DEBUNKING THE MYTH THAT THE FBI INVESTIGATED MICHAEL JACKSON

March 10, 2020

The release of FBI files related to Michael Jackson has led to widespread misinterpretation and a notable exaggeration of its significance. One prevailing misunderstanding is the belief in a prolonged 10+ year investigation of Michael Jackson by the FBI. However, a straightforward review of the introductory paragraph on the FBI's official page can effectively debunk this myth.

"Michael Jackson (1958-2009) was a famous singer and entertainer. Between 1993 and 1994, and separately between 2004 and 2005, Jackson was investigated by California law enforcement agencies for possible sexual abuse of minors. He was acquitted of all charges. The FBI provided technical and investigative assistance to these agencies during the cases. The Bureau also investigated threats made against Mr. Jackson and others, by an individual who was later imprisoned for these crimes. These investigations occurred between 1992 and 2005."

Source: FBI.com

Drawing from this introductory paragraph, we can ascertain the following three key conclusions:

1. Investigations into allegations of sexual abuse were limited to a period of about two years, precisely between 1993 and 1994, with a brief inquiry in 1995 related to a VHS recording, and a decade later between 2004 and 2005, thus contradicting the prolonged 10+ year narrative. 

2. The FBI's role did not involve leading an independent investigation into the matter. Instead, the agency provided technical and investigative assistance to the California Police Departments, particularly the Santa Barbara County Police Department, as and when requested, due to jurisdictional issues and the requirement for specialized expertise. This collaborative support function is underscored by a statement from retired FBI agent Brad Garrett in a ABC News 2009 interview, where he elucidated that the FBI's involvement was at the behest of the police to aid with specific aspects of the case, rather than constituting an operational investigation.

3. The confusion surrounding the 10-year timeframe may stem from the concluding sentence of the paragraph, which delineates the timeline of the FBI's involvement. The FBI's earliest file traces back to 1992, stemming from an investigation into an individual who had made threats against Michael Jackson. However, it's crucial to note that this particular case holds no relevance to the subsequent allegations of sexual abuse. The final archived document dates back to 2005, marking the announcement of the verdict in the trial of Gavin Arvizo.

It's important to clarify that the FBI does not have the authority to acquit or render a verdict of not guilty, despite common misconceptions. As part of the executive branch, the FBI lacks judicial powers, including issuing judgments. In the context of the paragraph, the FBI simply communicated the ruling from Gavin's 2005 trial. Additionally, it's crucial to note that sexual abuse is typically not a federal crime, and thus, the FBI does not usually open federal cases for such offenses. These cases are generally handled by local authorities, unless there are specific circumstances such as an adult taking a child across state lines with the intent of sexual abuse. In such cases, the FBI would be involved.

Therefore, it's inaccurate to suggest that the FBI investigated the charges of sexual abuse for a decade, as their involvement was limited to a two-year period. For further clarification, Jim Clemente a retired FBI agent has addressed and dispelled this misunderstanding. 

The files are not exclusively about child sex abuse

Only a fraction of the released documentation, specifically 145 pages (42%), pertains to child sex abuse allegations. Surprisingly, the majority of the files, comprising 199 pages (58%), are dedicated to an investigation into Frank Paul Jones, a man accused of issuing death threats against Jackson and other prominent figures, including former President Bush. It's important to emphasize that this particular case is entirely unrelated to the allegations of child sexual abuse.

Furthermore, the remaining files are categorized into segments related to the 1993 case (first and third folders), the 2003 case (second, fifth, and seventh folders), and a brief 1995 investigation pertaining to a VHS (fourth folder). While some may wonder about the depth and significance of these investigations, it is noteworthy that they were, in fact, superficial. 

It is crucial to highlight that not all of the FBI's documents concerning Michael Jackson are accessible to the public. With approximately 600 pages of research in existence, only half of these have been released by the FBI, adhering to privacy regulations and safeguarding investigative methodologies. As a result, speculating about the undisclosed files is purely conjectural. Assuming their similarity to the publicly available content, it can be reasonably surmised that they may not contain any groundbreaking revelations.

In summary, a mere 145 out of 334 pages are centered on investigations related to cases of sexual abuse. However, upon discounting the 18 pages addressing concerns of a terrorist attack during the 2005 trial, and acknowledging the presence of repeated pages in the first and third folders, the substantive content dwindles to a mere 117 pages.

Conclusion

It's easy to interpret the fact that the FBI have a page on Michael Jackson, and invision a Mulder and Scully type investigation were they tracked his movements, intercepted his calls, utilised surveillance cameras, and employed other advanced techniques. However, the reality is quite different. The FBI's involvement was limited to specific cases wherein their assistance was sought by the police.

Upon examining the contents of the files, it becomes evident that they are rather superficial in nature. A considerable portion of the documents are procedural, leaving a substantial number of pages, almost half, with content that ranges from letters requesting orders or issuing press releases, newspaper scans, miscellaneous letters, blank pages, pages featuring only numbers or stamps, and numerous illegible notes. Furthermore, certain sections contain redacted text, particularly names, rendering them somewhat challenging to decipher.

What, then, are the specific points of the files that are at least readable?

1. 1993 Investigation: In September 1993, an FBI agent based in London relayed reports from the British press detailing allegations made by a man, Terry George, who claimed to have engaged in a phone call involving sexual charges with MJ in 1979, when he was 13 years old and Jackson was 20. The FBI agent requested that this information be relayed to the Los Angeles office, ultimately noting that no further action was being pursued in this case, as Terry George never filed a formal complaint. This segment accounts for 10 pages in the first folder.
2. 2004 Investigation: At the behest of the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI provided assistance in analyzing computers and digital media obtained from Neverland under a court order. A total of 16 computers were scrutinized, yielding no significant findings on the hard drives. It is crucial to underscore that the focus was not on determining whether Jackson used the computers, but rather on their mere presence at Neverland. Given that the majority of these devices were employed for administrative purposes, the likelihood of uncovering incriminating evidence was deemed minimal. This section spans 44 pages in the second folder.
3. 1993 Investigation: On September 7, 1993, the Los Angeles Police Department sought assistance from the Department of Energy to prosecute MJ under the Mann Act, a law prohibiting the transportation of individuals across borders for unlawful sexual activities. However, the request was short-lived, as the following day, the prosecutor expressed disinterest in pursuing charges against MJ. This episode is detailed across 20-21 pages in the third folder.
4. 1993 Investigation: In the same month of September 1993, the police solicited the FBI's aid in traveling to the Philippines to interview two former employees of the ranch, the Quindoys, who alleged inappropriate conduct by MJ toward children. The investigation notes the successful completion of the interviews, although it remains unclear whether they were conducted directly with the Quindoys or their attorney. With Jordan's case reaching a settlement and his subsequent lack of cooperation, the testimony of the Quindoys was not presented in court, leading to the discontinuation of the investigation. This segment is covered in the third folder.
5. 1993 Investigation: In a collaborative effort, the FBI assisted the police in pursuing a lead in Ottawa, Canada, following a testimony from a female social worker who reported witnessing interactions between MJ and a minor aboard a train. The investigation was officially closed in August 1994, indicating that no further leads were pending for the Los Angeles office. However, the file offers no definitive conclusion regarding the veracity of these allegations.
6. 1993 Research: This section details the allegations put forth by a writer, potentially Víctor Gutiérrez, who claimed that the FBI had probed Jackson in 1985 or 1986 for the abuse of two Mexican children. Upon reviewing their own records, the FBI concluded that there were no traces of such an investigation.
7. In October 1995, the Customs Service enlisted the FBI's aid in reviewing a VHS videotape labeled "Michael Jackson's Neverland Favorites: An All Boy Anthology" as part of a child pornography investigation. Regrettably, the quality of the recording was so poor that investigators were unable to discern its contents. It is surmised that the video may have been intended as a jest. This episode is documented across 9 pages in the fourth folder.
8. 2004 Research: An FBI agent journeyed to New York to interview a potential witness, only to find the individual unwilling to cooperate, prompting the closure of the matter. There is speculation that this witness could have been Jordan Chandler; however, due to redactions of names and other data, it cannot be definitively confirmed. This account spans 5 pages in the seventh folder.
9. During the 2005 trial, the Santa Barbara County authorities sought the assistance and counsel of the Behavior Analysts in Critical Incidents of the Response Group FBI. Concerns had arisen regarding the trial being identified as a "soft target" for terrorism due to its extensive global media coverage. As a result, the police made a formal request to investigate potential terrorist threats, a matter entirely distinct from the accusations at hand. This file, spanning 18 pages, solely delineates the law enforcement's endeavor to address security apprehensions surrounding the high-profile trial.

Upon thorough examination, the question arises: can these investigations serve as an indication of innocence? The answer is nuanced. Strictly speaking, only the examination of hard drives can be considered evidence that Jackson had nothing illegal on those devices. In other instances, the FBI primarily conducted witness interviews (or attempted to do so in the latter case), pursued certain allegations that yielded no substantive leads, and subsequently closed the cases due to a lack of actionable evidence.

It is concerning that many fans label these files, which they have seemingly not perused, as comprehensive, detailed, and definitive evidence of his innocence.

In reality, the FBI's involvement should be viewed for what it truly was: technical support—neither confirming nor dismissing the allegations outright. Each investigation, while shedding light on certain aspects, does not conclusively exonerate Michael Jackson.