Case 1:18-cv-02565 Document 1 Filed 11/07/18 Page 1 of 13

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

AMERICAN OVERSIGHT,
1030 15th Street NW, B255
Washington, DC 20005

v.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

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Plaintiff, )
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Defendant. )
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Case No. 18-cv-2565

COMPLAINT
1)

Plaintiff American Oversight brings this action against the U.S. Department of

State under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 (FOIA), and the Declaratory
Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to compel
compliance with the requirements of FOIA.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2)

This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B)

and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 2201, and 2202.
3)

Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B) and 28 U.S.C.

§ 1391(e).
4)

Because Defendant has failed to comply with the applicable time-limit provisions

of FOIA, American Oversight is deemed to have exhausted its administrative remedies pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(C)(i) and is now entitled to judicial action enjoining the agency from

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continuing to withhold agency records and ordering the production of agency records improperly
withheld.
PARTIES
5)

Plaintiff American Oversight is a nonpartisan, non-profit section 501(c)(3)

organization committed to the promotion of transparency in government, the education of the
public about government activities, and ensuring the accountability of government officials.
Through research and FOIA requests, American Oversight uses the information it gathers, and its
analysis of it, to educate the public about the activities and operations of the federal government
through reports, published analyses, press releases, and other media. The organization is
incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia.
6)

Defendant U.S. Department of State (State) is a department of the executive

branch of the U.S. government headquartered in Washington, DC, and an agency of the federal
government within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. § 552(f)(1). State has possession, custody, and
control of the records that American Oversight seeks.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
7)

On June 13, 2018, the magazine Foreign Policy reported that politically appointed

State Department Senior Advisor Mari Stull was “quietly vetting career diplomats and American
employees of international institutions to determine whether they are loyal to President Donald
Trump and his political agenda, according to nearly a dozen current and former U.S. officials.”
Colum Lynch & Robbie Gramer, Trump Appointee Compiles Loyalty List of U.S. Employees at
U.N., State, FOREIGN POLICY, (June 13, 2018, 11:01 AM),
https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/06/13/trumps-vino-vixen-compiles-loyalty-list-of-u-s-employees-

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at-u-n-state-mari-stull-political-appointee-state-department-international-organization-unitednations-political-retribution-chaos-dysfunction/.
8)

Earlier, on April 21, 2017, Politico reported that a career civil servant, Sahar

Nowrouzzadeh, had been reassigned after facing criticism from conservative media outlets for
her perceived lack of loyalty to the Trump administration. Nahal Toosi, State Dept. Official
Reassigned Amid Conservative Media Attacks, POLITICO (Apr. 21, 2017, 3:18 PM),
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/21/sahar-nowrouzzadeh-reassigned-state-department237466.
9)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted eight FOIA requests to State to

determine whether and to what extent high-ranking State officials were targeting career civil
servants for their perceived partisan or ideological preferences.
10)

On September 28, 2018, American Oversight submitted two additional FOIA

requests to State to determine whether and to what extent high-ranking State officials were
targeting career civil servants for their perceived partisan or ideological preferences.
Stull Correspondence FOIA
11)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email correspondence sent by Mari Stull that include any of the
following terms:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Obama
Intel
Facebook
Twitter
Tweet
Insta
Instagram
LinkedIn
Loyalty
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j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
s.
t.
u.
v.
w.
x.
y.
z.

Loyal
Loyalist
Trump
Citizen
Pompeo
“Deep State”
Digital
Social
Online
Profile
Account
MAGA
Swamp
Kerry
Clinton
Holdover
“America First”

This request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or outgoing)
reflected in the responsive correspondence and any attachments thereto.
Please provide all responsive records from April 1, 2018, through the date
of the search.
12)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04743.
13)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Stull External Attachments FOIA
14)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request with to State

seeking the following records:
All email correspondence that includes an attachment between (a) Mari
Stull and (b) any individual with an email address not containing a .gov
domain name (i.e., email addresses with domain names that include .com,
.net, .org, or .edu) from April 1, 2018, through the date of the search. This
request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or outgoing)
reflected in the responsive correspondence as well as any attachments
thereto. The request also seeks all email communications where any of the

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responsive parties is a recipient of the email, whether in the to, from, cc, or
bcc lines.
15)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04758.
16)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Stull Congressional Correspondence FOIA
17)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email correspondence that includes an attachment between (a) Mari
Stull and (b) any member of Congress or congressional staff from April 1,
2018, through the date of the search. This request includes all prior
messages (whether incoming or outgoing) reflected in the responsive
correspondence as well as any attachments thereto. The request also seeks
all email communications where any of the responsive parties is a recipient
of the email, whether in the to, from, cc, or bcc lines.
18)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04759.
19)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Stull White House Correspondence FOIA
20)

On July 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email correspondence that includes an attachment between (a) Mari
Stull and (b) any email address ending in eop.gov from April 1, 2018,
through the date of the search. The items in this request include all prior
messages (whether incoming or outgoing) reflected in the responsive
correspondence as well as any attachments thereto. The request also seeks
all email communications where any of the responsive parties are a
recipient of the email, whether in the to, from, cc, or bcc lines.
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21)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04761.
22)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Stull Calendars FOIA
23)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All calendars or calendar entries for Mari Stull from April 1, 2018, through
the date a search is conducted, including any calendars maintained on her
behalf (e.g., by an administrative assistant or a scheduler).
For calendar entries created in Outlook or similar programs, the
documents should be produced in “memo” form to include all invitees, any
notes, and all attachments. Please do not limit your search to Outlook
calendars—we request the production of any calendar—paper or
electronic, whether on government-issued or personal devices—used to
track or coordinate how Ms. Stull allocates her time on agency business.
24)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04763.
25)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Leadership Correspondence FOIA
26)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email communications containing the word “Mari,” “Stull,”
“loyalty,” “loyal,” or “loyalist” sent or received by any leadership* or
political appointee** in any of the following offices:
a. The Office of the Secretary of State (S);
b. The Office of the Deputy Secretary of State (D);
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c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

The United States Mission to the United Nations;
The immediate office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (P);
The immediate office of the Under Secretary for Management (M);
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (A);
The Office of the Director of Human Resources (HR);
The Policy Planning Staff (S/P); and
The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO).

* “Leadership” should be understood as any person in a management
or similar position overseeing or directing the listed offices, such as
individuals serving in acting capacity, Foreign Service Officers, or civil
servants who are carrying out the functions of an unfilled political
appointment.
**“Political appointee” should be understood as any person who is a
Presidential Appointee with Senate Confirmation (PAS), a Presidential
Appointee (PA), a Non-career SES, any Schedule C employees, or any
persons hired under Temporary Non-career SES Appointments, Limited
Term SES Appointments, or Temporary Transitional Schedule C
Appointments.
Both items in this request include all prior messages (whether incoming
or outgoing) reflected in the responsive correspondence as well as any
attachments thereto.
Please provide all responsive records from April 1, 2018, through the
date of the search.
27)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04764.
28)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Moley Correspondence FOIA
29)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email communications sent or received by Kevin Edward Moley that
contain any of the following terms:
a. Obama
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b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

Kerry
Clinton
Tillerson
Intel
Loyalty
Loyal
“Deep State”
MAGA
“America First”

This request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or
outgoing) reflected in the responsive correspondence as well as any
attachments thereto.
Please provide all responsive records from March 22, 2018, through
the date of the search.
30)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04765.
31)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Haley Correspondence FOIA
32)

On June 21, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State seeking

the following records:
All email communications sent by Nikki Haley that contain any of the
following terms:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Loyal
Loyalist
Loyalty
Holdover
“Deep State”
MAGA
Swamp
“America First”

This request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or
outgoing) reflected in the responsive correspondence as well as any
attachments thereto.
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Please provide all responsive records from April 1, 2018, through the
date of the search.
33)

By letter dated July 17, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-04767.
34)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Second White House Correspondence FOIA
35)

On September 28, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State

seeking the following records:
All email communications of (1) State officials Mike Pompeo, T. Ulrich
Brechbuhl, Rex Tillerson, Christine Ciccone, Makan Delrahim, Sean
Doocey, Julia Haller, Brian Hook, Edward Lacey, Kevin Edward
Moley, Mari Stull, or Matthew Mowers with (2) anyone with an email
address ending in eop.gov (including @nsc.eop.gov, @who.eop.gov &
@ovp.eop.gov) containing the following search terms:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

Sahar
Nowrouzzadeh
Holdover
Holdovers
Turncoat
Turncoats
Leaker
Leakers
“Deep state”
“Loyalty List”

Please provide all responsive records from January 20, 2017, to the
date of the search.
This request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or
outgoing) reflected in the responsive correspondence and any
attachments thereto. This request includes messages on which the State
officials were cc’ed or bcc’ed.

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36)

By letter dated October 30, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-07413.
37)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Nowrouzzadeh FOIA
38)

On September 28, 2018, American Oversight submitted a FOIA request to State

seeking the following records:
All email communications of State officials Mike Pompeo, T. Ulrich
Brechbuhl, Rex Tillerson, Christine Ciccone, Makan Delrahim, Sean
Doocey, Julia Haller, Brian Hook, Edward Lacey, Kevin Edward
Moley, Mari Stull, or Matthew Mowers containing the following search
terms:
a) Sahar
b) Nowrouzzadeh
Please provide all responsive records from January 20, 2017, to the
date of the search.
This request includes all prior messages (whether incoming or
outgoing) reflected in the responsive correspondence and any
attachments thereto. This request includes messages on which the State
officials were cc’ed or bcc’ed.
39)

By letter dated October 30, 2018, State informed American Oversight that it had

assigned the FOIA request tracking number F-2018-07414.
40)

American Oversight has received no further communication from State regarding

this FOIA request.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
41)

As of the date of this Complaint, State has failed to (a) notify American Oversight

of any determination regarding American Oversight’s FOIA requests, including the full scope of
any responsive records the agency intends to produce or withhold and the reasons for any
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withholdings; or (b) produce all of the requested records or demonstrate that the requested
records are lawfully exempt from production.
42)

Through State’s failure to make determinations as to American Oversight’s FOIA

requests within the time period required by law, American Oversight has constructively
exhausted its administrative remedies and seeks immediate judicial review.
COUNT I
Violation of FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552
Failure to Conduct Adequate Search for Records
43)

American Oversight repeats the allegations in the foregoing paragraphs and

incorporates them as though fully set forth herein.
44)

American Oversight properly requested records within the possession, custody,

and control of State.
45)

State is an agency subject to FOIA and must therefore make reasonable efforts to

search for requested records.
46)

State has failed to promptly review agency records for the purpose of locating

those records which are responsive to American Oversight’s FOIA requests.
47)

State’s failure to conduct an adequate search for responsive records violates

48)

Plaintiff American Oversight is therefore entitled to injunctive and declaratory

FOIA.

relief requiring State to promptly make reasonable efforts to search for records responsive to
American Oversight’s FOIA requests.

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COUNT II
Violation of FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552
Wrongful Withholding of Non-Exempt Records
49)

American Oversight repeats the allegations in the foregoing paragraphs and

incorporates them as though fully set forth herein.
50)

American Oversight properly requested records within the possession, custody,

and control of State.
51)

State is an agency subject to FOIA and must therefore release in response to a

FOIA request any non-exempt records and provide a lawful reason for withholding any
materials.
52)

State is wrongfully withholding non-exempt agency records requested by

American Oversight by failing to produce records responsive to its FOIA requests.
53)

State is wrongfully withholding non-exempt agency records requested by

American Oversight by failing to segregate exempt information in otherwise non-exempt records
responsive to American Oversight’s FOIA requests.
54)

State’s failure to provide all non-exempt responsive records violates FOIA.

55)

Plaintiff American Oversight is therefore entitled to injunctive and declaratory

relief requiring State to promptly produce all non-exempt records responsive to its FOIA
requests and provide indexes justifying the withholding of any responsive records withheld under
claim of exemption.
REQUESTED RELIEF
WHEREFORE, American Oversight respectfully requests the Court to:
(1) Order Defendant to conduct a search reasonably calculated to uncover all records
responsive to American Oversight’s FOIA requests;

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(2) Order Defendant to produce, by such a date as the Court deems appropriate, any and
all non-exempt records responsive to American Oversight’s FOIA requests and
indexes justifying the withholding of any responsive records withheld under claim of
exemption;
(3) Enjoin Defendant from continuing to withhold any and all non-exempt records
responsive to American Oversight’s FOIA requests;
(4) Award American Oversight attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably
incurred in this action, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(E); and
(5) Grant American Oversight such other relief as the Court deems just and proper.

Dated: November 7, 2018

Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Daniel A. McGrath
Daniel A. McGrath
D.C. Bar No. 1531723
Elizabeth France
D.C. Bar No. 999851
AMERICAN OVERSIGHT
1030 15th Street NW, B255
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 897-4213
daniel.mcgrath@americanoversight.org
beth.france@americanoversight.org
Counsel for Plaintiff

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