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NEW LAWSUIT: We’re suing the Trump administration for records to investigate the politicization of the nation’s top intelligence office, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

americanoversight.org/new-lawsuit-po…
ODNI has been thrown into the spotlight this week amid growing public furor over reports that the Russian government paid bounties to Afghan militants to kill American soldiers — and that President Donald Trump received intelligence briefings about the bounties but failed to act.
The president’s daily intelligence briefing is prepared and delivered by officials from ODNI.

We’ve been investigating ODNI since Trump began to reshape the U.S. intelligence community after the impeachment trial.
After Trump learned an intelligence official told House lawmakers that Russia wants Trump re-elected, Trump was angry with Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence (DNI), for being disloyal.
Trump then ended Maguire’s tenure early and appointed Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell as the new acting DNI. Grenell has not served in any U.S. intelligence agency, but he is a vocal political ally of the president — and that is all that appears to matter to Trump.
Trump apparently learned of the congressional intelligence briefing from Rep. Devin Nunes. One of Nunes’s former top staffers on the House Intel Committee, Kash Patel, became a senior adviser to Grenell.
Then, in April, Trump fired Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, reportedly in retaliation for his transmission to Congress of the whistleblower complaint about Trump’s contacts with Ukraine.
We filed multiple FOIA requests with the ODNI to investigate.

On February 21, we asked ODNI for all decision memoranda or other guidance signed by Grenell. ODNI acknowledged our request on March 16 but we haven’t heard anything since then.

americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
On May 1, we asked ODNI for emails sent by Grenell or Patel regarding Atkinson. ODNI acknowledged our FOIA request on May 6 but we haven’t received any further communications about the request.

americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
On May 20, we asked ODNI for the external email communications, calendars, and travel records of Patel.

ODNI acknowledged our FOIA request on June 11 but we haven’t received any further communications about the request.

americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
Also on May 20, we asked ODNI for Patel’s communications with select congressional staff and members, including Devin Nunes.

Once again, ODNI acknowledged our FOIA request on June 11 but we haven’t received any further communications about the request.

americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
Again on May 20, we asked ODNI for correspondence of Grenell or Patel on matters related to unmasking requests and Ukraine issues.

Again, ODNI acknowledged our FOIA request on June 11 but we haven’t received any further communications about the request.
americanoversight.org/document/foia-…
Our lawsuit seeks to obtain these records so the public can learn more about potential Trump efforts to politicize the intelligence community.

Learn more about our ongoing investigations here:

americanoversight.org/investigation/…
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
Did you know Independence Day is also the anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act?

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed FOIA into law on July 4, 1966.

For this #FOIAFriday, we’re celebrating FOIA’s anniversary with a thread about its past, present, and future.
LBJ was hesitant to sign FOIA. Records show LBJ personally removed strong language supporting open government from the press statement and that he only agreed to sign it after DOJ suggested he include a signing statement.

nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/…
In his signing statement, LBJ praised the importance of openness to democracy and said the legislation affirmed American principles. But he also wrote that he felt some documents shouldn’t be available to the public.

nsarchive2.gwu.edu//nsa/foia/FOIA…
Read 14 tweets
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
NEW DOCUMENTS: We obtained emails from Brian Benczkowski, outgoing head of DOJ’s Criminal Division, that show him tracking Rudy Giuliani’s press mentions from October through January, as the DOJ tried to distance itself from Trump's personal attorney.

documentcloud.org/documents/6961…
After the @nytimes ran an article entitled “Giuliani Mixes His Business With Role as Trump’s Lawyer,” Benczkowski responded to an email with the article title in the subject line from the Office of Public Affairs and asked, “Can we talk briefly?”
The Times reported that Giuliani met with Benczkowski and other senior DOJ officials on behalf of a client in a foreign bribery case.

nytimes.com/2019/10/18/us/…
Read 9 tweets
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American Oversight
@weareoversight
For this #FOIAFriday, we’re discussing allegations made in John Bolton’s new book that have prompted widespread press coverage.

What did we know before? How can FOIA requests and lawsuits uncover more about the alleged corruption and malpractice in the Trump administration?
Bolton claims Trump:
-asked China’s president for reelection help & stopped sanctions to save ZTE
-had corrupt dealings with Turkey’s president
-ignored 8+ internal pushes to release Ukraine aid
-wanted to oust Venezuela's president
-diverted attention from "the Ivanka thing"
First, China. Bolton claims that in 2019, Trump asked Chinese President Xi for electoral help. Trump reportedly said that if China made increased agricultural purchases from the US, he would have a better chance of winning reelection.

washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…
Read 21 tweets

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