FBI Continues to Withhold Stanton Friedman Records

In 2019 this writer sought FBI records on UFO author and speaker Stanton Friedman (1934-2019) through the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. The FBI soon provided about 57 pages of apparently previously released documents. The records consisted primarily of 1985 FBI memos reflecting investigations stemming from Friedman's interest in classified material. In this post, we will explore some interesting aspects of the records as well as a recently received response to a request for a Mandatory Declassification Review. Though no new information was obtained, the circumstances may provide some food for thought.

Image of Stanton Friedman contained in FBI file

You may access a master folder, "Friedman, Stanton," holding two additional folders. One of the folders, titled "Friedman FBI," contains FBI records previously obtained. The second folder, "Friedman FBI MDR 12-24," contains an FBI final response received last week for the Mandatory Declassification Review, along with the records on Friedman, even though they were revised very little, if at all.

The late Stanton Friedman was born in New Jersey and attended Rutgers University before earning physics degrees at the University of Chicago during the 1950s. He worked in the defense industry and was granted DOD secret clearance as well as Q clearance by the Department of Energy, according to FBI records (see p3). Friedman turned his attention to UFOs and became widely known for promoting unverified conspiracies of crashed flying saucers and the alleged alien abduction of Betty and Barney Hill. He was a primary promoter of the dubious and almost certainly forged MJ-12 documents along with controversial writer William “Bill” Moore. Friedman adamantly claimed to believe the government was conducting a cover-up of UFOs and aliens.

Soon after receiving FBI records in 2019, this writer submitted a request for a Mandatory Declassification Review, or MDR, in the hopes some of the withheld material would be further released. The Bureau issued a final response last week to the MDR, pictured below. While an initial page-by-page comparison revealed no newly released information (not so much as one single less redaction), some potentially interesting circumstances may nonetheless be discerned.

As highlighted, the Bureau acknowledged, “99 pages were reviewed and 57 pages are being released.” That means, even after a declassification review, some 42 pages of records responsive to Stanton T. Friedman in the custody of the FBI were deemed fully exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.

Also of note and as highlighted on the second page of the FBI response letter, documents were originally referred to Other Government Agency(ies) for review for release. It would appear this includes the State Department.

The circumstances offer opportunities for continued research. The FBI withholding of records may be appealed and a request may be sent to the State Department, as well, citing the FBI response letter and records but, for now, let's take a look at the records released to date.

Working systematically from the beginning of the pdf titled "Friedman FBI 1 MDR...," we quickly find what might well be identified as the heart of Bureau interest in Stanton Friedman. An April 1985 memo from an agent at the Boston Field Office advises Dir. Hoover it was not known how Friedman knew specific FBI file numbers he listed in a FOIA request. The request pertained to intelligence conferences with the Air Force, related items, and a proposed study of flying saucers. From page 4 of the above linked file:

The social dynamics reflected in this one page are vast. They are difficult to overemphasize. In this single memo, we see implications of UFO researchers encouraging intelligence officers to leak classified information. Friedman quite possibly learned the file numbers when they were shared improperly, possibly among numerous people. The mid 1980s UFO scene, speeding out of control on greased rails, was the time of Richard Doty, Bill Moore, Linda Moulton Howe, and anybody else who would embrace and promote ill-advised revelations of the Majestic 12, cattle mutilations and underground alien bases. This memo speaks to it.

In the above page, we can surmise UFO writers rattling swords with intelligence agencies, practically challenging them. If a request was denied, or they were questioned about circumstances surrounding classified material, the writer could proclaim they were on the right track, getting too close to the truth. They rarely so much as ever even acknowledged information may have been classified for reasons having nothing to do with alien spaceships. Doing so would have simply not supported their agenda. It could be argued, in this context, it was the job of the Boston FBI to determine the extent of the agenda of Stanton T. Friedman.

It should also be considered that investigation of UFO figures is often a lose-lose proposition for intelligence agencies. The subject of investigation may prove to be either irrational or willfully ignorant, pursuing stories of aliens and government cover-ups for a variety of common and self-serving reasons, but resulting in no implications of espionage or damage to national security. A best case scenario may often be that investigation proves to be a waste of time and resources.

Continuing through the first of the two pdfs, a rather heavily redacted May 1985 FBI memo located on page 7 mentions a highly sensitive source, presumably a confidential informant, further referenced repeatedly as we progress through the records. The memo on page 7, pictured below, also contains a reference to how the source must be protected if information is disseminated outside the Bureau, another point that recurs throughout the material. We might also note part of the subject is redacted. Again, a recurring feature as we proceed through reading the files. Many memos have subject lines of Friedman and something redacted.

By July 1985, Boston FBI determined information requested by Friedman in 1984 and subsequently released to him no longer had a confidential nature. The records Friedman requested had a somewhat expected date range of 1946-1960: 

FOIA exemptions applied for redactions are highlighted on the above memo. As cited throughout the material and described in the FBI MDR final response, which also cited Exemption b7D for select withholding of records, the specified exemptions pertain to unwarranted invasions of privacy, disclosure of identity of confidential sources, and disclosure of techniques of law enforcement investigations.

Another 1985 FBI memo located on page 12 of the pdf references an LHM, or Letterhead Memo. This is likely a reference to a summary of derogatory information compiled during the course of a counterintelligence investigation. The memo suggests the LHM should be forwarded to Legat, Ottawa, which would be the FBI Legal Attaché. It might be a good guess that this LHM represents some of the fully withheld material, even after the Mandatory Declassification Review. That, and State Department records. From page 14:

Nearing the end of the first pdf, page 18 contains a memo again clarifying, “Information furnished by [redacted] may not be reclassified or further disseminated outside the FBI without prior [redacted] authority.” Cited exemptions include circumstances of confidential sources and law enforcement investigations:

The second pdf, titled "Friedman FBI 2 MDR 12-24," contains a March 1985 FBI memo, predating the above correspondence (see p16). It indeed further establishes the Bureau had a source telling it about Stan Friedman. The exemptions cited pertain to confidential sources and investigations:

Page 24 of the pdf is part of a May 1985 memo. It coordinates the dissemination of the Letterhead Memo to relevant offices and directs the FBI Alexandria Division to “initiate traces re Friedman” with the Washington Field Office (The Alexandria Division typically worked on compromising human sources and open legal cases):

By December 1985, Boston FBI apparently became satisfied other offices and collaborating agencies in the U.S. and Canada had no information justifying further investigation of Friedman, at least not for any of the reasons it was initially directed in this instance. It noted permission might be sought in the future for careful dissemination of investigation findings and information obtained from protected sources (see p38).

It seems apparent the discussion of Friedman's activities, however, included a substantial amount of classified material, and it continues to be redacted. That's the case whether or not Friedman was aware or cared. Note the almost fully redacted page 7 of the second pdf, even after MDR:

Also, an inventory of deleted responsive pages provided by the Bureau shows the several records not produced that pertain to the State Department, as well as three pages (79, 84, 85) withheld in full under exemptions cited:

The FBI records on Stanton Friedman reveal a number of social circumstances. They establish surveillance of UFO investigators, but they also indicate the investigator put himself in the line of sight by interjecting himself into classified matters. Moreover, these are dynamics that continue today between the UFO subculture and the intelligence community. Intelligence agencies are by no means necessarily without blame in select convoluted matters that fuel irrational speculation of the fantastic, but neither does that justify taking leave of our critical thinking faculties. Expanding Frontiers Research encourages you to keep unpacking the past to accurately learn how we got here and competently assess where we're going.