As noted earlier, the Stamford Police Department has denied my request for a copy of the complete videotape of a detective’s June 29, 2007, interview of Benoit Wikipedia hacker Matthew Greenberg. Today I informed Stamford PD of my intention to appeal to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. Under state law, I must appeal within 30 days.
Connecticut has a strong Freedom of Information Act, last amended in 2007, and an active public information community and infrastructure. Experts there whom I’ve consulted agree that there is no obvious reason why the Greenberg video should be exempt from public release, and specifically that the claim of an exemption of “voluntary statements” to police is specious. I believe the chance of a successful appeal is excellent.
Irv Muchnick