Opinion ID: 184504
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Does Exemption 7(C) Apply?

Text: 9 Exemption 7(C) to the FOIA permits an agency to withhold information compiled for law enforcement purposes to the extent that such information could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C). It does not exempt from disclosure, as we have previously had occasion to note, [i]nternal agency investigations ... in which an agency, acting as the employer, simply supervises its own employees. Stern v. F.B.I., 737 F.2d 84, 89 (1984). Material compiled in the course of such internal agency monitoring does not come within Exemption 7(C) even though it might reveal evidence that later could give rise to a law enforcement investigation. Id. On the other hand, 10 an agency's investigation of its own employees is for law enforcement purposes ... if it focuses directly on specifically alleged illegal acts, illegal acts of particular identified officials, acts which could, if proved, result in civil or criminal sanctions. 11 Id. (quoting Rural Housing Alliance v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 498 F.2d 73, 81 (D.C.Cir.1974)). 12 The OPR investigation here at issue was conducted in response to and focused upon a specific, potentially illegal release of information by a particular, identified official. The investigation was intended to discover whether John Thar had violated any law by revealing to the press information concerning an investigation of the Vice-President, who was then running for re-election. The investigation was not aiming generally, as was the investigation in Rural Housing for example, to insure that [the agency's] employees are acting in accordance with statutory mandate and the agency's own regulations. 498 F.2d [329 U.S.App.D.C. 255] at 81. We conclude, therefore, that the Government compiled the information in the OPR file for law enforcement purposes, with the result that the Government may withhold the requested records pursuant to Exemption 7(C) if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7)(C). 13