Opinion ID: 2682233
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cook's FOIA Request and NARA's Response

Text: By letter dated October 21, 2010, Cook submitted a FOIA request to NARA seeking: (1) copies of all requests for access to records received by the [Bush Library] since February 1, 2009; (2) copies of all requests for access to the records of former Vice-President Dick Cheney received by NARA staff since February 1, 2009; and (3) any subsequent correspondence regarding those requests, with the exclusion of copies of records governed by the [PRA]. Id. at 19. Cook did not seek the Bush/Cheney records themselves; he only sought NARA's documentation of the requests for the records. His stated purpose for seeking these records was to gain insight into the way in which the former President and Vice -6- COOK V. NAT'L ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMIN. President have chosen to shape the public's perception of their time in office. J.A. at 8 ¶ 5. NARA responded by letter dated December 1, 2010. The agency explained that requests for access to the Bush/Cheney records came in the form of either (a) special access requests submitted by current and former officials or (b) public FOIA requests. First, with respect to the special access requests, the agency stated: [NARA] treats these requests as researcher reference requests. . . . These records include but are not limited to the following categories: correspondence between NARA staff and researchers containing information about the research topic(s), field(s) of interest, identification of requested records, and other information furnished by the researcher. J.A. at 22. The agency further informed Cook that, because it protects the privacy of researchers, it would withhold the records of the special access requests under FOIA's Exemption 6. Second, with respect to Cook's FOIA demand for public FOIA requests, NARA indicated that FOIA requesters are not subject to the same right to privacy as . . . researchers. Id. at 23. Thus, the -7- COOK V. NAT'L ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMIN. agency made available to Cook redacted copies of all such FOIA requests, as well as its responses to those requests.2 Cook filed an administrative appeal by letter dated January 3, 2011, protesting NARA's decision to withhold the records of the special access requests. In response, NARA amended its initial decision by letter dated June 3, 2011. The agency distinguished special access requests submitted by the former officials (former President Bush, former Vice-President Cheney, and their designated representatives) from special access requests submitted by current officials (the incumbent President, Congress, and the judiciary). NARA deemed the former officials' special access requests to be researcher reference requests that have been made [by or] on behalf of private citizens and thus properly withheld under Exemption 6. Id. at 32. In contrast, NARA deemed the current officials' special access requests to be in furtherance of official business and thus not entitled to protection as private researcher reference requests. 2 Cook's FOIA request also sought [a]ny agreements or memoranda of understanding between the [Bush Library] and any researchers, scholars, former government officials, or any other entities governing current or future access to records maintained by the Library. J.A. at 19. The agency, however, found no responsive records. -8- COOK V. NAT'L ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMIN. Id. Accordingly, Cook was permitted access to the current officials' requests, but not the former officials' requests. Cook filed suit in the district court to challenge NARA's failure to produce the records he requested. The only issue on appeal is NARA's decision with respect to the special access requests of the former officials.