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FBI releases 191-page file on Steve Jobs; interviewees question honesty

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By Noel Young, Correspondent

February 9, 2012 | 4 min read

The FBI has released, and posted on its web site, Steve Jobs' 191-page FBI file, the website Gawker reports. Click on the link at he foot of this article for the FBI report.

Jobs: 191-page file

The file tells of of a 1991 background investigation conducted when Jobs was being considered for an appointment to the President' George H.W. Bush's Export Council. It also records a 1985 bomb threat against Jobs .

In a memo summarising the background investigation, several individuals commented concerning past LSD use on the part of Jobs, mentioned in his biography

He told agents FBI agents he "experimented with marijuana, hashish and LSD" from 1970 to 1974, but said he had not taken any illegal drugs for five years.

Other people interviewed questioned Jobs' honesty stating he would twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals.

They also commented that, in the past, . Jobs was not supportive of the mother of his child born out of wedlock, their daughter. Later he became more supportive .

One person, whose name was redacted said he had been acquainted with Mr. Jobs since [redacted]. He characterised Mr. Jobs as a deceptive individual who who was not completely forthright and honest.

He said he was no longer friends with Jobs. He feels bitter toward and alienated by him based on his association with Jobs at ACI. He characterised Mr. Jobs as an honest and trustworthy individual; however, his moral character was questionable.

A woman said she was somewhat reluctant to discuss the Appointee since she "has questions concerning his ethics and his morality".

Gawker reporter John Cook commented , " I've read the files from a lot of background FBI investigations; it's pretty rare in my experience that this much derogatory information gets dredged up.

"In Jobs' defense, many of the people interviewed attested to his upstanding moral character. And even those who savaged him still recommended him for the appointment, which he didn't get."

Several interview subjects told FBI agents that Jobs' ethics could bend depending on the situation. One subject "characterized Mr. Jobs as a deceptive individual who is not completely forthright and honest.." Others "stated that Mr. Jobs has integrity as long as he gets his way."

The file also notes that "Several individuals commented concerning past drug use on the part of Mr. Jobs."

Jobs "also commented concerning his past drug use," the file notes; Jobs openly spoke about his use of LSD early in his life.

It was reported that the FBI released the documents after a Freedom of Information Act request by Wired.com. FBI files can be made public after a person's death. Jobs died Oct. 5 at age of complications from a long battle with cancer.

The interviews took place while Jobs was leading the fledgling computer company he founded after he originally left Apple in a bitter feud. Apple sued Jobs for allegedly taking proprietary information.

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