CIA to Citizens: No, You May Not See Osama bin Laden's Porn. If He Had Any.

The limits of FOIA

Not long after Osama bin Laden was killed, reports appeared claiming that the Al Qaeda leader—or someone in his compound—had a big pornography collection. But if you were hoping for a glimpse at the stash, or even just confirmation that it exists, the government won't help you:

New York Post

David Covucci, a blogger for the men's Web site BroBible, decided to try a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the CIA on May 26 to get the stash. The agency, in a lightning-fast response dated June 4, said:

"With regard to the pornographic material Osama bin Laden had in his possession at the time of his death, responsive records,"—ready?—"should they exist, would be contained in operational files," which are exempt from the FOIA.

What's more, CIA information and privacy coordinator Michael Lavergne continued, "To the extent that this material exists, the CIA would be prohibited" by federal law, "from mailing obscene matter."

The CIA's full letter to BroBible is here. Oh, well. "To the extent that this material exists," maybe it'll turn up on WikiLeaks.

Comments

[Notorious G.K.C.]

FOIA exemption Section F, Subsection Y, paragraph T, clause W - material that the CIA hasn't finished with yet, so wait your turn!

[Michael]

So, Jesse, when can we expect you to eulogize Vinny Musetto? Or have I missed it?

[Ken Shultz]

The agency, in a lightning-fast response dated June 4, said:

"With regard to the pornographic material Osama bin Laden had in his possession at the time of his death, responsive records,"ready??"should they exist, would be contained in operational files," which are exempt from the FOIA.

Can we get a subpoena to identify the agency employee in question?

Or do we have to take them in front of a grand jury?

Turn about's fair play, right?

P.S. My real name is Ken Shultz. That's spelled K-E-N S-H-U-L-T-Z

[Military Grade Woodchipper]

S-c-h-u-l-t-z

[darkflame]

I just lost it

[Ivan Pike]

Can we get a subpoena to identify the agency employee in question?

???

What employee are you looking for? This guy?

CIA information and privacy coordinator Michael Lavergne

[Ken Shultz]

What, do you have Aspberger's or something?

[Ivan Pike]

No Ken, I don't. I read your comment several times and couldn't make any sense out of it*. So please, fill me in.

*I know what you are referencing, but it still doesn't make any sense, unless it is sarc, and I need to re-adjust.

[Ken Shultz]

We've been asked not to talk about it here.

Try popehat.

[Ivan Pike]

I read Popehat. That is why I wondered if it was sarc.

[Ken Shultz]

So you do have Aspberger's?

[Loves Big Brother Kristen]

So he liked hijab snuff pron. Who doesn't, really?

[UnCivilServant]

Why would these be 'operational files'?

I get the second problem (no mailing) but you could always sent via a non-USPS carrier and charge for shipping. And a title list would not be in violation thereof.

[Viscount Irish, Slayer of Huns]

"David Covucci, a blogger for the men's Web site BroBible, decided to try a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the CIA on May 26 to get the stash."

This guy may have failed, but he is clearly an American hero regardless.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I'm guessing it's not as salacious as one might think considering that it's pretty well-known that Al-Qaeda operatives used digital steganographic techniques to hide communications in pornographic image files which were then posted to alt.binaries newsgroups..

[UnCivilServant]

Not well known enough, this is the first I've heard of it. (Not steganography, the fact that AQ was using it)

[jesse.in.mb]

Oh usenet porn...

[tarran]

Guys, my guess is that the porn stash turned out to be 3 victoria's secret catalogs.

You think they are going to admit they engaged in a hyperbolic smear?

[Pope Jimbo]

Backdoor Burka Babes 3

[Viscount Irish, Slayer of Huns]

I met a bin laden from Riyadh
Whose porn tastes were quite bad
He jerked to hijabs
And wanked to niqabs
And shame on his family was had

This is why Virginia Postrel hates us.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Brazilian Fart Porn. That's my guess.

[Lord Humungus]

something camels something in hijabs?

[Muzzled Commenter]

That NY Post cover is full of win.

[Spencer]

Wait... so all the CIA has to do is tape a nude shot onto all of it's documents and then they can't mail them as part of FOIA requests?

Sounds like a new strategy could really pay off. If they're looking for an out of the box thinker to run things, I'm up for the job...

[Hey Nikki!]

"To the extent that this material exists, the CIA would be prohibited" by federal law, "from mailing obscene matter."

So whatever bin Laden had, it was nastier than a John Stagliano movie?

[Spencer]

well, ankles and foreheads...

[Hyperion]

Must be some really good pr0n that they want to keep it all to themselves.

[UnCivilServant]

While an amusing comment, the CIA just has an institutional tendency to hoard any kind of information and not want to share.

[Muzzled Commenter]

They aren't keeping it to themselves. They just giving it all to the SEC and NSF.

[Loki]

maybe it'll turn up on WikiLeaks

But I thought Lemmiwinks killed Wikileaks...

[The Last American Hero]

It probably included vacation pictures and video from Bill Clinton's Caribbean escapades.

[Juice]

Half of me still thinks they've got him alive somewhere. Maybe he's hanging out with George W. and Bandar Bush.