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TODAY is the deadline for the State Department to search for and release multiple categories of Ukraine-related records in response to our FOIA lawsuit. We'll be posting updates here and on AmericanOversight.org.
In early October, we sued and filed an emergency motion to compel the release of State Department records including senior officials' communications about efforts to pressure Ukraine, with Giuliani, or about the recall of Amb. Yovanovitch. americanoversight.org/document/pi-mo…
After a hearing, negotiations, and a court order, State was given a deadline of November 22 – today – to search for and release any responsive, non-exempt records from several categories of documents identified in our FOIA requests and lawsuit: americanoversight.org/state-departme…
We'll post any documents we obtain at AmericanOversight.org and share updates here on Twitter.

We also have four more lawsuits seeking records detailing the Trump administration's contacts with Ukraine. Follow the whole investigation here: americanoversight.org/investigation/…
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
For more than a month, the Trump administration defied Congress and refused to hand over key documents in the Ukraine investigation.

Then last Friday, the State Department released nearly 100 pages to us.

Here's how that happened: americanoversight.org/behind-the-sce…
It started in May, when news reports indicated that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani was planning a trip to Ukraine to, in his words, “meddl[e] in an investigation.” nyti.ms/2PUH5q2
We filed two FOIAs with the State Department, one for records related to the recent recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, and another for communications with Giuliani or about his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son.
americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
Read 9 tweets
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
Last Friday, the State Department released records to American Oversight in response to our lawsuit, showing a clear paper trail between Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, the Oval Office, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Read the emails: americanoversight.org/state-departme…
We now know why Secretary Pompeo refused to release these records to Congress. They confirm that he spoke twice with Rudy Giuliani before Ambassador Yovanovitch was recalled: americanoversight.org/state-departme…
Given that we were able to obtain nearly a hundred pages of records from the State Department through FOIA litigation, there was no legal reason to withhold the records from Congress. This shows that the administration is engaged in obstruction of justice.
Read 4 tweets
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
The State Department released documents to us late Friday night showing that Secretary Pompeo was in touch with Rudy Giuliani before Ambassador Yovanovitch’s recall — and that at one point Trump’s personal secretary helped put them in touch. americanoversight.org/state-departme…
On March 26 and March 29, Pompeo (“S”) had calls with Giuliani, supporting previous testimony in the impeachment inquiry tying Pompeo to Giuliani’s efforts.
On March 27, a Giuliani representative contacted then-Oval Office gatekeeper Madeleine Westerhout to ask for help putting Giuliani in touch with Pompeo. She had been “trying and getting nowhere through regular channels.”
Read 6 tweets

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Manu Raju
@mkraju
Following a FOIA lawsuit, the group American Oversight says the State Department has agreed to release “multiple categories of Ukraine-related records, including any communications with Rudy Giuliani” by Nov. 22
The records include communications between Pompeo, senior officials, Giuliani, lawyers Joseph diGenova, and Victoria Toensing. And State communications with anyone outside govt about Hunter Biden probe and over push to ouster Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
This of course could be significant because State has not turned over documents to House Democrats. Witnesses have given documents to State, which won’t give them to the Hill
Read 3 tweets
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Jason Leopold
@JasonLeopold
New court filing by DOJ in my/@BuzzFeedNews lawsuit for all documents from Mueller's office that was used for the drafting of his final report.

DOJ doubling down, stating, the number of responsive records likely surpasses 18 BILLION PAGES.
@BuzzFeedNews DOJ is treating this #FOIA request as any other. It isn't. DOJ fails to recognize and understand the historic nature and value of the docs at issue and the agency's own statements during the course of the probe that lead me to file what they refer to as an overly broad request.
@BuzzFeedNews DOJ's Justice Management Division now has control of records from the Special Counsel's Office (Mueller). It "falls falls into three broad categories: (1) non-email digital
data, (2) email, and (3) paper files"

From DOJ atty's latest declaration in my @BuzzFeedNews #FOIA case
Read 6 tweets
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Jason Leopold
@JasonLeopold
DAY 3 thread

Just now, DOJ issued another response in my #FOIA lawsuit for docs on the death of Mikhail Lesin, Putin's former media czar who authorities say died alone in his hotel room from a series of drunken falls

DOJ now withholds another 500 pgs. That makes 6K in 1 wk

1/
DOJ only produced 8 pages of documents. Here they are.
DOJ is again citing grand jury secrecy a #FOIA exemption that could endanger the life of an individual to justify the vast majority of the withholdings

That's now more than 8K pgs govt has withheld related to Lesin's death, person who US says died from drunken falls

3/
Read 5 tweets
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Jason Leopold
@JasonLeopold
Thread

DOJ continues to withhold 1000s of pages of docs about the death of Mikhail Lesin, Putin's former media czar who died in a DC hotel room from blunt force injuries in what the govt says were drunken falls

I & @BuzzFeedNews have a 2 yr old #FOIA lawsuit. Look at this
1/
This is all that DOJ released to me this month in its rolling production of docs.

2/
DOJ withheld material citing grand jury secrecy (a grand jury heard testimony even though govt maintains Lesin died of drunken falls). Moreover, they invoke rarely used b7f exemption to justify withholding.

B7f protects law enforcement information endanger an individual

3/
Read 15 tweets
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Jason Leopold
@JasonLeopold
NEW from @a_cormier_ and me: The Justice Department just released a new version of the Mueller report in response to a #FOIA lawsuit by me/@BuzzFeedNews and @EPICprivacy. This version was processed in accordance with #FOIA

buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonl…
@a_cormier_ @BuzzFeedNews @EPICprivacy It appears the version of the report is identical but clearly identifies what info was withheld in response to ongoing investigations, etc.
@a_cormier_ @BuzzFeedNews @EPICprivacy In a letter to BuzzFeed News, DOJ said the material in the Mueller report was withheld under FOIA exemptions:

3, 5, 6, 7(A), 7(B), 7(C), and 7(E) of the FOIA,
5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3), (b)(5), (b)(6), (b)(7)(A), (b)(7)(B), (b)(7)(C), and (b)(7)(E).
Read 4 tweets
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Jason Leopold
@JasonLeopold
Not sure if anyone is aware, but for more than two years, I//@BuzzFeedNews /@_rshapiro have had a #FOIA lawsuit against multiple intel agencies for documents on their assertions that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign/collusion. 1/
The agencies identified thousands of pages of documents and withheld the vast majority on national security grounds. Still, some were released and we are the only ones who have been successful in prying loose some of these records via #FOIA. 2/
So in light on the 4-page Barr memo characterizing the Mueller report (which we still haven't seen) I am reupping some of the stories I wrote from the cache of #FOIA docs on Russia interference in the 2016 campaign. These documents are from DHS, CIA, FBI, ODNI and State Dept. 3/
Read 23 tweets

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