United States Department ofJustice

 

Of?ce of the United States Attorney
Northern District ofCalifornia

 

450 Golden Gate Avenue
I l?1 Floor. Box 36055
San Francisco. California 04103-3495

Direct: (415)-136-6855
Facsimile: [415) 436-6748
Email: 

November 28, 2017

via email and under seal

The Honorable William Alsup
United States District Judge
450 Golden Gate Avenue San
Francisco, California 941 02

Dear Judge Alsup:

You have asked for the position of US. Attorney's Office on whether our letter to you
dated November 22, 2017, should be unsealed. United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch has been
recused from matters related to the civil case, and I have been appointed by the United States
Deputy Attorney General to perform the Functions of the United States Attorney on matters in
which Mr. Stretch has been recused. In that capacity, I write to respectfully request that you do
not unseal the November 22, 2017, letter.

The US Attorney's Office, in conformance with provisions of the US. Attorney's
Manual, generally does not publicly confirm or deny the existence ofcriminal investigations.
One purpose of this practice is to protect the presumption of innocence as to any potential
targets; another is to protect the integrity of our investigatory processes. For the reasons that the
US. Attorney's Manual disfavors public comment on ongoing investigations, we request the
Court maintain our letter under seal. Although the letter does not identify the nature ofthe
investigation, the offenses being investigated, or any target or subject ofthe investigation, we
believe that maintaining the letter under seal is consistent with protecting the presumption of
innocence and protecting the integrity ofour investigation.

Very Trul Yours,

 

ALEX G. TSE
Attorney for the United States, Acting Under
Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. 515