I requested Aretha Franklin’s FBI files via the Freedom of Information Act in August 2018. By now, you may have seen my Rolling Stone story detailing files I finally received in September 2022. It took the FBI *four years* to release these to me. Some of the files contained in the 270 pages that came as a result of my request were newly declassified, so this was major news.
The FBI carefully followed Aretha Franklin for 40 years.
When you work on a story like this, contacting all involved parties is important. In this case, this meant reaching out to Aretha Franklin’s family/estate and the FBI, among other sources.
The FBI, unfortunately, did not play ball when it came to answering any of the questions I have for them (the questions I asked are revealed below!).
By Courage News reader request, below are screenshots from what the FBI sent me, the specific questions I asked them regarding their surveillance of Aretha Franklin, the response they gave me, and then how I was ultimately ghosted.
It has been QUITE a journey. What comes next below (screenshots, behind-the-scenes) is for paid subscribing members only, and I have a big discount going on right now for monthly, annual, and founding member options <3 I can’t report and break important stories like this without your help.
Already a subscriber? Thank you, and read on!
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Courage News by Jenn Dize to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.