Opinion ID: 683177
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Destruction of Documents and Discovery

Text: 43 The discussion thus far has had to do with documents in various FBI files at the time of plaintiff's FOIA request. Plaintiff also raises issues relating to documents which by the agency's own admission were destroyed prior to the request. The fact of destruction was introduced into this case by the FBI itself, as the agency's original release of documents to plaintiff included an inventory worksheet indicating document serials which had been destroyed, as well as declaratory material explaining the destruction. 44 In the context of a FOIA action, we cannot order the FBI to make amends for any documents destroyed prior to the request because a FOIA request pertains only to material in the possession of the agency at the time of the request. Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of Press, 445 U.S. 136, 151-52, 100 S.Ct. 960, 969, 63 L.Ed.2d 267 (1980); Weisberg v. Dep't of Justice, 705 F.2d 1344, 1363 (D.C.Cir.1983); Badhwar v. Dep't of Air Force, 629 F.Supp. 478, 481 (D.D.C.1986), aff'd in part, vacated in part on other grounds, 829 F.2d 182 (D.C.Cir.1987). 45 Plaintiff argues that the destruction is nonetheless relevant because there is a pattern in it centering on the period of his murder conviction. Plaintiff asserts that this pattern destroys the presumption of good faith that normally attends agency affidavits in FOIA actions and seeks discovery to pursue this issue. We cannot tell from the parties' submissions whether or not the FBI improperly destroyed any documents. Yet even if we credit plaintiff's claims, the only result is that the presumption of good faith falls from the agency's affidavits and summary judgment cannot be granted on their basis. This court has already reached that conclusion. We have conducted an in camera review of the augmented sample, scrutinizing the FBI's use of various exemptions to withhold material responsive to plaintiff's FOIA request, and we have found that the agency's withholdings were proper. Therefore, there remains no genuine issue of material fact concerning the destruction of documents in this case. 46 Plaintiff also requests discovery as to the exemptions claimed and the FBI's purpose in investigating him. Our in camera review of the exemptions as described above convinces us that the FBI has acted in good faith and has properly withheld responsive material. As to the purpose behind the FBI's investigations of Harllel Jones and Afro Set, we found above that the operation met the law enforcement threshold for FOIA purposes despite any misconduct engaged in under its auspices. We therefore agree with the magistrate and the district court that discovery is not warranted on these issues either. 47 We are mindful of the difficulty plaintiffs face in litigating under FOIA, but a FOIA request is not a substitute for the normal process of discovery in civil and criminal cases. John Doe Agency, 493 U.S. at 153, 110 S.Ct. at 475-76; Irons v. Bell, 596 F.2d at 475 & n. 15 (a criminal defendant or even a civil litigant may have rights of access [to records] not available to the general public under FOIA). This point has already been well demonstrated in this case. During discovery related to his habeas petition, plaintiff was able to obtain certain materials which had been withheld under FOIA. This is as it should be. FOIA's scheme of exemptions does not curtail a plaintiff's right to discovery in related non-FOIA litigation; but neither does that right entitle a FOIA plaintiff to circumvent the rules limiting release of documents under FOIA. 48