2/4/13 Truthout Mail - RE: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act ack ltr. Jason Leopold RE: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act ack ltr. 4 messages USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO) To: Jason Leopold Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 11:39 AM Mr. Leopold, Attached is the acknowledgement letter from the Office of Information Policy. Bette From: Jason Leopold [mailto:jason@truthout.org] Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 7:02 PM To: USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO) Subject: Re: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act ack ltr. Ms. Farris, Thank you so much for your acknowledgement letter. Forgive me, but I do not recall filing this same FOIA request with other DOJ offices. Nor can I locate a similar acknowledgement letter, such as one from the Office of Legislative Affairs. I would be happy to withdraw this request if I can just receive an acknowledgement that another office has already received the FOIA. I hope that is not too much trouble. Kind Regards, Jason On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 5:24 AM, USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO) wrote: Mr. Leopold, Attached is the acknowledgement letter for your request. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=51484a4bc4&view=pt&q=white paper cornyn freedom of information act&qs=true&search=query&th=139dfd3e84fb2... 1/4 2/4/13 Truthout Mail - RE: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act ack ltr. Bette Farris From: Jason Leopold [mailto:jason@truthout.org] Sent: Friday, August 10, 2012 5:29 PM To: Farris, Bette (OLC) Subject: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act Dear Ms. Farris, This is a request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act. I am seeking copies of all "white papers" and/or PowerPoints, briefing memos, and/or policy summaries and/or policy papers that Department of Justice officials provided to members of Congress, specifically but not limited to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, or any member of the Obama administration on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (commonly referred to as "drones") for the purposes of engaging in lethal force in other countries against terrorist targets. Additionally, I seek copies of all correspondence, which includes but is not limited to memos, letters and emails, members of Congress sent to the Justice Department inquiring about the legal rationale behind the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the purposes of engaging in lethal force against terrorist targets in other countries and/or the general use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to hunt down terrorists. I request FOIA analysts use the following search terms: "targeted killing(s)" "targeted killing program," "targeted assassination program," "white paper," "Senator John Cornyn," "Senator Patrick Leahy." The timeframe for this request would be January 2010 through the present. I am the Lead Investigative Reporter of Truthout.org (www.truthout.org/about), an online news publication that publishes news and commentary seven days a week, 365 days a year. The materials I request would be used to disseminate information to the public and therefore I request to be placed into the news media category. I am requesting expedited processing of this request Pursuant to 5 U.S.C section 552(a)(6)(E) based on compelling need and "urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity." I certify, as required by regulation, that the compelling need for expedited processing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. This request is central to the transparency that is required for there to be an accurate recounting of the activities of the United States government in regard to the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which is currently the subject of litigation, fierce debate in Congress, within the White House, nongovernmental organizations, and dozens upon dozens of news accounts. The prompt release of information as a means of informing the public about this issue is crucial. If you regard these documents as potentially exempt from disclosure requirements, I request that you nonetheless exercise your discretion to disclose them. Please release all reasonably segregable nonexempt portions of documents. If you deny all or any part of this request, please cite each specific exemption you think justifies your refusal to release the information and notify me of appeal procedures available under the law. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=51484a4bc4&view=pt&q=white paper cornyn freedom of information act&qs=true&search=query&th=139dfd3e84fb2... 2/4 ma Ree-I .atx..ton.nt.aa < Jason Leopold Jason Leopold Lead lnvesngative Reporter nout org rason@truthout org 213 270 4334 @JascnLeopo|d amazon com/author/tasonreopotd Jason Leopold Lead lnvesugative Reporter Trumout org tason@ltuthout.org 213 270 4334 @Jason Leopold Muck Rack amazon com/author/jasonleopdd New ebook The O|herAbu Zubatdah fq Ieopold ack |tr.pdf hIIpV/my . 5/4 2/4/13 Truthout Mail - RE: Request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act ack ltr. 18K Jason Leopold Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 11:51 AM To: "USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO)" Ms. Farris, Thank you for sending the acknowledgement letter. Will my request to OIP cover OLC as well? If that is the case then I will withdraw my request filed with OLC for these records. Kind regards, Jason [Quoted text hidden] USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO) Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 6:53 AM To: Jason Leopold Mr. Leopold, As OIP's acknowledgement letter states, OIP is processing your request on behalf of the Offices of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, and Legislative Affairs. As Mr. Colborn explained in his letter to you, however, we expect that those offices would have any responsive records that OLC would have. In other words, we do not expect OLC to have any responsive records beyond those that the offices for which OIP is processing your request would have. Consequently, in order to avoid potentially duplicative efforts and duplicative fees, Mr. Colborn suggested that you withdraw your request to OLC. If you later determined that you would receive a more satisfactory response from OLC, you would be free to resubmit your FOIA request to OLC without prejudice. Please let me know if you will withdraw your request to OLC as Mr. Colborn suggested. Bette Farris From: Jason Leopold [mailto:jason@truthout.org] Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:51 PM [Quoted text hidden] [Quoted text hidden] Jason Leopold Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 3:09 PM To: "USDOJ-Office of Legal Counsel (SMO)" Ms. Farris, Apologies for the delay in responding. I'll withdraw my request from OLC and reserve the right to resubmit without prejudice as you noted. Best, Jason [Quoted text hidden] https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=51484a4bc4&view=pt&q=white paper cornyn freedom of information act&qs=true&search=query&th=139dfd3e84fb2... 4/4