What type of request must William file to obtain information from the SEC regarding insider trading cases?

To obtain information from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding insider trading cases, William must file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The Freedom of Information Act is a federal law that allows the general public to request access to records from any federal agency, including the SEC. This law promotes transparency and accountability in government by granting the public the right to access information.

The SEC maintains a variety of documents, including those related to insider trading cases, and a FOIA request is the appropriate legal mechanism to access these records. While other forms of inquiries or requests can be made, they may not guarantee access to the specific records William seeks, as only FOIA explicitly establishes the right to access agency records unless they fall under specific exemptions.

The other options present less appropriate routes. A standard inquiry or an information access request might not invoke the legal requirements and processes established under FOIA. Similarly, a public record request, while potentially useful in some contexts, does not specifically apply to federal agencies in the way FOIA does.