Andy Warhol FBI File: What's Actually in the Declassified Records

The FBI's investigation of Warhol centered on his 1968 film Lonesome Cowboys, an avant-garde Western filmed at a ranch in Arizona. The Bureau opened a case titled 'Interstate Transportation of Obscene Matter' based on rumors that the film would contain explicit sexual content. FBI agents investigated the film's production, interviewing farmers whose ranch was used as a location and members of the cast and crew. The resulting reports reflect the cultural clash between Warhol's Factory scene and the Bureau's conservative worldview — agents noted the all-male crew's 'homosexual tendencies,' their long hair and sandals, and other details that clearly made the investigators uncomfortable. Despite the investigation, the Bureau concluded that while the film's content was provocative, it did not meet the legal threshold for obscenity charges. The file also documents the aftermath of Valerie Solanas' shooting of Warhol on June 3, 1968, though that incident was primarily a matter for New York City police.

• ▸FBI investigation of Lonesome Cowboys under 'Interstate Transportation of Obscene Matter' statutes
• ▸Witness interviews with location owners and cast members about the film's content
• ▸Agent reports noting the crew's 'homosexual tendencies,' long hair, and sandals
• ▸Assessment concluding the film did not meet the legal threshold for obscenity prosecution
• ▸Records related to Valerie Solanas' 1968 shooting of Warhol

• ✗"Warhol was prosecuted for obscenity." The investigation concluded without charges. The FBI determined the film did not meet the legal standard for prosecution.
• ✗"The FBI investigated Warhol's art." The file is about a specific film, not his paintings, prints, or other visual art.
• ✗"Warhol was under long-term surveillance." The file is relatively short (about 80 pages) and focused primarily on the Lonesome Cowboys investigation and the Solanas shooting.
• ✗"The file reveals scandals about Warhol." The most revealing content is about the FBI agents themselves — their discomfort with the counterculture is more striking than anything they found about Warhol.

1. 1968
   Warhol films Lonesome Cowboys in Arizona. FBI opens an obscenity investigation.
2. 1968
   Valerie Solanas shoots Warhol on June 3 at his New York studio. He nearly dies.
3. Late 1960s–1970s
   FBI continues investigating Lonesome Cowboys but concludes the film does not meet the legal threshold for obscenity charges.

Why did Andy Warhol have an FBI file?

Warhol's file centers on the Bureau's obscenity investigation of his 1968 film Lonesome Cowboys.

Was Andy Warhol investigated by the FBI?

Yes, in connection with the film's interstate transport and alleged obscenity, not for a broader criminal case.

What is in Andy Warhol's FBI file?

The file includes agent observations of the film, interviews, and correspondence tied to the obscenity inquiry.

Where can I read Andy Warhol's FBI file?

The original FBI Vault records are linked from this profile.

Always consult the primary source. Public records may include redactions, allegations, and unverified informant claims.