FOIA Lawsuit
Freedom of the Press Foundation v. DOJ
A FOIA lawsuit for records concerning the surveillance of journalists
On November 29, 2017, the Knight Institute and the Freedom of the Press Foundation filed a FOIA lawsuit to enforce their requests for records concerning the U.S. government’s surveillance of journalists and other investigative tactics that threaten the freedoms of speech, association, and the press.
The initial FOIA requests, filed on October 10, 2017, followed Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s announcement that his department had more than tripled the number of leak investigations that were ongoing at the end of the previous administration. After receiving only two publicly available documents in response to the requests, the Knight Institute and the Freedom of the Press Foundation filed this lawsuit to enforce their requests.
Agencies Involved: Department of Justice (Criminal Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Division, Office of Information Policy, Office of Legal Counsel); National Security Agency; Central Intelligence Agency; Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Status: On July 7, 2021, the court approved the parties’ joint stipulation and proposed settlement and dismissed the case.
Case Information: Freedom of the Press Found. v. DOJ, 1:17-cv-9343-JGK (S.D.N.Y.).
Featured
Analysis
More Questions Than Answers from DOJ Letter About Journalist Surveillance
New DOJ disclosure on surveillance of the press provides little assurance on journalists' ability to protect confidential sources
Press Statements
Analysis
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For the Biden Administration, Who Counts as News Media?
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Report Reveals New Details About DOJ's Seizing of AP Phone Records
By Ramya Krishnan & Trevor Timm -
Targeting Journalists Under FISA: New Documents Reveal DOJ’s Secret Rules
By Ramya Krishnan -
More Questions Than Answers from DOJ Letter About Journalist Surveillance
By Ramya Krishnan
Legal Filings
Click to highlight response chains
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KEY DOCUMENTS
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S.D.N.Y.
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Stipulation and Order of Dismissal
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Opinion
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Plaintiffs' Reply
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Government's Supplemental Declaration of Michael Seidel
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Order (requesting declaration from Michael Seidel)
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Plaintiffs' Reply
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Declaration of Leena Charlton
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Exhibit 1
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Exhibit 2
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Government's Opposition
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Declaration of David Hardy
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Exhibit A
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Plaintiffs' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment
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Declaration of Leena Charlton
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Exhibits 1–8
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Exhibits 9–18
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Exhibits 19–24
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Government's Motion for Summary Judgment
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Declaration of Gail Brodfuehrer
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Exhibits A–B
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Declaration of Stephen Cha-Kim
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Exhibits A–B
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Declaration of Michael G. Seidel
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Exhibits A–G
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Endorsed Briefing Schedule
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Joint Status Report
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Endorsed Joint Status Report
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Endorsed Processing Schedule
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Endorsed Joint Status Report
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Endorsed Processing Schedule
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Stipulation and Order re: Searching for Records
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Pretrial Conference Order
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Complaint
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FOIA Request
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