EINPresswire.com/ September 19, 2012 -- In defiance of the Freedom Of Information Act, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has refused to turn over the file of a six month investigation of Saudi hacking and illegal film distribution in the US. The FBI claiming the file "doesn't exist" says it thus cannot comply with the Freedom of Information Act. The request was sent directly to FBI Director Robert Mueller more than three months ago and resent twice.

In fact, a large portion of the file, correspondence with three different FBI Agents working on the investigation, is currently held by journalist Jo Franklin. "It is astonishing they claim they can't comply with the Freedom of Information Act saying it doesn't exist. I have a large portion of it. One has to wonder what they are trying to conceal in the rest of it," noted Ms. Franklin. The Freedom of Information Act mandates the Justice Department release the file within 21 days.

The investigation was originally requested by the National Security Division of the Justice Department stemming from a Complaint filed by filmmaker and author Jo Franklin. The Complaint cited Saudi hacking and destruction of her film website, email hacking, and illegal mass duplication and distribution of her award-winning PBS series "Saudi Arabia."

"The Saudis were blatant about their years of illegal film distribution. It originated under Amb. Bandar Bin Sultan who was well advised this was illegal but remained confident that no one in the US legal system would do anything about it. His Deputy, Rihab Massoud stated candidly 'We gave that out to everyone." I first notified the FBI of this in 2009. They said they would open a case. Then weeks later said they would do nothing but could give no reason," stated Ms.
Franklin.

Copyright infringement, film piracy, is a serious problem for the film industry which loses millions of dollars annually to theft. The FBI is assigned oversight of law enforcement of this. Saudi Arabia has a well known history of copyright infringement.

The second Complaint was filed in January 2012 when it became evident the Saudis had expanded their illegal actions to now include hacking and an attempt to destroy a new film they didn't like. SeaCastle Films took the issue to Federal Court and won release of the film which was lauded in reviews by noted historians, Pulitzer Prize winners, and moderate Islamic scholars. Nevertheless, the Saudis continued to destroy the film's website and intercept email. Upon being advised the FBI had opened an investigation, the Saudis remained confident the Administration would do nothing to them. "We put in a call to the Administration to kill the investigation," stated Saudi Embassy personnel.

"Everything about this is deeply disturbing. I have substantial material from the file that supposedly doesn't exist. By law, I am entitled to the rest of it. The longer they refuse to turn it over, the more concerned I am about what is in it," stated Ms. Franklin.