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Case TitleCITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv01497
Date Filed2024-05-21
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Loren L. AliKhan
PlaintiffCITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON
Case DescriptionCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Justice for records concerning the investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. The agency categorially denied the request under Exempt 6 (invasion of privacy) and Exemption 7(C) (invasion of privacy concerning law enforcement records). CREW filed an administrative appeal of the denial. After hearing nothing further from the agency, CREW filed suit, alleging that DOJ had a pattern and practice of denying records in publicly-disclosed investigations.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Complaint attachment 12
Complaint attachment 13
Complaint attachment 14
Complaint attachment 15
Complaint attachment 16
Complaint attachment 17
Opinion/Order [12]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2024-05-211COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10911372) filed by CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Attorney General, # 3 Summons US Attorney, # 4 Summons DOJ, # 5 Exhibit A - FBI FOIA Request, # 6 Exhibit B - Criminal Division Acknowledgement Letter, # 7 Exhibit C - FBI FOIA Denial, # 8 Exhibit D - FBI FOIA Appeal, # 9 Exhibit E - Morehead EOUSA Denial, # 10 Exhibit F - Giuliani EOUSA Denial, # 11 Exhibit G - Giuliani OIP Denial, # 12 Exhibit H - Kelsey Criminal Denial, # 13 Exhibit I - Zinke Criminal Denial, # 14 Exhibit J - Mastriano FBI Denial, # 15 Exhibit K - Mastriano FBI FOIA Request, # 16 Exhibit L - Zinke FBI Denial, # 17 Exhibit M - Finchem FBI Denial)(Iheanachor, Laura) (Entered: 05/21/2024)
2024-05-212LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON (Iheanachor, Laura) (Entered: 05/21/2024)
2024-05-22Case Assigned to Judge Loren L. AliKhan. (znmw) (Entered: 05/22/2024)
2024-05-223SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Main Document 3 replaced on 5/22/2024) (znmw). (Entered: 05/22/2024)
2024-05-284RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 5/28/24., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/28/2024. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/27/2024.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 5/28/2024 (Iheanachor, Laura) (Entered: 05/28/2024)
2024-06-035NOTICE of Appearance by Chun Hin Tsoi on behalf of CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON (Tsoi, Chun Hin) (Main Document 5 replaced on 6/5/2024) (znmw). (Entered: 06/03/2024)
2024-06-256NOTICE of Appearance by Anna Lynn Deffebach on behalf of All Defendants (Deffebach, Anna) (Entered: 06/25/2024)
2024-06-257Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,,, by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Deffebach, Anna) (Entered: 06/25/2024)
2024-06-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's consent motion 7 for an extension of time to respond to Plaintiff's complaint, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED and Defendant shall file its response on or before July 29, 2024. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 06/25/2024. (lclla3) (Entered: 06/25/2024)
2024-06-25Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to complaint due by 7/29/2024. (zcdw) (Entered: 06/25/2024)
2024-07-298MOTION to Dismiss by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Text of Proposed Order)(Deffebach, Anna) (Entered: 07/29/2024)
2024-08-069Joint MOTION for Briefing Schedule by CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order for Briefing Schedule 8.6.2024)(Tsoi, Chun Hin) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-08-06MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Motion for Briefing Schedule 9 , it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall file its opposition to Defendant's motion to dismiss on or before August 19, 2024 and Defendant shall file its reply on or before September 9, 2024. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 08/06/2024. (lclla3) (Entered: 08/06/2024)
2024-08-07Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings: Response to 8 due by 8/19/2024. Reply due by 9/9/2024. (zcdw) (Entered: 08/07/2024)
2024-08-1910Memorandum in opposition to re 8 Motion to Dismiss, filed by CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order Denying MTD)(Tsoi, Chun Hin) (Entered: 08/19/2024)
2024-09-0911REPLY to opposition to motion re 8 MOTION to Dismiss filed by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Deffebach, Anna) (Entered: 09/09/2024)
2025-03-2112MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: For the reasons stated in the attached opinion, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss 8 is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, and Count III of the Complaint 1 is DISMISSED. It is further ORDERED that Defendant shall file an answer to Counts I and II on or before April 4, 2025. See document for details. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 3/21/2025. (lclla3) (Entered: 03/21/2025)
2025-03-21***Deadlines terminated & Set/Reset Deadlines: Deft's Answer to Counts I and II of Complaint 1 due by 4/4/2025. (mhp) (Entered: 03/24/2025)
2025-03-2413Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer to Counts I and II of the Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Deffebach, Anna) (Entered: 03/24/2025)
2025-03-24MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's consent motion 13 for an extension of time to file an answer to Counts I and II of Plaintiff's complaint, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED and Defendant shall file its answer to Counts I and II on or before May 5, 2025. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 3/24/2025. (lclla3) (Entered: 03/24/2025)
2025-04-0214NOTICE of Appearance by Heidy L Gonzalez on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Gonzalez, Heidy) (Entered: 04/02/2025)
2025-05-0515ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Gonzalez, Heidy) (Entered: 05/05/2025)
2025-05-0516ORDER directing the parties to meet and confer and file a joint status report by June 2, 2025. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 5/5/2025. (lclla3) (Entered: 05/05/2025)
2025-06-0217Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Gonzalez, Heidy) (Entered: 06/02/2025)
2025-06-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report 17 , it is hereby ORDERED that the following schedule shall govern summary judgment briefing in this matter: (1) July 17, 2025: Defendant shall file its motion for partial summary judgment as to Count II. (2) September 2, 2025: Plaintiff shall file (a) its opposition to Defendant's motion, cross-motion for partial summary judgment, and/or motion for discovery as to Count II; and (b) its motion for partial summary judgment as to Count I with respect to the FBI. (3) October 16, 2025: Defendant shall file (a) its reply in support of its motion, opposition to Plaintiff's partial cross-motion, and/or opposition to Plaintiff's motion for discovery as to Count II; (b) its opposition to Plaintiff's motion as to Count I; and (c) its partial cross-motion as to Count I, if any. (4) November 17, 2025: Plaintiff shall file (a) its reply in support of its cross-motion and/or motion for discovery as to Count II; (b) its reply in support of its motion as to Count I; and (c) its opposition to Defendant's cross-motion as to Count I, if any. (5) December 16, 2025: Defendant shall file its reply in support of its cross-motion as to Count I, if any. Signed by Judge Loren L. AliKhan on 6/2/2025. (lclla3) (Entered: 06/02/2025)
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