ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA Director
What's at Stake
When President Trump nominated Gina Haspel to be CIA director in March 2018, the CIA began an unprecedented propaganda campaign to promote her confirmation by the Senate. The CIA’s campaign selectively disseminated information perceived as favorable to Haspel while hiding her deep involvement in torture and abuse during the Bush administration. The CIA strategically whitewashed Haspel’s past, including her supervision of a secret prison in Thailand where she oversaw the torture of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.
Summary
On May 4, 2018, the ACLU submitted a FOIA request seeking records related to the CIA’s campaign to support Haspel’s nomination and to her potential conflict of interest in serving as the classification authority over her own actions in the CIA’s program of prisoner torture and abuse.
On November 29, 2018, after the CIA failed to turn over any documents, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the CIA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to demand release of the records.
The public has the right to know about the CIA’s extensive media effort to influence public opinion and the Senate’s consideration of Haspel’s confirmation.
Legal Documents
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02/02/2022
Opinion -
02/02/2022
Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
09/21/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Government's Second Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index -
08/24/2021
Defendant's Notice of Filing Supplemental Materials -
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Second Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
Second Supplemental Vaughn Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Declaration of Vanna BlaineCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Vaughn IndexCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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07/16/2021
Government's Notice of Submission of In Camera Documents -
07/05/2021
Plaintiffs' Notice of Supplemental Authority -
03/25/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Notice of Supplemental Authority -
03/21/2021
Government's Notice of Supplemental Authority -
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Slip Opinion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club - Certiorari to 9th Circuit
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSlip Opinion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club - Certiorari to 9th CircuitCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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03/17/2021
Government's Notice of Errata -
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Second Supplemental Vaughn Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Vaughn IndexCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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03/05/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Government's Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index -
02/26/2021
Government's Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
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Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 1 -
Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 2 -
Index of Exhibits -
Exhibits A-G
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Declaration of Vanna BlaineCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Vaughn Index Part 1Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Vaughn Index Part 2Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsIndex of ExhibitsCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibits A-GCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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01/11/2021
Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts in Dispute -
Declaration of Charles Hogle -
Exhibit 1 -
Exhibit 2 -
Proposed Order
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts in DisputeCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Charles HogleCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsProposed OrderCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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11/23/2020
Government's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
Exhibits A-D -
Vaugh Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Vanna BlaineCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibits A-DCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsVaugh IndexCourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
Download Document -
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04/27/2020
Joint Status Report -
03/27/2020
Joint Status Report -
02/28/2020
Joint Status Report -
11/05/2019
Joint Status Report -
04/04/2019
Joint Status Report -
03/04/2019
Government's Response to the Complaint -
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Exhibit A
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit ACourt: District Court (D.D.C.)
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11/29/2018
Complaint
Date Filed: 02/02/2022
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/02/2022
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 09/21/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 08/24/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 07/16/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 07/05/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/25/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/21/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/17/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/05/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 04/27/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/27/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/28/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/05/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 04/04/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/04/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/29/2018
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)