The Washington TV reporter targeted by the U.S.
Navy in an attempt to foil his investigative work on the Navy Yard shootings is
Scott MacFarlane, a former aide to Congresswoman Candice Miller.
Navy in an attempt to foil his investigative work on the Navy Yard shootings is
Scott MacFarlane, a former aide to Congresswoman Candice Miller.
The Navy big-wig’s effort to dodge MacFarlane’s Freedom
Of Information Act requests blew up in their faces when their internal memo
outlining strategy was inadvertently sent to the reporter.
Of Information Act requests blew up in their faces when their internal memo
outlining strategy was inadvertently sent to the reporter.
The blunder became a huge embarrassment for the Navy on
Twitter, where MacFarlane, a local NBC News reporter in D.C., later revealed
that he had received an apology.
Twitter, where MacFarlane, a local NBC News reporter in D.C., later revealed
that he had received an apology.
Of course MacFarlane, who served as Miller’s press
secretary in 2005, was the first to break the story. He posted a screen shot of a portion of the
memo. Here’s his tweet:
secretary in 2005, was the first to break the story. He posted a screen shot of a portion of the
memo. Here’s his tweet:
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EPIC FAILURE- U.S. Navy accidentally
sends reporter its strategy memo for dodging his FOIA request.
sends reporter its strategy memo for dodging his FOIA request.
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According to the NBC4 TV affiliate, in the memo a Navy FOIA
officer details a strategy to reject and stymie MacFarlane’s request for
emails, photos and memoranda related to the September Navy Yard shooting, in
which 12 people died.
officer details a strategy to reject and stymie MacFarlane’s request for
emails, photos and memoranda related to the September Navy Yard shooting, in
which 12 people died.
Navy FOIA official Robin Patterson calls
the FOIA request a “fishing expedition” and recommends several
methods to deflect MacFarlane’s request, including “negotiating with
requester” to limit his search for photos.
the FOIA request a “fishing expedition” and recommends several
methods to deflect MacFarlane’s request, including “negotiating with
requester” to limit his search for photos.
In the memo, Patterson also suggests Navy FOIA
staff encourage MacFarlane to “narrow” his request for official Navy
memoranda by convincing the reporter his search would be “costly.”
staff encourage MacFarlane to “narrow” his request for official Navy
memoranda by convincing the reporter his search would be “costly.”
She questioned the public’s right to
know the information and Patterson wrote: “Just because they are media doesn’t
mean that the memos would shed light on specific government activities.”
know the information and Patterson wrote: “Just because they are media doesn’t
mean that the memos would shed light on specific government activities.”
After admitting that they mistakenly
sent the strategy memo to MacFarlane, Navy officials sent out this tweet:
sent the strategy memo to MacFarlane, Navy officials sent out this tweet:
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The #USNavy remains committed to transparency
& responding to FOIA requests in a timely and professional manner.
& responding to FOIA requests in a timely and professional manner.
________________________________________________________________________________
