Family Gets a Say on FBI Kennedy File

[No Elephants]

Source: Boston.com (Boston Globe website)

Family gets a say on FBI Kennedy file
Courtesy given to protect kin’s rights before release
By Bryan Bender
Globe Staff / April 12, 2010

WASHINGTON — Edward M. Kennedy’s family will be given a rare opportunity to raise objections before the public disclosure of thousands of pages of the late Massachusetts senator’s exhaustive and secret FBI file, according to bureau officials and advisers to the family.

...snip (Article says this is "uncommon.")...

“In certain circumstances the family of victims of crimes or, as in this case . . . a public official, may coordinate the release of certain material with the family,’’ said Dennis Argall, an FBI spokesman, adding that the practice was rare. “The family of a deceased person may have a privacy interest.’’

Three FBI officials said the bureau has nearly completed its review of 3,000 pages of Kennedy’s FBI file. Those pages constitute only the first installment in an unusually large collection of FBI documents about one of the most famous politicians in modern history, the heir to one of America’s most storied political dynasties, and the frequent source of fodder for the tabloids.

The FBI’s Record Information Dissemination Section, in Winchester, Va., began expediting requests for the file soon after Kennedy’s death at age 77 from brain cancer in August. Those requests were filed by the Globe and other news media under the Freedom of Information Act.

Before releasing the documents, however, the FBI says it will give the Kennedys a chance to weigh in. And while the family will not have any legal power to demand that information be withheld, the bureau said it will take into consideration any privacy concerns.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/04/12/family_gets_a_say_on_fbi_kennedy_file/

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Fasten your seat belts.

The Kennedys have always stuck in the craw of the RW--still do. And, of course, RWers loves them any opportunity to re-live Chappaquiddick. Kennedy hadn't been dead an hour before King of CNN was droning on about it.

This morning, a local TV correspondent stopped a young woman--probably under 30-- and asked her if the family should have an opportunity to review the papers. The woman said, well, she really wanted to know about Chappaquiddick--if Kennedy was having an affair with "that young lady."

Not even born when it happened, doesn't even know the name, but, all she thought about was Chappaquiddick and womanizing, the instant she heard about the FBI file, Not education, health care, Vicki, etc. I almost tossed my English muffin.

While alive, Senator Kennedy had a right to sue for libel, slander or defamation, albeit a limited right, given that he was a "public figure."

A deceased person, however, is not considered to have an interest in his or her reputation. And the interest in one's reputation is considered personal, so that his estate/heirs cannot sue if people lie about him, either. So, since his death in August, people have been able to say/publish about him pretty much whatever they want without fear of being sued, even if they lie with "actual malice." http://jonathanturley.org/2007/08/18/defaming-the-dead/

So, don't believe anything you hear/read about Senator Ted and these files without at least first triple checking.

[boomerbust]

1. How about

A CIA Kennedy file.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Since you youself mentioned muffin'

yes - that's what a lot of the world may well remember most.

[MicaelS]

3. Do less famous people's families get a say when their FBI

File is released? If not, why not? I hate to say this, but this is just more special treatment for people with the last name, or former last name of Kennedy.

[ellenfl]

4. considering dumbya made the records of past

pesidents sacrosanct, it will be interesting to hear the hue and cry, if any, for kennedy's. unless they protested dumbya's closing of records, the rw should keep their mouths shut . . . but they won't.

ellen fl