
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA Director
What's at Stake
When President Trump nominated Gina Haspel to be CIA director in March 2018, the CIA began an unprecedented propaganda campaign to promote her confirmation by the Senate. The CIA’s campaign selectively disseminated information perceived as favorable to Haspel while hiding her deep involvement in torture and abuse during the Bush administration. The CIA strategically whitewashed Haspel’s past, including her supervision of a secret prison in Thailand where she oversaw the torture of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.
Summary
On May 4, 2018, the ACLU submitted a FOIA request seeking records related to the CIA’s campaign to support Haspel’s nomination and to her potential conflict of interest in serving as the classification authority over her own actions in the CIA’s program of prisoner torture and abuse.
On November 29, 2018, after the CIA failed to turn over any documents, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the CIA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to demand release of the records.
The public has the right to know about the CIA’s extensive media effort to influence public opinion and the Senate’s consideration of Haspel’s confirmation.
Legal Documents
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04/27/2020
ACLU v. CIA - Joint Status Report
Date Filed: 04/27/2020
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11/23/2020
ACLU v. CIA - Vaughn Index
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
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11/23/2020
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
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11/23/2020
ACLU v. CIA - Declaration of Vanna Blaine
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
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11/23/2020
ACLU v. CIA - Exhibits A-D
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
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01/11/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Exhibit 2
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
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01/11/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Declaration of Charles Hogle
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
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01/11/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
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01/11/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts in Dispute
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
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01/11/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Exhibit 1
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Exhibits A-G
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Index of Exhibits
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 1
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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02/26/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 2
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
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03/05/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index
Date Filed: 03/05/2021
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03/17/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Notice of Errata
Date Filed: 03/17/2021
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03/21/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Notice of Supplemental Authority
Date Filed: 03/21/2021
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03/21/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Slip Opinion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club - Certiorari to 9th Circuit
Date Filed: 03/21/2021
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03/25/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Notice of Supplemental Authority
Date Filed: 03/25/2021
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07/05/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiffs' Notice of Supplemental Authority
Date Filed: 07/05/2021
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07/16/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Notice of Submission of In Camera Documents
Date Filed: 07/16/2021
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08/24/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Second Supplemental Vaughn Index
Date Filed: 08/24/2021
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08/24/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Second Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine
Date Filed: 08/24/2021
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08/24/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Defendant's Notice of Filing Supplemental Materials
Date Filed: 08/24/2021
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09/21/2021
ACLU v. CIA - Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Second Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index
Date Filed: 09/21/2021
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02/02/2022
Opinion -
02/02/2022
Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
09/21/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Second Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index -
08/24/2021
Defendant's Notice of Filing Supplemental Materials -
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08/24/2021
Second Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
08/24/2021
Second Supplemental Vaughn Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Declaration of Vanna BlaineDownload DocumentDate Filed: 08/24/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Vaughn IndexDownload DocumentDate Filed: 08/24/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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08/24/2021
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07/16/2021
Defendant's Notice of Submission of In Camera Documents -
07/05/2021
Plaintiffs' Notice of Supplemental Authority -
03/25/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Notice of Supplemental Authority -
03/21/2021
Defendant's Notice of Supplemental Authority -
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03/21/2021
Slip Opinion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club - Certiorari to 9th Circuit
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSlip Opinion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service v. Sierra Club - Certiorari to 9th CircuitDownload DocumentDate Filed: 03/21/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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03/21/2021
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03/17/2021
Defendant's Notice of Errata -
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03/17/2021
Second Supplemental Vaughn Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSecond Supplemental Vaughn IndexDownload DocumentDate Filed: 03/17/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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03/17/2021
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03/05/2021
Plaintiffs' Response to Defendant's Supplemental Declaration and Vaughn Index -
02/26/2021
Defendant's Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
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02/26/2021
Supplemental Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
02/26/2021
Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 1 -
02/26/2021
Supplemental Vaughn Index Part 2 -
02/26/2021
Index of Exhibits -
02/26/2021
Exhibits A-G
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Declaration of Vanna BlaineDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Vaughn Index Part 1Download DocumentDate Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsSupplemental Vaughn Index Part 2Download DocumentDate Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsIndex of ExhibitsDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibits A-GDownload DocumentDate Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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02/26/2021
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01/11/2021
Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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01/11/2021
Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts in Dispute -
01/11/2021
Declaration of Charles Hogle -
01/11/2021
Exhibit 1 -
01/11/2021
Exhibit 2
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Response to Defendant's Statement of Material Facts in DisputeDownload DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Charles HogleDownload DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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01/11/2021
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11/23/2020
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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11/23/2020
Declaration of Vanna Blaine -
11/23/2020
Exhibits A-D -
11/23/2020
Vaugh Index
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Vanna BlaineDownload DocumentDate Filed: 11/23/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibits A-DDownload DocumentDate Filed: 11/23/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsVaugh IndexDownload DocumentDate Filed: 11/23/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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11/23/2020
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04/27/2020
Joint Status Report -
02/28/2020
Joint Status Report -
11/05/2019
Joint Status Report -
04/04/2019
Joint Status Report -
03/04/2019
Defendant's Response to Complaint -
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03/04/2019
Exhibit A
ACLU v. CIA - FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records Concerning the CIA’s Propaganda Campaign to Confirm Gina Haspel as CIA DirectorLegal DocumentsExhibit ADownload DocumentDate Filed: 03/04/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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03/04/2019
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11/29/2018
Complaint
Date Filed: 02/02/2022
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/02/2022
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 09/21/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 08/24/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 07/16/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 07/05/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/25/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/21/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/17/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/05/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/26/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 01/11/2021
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/23/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 04/27/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 02/28/2020
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/05/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 04/04/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 03/04/2019
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
Date Filed: 11/29/2018
Court: District Court (D.D.C.)
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02/02/2022
ACLU v. CIA - Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/02/2022
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02/02/2022
ACLU v. CIA - Opinion
Date Filed: 02/02/2022