Thread by @weareoversight

On Jan. 6, supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol hoping to stop the transfer of power to President Biden. How did this happen? How do we prevent it from happening again? Here’s how we’re investigating. #FOIAFriday
americanoversight.org/american-overs…

We have filed dozens of FOIAs related to the attacks. Yesterday, we sued for records that could shed light on what was going on behind the scenes when requests for the deployment of National Guard troops to help secure the Capitol were delayed for hours.
americanoversight.org/document/compl…

The lawsuit was filed against the Departments of Justice, Defense, Homeland Security, and the Interior for failing to release records responsive to 11 FOIA requests we filed in August. Here’s some of what the requests ask for:

Last Friday, we filed two more lawsuits to compel the release of documents after federal agencies failed to respond in the time required by law.

We sued the FBI to find out what, if any, security measures were planned for Jan. 6.

In January, we FOIA’d communications and directives sent or received by FBI officials ahead of and during the insurrection.

Then, in August, we FOIA’d the FBI seeking records from any meetings held on January 5, 2021.

In both instances, the FBI acknowledged it received the FOIAs, but has not given us records. Now, we’re suing to compel the documents’ release.
americanoversight.org/document/compl…

Next, we’re suing the Secret Service for records related to a Jan. 5 meeting regarding security measures for Jan. 6. We also want to know if Trump gave Rudy Giuliani or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “protectee” status at a Jan. 6 rally.
americanoversight.org/document/ameri…

In August, we sent the Secret Service a FOIA request for records related to a Jan. 5 meeting in which multiple agencies discussed the rallies planned for Jan. 6.

We also FOIA'd records that could shed light on any Secret Service security provided to Giuliani and Paxton at the Jan. 6 march and “Stop the Steal” rally.

Finally, we FOIA’d communications related to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

The Secret Service has not produced these records to us in the time required by law, so we are suing to compel the release of the documents.

These lawsuits have the potential to shed light on the attacks on our democracy and how government agencies responded.

In August, we sued the Defense Department for failing to release requested documents that could shed light on the Jan. 6 attack, including top officials’ memos, calendars, and communications from the final weeks of the Trump administration.

https://twitter.com/weareoversight/status/1430927596087398410?s=20

We also have ongoing litigation seeking:
-defense officials’ communications with Trump, Mike Pence, & White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows
-DOD & DOJ call logs from Jan. 6
-DOD, DOJ, & Secret Service communications & directives from Jan. 6
americanoversight.org/american-overs…

As judges and juries begin to sentence rioters for their actions that deadly day, there’s still so much we don’t know about the attacks. Public records requests are a key tool in exposing what happened.
americanoversight.org/open-questions…

Follow along with our investigation here:
americanoversight.org/investigation/…

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