EXPEDITED REQUEST: DOJ social media/press contact

Andrew Couts filed this request with the Department of Justice - FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit of the United States of America.
Tracking #

DOJ-2017-001855
Submitted Jan. 24, 2017
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Dell Cameron

Subject: Freedom of Information Request: EXPEDITED REQUEST: DOJ social media/press contact

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a journalist working for The Daily Dot (www.dailydot.com), an online news publication. I am requesting records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”). 5 U.S.C.§ 552.

Additionally, I am seeking expedited processing of my request pursuant to 5 U.S.C.§ 552(a)(6)(E), as the subject of my request concerns a matter of current exigency to the American public, for reasons I will detail below.

-- REQUEST

I am seeking any and all records relating to instructions (orders, directives, memos, or communications) received by the U.S. Justice Department (“DOJ”), regarding:

1) The DOJ’s use of social media, including its official Twitter accounts (@TheJusticeDept, @CivilRights etc.)
2) Communications by DOJ employees with reporters and/or other members of the news media (via phone, email, press release, or any other method.)
3) The dissemination of press releases to the public.
4) The publication of any agency DOJ records, including reports or fact sheets
5) The release of DOJ data through the federal government’s data.gov portal.

Additionally:
1) Please include any internal memos generated by DOJ pertaining to the use of social media.
2) Please include any internal memos generated by DOJ pertaining to the Freedom of Information Act.

This includes:
1) Any agency communications, including emails, text messages, and written correspondence.
2) Any physical documents, including memos, briefs and reports.
3) Any legal opinions related to the topics in the itemized lists above.

-- SEARCH PARAMETERS
1) Please limit your search to records created on or after FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017, up to the date/time the search for responsive records begins. Including any records created before this time frame that have been circulated or shared among DOJ employees.
2) Include any publicly available records.
3) Search for, and disclose, releasable records even if they are available publicly through other sources outside the DOJ, such as the National Archives and Records Administration.
4) If any records responsive or potentially responsive to my request have been destroyed, my request includes, but is not limited to, any and all records relating or referring to the destruction of those records. This includes, but is not limited to, any and all records relating or referring to the events leading to the destruction of those records.

-- REASONING FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING

I have requested expedited processing because I believe my request concerns a matter of widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exists possible questions about the government’s integrity which affect public confidence.

For background:

1) The Associated Press ("AP") reported on January 24, 2017 that the Trump administration has “instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency,” among other agencies, while barring “staff from awarding any new contracts or grants, part of a broader communications clampdown within the executive branch.” [New York Times: http://nyti.ms/2jcqKLq]
2) According to AP: “Emails sent to EPA staff… also detailed specific prohibitions banning press releases, blog updates or posts to the agency’s social media accounts.”
3) According to AP: One directive from the Trump administration warned EPA employees to carefully screen incoming media requests, because “messages can be shared broadly and end up in the press.”
4) According to AP: orders similar to those received by the EPA have been “issued in recent days by the Trump administration at other federal agencies, including the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, and Interior.”
5) AP's report, if accurate, demonstrates there is a concerted effort by federal government officials to prevent the public dissemination of information from an agency funded by federal tax dollars.
6) AP's report provoked an exceptional media and public interest, as demonstrated by similar reports from the Public Broadcasting Service (http://to.pbs.org/2jtJdE3), the Boston Globe (http://bit.ly/2kpSkpB), Washington Post (http://wapo.st/2jLBwda), among at least dozens of others news outlets.

-- FEE WAIVER

As I am making this request in my capacity as member of the news media, I ask that the DOJ waive all fees associated with the search, review and duplication of any responsive records.

1) I am full-time staff reporter employed by the Daily Dot, a news company headquartered in Austin, Texas, since 2013.
2) My reporting on government affairs has been recognized by:
> a) The Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://bit.ly/1zBNhHk);
> b) Reporter Eric Lipton of The New York Times (http://bit.ly/2jnW64O);
> c) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York (http://bit.ly/2jXDf1f).
3) Additionally, I can provide a letter from my editor and my company’s CEO by request attesting to my status as full-time reporter.

-- CERTIFICATION

The above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

-- FURNISHING OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS

Please furnish all responsive records in electronic format.

-- FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE

All future correspondence can be directed to me at the email address from which this request originates. Alternatively, you may contact me at the following email address: dell@dailydot.com.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at: (469)387-1810.

Please be aware that under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A), a FOIA request is considered constructively denied after twenty business days and is subject to an appeal on that basis.

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

Sincerely,

Dell Cameron

From: MRUFOIA Requests

Subject: EMRUFOIA012517-2 (Cameron, Dell)

Email

Sir/Madam,

Please see the attached response to your FOIA request. Please note, your request has been assigned tracking number EMRUFOIA012517-2.

Thank you,

MRU FOIA

From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov

Subject: FOIA Request DOJ-2017-001855 Submitted

Email

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d28111f166)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2017-001855
* Requester Name: Dell Cameron
* Date Submitted: 01/25/2017
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: FOIA request

From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov

Subject: FOIA Request DOJ-2017-001881 Submitted

Email

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d281124977)
* Tracking Number: DOJ-2017-001881
* Requester Name: Dell Cameron
* Date Submitted: 01/25/2017
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: FOIA request

From: Dell Cameron

Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Request: EXPEDITED REQUEST: DOJ social media/press contact

Email

I'm writing to clarify a portion of my FOIA request.

I wrote: I am seeking any and all records relating to instructions (orders, directives, memos, or communications) received by the U.S. Justice Department (“DOJ”)

I am referring to instructions that originate from the White House, which may have been relayed through another federal agency. Please account for that in your search.

I very much appreciate your time.

From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov

Subject: FOIA Expedited Processing Disposition Reached for DOJ-2017-001855

Email

Your request for Expedited Processing for the FOIA request DOJ-2017-001855 has been denied. Additional details for this request are as follows:
* Request Created on: 01/25/2017
* Expedited Disposition Reason: No questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence
* Request Long Description: FOIA request

From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov

Subject: Your FOIA Request DOJ-2017-001855 (OIP) et. al.

Email

Attached is the Office's acknowledgement and partial response to the above-referenced request.

From: Muckrock Staff

Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Act Request #DOJ-2017-001855

Email

To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below.

Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: Department of Justice - FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit

Subject: FOIA request DOJ-2017-001881 (PAO)

Email

Mr. Cameron,
Attached is this Office's response to your above-referenced Freedom of Information Act request.

Sincerely,
Initial Request Staff
Office of Information Policy
U.S. Department of Justice

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