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: Militarization of Police, Covid-19 in Migrant Detention Centers, and Barr's Political Interference
In this email:
* Covid-19 Detainee Deaths in DHS Facilities
* Military Equipment Requests from Local Law Enforcement
* William Barr’s Firing of New York Prosecutor

[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:

TSA Coronavirus Safety Precautions: Last week, the Washington Post reported that more than a thousand ([link removed]) TSA employees had tested positive for the coronavirus. The figures reflect previous reports that the agency is failing to protect airport workers and travelers, including a whistleblower complaint ([link removed]) that personal protective equipment was withheld from employees. We filed FOIA requests with the TSA for directives ([link removed]) and email communications ([link removed]) concerning the Covid-19 safety
precautions implemented at airports.

Covid-19 Detainee Deaths in DHS Facilities: Detainees in DHS facilities remain especially vulnerable ([link removed]) to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, given their limited access to health care and medical supplies. On Monday, it was reported ([link removed]) that a third Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainee had died over the weekend from Covid-19, and more than 3,180 people have tested positive for the virus while in ICE custody. We filed ([link removed]) multiple ([link removed]) FOIA
([link removed]) requests ([link removed]) with DHS ([link removed]) for records to shed light on the deaths occurring in DHS facilities.

Military Equipment Requests from Local Law Enforcement: Since August 2017, law enforcement agencies across the country have obtained at least $760 million ([link removed]) worth of military equipment from the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program ([link removed]) , which allows the military to give surplus supplies (including weapons, medical equipment, and armored vehicles) to local law enforcement that have met requirements, such as training measures and obtaining permission from their local governments. We filed FOIA requests with the Defense Department for records
([link removed]) that show which law enforcement agencies are prohibited from receiving surplus military equipment under the program, and which equipment requests ([link removed]) have been denied.

DOJ Trump Interviews About Epstein: Convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein was known for his connections ([link removed]) to wealthy public figures — including Donald Trump. Reportedly, Trump and Epstein maintained a friendship ([link removed]) during the 1990s until they had a falling-out ([link removed]) in the early 2000s. We filed a FOIA request ([link removed]) with the Justice Department for any interviews with Trump that may have been conducted as part of the government’s investigation into crimes committed
by Epstein and his associates from 2006 to 2008.
Pompeo’s Elite Dinners on Taxpayers’ Dime: Among the many allegations of misconduct and misuse of taxpayer money that have arisen regarding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are the exclusive dinners ([link removed]) he and his wife had been hosting since 2018. Attendees ([link removed]) included political, media, and corporate figures, as well as right-leaning advocacy groups. As part of our investigation ([link removed]) into Pompeo’s political ambitions and influence, we asked the CIA for records ([link removed]) reflecting any similar events involving non-government attendees that he or Susan Pompeo hosted at
agency facilities while he was CIA director.

Trump International Hotel on the Market: In October, the Trump Organization announced plans to sell the lease rights of the Trump International Hotel, which occupies federal property in Washington, D.C., sparking concerns ([link removed]) that the president may inappropriately profit from the sale. The coronavirus pandemic has since stalled ([link removed]) the sale. We filed requests with the General Services Administration (GSA) ([link removed]) and the Justice Department ([link removed]) for related records and communications
([link removed]) .

Eric Blankenstein Misconduct: In March, House Democrats reported that while at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Eric Blankenstein had promised ([link removed]) Wells Fargo that some of the bank’s misconduct would be settled privately without further fines. Blankenstein resigned ([link removed]) from the agency in May 2019 after offensive blog posts he had written years before on hate crimes and racial slurs resurfaced. We asked CFPB ([link removed]) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development ([link removed]) , where Blankenstein currently works as an executive at
Ginnie Mae, for his communications with non-government entities, including with large financial institutions.

Loyalty Purges: As part of our investigation ([link removed]) into Trump’s post-impeachment purges, we’ve been filing FOIA requests with various agencies about former Office of Personnel Management Director Dale Cabaniss. Cabaniss resigned in March reportedly due to “poor treatment ([link removed]) ” by John McEntee, the head of the Presidential Personnel Office who has been working ([link removed]) to root out officials perceived to be insufficiently loyal to the president. Last week, we filed a request ([link removed]) with HUD for the communications of senior official and Trump supporter John Gibbs
([link removed]) , who is expected to succeed ([link removed]) Cabaniss as OPM director.

William Barr’s Firing of New York Prosecutor: Attorney General William Barr has taken a number of actions that raise serious questions ([link removed]) about whether his commitment to the president’s political interests supersede his commitment to justice and the rule of law. The latest instance was his bungled June 20 firing of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, an office that has been involved in investigating a number of the president’s associates, including Michael Cohen and Rudy Giuliani. We filed requests with the Justice Department for records of communications, including with the White House, about such politically sensitive investigations.

Trump’s Personal Voter ‘Fraud’: As the president continued to rail about the dangers of absentee voter fraud — claims that, it bears repeating, are unsubstantiated — the Washington Post reported ([link removed]) last month that Trump had originally attempted to register to vote in Florida using an out-of-state address (specifically, the White House). We filed a request for the communications of election officials in Palm Beach County, where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort is located, related to Trump’s voter registration.
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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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