Senate Judiciary Committee memos and briefing materials re: StingRay/ISMI (Department of Homeland Security)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All memos, briefing materials or other communications (including emails with all attachments) sent to the staffs of Senator Leahy, Senator Grassley and/or the Senate Judiciary Committee in response to the letter dated December 23, 2014 sent to Attorney General Holder and Secretary Johnson regarding cell site simulators.

The December 23 letter can be found posted online here: http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/leahy-grassley-press-administration-use-cell-phone-tracking-program

The December 23 letter requested a written response to seven (7) enumerated questions by January 30, 2015, as well as a briefing of Judiciary Committee staff by February 6, 2015. At minimum, this FOIA request covers the written response to the December 23 letter, as well as materials prepared for the briefing of Judiciary Committee staff.

I furthermore request a fee waiver on the basis of my status as a journalist who has covered law enforcement technology and cell site simulators extensively. Here is a selection of articles I have published in national media outlets:

https://www.beaconreader.com/muckrock/before-deploying-stingrays-police-departments-must-sign-nondisclosure-agreement-with-fbi

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/03/the-pentagon-finally-details-its-weapons-for-cops-giveaway

https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/05/nypd-social-media-policy-allows-catfishing-with-the-proper-paperwork.html

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/08/big-brother-better-police-work-new-technology-automatically-runs-license-plates-everyone/1qoAoFfgp31UnXZT2CsFSK/story.html

https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-agent-who-killed-boston-bombing-suspects-friend-was-twice-accused-of-police-brutality

The present FOIA request concerns a matter of interest to the public, as demonstrated not only by avid readership of my articles and considerable activism around cell site simulators nationwide, but also by congressional hearings such as the one called for by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the letter above.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,

Shawn Musgrave