Opinion ID: 552329
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Central Intelligence Agency

Text: 50 Appellant sent his request to the CIA on August 21, 1985. The CIA responded on September 3, 1985. See Letter to Carl Oglesby from John H. Wright (Sept. 3, 1985), reprinted in J.A. at 45. The September 3 letter indicated that the CIA would go forward with the search absent any problems or any need for additional information. Again, we need not determine if this response was adequate for constructive exhaustion purposes, because the CIA made its final determination on the merits of appellant's request before appellant filed suit. On September 10, 1985, the CIA released 20 pages of declassified material to appellant without charge and indicated that other records were being transferred to NARA and that appellant should contact NARA directly. See Letter to Carl Oglesby from John H. Wright (Sept. 10, 1985), reprinted in J.A. at 46-47. On October 3, 1985, the CIA informed appellant of its determination to withhold documents responsive to appellant's request, pursuant to exemption 3, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(b)(3), 15 and to deny appellant's request for a fee waiver for future searches. 16 See Letter to Carl Oglesby from John H. Wright (Oct. 3, 1985), reprinted in J.A. at 50. Appellant did not file suit until December 11, 1987, more than two years after the CIA had made its final determination. We find that the exhaustion of administrative remedies became mandatory when the CIA made its determination regarding appellant's request and appellant was thereafter required to appeal any challenges he had to the head of the agency before seeking judicial review. Since he did not administratively appeal his challenges, judicial review is precluded at this time. 51