We Investigated Whitney Houston Extortion: FBI

128-page file detailing pure craziness released
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 5, 2013 10:12 AM CST
We Investigated Whitney Houston Extortion: FBI
This April 25, 2010 file photo shows U.S singer Whitney Houston performing at the o2 in London as part of her European tour.   (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, file)

Newly released FBI files on Whitney Houston reveal that the bureau once investigated an alleged extortion attempt against the singer, Reuters reports. The 128 pages of files were posted on the FBI's website yesterday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The alleged extortion attempt was reported to the FBI in 1992, soon after Houston married Bobby Brown. Houston told the FBI that someone she considered a friend was threatening to publicize private information unless Houston paid $250,000.

The files also include letters, sent from obsessed fans, that Houston considered threatening. One Vermont man wrote that he "might hurt someone with some crazy idea." The FBI interviewed him, but he said he only meant that he would hurt Houston's reputation if he declared his love for her. Houston also got letters and cassette recordings from someone in the Netherlands claiming to be the "President of Europe," who was also interviewed by the FBI. (More Whitney Houston stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X