Here’s a look at the investigations our team has been pursuing through records requests and Freedom of Information Act litigation in the last week.

Investigations Updates: Family Separation, Unmarked Law Enforcement, and Trump's Campaign Rallies
In this email:
* Unmarked Law Enforcement at Protests
* “VIP” Covid-19 Emergency Supplies List
* State Accountability Project

[link removed]
Here’s a look at the investigations our team has been pursuing through public records requests and Freedom of Information Act litigation in the last week:

New Family-Separation Lawsuit: We filed a lawsuit against ([link removed]) the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for policy memos concerning family separation. Such memos had been referenced in anemail sent by former ICE Chief of Staff Thomas Blank ([link removed]) in January 2019, in records we obtained ([link removed]) through a FOIA request.

Unmarked Law Enforcement at Protests: Trump has called upon ([link removed]) several federal law enforcement agencies to control protests against police brutality, with uniformed officers across the country having responded to the protests with aggressive tactics ([link removed]) . In Washington, D.C., unmarked officers refused to identify themselves ([link removed]) , prompting several members of Congress to craft legislation ([link removed]) that would require federal officers to show identifying markings. We filed FOIA requests
([link removed]) with multiple agencies for directives or guidance given to federal police forces regarding self-identification, as well as use-of-force guidelines and any deployment orders related to the recent protests. We also filed a request ([link removed]) with the Defense Intelligence Agency for directives and reports regarding the protests.

USDA Food Relief Contracts: In May, the Department of Agriculture announced ([link removed]) the Farmers to Families Food Box program, which awards $1.2 billion in federal contracts for the packaging and distribution of food purchased ([link removed]) by the USDA. The program is meant to offset the impacts of the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but lawmakers have raised concerns ([link removed]) about the program’s contract bidding process and the unequal distribution ([link removed]) to different parts of the country. We asked USDA
([link removed]) for communications and guidance concerning the program.

State Department Inspector General Firing Lawsuit: On Friday, we sued the State Department ([link removed]) for documents related to last month’s firing of Inspector General Steve Linick — and to the investigations he had reportedly opened into the conduct of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had pushed the president to fire Linick. In testimony given to the House on June 3, Linick confirmed that he had notified multiple Pompeo aides ([link removed]) to the existence of the investigation — seriously damaging the credibility of Pompeo’s claim ([link removed]) that he was unaware of the investigation at the time of Linick’s firing.
Pompeo’s Meetings with Conservative Donors: We’ve also been investigating ([link removed]) Pompeo’s conduct and alleged misuse of taxpayer-funded agency resources, including his visits to ([link removed]) political donors on State Department trips, including billionaire Charles Koch. We filed a new FOIA request ([link removed]) with the State Department for communications between Pompeo’s staff and non-government organizations and individuals.

USAID Asks to Remove Language in UN Response Plan: In May, John Barsa, the new acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, asked the United Nations secretary-general to “remove references to ‘sexual and reproductive health,’ and its derivatives, ([link removed]) ” including references to abortion, from the UN’s Covid-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan ([link removed]) . We filed FOIA requests ([link removed]) with the State Department and USAID for communications related to Barsa’s letter to the UN. We’re also seeking Barsa’s calendars and sent emails
([link removed]) , as well as the calendars and communications of USAID Assistant Administrator Michelle Bekkering ([link removed]) and Senior Adviser Bethany Kozma ([link removed]) .

“VIP” Covid-19 Emergency Supplies List: According to reports, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner’s volunteer supply chain task force kept a “VIP” list ([link removed]) of tips about medical equipment that came from Trump allies — a list that did not turn out to be ([link removed]) particularly helpful. We filed FOIA requests ([link removed]) with the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security for those VIP lists.

Trump Campaign Rally Public Health Analyses: Despite warnings ([link removed]) from health experts, Trump returned ([link removed]) to the campaign trail this month in the middle of the pandemic, starting with a controversial ([link removed]) rally in Tulsa, Okla. He’s since visited ([link removed]) Arizona and plans ([link removed]) to travel to Florida and North Carolina even after eight of his campaign staffers tested positive ([link removed]) for coronavirus after the Tulsa rally. Reporting suggests the campaign has been disregarding
([link removed]) safety precautions set by venues, and that many attendees are not wearing masks. We asked state health agencies ([link removed]) in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Oklahoma for assessments or analyses concerning the impacts of hosting a Trump rally during the pandemic. We also asked ([link removed]) the Tulsa Health Department for county public health assessments regarding the recent rally.
Loeffler and Inhofe Insider-Trading Probe: Back in January, Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe sold large quantities of stock ([link removed]) in companies potentially affected by the coronavirus shortly after attending a private briefing on the pandemic. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission launched ([link removed]) investigations into the stock sales, but as of May 26, the Justice Department has dropped ([link removed]) its probes into Loeffler and Inhofe. We filed FOIA requests with the SEC
([link removed]) and the Justice Department ([link removed]) for email communications of high-ranking agency officials regarding the now-closed probes.

State Accountability Project: American Oversight continues to monitor threats to voting rights at the state level with our State Accountability Project ([link removed]) . Last week, we filed records requests in multiple counties in Texas for communications with voting-restriction advocates and conservative groups such as True the Vote and Direct Action Texas. As part of our investigation ([link removed]) into outside interference in New Hampshire redistricting, we asked ([link removed]) the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office, attorney general, and governor’s office for records related to election preparation, communications with voting-restriction advocates, and documents
([link removed]) about funding to support election operations in the middle of the Covid-19 outbreak.

DOJ Records on Alabama Absentee Requirements: Yesterday, the Supreme Court was asked ([link removed]) to weigh in on Alabama’s absentee ballot requirements during the coronavirus. State officials want to require that absentee ballots either include two witness signatures or be notarized, but critics say these requirements will only discourage and confuse voters. During earlier stages of litigation, the Justice Department filed a brief ([link removed]) arguing that the witness requirement did not violate the Voting Rights Act. We filed a FOIA ([link removed]) request with the Justice Department for all records — including directives, advisories, or analyses —
on the potential impact of Alabama’s absentee voting requirements on the Voting Rights Act.
To find out more about our work, you can follow us on Twitter at @WeAreOversight ([link removed]) and @ojocorrupcion ([link removed]) , or like us on Facebook ([link removed]) . If you are able, please consider supporting our work with a contribution here ([link removed]) .

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Thank you again for following our latest news. We are grateful for your support and for helping us hold the administration accountable.

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