Michael Jackson's chimp Bubbles makes appearance in FBI files

Amid the 333 pages of FBI documents on Michael Jackson, none may be more curious than the reference to the pop star's pet chimp.

The chimpanzee, Bubbles, came up in the 1993 investigation into a 13-year-old boy's allegations that Jackson molested him.

What led an agent to scrawl "male chimp" twice in his notebook remains a mystery, thanks to FBI censors who redacted much of the rest of the writing on the page.

Most of the file -- nearly 200 pages -- concerns a man arrested for stalking Jackson 17 years ago. Frank Paul Jones had a history of threatening to kill the president and had been arrested numerous times outside the White House, according to investigatory reports. In rambling letters collected by the FBI, Jones claimed to be the son of John Gotti, demanded money and pledged to "commit mass murder at a Michael Jackson concert."

A Los Angeles federal judge sentenced him to two years in prison in 1993 for mailing threatening communications to Jackson.

The rest of the file, however, reflects the marginal role that the FBI played on other occasions.

Read Harriet Ryan and Kimi Yoshino's full review of the FBI file here.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Eliane]

Michael, sorry you have suffered so much with the lies that were invented to get you hurt.
I always knew you were innocent and had a pure heart and verdadeeiro.
The world is now Raise awareness of the things he suffered.
You have been very strong, never stopped loving people and do good.
I am very proud of you, my angel.
From the bottom of my heart I always felt that you were like Peter Pan, never grew up, has always been an eternal child.
Michael, Brazil loves you.

[crusindeb]

This is great news! FBI tried to nail him yet came up with nothing…because Michael never did anything wrong! Your tax dollars at work people - don't blame Michael either! Should this really have been FBI top priority - collaberating on trumped up charges by an ego driven two bit DA? This just continues to confirm Michael Jackson is a decent & innocent man. Got any more reports available media that can be printed to let the public know nothing can be found against Michael? I'd LOVE to see them posted! It's tragic what Michael endured. People should remember this when they criticize his lifestyle. He built Neverland because he couldn't live in safety or privacy in this world. How many of you have had REAL death threats made against you by insane strangers? And how do you think you'd deal with it if you did? Think about it next time you criticize & pass judgment without knowing FACTS & TRUTH! God bless you Michael & your children who have to read all this crap. From now on media if you can’t say anything GOOD about Michael then leave him alone!!!! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU WHO TRIED TO BRING DOWN THIS DECENT & INNOCENT MAN!! So many "killed" Michael emotionally way before Dr. Murray came along. How any of you that reported lies & slander against Michael can sleep at night is beyond me!
Love you Michael....forever in my heart.
Peace Unity Hope Faith beLIEve L.O.V.E.
~ Hugs ~

[David Yocom]

Maybe the president does wear a sock to bed at night in your honor. At least all our fallen GI's will have something to do other than recite doctrine when they reach heaven's gates...of course the cherubs probably live on the other side of townl

[Carefreedo]

More proof that he was innocent, all those years trying to gain evidence because of newspaper reports and then they discover there was none to get.

Now let him rest in peace!!!

[Sheba]

These kind of lies cause a person to have sleepless nights, needing aids to help them sleep, maybe even causeing their death in a roundbout way. Life is too short, Life is too fleeting. We need to stop this uncalled for harrasment of others. When will we learn

[June]

Pfft another whirlwind load of crap to make Michael look bad yet again,why cant people just leave him alone!..He never molested any children..Jordan Chandler came out and said after Michaels death that he lied about the allegations!.
Michael you are innocent!..I love you..you are in a better place now..away from all these assholes!

RIP Mike xxxx

[TheBigPicture]

OJ was also acquitted...Jackson was guilty as the day is long...

[TheBigPicture]

$20,000,000.00 to one of his victims, GUILTY...I don't know anyone who would him to watch their kids...

[daniel]

Pathetic. FBI and the media are competing for the prize of losers of the year.

Michael Jackson did not deserve all this dirt.

[LeeD]

To The Big Picture: His insurance company insisted on paying off the accusers over Jackson's objections. He did not pay them.

[Julian]

I'm just repeating what every MJ files says:

NO EVIDENCE FOUND - CASE CLOSED.

[Karma]

Shame on you media.

[SoCalGal]

Slow news day, guys? At least you used a decent photo of Michael. Why aren't you making a BIG DEAL out of the fact that the FBI found NOTHING with which to indict Michael? Hmmm....?

One of society's biggest problems is medialoid, defined as the infiltration of tabloid journalism into traditional media sources, including the proliferation of sensationalism, triviality and disregard for privacy, with particular emphasis on news coverage of the sports and entertainment industries. Medialoid thinks they make the rules by which society must live. They think they define what is and is not free speech. They have no morals, no decency and no shame. What we have is not qualified reporters reporting on newsworthy topics but packs of bloodthirsty jackals always on the prowl for their next victim. They hide behind the First Amendment while they tear down society by pandering to humankind's basest instincts. From their presumed position as the final arbiters of what people should think and what they should be thinking about, they smell blood in the water and circle the victim like a bunch of braying hyenas. I hope you're all proud of yourselves. Michael Jackson…now Tiger Woods. Tiger isn't the one who should be ashamed—except before his wife. Medialoid should be ashamed for the disreputable way they behave when a high profile personality stumbles. Ugh. I hate the media. You all make me sick.

[SoCalGal]

To: TheBigPicture | December 23, 2009 at 04:48 PM

Would you care to share credible evidence of Jackson's guilt? Funny that the full force of the United States Government and a 12-person jury couldn't find anything, so what is it you think you know that makes you so sure? You've been stuffed to the gills with lies told about this man by the media for nearly 20 years. When are you going to face facts? Michael Jackson was innocent all along.

Ugh. The media. If ever there was a threat to democracy it's the pack mentality that passes for journalism today. All the great journalists of the past are rolling in their graves at the deterioration of journalism since the 1960's. It's truly alarming.

[denisa]

love Michael Jackson

[yolonda lovelady]

if that was me and the fbi only gave him 2 years to be in jail i would have killed him myself before he tried to kill me

[Deborah Ffrench]

It amazes me that in these supposedly sophisticated, media-savvy times people don't realize just how easy it is to allege things, and how that then gathers its own momentum. The truth is Tom Sneddon needed and wanted FBI endorsement of his investigation to add gravitas to his deeply personal and careerist pursuit of Michael Jackson.

It is perhaps understandable why it’s hard for people to relate to Mr Jackson. He was very different to most. He believed in giving children the affection he, himself had been denied - but he did this emphatically from a place of unconditional giving. The problem, was how he was perceived. People found, and still find it difficult to believe that someone who appeared sexually ambivalent could be innocent or indeed selfless. And by the time the media had distorted the hearsay heavy allegations into sordid sensationalism, no-one was paying attention to the fact that there was no substantive basis to the accusations. Mr Jackson, as Meseareau has explained, did not ’sleep’ with children in the sense people commonly assume. There was no sexual context to Michael’s relationships with children. He loved them from a paternal perspective and a deeply spiritual one.

I was not a lifelong fan, but I am shocked to find myself so saddened that the distortions 'spun' by a ratings-observant media manipulated into existence an environment for Michael's worst insecurities to flourish. Something beyond vicious was done to this man, and three young children are now paying the highest price possible for our -'entertainment.'

[Kristin]

To all of the people who keep bringing up the $20 million settlement that was made regarding the Chandler accusations as proof that MJ was guilty: it has basically become common knowledge that MJ's insurance company forced him to settle even though he was vehemently against this decision. If you had any knowledge of how extremely wealthy people, celebrities and/or entertainers have to live their lives and their extreme potential for being extorted, you would understand this.