Emails from Capt. Brett Crozier

Paul Szoldra filed this request with the U.S. Navy of the United States of America.
Tracking #

DON-NAVY-2020-006482

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Paul Szoldra

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All emails sent to or from the following address, brett.crozier@navy.mil, or any other email addresses assigned to CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020.

I request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media from Task & Purpose and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. I also request expedited processing. The records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Paul Szoldra

From: Paul Szoldra

This constitutes a supplement to and clarification of the original FOIA request I submitted on April 3, 2020, for ‘all emails sent to or from the following address, brett.cozier@navy.mil, or any other e-mail address assigned to CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020.’ To date, I have not yet received an acknowledgement of the request assigning it a request number.

I wish to supplement and clarify the scope of the request so that it encompasses four categories of information:

1. all emails sent to or from CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, (“CAPT Crozier”) between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020
2. all communications – including verbal communications memorialized in writing – to or from CAPT Crozier regarding the permissibility of making a port call in Vietnam on or around March 5, 2020;
3. all communications – including verbal communications memorialized in writing – to or from CAPT Crozier reflecting guidance on how to manage the spread of COVID-19, resources and facilities that could be made available to treat infected personnel, and determinations regarding the extent to which CAPT Crozier could make emergency ports of call at U.S. Government locations to offload infected personnel; and
4. any communications – including verbal communications memorialized in writing – from White House personnel (including President Trump) regarding potential disciplinary action for CAPT Crozier.

For line item #1, the term “e-mails” should be construed to encompass all classified and unclassified U.S. Government e-mail accounts assigned to CAPT Crozier, including, but not limited to, brett.crozier@navy.mil. The term should also encompass any personal e-mail accounts CAPT Crozier used and on which he engaged in official U.S. Government business within the stated timeframe.

For line items #2-4, the scope of the request should be construed to include, but not be limited to, communications sent to or received from U.S. Government civilian employees, contractors, detailees, military officials, and/or Constitutional officers. The scope should encompass records located on local drives, shared drives, or paper files, and should include both classified and unclassified systems.

I am preemptively waiving any objection to the redaction of the names of any U.S. Government officials below a GS-14 position or whom otherwise were not acting in a supervisory position. I similarly waive any objection to redactions of the names of any U.S. Government contractors in a position of authority similar to that of a GS-13 series civilian employee or below.

In terms of all other third parties who work or worked for the U.S. Government and whose names appear in records responsive to this request, I respectfully submit that the privacy interests of those individuals have been diminished by virtue of their involvement in one or more of the U.S. Government functions described above as falling within the scope of this request. There is a recognized inverse relationship between the position of authority that a government employee holds and the strength of that employee’s privacy interests. See Stern v. FBI, 737 F.2d 84, 92 (D.C. Cir. 1984); Jefferson v. Dep’t of Justice, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26782, *11 (D.D.C. Nov. 14, 2003); see also Perlman v. Dep’t of Justice, 312 F.3d 100, 107-109 (2d. Cir. 2002)(setting forth five factors to consider in weighing government employee’s privacy interests against public interest in disclosure, including employee’s rank and whether information sheds light on a government activity).

The work performed by these U.S. Government third parties (whether they be Government officials or contractors) was part of their official responsibilities on behalf of the U.S. Government and was not of a personal nature. They served in a position of trust and authority to, among other things, determine the extent to which the spread of COVID-19 threatened the ability of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to perform its tasks and function as an effective component of the Navy’s warfighting capabilities. Given that responsive records memorializing the work they performed will shed light on government activity, it would be reasonable to conclude that the relevant third parties’ respective (and diminished) privacy interests are outweighed by the public interest in disclosure of the information indexed to their name.

In terms of expedited processing, I wish to further note that in the midst of a dangerous public health pandemic that has overtaken the globe and undermined the strength of U.S. military forces, the extent to which CAPT Crozier was relieved of his position in retaliation for notifying his chain of command of the dangerous spread of COVID-19 to his crew is of paramount importance to the American public. The concern that this action was retaliatory was strengthened by remarks by President Trump himself on April 4, 2020, in which he indicated his belief that CAPT Crozier should not have sent the letter and that he supported the subsequent removal of CAPT Crozier from command.

From: U.S. Navy

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DON-NAVY-2020-006482&type=request)

* Tracking Number: DON-NAVY-2020-006482
* Requester Name: Paul Szoldra
* Date Submitted: 04/05/2020
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All emails sent to or from the following address, brett.crozier@navy.mil, or any other email addresses assigned to CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020.

I request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media from Task & Purpose and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. I also request expedited processing. The records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Paul Szoldra

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/

From: U.S. Navy

On behalf of R. Patterson, Head, DON FOIA/PA Program Office (DNS-36), please find attached, an official response to the subject FOIA request.

From: U.S. Navy

On behalf of R. Patterson, Head, DON FOIA/PA Program Office (DNS-36(H)), please find attached, an offical response to the subject FOIA request.

From: U.S. Navy

Your request for Expedited Processing for the FOIA request DON-NAVY-2020-006482 has been
granted.
Additional details for this request are as follows:

* Request Created on:
04/05/2020
* Request Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All emails sent to or from the following address, brett.crozier@navy.mil, or any other email addresses assigned to CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020.

I request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media from Task & Purpose and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. I also request expedited processing. The records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Paul Szoldra

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
* Expedited Processing Original Justification:
he records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.
* Expedited Processing Disposition Reason:
N/A

From: U.S. Navy

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request DON-NAVY-2020-006482 has been
determined to be not applicable as the request is not billable.
Additional details for this request are as follows:

* Request Created on:
04/05/2020
* Request Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All emails sent to or from the following address, brett.crozier@navy.mil, or any other email addresses assigned to CAPT Brett E. Crozier, USN, between March 25, 2020 and April 2, 2020.

I request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media from Task & Purpose and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. I also request expedited processing. The records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Paul Szoldra

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
* Fee Waiver Original Justification:
I request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media from Task & Purpose and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. I also request expedited processing. The records I am requesting are urgently needed by a member of the press to inform the public about actual or perceived government activity — namely, the activities of a senior military official that may have led to his relief. The news value of these records will be lost without expedited processing.
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason:
N/A

From: U.S. Navy

On behalf of R. Patterson, Head, DON FOIA/PA Program Office (DNS-36), please find attached, an official response to the subject FOIA request.

From: U.S. Navy

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CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 3 files for you.

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The sender has left you a note:

1st Interim release for FOIA DON-NAVY-2020-006482.

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: p5rd38ndaDQtswB9
Recipient Code: Ndwtdp
Claim Passcode: HxJjsB7fD38yxEFG
Date of Drop-Off: 2020-09-16 18:58:50 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: 2020-006482 Response Letter - (b)(2) (b)(6).pdf
Size: 55.8 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: FD22A11ACF789CB9AC7100E3EA07B300044172D6063B18F7597CFA33D208DC29
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 2_Redacted(applied).pdf
Size: 1.7 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: B697F168D56ABD9CDAEF4ABEBD08272168EE0103A198D8D907A208CFFC0C719D
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 1_Redacted(applied).pdf
Size: 1.8 MB
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From: U.S. Navy

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CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 4 files for you.

IF YOU TRUST THE SENDER, and are expecting to receive a file from them, you may choose to retrieve the drop-off by clicking the following link (or copying and pasting it into your web browser):

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The sender has left you a note:

Sir:
Attached is the second interim release regarding FOIA request DON-NAVY-2020-006482

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: HhqyRMiRmA3v5DAV
Recipient Code: agVgCp
Claim Passcode: WGoNtC3BJtjCNTFU
Date of Drop-Off: 2020-10-07 17:11:44 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: 2020-006482 2nd Interim Response.pdf
Size: 157.5 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: FD53542BF8DF030908A7523D5E0C86D8BFC382A579CF64230F2F7B0D0FBA0739
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 4_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.6 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: A7589F9BECE7C6F5C92F52050DCE6C97088ECA225C9354A495A4A9740C1CE1A8
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 3_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.2 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 9FE048281FF94A83A177ACE353BBF3C8905E9D2CEC3E637A33950D25A26C5BC7
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 5_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.5 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 35A981B5183C62EC69E99C22D73ED03E2A29F94D94DB36ECC57CAFDC008A0204
Content Type: application/pdf

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Thank you.

From: U.S. Navy

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This is an automated message sent to you by the DoD SAFE service.

CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 6 files for you.

IF YOU TRUST THE SENDER, and are expecting to receive a file from them, you may choose to retrieve the drop-off by clicking the following link (or copying and pasting it into your web browser):

https://safe.apps.mil/pickup.php?claimID=ogBzUoNDShRySq9v&recipCode=7vmCXi

You have 7 days to retrieve the drop-off; after that the link above will expire. If you wish to contact the sender, just reply to this email.

The sender has left you a note:

Sir:
Please find attached the 3rd interim release of documents regarding your FOIA request DON-NAVY-2020-006482.

V/r
Gregory Cason
DON FOIA/PA Program Office

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: ogBzUoNDShRySq9v
Recipient Code: 7vmCXi
Claim Passcode: WEfKxoXymbVHyXrJ
Date of Drop-Off: 2020-11-30 15:21:46 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: TR Emails - Part 1.pdf
Size: 109.7 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: CF7A0525FED5AB2F6510444F181A79C2C504A4F8117EEB029346D533EFAFFD4D
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 7__DNS-H(36) Proposed Redactions_11-12_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.1 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 9655B7CB5E98A6B11057B16B417FF59497900390473652E4F391DEF167FB2C62
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 9_(DNS-H(36) Proposed Redactions_11-12_Redacted.pdf
Size: 3.6 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 676EFBE302E4E830C3FDC9A0549B8E53D6D24C1A9E18920C93A4BE3E38552DFD
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: 2020-006482 3rd Interim Response Letter.pdf
Size: 173.1 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: 94C023B0F9F246657E5DC5D64A8BDD5C4CB1E49DB063CC62E6925159EF4836A0
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 6_DNS-H(36) Proposed Redactions_11-12_Redacted.pdf
Size: 11.4 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 01B4D6930BFAAEA4047826BE25E86DC1F930A868389249658047B613DFA55315
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 8__DNS-H(36) Proposed Redactions__11-12_Redacted.pdf
Size: 3.3 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 3398AF5F2693B909D660268B7C8CC5C401EB39101467E8C1CF860DE9AD65066E
Content Type: application/pdf

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Thank you.

From: U.S. Navy

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This is an automated message sent to you by the DoD SAFE service.

CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 4 files for you.

IF YOU TRUST THE SENDER, and are expecting to receive a file from them, you may choose to retrieve the drop-off by clicking the following link (or copying and pasting it into your web browser):

https://safe.apps.mil/pickup.php?claimID=odaTY66tRsxVGBAH&recipCode=gEpc2t

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The sender has left you a note:

Sir:
Please find attached the 4th release of TR emails.

V/r
Gregory Cason
Deputy Director
Navy FOIA/PA Program Office

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: odaTY66tRsxVGBAH
Recipient Code: gEpc2t
Claim Passcode: bFUmanVkvZoun8Ja
Date of Drop-Off: 2020-12-09 01:00:33 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: TR_Emails - Part 12_(Highlighted edits 12-01)_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.3 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 7C0161ABA1C18D676C344B10C76D122AAB440A8DA414C95CF12CA6576126E16F
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: 2020-006482 4th Interim Response Letter (b)(3), (b)(5) & (b)(6)_(12-01-20).pdf
Size: 57.9 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: 86C1C3359278A5A247D01A315D0FAC9C9284027083419CBB843E64E1CEDD1424
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails - Part 10_(Highligted edits 12-01)_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.0 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 8565ADE05E242FF088487F38C7203C4B636C86C633DBD802F5940F251A4C492D
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR_Emails - Part 11_(Highlighted edits 12-01)_Redacted.pdf
Size: 1.4 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 002C70B9509531F63D5607090602F71538871A197FF66BEBBA39417044EFADC3
Content Type: application/pdf

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Thank you.

From: U.S. Navy

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CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 4 files for you.

IF YOU TRUST THE SENDER, and are expecting to receive a file from them, you may choose to retrieve the drop-off by clicking the following link (or copying and pasting it into your web browser):

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The sender has left you a note:

5th interim release of records regarding your FOIA request DON-NAVY-2020-006482.

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: bppkPfBGKz4t8w5K
Recipient Code: f5Mowh
Claim Passcode: Z7DyvRDdBfG2PY94
Date of Drop-Off: 2021-01-11 16:10:02 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: TR Emails - Part 13_Redacted.pdf
Size: 2.5 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 33B05DC30953EB84FF69E2FFA56C6B2D96DD7DE17AC9B357BFA7B038D2B61045
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: TR Emails_Part 14_Redacted.pdf
Size: 14.2 MB
SHA-256 Checksum: 5EC931B74D0B15BBB64C14D3070BAA088C747C5D62BA96AD188042AE9F346CAD
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: 2020-006482 - 5th Interim Response Letter (w-DNS-L edits)v1.pdf
Size: 142.4 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: F4334BCB16FAB5F01E70571452626544F7ABF4B38D79AA6066BCCB20EF0D197B
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: Page from TR Emails - Part 9 (Pg. 42)_Redacted.pdf
Size: 121.3 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: D1CD4739B7FCF92B926E2F897B41BD4398402D36734EE44C4B2AF50DF0E935C0
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From: U.S. Navy

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CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL <gregory.cason1@navy.mil> has dropped off 2 files for you.

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The sender has left you a note:

TR FINAL RELEASE

Full information about the drop-off:

Claim ID: JQZFEHjwHBHFv7Bx
Recipient Code: fKygyG
Claim Passcode: SJjupaKEEgo8hQRc
Date of Drop-Off: 2021-02-12 18:43:48 UTC

-- Sender --
Name: CASON.GREGORY.MICHAEL
Organization: USN
Email Address: gregory.cason1@navy.mil

-- Files --
Name: TR Emails - Remaining Parts 1, 6, 8, 10 & 12_Redacted.pdf
Size: 590.2 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: 4E4596F010F0369EAB55BB41C6A14F0CF7648DA64A7A21A2B73AFD8F9F963D00
Content Type: application/pdf

Name: 2020-006482 - Final Response Letter.pdf
Size: 62.4 KB
SHA-256 Checksum: 8D6912B1E441A393986110A3C486C74B5B67BCFB161161503A4D1E2E461C738C
Content Type: application/pdf

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