an in-depth analysis of the cyber threats to the United States, focusing on remote system intrusions or unauthorized access against the nation and its critical infrastructure. It covers the period from June 30, 2007, to July 1, 2008, while also incorporating earlier material for context. The assessment addresses various aspects of cyber threats, including tactics, techniques, and procedures used against process control systems, financial institutions, government networks, and the supply chain. It also explores the potential use of tools and technologies such as IPv6 and virtual worlds by malicious actors.

One of the key highlights of the document is the emphasis on the persistent threat posed by botnets. The assessment states, “Botnets continue to pose a threat to US critical infrastructures. These networks of compromised computers can be used to wage denial of service attacks against targeted online entities, conduct phishing and spamming campaigns, and steal passwords and other login credentials”.

The document also sheds light on the evolving nature of cyber threats, noting that attackers continuously develop new methods to exploit vulnerabilities. It mentions that “Attackers typically collect passwords, login credentials, keystrokes, credit card numbers, and personally identifying information from botnet victims”, highlighting the diverse objectives of cyber attackers.

The document remains heavily redacted, citing exemptions such as (b)(1), (b)(3), (b)(6), (b)(7)(C), and (b)(7)(E). These exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act, which justify the withholding of information from public disclosure, are defined as the following:

• (b)(1): Information that is classified to protect national security.
• (b)(3): Information exempted from disclosure by other statutes.
• (b)(6): Information that would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
• (b)(7)(C): Information that could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
• (b)(7)(E): Information that would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions.

As noted in the release letter, the redactions were made by the United States Air Force – Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), National Security Agency (NSA), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

The heavy redactions in the document indicate the sensitivity of the information related to national security and law enforcement techniques, even after 15 years since it was originally written.

Document Archive

FBI intelligence Assessment, FBI Cyber National Threat Assessment – 2008, dated 22 June 2009 [30 Pages, 10.3MB]

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The post Declassified FBI Cyber Threat Assessment Illuminates 2008 Digital Dangers first appeared on The Black Vault.

“… all e-mails sent to or from, Director of the FBI James Comey, which contain the word ‘TRUMP’. I ask that you conduct a search for records dating from 1/1/16 to 5/9/17.”

The request was originally rejected as being too broad, so an appeal was submitted (case DOJ-AP-2018-005587) on May 25, 2018. There was no final response received from this case, however, nearly 1,600 pages were released on April 2024 relating to the original filing.

In essence, the appeal was likely granted (unclear why The Black Vault was never notified), and the records were processed.

The case is still open seeking out additional records, however, the initial near 1,600 pages are available below.

Document Archive

Former FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: Trump [1,598 Pages, 848MB]

The post Former FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: Trump first appeared on The Black Vault.

An FBI High Visibility Memorandum is an internal document used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to communicate information about cases or matters that are considered to be of high public, media, or governmental interest. These memoranda are used to inform senior FBI officials and other relevant parties about the status, developments, or significant aspects of such cases. The purpose of a High Visibility Memorandum is to ensure that key decision-makers are kept informed and that any necessary coordination or public relations efforts can be undertaken effectively.

The content of a High Visibility Memorandum typically includes:

1. Case Identification: The memorandum will provide details about the case, including the case number, the subject(s) involved, and the location of the investigation.
2. Background Information: A brief overview of the case, including its origins, the nature of the allegations or incidents, and any relevant historical context.
3. Current Status: An update on the current status of the investigation or matter, including any recent developments, findings, or actions taken by the FBI or other involved agencies.
4. Significance: An explanation of why the case is considered to be of high visibility, including potential public, media, or governmental interest, and any potential implications or consequences.
5. Next Steps: A summary of planned or anticipated actions, including investigative steps, legal proceedings, or public relations efforts.
6. Points of Contact: Information about key personnel involved in the case, including lead investigators, supervisors, and public affairs officers.
7. Other Relevant Information: Any additional information that may be pertinent to understanding the case or its significance, such as related cases, potential security concerns, or coordination with other agencies.

High Visibility Memoranda are typically marked with appropriate handling instructions to ensure that sensitive information is protected and disseminated appropriately. They are an important tool for managing the FBI’s response to significant cases and ensuring that the agency’s leadership is informed and prepared to address potential public or governmental scrutiny.

Below, you will find the memorandums released.

Document Archive

Note: There may be repeat documents within the releases below. Some cases were filed by other requesters, and archived here for preservation at The Black Vault. All releases are archived for research purposes, with no omissions.

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa 1979 – 1986) [135 Pages, 44MB] – (Note: These records were provided by the family of anthologist and transparency activist Russ Kick, from his papers, facilitated by the generous assistance of Dr. Susan Maret.)

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa September 1983 – April 1986) [129 Pages, 35MB]

FBI High Visibility Memoranda (circa 2003 – 2017) [508 Pages, 75MB] – Request filed by The Black Vault.

The post FBI High Visibility Memoranda first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

FBI File 62-HQ-81484, “War Plans” – FBI Release #1 to The Black Vault – [354 Pages, 21MB]

FBI File 62-HQ-81484, “War Plans” – FBI Release #1 to a Third Party Requester, Sections 1-3 – [117 Pages, 15MB]

FBI File 62-HQ-81484, “War Plans” – FBI Release #2 to a Third Party Requester, FEMA Material – [68 Pages, 5.4MB]

FBI File 62-HQ-81484, “War Plans” – HHS Release #1 to a Third Party Requester – [36 Pages, 15MB]

FBI File 66-HQ-18953, “War Plans” – [927 Pages, 55.1MB]

The post FBI File: “War Plans” first appeared on The Black Vault.

Key highlights from the document include:

1. The Concept of ‘Action’: Communists emphasize that an idea holds no value unless applied. Marxism, in their view, is not just a theory but a dynamic course of action, necessitating both the destruction of the current order and the construction of a new one in pursuit of a complete victory for Marxism. This notion underscores the primacy of deeds and results over mere words in Communist ideology​.
2. ‘Agent-Provocateur’: This term refers to individuals who infiltrate organizations under the guise of supporting their principles while intending to disrupt their activities or provoke illegal actions. Communists have often used this term, especially in recent years, to describe individuals who do not fully align with their party principles and policies, including former members and Trotskyites​.
3. Agitation and Propaganda: Communists believe in stirring up and encouraging the masses to consider social issues from a Communist perspective, aiming to win support for their programs. The distinction between agitation and propaganda is significant in their strategy: agitation focuses on promoting a single, clear-cut idea or action, while propaganda encompasses a broader range of ideas and actions as part of a larger pattern​.
4. Military Strategies: The glossary reveals a belief in the inevitability of warfare between Communist and non-Communist nations. Communists advocate for the development and strengthening of their military forces while simultaneously working to weaken and demoralize non-Communist armed forces through various means, including the spread of pacifist doctrines and undermining military discipline and credibility​.

The release of this glossary is important as it serves as a historical reference, illustrating the linguistic and strategic nuances that were pivotal during the Cold War era. It provides valuable insights into the mindset and tactics of Communist parties, contributing to a deeper understanding of the ideological and geopolitical conflicts of that time.

Document Archive

FBI File: Glossary of Marxist/ Communist Words and Phrases (Date Unknown/Cold War Era) [1,129 Pages, 47MB]

The post FBI File: Glossary of Marxist/ Communist Words and Phrases (Date Unknown/Cold War Era) first appeared on The Black Vault.

“…a copy of records, electronic or otherwise, of all e-mails sent to or from, Director of the FBI James Comey, which contain the word “WIKILEAKS”. I ask that you conduct a search for records dating from 1/1/15 to the date of the processing of this request.”

The case took more than 7 years to process, and the released results were admittedly not too interesting. What was more interesting was that they found 160 pages, but only released 17.

You can find what was released below.

Document Archive

Former FBI Director James Comey Emails About Wikileaks [24 Pages, 2MB]

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The post Former FBI Director James Comey Emails About Wikileaks first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to United Nuclear‘s website:

“The purpose of United Nuclear Scientific (United Nuclear Scientific Supplies, LLC) is to once again make scientific equipment & supplies available to everyone. Currently, both private and public schools (as well as other learning institutions) have removed chemicals & glassware from their chemistry labs and electronic components from their engineering classes… along with many other important pieces of “hands-on” learning equipment. In addition, laboratory equipment, chemicals & supplies which were once widely available, are now difficult to find or no longer for sale. ‘Lab’ classes that used to offer hands-on experience with actual materials now have students conduct experiments on computer or simply read text instead of actually coming into contact with the equipment & materials they are learning about. Most professors & teachers we have spoken with completely disagree with this concept. It is our intention make these and other interesting/scientific related items once again available to the hobbyist, teacher and home experimenter, as well as professional and Government organizations.”

The motivation behind the request was the discussion of a raid in 2017 of United Nuclear, which was revealed on Jeremy Corbell‘s documentary “Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers.” However, in the files of United Nuclear, the FBI denies that within the FBI files on United Nuclear are records pertaining to the 2017 raid. According to local police records received about the incident, the FBI is referenced, so theoretically, there should be.

Although The Black Vault has another case open specifically for documents pertaining to this raid, it is unclear why a raid of United Nuclear, which had FBI involvement, would not exist in the FBI file filed under United Nuclear. It is possible, for whatever reason, the raid files are listed under records pertaining to Bob Lazar himself, and not under United Nuclear, which if true would require a waiver signed by Lazar in order to access the files.

Multiple attempts by The Black Vault over the years to contact Lazar never received a response.

You will also note that the above e-mail reference shows there are more than 1,000 pages total. In the course of negotiating, The Black Vault reduced the scope of the request in order to get records quicker. That was FBI Release #1, available below. However, a new case was filed for the rest, and likely will take a considerable time to complete. In March of 2023, additional records from that case began being released. That is FBI Release #2 below.

In November of 2023, additional records were released. That is FBI Release #3 below. It appears the case remains open, and more records set to be released at a later date. (Note the number of pages reviewed (357) but only 56 were released. Much is being withheld.

Document Archive

FBI File: Bob Lazar’s United Nuclear – FBI Release #1 – [55 Pages, 20.9MB]

FBI File: Bob Lazar’s United Nuclear – FBI Release #2 – [130 Pages, 8MB]

FBI File: Bob Lazar’s United Nuclear – FBI Release #3 – [130 Pages, 2MB]

The post FBI File: Bob Lazar’s United Nuclear first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Lonnie Zamora incident was an alleged UFO close encounter. It occurred on Friday, April 24, 1964, at about 5:50 p.m., on the outskirts of Socorro, New Mexico. Several primary witnesses emerged to report their version of the event, which included the craft’s approach, conspicuous flame, and alleged physical evidence left behind immediately afterward. Lonnie Zamora, a Socorro police officer who was on duty at the time, claimed to have come closest to the object and provided the most prolonged and comprehensive account. Some physical trace evidence left behind—burned vegetation and soil, ground landing impressions, and metal scrapings on a broken rock in one of the impressions—was subsequently observed and analyzed by investigators for the military, law enforcement, and civilian UFO groups. The event and its body of evidence is sometimes deemed one of the best documented and most perplexing UFO reports.

It was immediately investigated by the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and FBI, and received considerable coverage in the mass media. It was one of the cases that helped persuade astronomer J. Allen Hynek, one of the primary investigators for the Air Force, that some UFO reports represented an intriguing mystery. After extensive investigation, the Air Force’s Project Blue Book was unable to come up with a conventional explanation and listed the case as an “unknown”.

Document Archive

FBI Files

FBI Files on the Socorro UFO Landing, April 24, 1964 [31 Pages, 3MB]

USAF / Project Blue Book Files

USAF Files on the Socorro UFO Landing, April 24, 1964 [168 Pages, 50MB]

USAF Official Photographs on the Socorro UFO Landing, April 24, 1964 [168 Pages, 4MB]

The post Official Files on the Socorro UFO Landing, April 24, 1964 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

FBI Files on Nancy Reagan – FBI Release #1 – [341 Pages, 31MB]

The post FBI Files on Nancy Reagan first appeared on The Black Vault.

Below, you will find the OPR Quarterly Reviews released to The Black Vault through FOIA.

Document Archive

The FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Quarterly Review Documents, circa January 2017 – July 2018  [74 Pages, 1.91MB]

The FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Quarterly Review Documents, circa January 2017 – July 2018 – Release #2 [38 Pages, 1.5MB]

The post The FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Quarterly Review Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

The below are FBI files on television networks. All were obtained via the Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act.

Document Archive

American Broadcasting Company (ABC) – FBI Release #1 – [94 Pages, 44.7MB] American Broadcasting Company (ABC) – FBI Release #2 – [8 Pages, 1.2MB]The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American English language commercial broadcast television network that is owned by the Disney–ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of the Disney Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered on Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street in Manhattan, New York City. There are additional major offices and production facilities elsewhere in New York City, as well as in Los Angeles and Burbank, California.

CNN – FBI Release #1 – [197 Pages, 62MB] CNN – FBI Release #2 – [35 Pages, 1.5MB] – The Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.  Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by the Manhattan-based media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN was the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage and the first all-news television channel in the United States.

MTV aka Music Television [115 Pages, 5MB] – MTV (originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel, launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks division of ViacomCBS, also headquartered in New York City. MTV was originally first tested on December 1, 1977, as Sight on Sound, but was officially launched in 1981, and originally aired music videos as guided by television personalities known as “video jockeys” (VJs), but in the years since its inception, the network significantly toned down its focus on music in favor of original reality programming targeting youths and young adults. MTV has spawned numerous sister channels in the U.S. and affiliated channels internationally, some of which have gone independent, with approximately 90.6 million American households in the United States receiving the channel as of January 2016.

The post FBI Files: Television Networks first appeared on The Black Vault.

Devices exist which, by sending an electrical impulse of ultrasonic frequency through a telephone circuit by tapping, will permit remote surveillance of any office in which a telephone is located by utilizing the telephone microphone as a pick-up. Such eavesdropping may be accomplished without additional wires and is possible even though the handset is in a “hung-up” position.

Below, you will find thousands of pages archived from the FBI on ultrasonic listening devices, wiretapping, violations, and countermeasures.

Document Archive

 Ultrasonic Listening Devices / Wiretapping, 1945 – 1989 (80-HQ-760) – Release #1 – [1,064 Pages, 200.1MB]

 Ultrasonic Listening Devices / Wiretapping, 1945 – 1989 (80-HQ-760) – Release #2 – [8 Pages, 2.0MB]

 Wiretapping Violations (139-HQ-1) – Release #1 – [218 Pages, 140MB]

 Wiretapping Violations (139-HQ-3) – Release #1 – [37 Pages, 2.5MB]

 Countermeasures (80-HQ-805) – Release #1 – [2,666 Pages, 121.8MB]

 Countermeasures (80-HQ-805) – Release #2 – [6 Pages, 0.5MB]

Countermeasures (80-HQ-805) – FBI Release – Other Government Agency Material (CIA, FTC and SEC) [31 Pages, 1.8MB]

The post FBI Files: Ultrasonic Listening Devices / Wiretapping / Countermeasures first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to Wikipedia:

“William Francis Buckley (May 30, 1928 – June 3, 1985) was a United States Army officer, a Paramilitary Officer in Special Activities Division (renamed Special Activities Center in 2016[1]) and a CIA station chief in Beirut from 1984 until 1985. His cover was as a Political Officer at the US Embassy. He was kidnapped by the group Hezbollah in March 1984. He was held hostage and tortured by psychiatrist Aziz al-Abub. Hezbollah later claimed they executed him in October 1985, but another American hostage disputed that, believing that he died five months prior, in June. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and is commemorated with a star on the Memorial Wall at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters in Langley, Virginia.”

Below you will find the investigation into files relating to Buckley.

Document Archive

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Files

When seeking out files on Buckley from the CIA, many were already put online and into the CIA’s “Electronic Reading Room.” I amended my request for records NOT put online, therefore, not readily available to the public.

The result, was the following 1,040+ pages:

The Torture and Death of William Francis Buckley [1,042 Pages, 450MB] – PLEASE NOTE: This is a large file. It is recommended you right click, and press SAVE AS to your computer prior to opening.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Files

Buckley, William Francis – FBI Release #1 – [32 Pages, 1.9MB]

Buckley, William Francis – FBI Release #2 – [248 Pages, 123MB]

The post The Torture and Death of William Francis Buckley first appeared on The Black Vault.

This study was conducted to determine if there are identifiable patterns or trends in incidents of serious Special Agent (SA) misconduct which, if discerned, might be of assistance in personnel selection and management.

This report is also referred to as the FBI’s “Beta Report”.

Document Archive

Special Agent Personnel Incident Review, Office of Program Evaluations and Audits, January 1983 [74 Pages, 25MB]

The post Special Agent Personnel Incident Review, Office of Program Evaluations and Audits, January 1983 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Before the modern era, cryptography was concerned solely with message confidentiality (i.e., encryption)—conversion of messages from a comprehensible form into an incomprehensible one and back again at the other end, rendering it unreadable by interceptors or eavesdroppers without secret knowledge (namely the key needed for decryption of that message).

Encryption attempted to ensure secrecy in communications, such as those of spies, military leaders, and diplomats. In recent decades, the field has expanded beyond confidentiality concerns to include techniques for message integrity checking, sender/receiver identity authentication, digital signatures, interactive proofs and secure computation, among others.

Below, you will find the declassified FBI File that was labeled “Cryptography.”

The file stretches back to the mid to late 1930s! It is an ongoing FOIA request, wherein many documents have not been released yet, and are being reviewed by multiple agencies. I will continue to add the releases, as they become available.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Release

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Release #1, October 19, 2016 [356 Pages, 190.5MB]

United States Army Release, November 17, 2016 [34 Pages, 4.9MB]

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Release #2 (as reviewed and released by ARMY/INSCOM), December 20, 2016 [22 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy Release [3 Pages, 0.4MB]

The post FBI Files on Cryptography – FBI File #80-HQ-612 first appeared on The Black Vault.