Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 1 of 35 PageID #: 168

Louis&Flores&
3421&77th&Street,&No.&406&
Jackson&Heights,&New&York&&11372&
louisflores@louisflores.com&
1&(646)&400F1168&
&
&
&

23&September&2015&
&
&

BY&ECF&
&

Honorable&Roanne&L.&Mann,&&
& United&States&Magistrate&Judge,&
& & United&States&District&Court,&
& & & Eastern&District&of&New&York,&
& & & & 225&Cadman&Plaza&East,&
& & & & & Brooklyn,&New&York&&11201.&
&

Dear&Hon.&Judge&Mann&:&&
&
&

Re#:#
#

Louis#Flores#v.#United#States#Department#of#Justice#
No.#15>CV>2627#(Gleeson,#J.)#(Mann,#M.J.)##
#

##

&
&

For&ease&of&reference&for&the&Court&and&for&Counsel&for&the&Defendant,&attached&please&find&
a&draft&of&the&Amended&Complaint&(which&was&filed&in&final&form&today&using&ECF).&&The&
attached&draft&is&marked&to&show&changes&from&the&original&Complaint.&&I&fixed&a&few&
typographical&errors,&but&the&main&changes&were&made&in&accordance&with&the&requests&in&
my&letter,&dated&03&September&2015&(Dkt&No.&12).&&Thank&you&kindly.&
&
&

Respectfully&submitted,&

Louis&Flores&&
Plaintiff,&Pro$se&
&
&

cc&:&

[By&eFmail&only&to&:&&rukhsanah.singh@usdoj.gov]&

&

&
&
&
&
&

Rukhsanah&L.&Singh,&Assistant&U.S.&Attorney&
U.S.&Attorneys&Office&F&Eastern&District&of&New&York&
271&Cadman&Plaza&East,&7th&Floor&
Brooklyn,&NY&&11201&
Attorney$for$Defendant

&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 2 of 35 PageID #: 169

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UNITED'STATES'DISTRICT'COURT''
EASTERN'DISTRICT'OF'NEW'YORK'
&
&
LOUIS&FLORES,&
'
AMENDED'
&
COMPLAINT'FOR''
&
&
&
Plaintiff,&&
&
INJUNCTIVE'RELIEF'
'
v.&&
'
&
UNITED&STATES&DEPARTMENT&OF&
Case&No.&:&&15ICVI2627___________&
&
JUSTICE,&
&
Hon.&______________(Gleeson,&J.)(Mann,&
R.L.)&
&
&
&
Defendant.&
&
&
&
&
&
INTRODUCTION'
1.&

Plaintiff&Louis&Flores&(Flores)&brings&this&action&against&Defendant&

United&States&Department&of&Justice&(DOJ)&to&compel&compliance&with&the&Freedom&
of& Information& Act,& 5&U.S.C.&&552& (FOIA),& for& injunctive& and& other& appropriate&
relief,&seeking&the&immediate&processing&and&release&of&agency&records&requested&by&
Plaintiff&from&Defendant.&&&
2.&

Plaintiff& also& seeks& compliance& with& the& memorandum& dated&

January& 21,& 2009,& and& authored& and& signed& by& United& States& President& Barack&
Obama& (the& President),& affirming& the& importance& of& a& "profound& national&
commitment& to& ensuring& an& open& Government& (the& Presidents& FOIA&
Memorandum).&&See&Barack&Obama,&Memorandum1of1January121,120091:11Freedom1of1
Information1 Act& (Jan.& 26,& 2009),& 74&Fed.&Reg.&4683,& http://www.justice.gov/sites/&
default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/presidentialIfoia.pdf.&

&

1&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 3 of 35 PageID #: 170

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3.&

Plaintiff& further& seeks& compliance& with& the& March& 19,& 2009,& FOIA&

guidelines& for& the& Executive& Branch& issued& by& Eric& Holder,& Jr.,& then& the& Attorney&
General& of& the& United& States& (Holder),& reiterating& the& President's& commitment& to&
honoring& FOIA& (the& Attorney& General's& FOIA& Guidelines).& & According& to& the&
Attorney& Generals& FOIA& Guidelines,& Holder& wrote,& in& part,& that& I& would& like& to&
emphasize&that&responsibility&for&effective&FOIA&administration&belongs&to&all&of&us
it&is&not&merely&a&task&to&an&agencys&FOIA&staff.&&We&all&must&do&our&part&to&ensure&
open& government.& & See& Eric& Holder,& Jr.,& Memorandum1 for1 Heads1 of1 Executive1
Departments1 and1 Agencies,& Office& of& the& Attorney& General& (Mar.& 19,& 2009),&
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ag/legacy/2009/06/24/foiaImemoI
march2009.pdf.&
4.&

On& March& 27,& 2013,& Plaintiff& submitted& an& electronic& mail& (the&&

EImail&Request)&to&Angela&George&(George),&a&prosecutor&with&the&U.S.&Attorneys&
Office& for& the& District& of& Columbia,& seeking& records& and& information& related& to& the&
governments& prosecution& of& Lt.& Daniel& Choi& (Lt.& Choi).& & Lt.& Choi& prominently&
exerted&political&pressure&on&the&U.S.&Congress&and&on&the&President&to&overturn&the&
U.S.&militarys&formerly&discriminatory&policy&known&as&Dont&Ask,&Dont&Tell.&&See&
Liz&Halloran,&With1Repeal1Of1'Don't1Ask,1Don't1Tell,'1An1Era1Ends,&NPR&(Sept.&20,&2011),&
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/20/140605121/withIrepealIofIdontIaskIdontItellI
anIeraIends& (noting& that,& you& had& activists& like& Army& Lt.& Dan& Choi& handcuffing&
himself&to&the&White&House&fence,&getting&in&people's&faces)&;&William&Branigin&et&al.,&
Obama1 signs1 DADT1 repeal1 before1 big,1 emotional1 crowd,& The& Washington& Post& (Dec.&
22,& 2010),& http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpIdyn/content/article/2010/12/&

&

2&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 4 of 35 PageID #: 171

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22/AR2010122201888.html.& & After& subsequent& followIup& by& the& Plaintiff,& the&
Plaintiff& was& directed& on& April& 17,& 2013,& by& Bill& Miller,& a& public& information& officer&
with& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for& the& District& of& Columbia& (Miller),& to& submit& a&
request& to& the& Executive& Office& for& the& United& States& Attorneys& of& the& DOJ& (the&
EOUSA).& & As& directed,& Plaintiff& submitted& on& April& 30,& 2013,& a& FOIA& request& (the&
Request)& to& the& EOUSA.& & On& April& 30,& 2013,& a& courtesy& copy& of& the& Request& was&
sent&to&by&electronic&mail&to&Bill&Miller&and&to&George,&amongst&others.&
5.&

Plaintiff&made&numerous&attempts&to&communicate&with&the&EOUSA,&

principally& but& not& exclusively& with& Sanjay& Sola,& a& paralegal& with& the& EOUSA,&
including,&but&not&limited&to,&on&May&14,&2013&;&June&5,&2013&;&June&18,&2013&;&July&5,&
2013&;&July&8,&2013&;&July&9,&2013& ;&September&20,&2013&;& and& October& 17,& 2013,&to&
obtain& a& response& to& the& Request.& & When& no& response& was& ever& received,& Plaintiff&
engaged& counsel& to& prepare& an& appeal& of& the& DOJs& constructive& denial& of& the&
Request.&
6.&

On&December&6,&2013,&the&law&firm&of&Willkie&Farr&&&Gallagher&LLP,&

former& counsel& to& Plaintiff& (the& Counsel),& submitted& an& Appeal& of& Constructive&
Denial& of& Freedom& of& Information& Act& Request& (the& Appeal)& to& the& Office& of&
Information&Policy&of&the&DOJ&(the&OIP).&&&
7.&

After&instances&of&communication&between&Counsel&and&the&DOJ,&the&

OIP& replied& to& Counsel& on& May& 20,& 2014,& informing& Counsel& that& the& Request& was&
being& remanded& by& the& OIP& to& the& EOUSA& for& a& search& for& responsive& records,&
adding& that,& If& your& client& is& dissatisfied& with& my& action& on& your& appeal,& the&

&

3&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 5 of 35 PageID #: 172

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Freedom&of&Information&Act&permits&him&to&file&a&lawsuit&in&federal&district&court&in&
accordance&with&5&U.S.C.&&522(a)(4)(B).&
8.&

For&over&two&years,Since&then,&neither&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office,&

the& EOUSA,& the& OIP,& nor& the& DOJ& (collectively,& the& DOJ& components)& has& released&
any&responsive&records&or&explained&why&responsive&records&weare&being&withheld,&
each&an&act&of&bad&faith.&&It&was&only&after&Plaintiff&filed&the&original&Complaint&in&this&
case&that&the&EOUSA&provided,&on&behalf&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&for&the&District&
of& Columbia,& a& response& to& the& Request& (the& FOIA& Response).& & When& the& EOUSA&
prepared& the& FOIA& Response,& the& EOUSA&:& & (i)&&claimed& that& no& responsive& records&
were& found& in& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for& the& District& of& Columbia& and&
(ii)&&admitted&that&the&FOIA&Response&being&provided&to&Plaintiff&was&nonresponsive&
to& the& Request.& & Notwithstanding,& once& Plaintiff& received& and& reviewed& the& FOIA&
Response,& Plaintiff& noted& that& the& FOIA& Response& principally& consisted& of& an&
incomplete& copy& of& the& pleadings& in& the& governments& prosecution& case& against& Lt.&
Choi.&&Furthermore,&Plaintiff&found&references&in&the&FOIA&Response&to&the&kinds&of&
records&Plaintiff&had&been&requesting&but&were&being&denied&by&the&DOJ&components.&&
Plaintiff& further& alleges& bad& faith& conduct& on& the& part& of& the& DOJ& components,& in&
particular& the& EOUSA,& in& deliberately& preparing& an& incomplete& FOIA& Response,& in&
deliberately&omitting&responsive&records,&and,&by&virtue&of&having&produced&a&partial&
copy& of& the& pleadings& in& the& governments& case& against& Lt.& Choi,& in& creating& a& red&
herring& to& intentionally& create& confusion& surrounding& the& records& that& are& truly&
responsive&to&the&Request..&

&

4&

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9.&

The& failure& of& the& DOJ& components& to& process& and& release&

responsive& records& is& of& particular& concern,& because& the& Request& relates& to&
controversial&actions&by&the&government&to&prosecute&activists,&including&the&use&of&
prosecutorial&overreach&and&vindictive&prosecution&in&cases&against&activists,&the&
practice& of& which& is& a& matter& of& intense& and& ongoing& public& debate.& & Indeed,& the&
public&has&no&information&about&the&internal&mechanisms&of&the&DOJ,&which&rule&or&
govern& the& targeted& prosecution& of& activists.& & Nor& does& the& public& have& any&
information& about& how& the& DOJ& balances& First& Amendment& rights,& other&
Constitutional&rights,&civil&liberties,&and&other&civil&rights&of&activists&against&charges&
that&the&DOJ&brings&against&activists.&&The&DOJ&has&separately&made&public&records&in&
respect& of& how& the& DOJ& investigates& and& prosecutes& journalists,& but& no& similar&
records&have&been&released&in&respect&of&activists.&&The&prosecution&of&activists&has&
provoked&public&outrage&and&calls&for&legislative&reform.&&See,1e.g.,&Tom&Risen,&Barrett1
Brown's1 Prison1 Time1 Raises1 Cybersecurity,1 Journalism1 Concerns,& U.S.& News& && World&
Report& (Jan.& 23,& 2015),& http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/23/&
barrettIbrownsIprisonItimeIraisesIcybersecurityIjournalismIconcerns&;&

Justin&

Peters,&Congress1Has1a1Chance1to1Fix1Its1Bad1Internet1Crime1Law1:1Itll1probably1blow1
it,& Slate& (Apr.& 24,& 2015),& http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/&
2015/04/aaron_s_law_why_it_s_needed_to_fix_the_horrendously_bad_cfaa.html.&&
The&release&of&records&sought&by&the&Request&would&benefit&the&public&as&lawmakers&
propose& legislative& reforms,& thereby& likely& to& contribute& significantly& to& public&
understanding& of& the& operations& or& activities& of& the& government.& & See& 5& U.S.C.& &
552(a)(4)(A)(iii).&

&

5&

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10.&

Plaintiff& further& seeks& relief& from& prohibitions& on& hits& speech& in&

violation&of&the&First&Amendment.&&The&U.S.&government&prohibits&complete&speech&
about&the&scope&of&the&governments&conduct&as&it&pertains&to&how&it&balances&First&
Amendment&rights,&other&Constitutional&rights,&civil&liberties,&and&other&civil&rights&of&
activists& against& charges& that& the& DOJ& brings& against& activists.& & This& framework&
prevents& Plaintiff,& readers& of& Plaintiffs& Web& sites,& the& public,& and& activists& from&
forming& and& sharing& their& own& informed& perspective& about& the& governments&
conduct.& & Plaintiff& will& freely& publish& records& responsive& to& the& Request& on& the&
Internet.& & Defendants& position& forces& Plaintiff& to& engage& in& speech& that& has& been&
restricted&by&government&officials&to&incomplete&speech&that&lacks&information&in&the&
records& sought& by& the& Request& filed& by& Plaintiff& under& FOIA,& and& Defendants&
position& forces& citizens& to& engage& in& restricted& speech& or& else& face& vindictive&
prosecution&if&citizens&act&engage&in&civic&activities&by&acting&as&activists&to&pressure&
the&government&for&reform.&&By&having&refuseding&for&over&two&years&to&answer&the&
Request&and&then,&once&having&answered&the&Request,&producing&records&that&were&
admittedly&nonresponsive&to&the&Request,&Defendant&provideds&no&authority&for&its&
ability&to&impose&those&speech&restrictions&on&other&journalists,&citizens,&or&activists,&
who&are&not&party&to&the&Request&submitted&by&Plaintiff.&&Plaintiffs&ability&to&speak,&
meaningfully& assemble& with& other& journalists,& citizens,& or& activists,& and& to& discuss&
any& petition& to& the& government& for& a& redress& of& grievances& areis& being&
unconstitutionally& restricted& by& Defendants& pattern& and& practice& of& denying& the&
Request&and&other&FOIA&requests.&&These&restrictions&constitute&an&unconstitutional&
prior& restraint& and& contentIbased& restriction& on,& and& government& viewpoint&

&

6&

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discrimination& against,& Plaintiffs& right& to& speak& about& information& of& the&
governments& conduct,& which& is& of& public& concern.& & Plaintiff& is& entitled& under& the&
First& Amendment& to& be& provided& complete& information& about& the& governments&
conductincluding& how& the& government& balances& First& Amendment& rights,& other&
Constitutional&rights,&civil&liberties,&and&other&civil&rights&of&activists&against&charges&
that& the& DOJ& brings& against& activistsand& in& a& means& by& which& Defendant& can&
account&for&and&explain&its&unconstitutional&speech&restrictions.&
11.&

Plaintiff&now&asks&the&Court&for&an&injunction&requiring&the&DOJ&to&

process&the&Request&immediately&and&to&provide&records&responsive&to&the&Request.&&
Plaintiff& also& seeks& an& orders&:&&(i)&& enjoining& Defendant& from& assessing& fees& for& the&
processing& of& the& Request& and&&(ii)&&assessing& penalties& and& sanctions& on& the&
Defendant&for&acts&of&bad&faith.&
JURISDICTION'AND'VENUE'
12.&

This& Court& has& both& subjectImatter& jurisdiction& of& the& FOIA& claim&

and& personal& jurisdiction& over& the& parties& pursuant& to& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(4)(B),&
(a)(6)(E)(iii).&&This&Court&also&has&jurisdiction&over&this&action&pursuant&to&28&U.S.C.&&
1331& and& 5& U.S.C.& & 701I706.& & This& Court& also& has& original& subject& matter&
jurisdiction& under& 28& U.S.C.& & 1331,& as& this& matter& arises& under& the& Constitution,&
laws,&or&treaties&of&the&United&States.&
13.&

Venue& lies& in& this& district& under& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(4)(B).& & Plaintiff&

resides&in&this&district,&and&Plaintiffs&speech&is&being&unconstitutionally&restricted&in&
this&district.&

&

7&

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PARTIES'
14.&

Plaintiff& Flores& is& an& openly& gay& journalist& and& activist.& & Flores&

advocates& for& equality& and& government& reform.& & Flores& is& also& committed& to&
principles&of&transparency&and&accountability&in&government,&and&he&seeks&to&ensure&
that& the& American& public& is& informed& about& the& governments& conduct& in& matters&
that&affect&civil&liberties&and&civil&rights.&
15.&

Defendant& DOJ& is& a& department& of& the& executive& branch& of& the&

United& States& government& and& is& an& agency& within& the& meaning& of& 5& U.S.C.& &
552(f)(1).& & The& DOJ& is& headquartered& in& Washington,& D.C.,& and& has& possession,&
custody,&and&control&of&the&records&to&which&Plaintiff&has&requested.&
16.&

Each& of& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for& the& District& of& Columbia,& the&

EOUSA,& and& the& OIP& are& components& of& the& DOJ.& & The& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for& the&
District& of& Columbia& is& one& of& 94& districts,& which& receives& advise& from& the& DOJ.&&
Indeed,&The&United&States&Attorneys&serve&as&the&nation's&principal&litigators&under&
the& direction& of& the& Attorney& General.& & See1 Offices1 of1 the1 United1 States1 Attorneys1 :11
Mission,1 U.S.1 Department1 of1 Justice& (Nov.& 18,& 2014),& http://www.justice.gov/usao/&
mission.&&According&to&Miller,&the&EOUSA&is&the&official&record&keeper&for&the&records&
maintained&in&all&United&States&Attorneys&offices.&&According&to&the&Web&site&of&the&
OIP,&the&OIP&is&responsible&for&encouraging&agency&compliance&with&the&Freedom&of&
Information& Act& (FOIA)& and& for& ensuring& that& the& Presidents& FOIA& Memorandum&
and& the& Attorney& General's& FOIA& Guidelines& are& fully& implemented& across& the&
government,& adding& that& the& OIP& also& manages& the& Department& of& Justice's&

&

8&

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obligations& under& the& FOIA.& & See& Office1of1Information1Policy1|1About1the1Office,& U.S.&
Department&of&Justice,&available&at&http://www.justice.gov/oip/aboutIoffice.&
FACTUAL'BACKGROUND'
The&Governments&Prosecution&of&Activists&
17.&

The& government& prosecutes& activists& for& having& expressed& their&

First&Amendment&rights&to&free&speech&and&freedom&of&assembly.&&Activists&engage&in&
civic& activities& to& pressure& the& government& for& reform.& & In& some& instances,& the& U.S.&
Attorneys& Office& has& been& reported& to& have& engaged& in& vindictive& prosecution,&
intimidation& and& prosecutorial& overreach,& and& extraordinary& prosecutorial&
overkill,&amongst&other&allegations,&in&cases&against&activists.&
18.&

The& press& has& described& some& of& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Offices&

prosecutions&of&activists&as&vindictive&in&nature.&&See,1e.g.,&Scott&Wooledge,&Updated:1
Judge1Allows1Lt1Dan1Chois1vindictive1prosecution1Defense,&Daily&Kos&(Aug.&31,&2011),&
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/31/1012290/IUpdatedIJudgeIAllowsI
LtIDanIChoiIsIvindictiveIprosecutionIDefense.& & Before& the& nature& of& the& selective&
prosecution& of& Lt.& Choi& could& become& public& information,& prosecutors& quashed& the&
effort&to&expose&the&selective&prosecution.&&See&Lou&Chibbaro&Jr.,&Judge1rules1against1
Choi1 in1 vindictive1 prosecution1 claim,& Washington& Blade& (Oct.& 17,& 2011),&
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/10/17/judgeIrulesIagainstIchoiIinI
vindictiveIprosecutionIclaim/.&&
19.&

In& the& case& against& the& late& Internet& activist& Aaron& Swartz,& the&

nature&of&that&prosecution&was&portrayed&in&the&press&to&be&rife&with&intimidation&
and& prosecutorial& overreach.& & See& Noam& Cohen,& A1Data1Crusader,1a1Defendant1and1

&

9&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 11 of 35 PageID #: 178

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Now,1 a1 Cause,& N.Y.&Times,& Jan.& 14,& 2003,& http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/&
technology/aaronIswartzIaIdataIcrusaderIandInowIaIcause.html.&
20.&

The& prosecution& of& PFC& Chelsea& Manning& could& lead& to& treating&

activists,&who&act&as&whistleblowers,&as&traitors.&&This&treatment&has&been&described&
as& extraordinary& prosecutorial& overkill.& & See& Amy& Goodman& && Glenn& Greenwald,&
Prosecutor1 Overreach1 Could1 Turn1 All1 Whistleblowing1 into1 Treason,& Democracy& Now&
(March& 5,& 2013),& http://www.democracynow.org/2013/3/5/glenn_greenwald_on_&
bradley_manning_prosecutor.&&&
21.&

News& reports& indicated& that& the& prosecution& of& activists& has&

imposed& restrictions,& burdens,& and& interferences& with& First& Amendment,& other&

Constitutional& rights,& civil& liberties,& and& other& civil& rights& of& activists.& & After&
HIV/AIDS&activists&were&arrested&during&a&peaceful&protest&in&Washington,&DC,&the&
U.S.&Attorneys&Office&demanded&the&drugItesting&of&activists,&who&were&charged&with&
nonviolent& crimes,& such& as& civil& disobedience.& & The& demand& for& drugItesting& of&
HIV/AIDS&activists&was&fraught&with&complications,&because&some&activists&may&have&
had& a& prescription& for& medical& marijuana& or& may& have& had& prescriptions& for& other&
medications,& which& perhaps& would& have& resulted& in& a& false& positive.& & See& Trenton&
Straube,& U.S.1 Attorney1 Requires1 Drug1 Tests1 for1 AIDS1 Protesters,& POZ& (Feb.& 2012),&
http://www.poz.com/articles/DC_HIV_Marijuana_401_21944.shtml&

;&

Martin&

Austermuhle,&AIDS1Activist1Faces1Trial1After1Use1of1Medical1Marijuana1Sinks1Hopes1for1
Dismissal1 of1 Charges,& dcist& (Feb.& 9,& 2012),& http://dcist.com/2012/02/aids_&
activist_faces_trial_after_usi.php.&

&

10&

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22.&

These&reports&have&also&suggested&that&the&prosecution&of&activists&

has&been&unfair.&&The&HIV/AIDS&activists&had&chained&themselves&together&inside&the&
office& of& then& House& Majority& Leader& Eric& Cantor& (RIVa.)& to& protest,& among& other&
issues,&cuts&to&HIV/AIDS&programs.&&They&were&arrested&on&federal&charges.&&On&the&
same& day& as& the& HIV/AIDS& activists& were& arrested,& 41& District& of& Columbia& voting&
rights& activists,& including& Mayor& Vincent& Gray,& were& arrested& on& Capitol& Hill.& The&
voting&rights&activists&were&charged&with&misdemeanors&by&the&District&of&Columbia&
attorney&general&;&most&of&the&voting&rights&activists,&including&the&mayor,&paid&a&$50&
fine.& & Why& did& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& treated& HIV/AIDS& activists& differently& ?&&
See1Arin& Greenwood,& HIV/AIDS1 Activists1 Complain1 Of1 Unfair1 Treatment1 By1 U.S.1
Attorney's1 Office,& Huffington& Post& (Feb.& 8,& 2012),& http://www.huffingtonpost.com/&
2012/02/08/aidsIactivistsIprotest_n_1263144.html& ;& Brianne& Carter,& D.C.1 mayor1
Vincent1 Gray,1 councilmembers1 arrested1:1Protesters1 plead1 not1 guilty,& WJLA& (May& 5,&
2011),&

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/05/dIcImayorIvincentIgrayI

councilmembersIarrestedIprotestersItoIappearIinIcourtII60103.html&

;&

Debbie&

Siegelbaum,& AIDS1 activists1 allege1 discriminatory1 treatment1 following1 Capitol1 arrest,&

The&Hill&(Feb.&8,&2011),&http://thehill.com/homenews/house/209485IaidsIactivistsI
allegeIdiscriminatoryItreatmentIafterIcapitolIprotestIarrest.&
23.&

Further& reports& raised& concerns& that& the& prosecution& of& activists&

has&been&influenced&with&political&overtones.&&During&his&tenure&as&a&U.S.&Attorney,&
Patrick&Fitzgerald&targeted&23&activists,&who&were&widely&described&as&critics&of&U.S.&
foreign&policy.&&See&Peter&Wallsten,&Activists1cry1foul1over1FBI1probe,&The&Washington&
Post& (June& 13,& 2011),& http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011I06I13/politics/&

&

11&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 13 of 35 PageID #: 180

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
35235946_1_activistsIcryIstephanieIweinerItargets& ;& Kevin& Gosztola,& FBI1 Continues1
to1Target1Activists1in1Chicago1and1Minneapolis1(VIDEO),& Firedoglake& (Dec.& 9,& 2010),&
http://my.firedoglake.com/kgosztola/2010/12/09/fbiIcontinuesItoItargetI
activistsIinIchicagoIandIminneapolis/& ;& Josh& Gerstein,& After1 11 year,1 FBI1 returns1
property1

to1

Minnesota1

anti`war1

activists,&

Politico&

(Nov.&

3,&

2011),&

http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1111/FBI_returns_property_to_Minne
sota_antiwar_activists.html.&
24.&

Activist&and&the&publicIatIlarge&are&unable&to&determine&the&nature&

and& purpose& of& the& prosecution& of& activists,& because& there& is& a& lack& of& reliable&
information& about& the& reasons& the& DOJ& has& been& prosecuting& activists.& & Even&
Congress& has& been& left& in& the& dark.& & See,1e.g.,& Kim& Zetter,& Congress1Demands1Justice1
Department1 Explain1 Aaron1 Swartz1 Prosecution,& Wired& (Jan.& 29,& 2013),&
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/01/dojIbriefingIonIaaronIswartz/&;&
Marcy&Wheeler,&Aaron1Swartz1reveals1the1hypocrisy1of1our1Justice1Department,&Salon&
(Jan.& 15,& 2013),& http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/aaron_swartz_reveals_the_&
hypocrisy_of_our_justice_department/.&&And&in&respect&of&Lt.&Choi,&a&magistrate&judge&
had&found&that&there&was&indication&that&the&Department&of&Justice&was&singling&out&
Lt.& Choi& for& vindictively& prosecution.& & See& John& Aravosis,& Judge1 finds1 prima1 facie1
evidence1 that1 US1 government1 may1 have1 vindictively1 prosecuted1 Dan1 Choi,&
AMERICAblog& (Aug.& 31,& 2011),& http://americablog.com/2011/08/judgeIfindsI
primaIfacieIevidenceIthatIusIgovernmentImayIhaveIvindictivelyIprosecutedIdanI
choi.html&;& Scott& Wooledge,& Updated:1 Judge1 Allows1 Lt1 Dan1 Chois1 vindictive1
prosecution1 Defense,& Daily& Kos& (Aug.& 31,& 2011),& http://www.dailykos.com/story/&

&

12&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 14 of 35 PageID #: 181

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
2011/08/31/1012290/IUpdatedIJudgeIAllowsILtIDanIChoiIsIvindictiveI
prosecutionIDefense&;&and&Chris&Geidner,&Government1Files1Motion1to1Stop1"Vindictive1
Prosecution"1 Defense1 in1 Choi1 Trial,& Metro& Weekly& (Sept.& 16,& 2011),&
http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/09/governmentIfiledImotionItoI
sto.html.&
The&Governments&Pattern&and&Practice&of&Denying&FOIA&Requests&
25.&

Contrary& to& each& of& FOIA,& the& Presidents& FOIA& Memorandum,& and&

the& Attorney& Generals& FOIA& Guidelines,& the& government& has& made& it& difficult& for&
FOIA& Requests& to& be& answered.& & See,1e.g.,& The& FOIA& Project,& FOIA1Lawsuits1Increase1
During1

Obama1

Administration,&

The&

FOIA&

Project&

(Dec.&

20,&

2012),&

http://foiaproject.org/2012/12/20/increaseIinIfoiaIlawsuitsIduringIobamaI
administration/&(citing&a&study&by&the&Transactional&Records&Access&Clearinghouse,&
noting&that&more&court&complaints&seeking&to&force&the&government&to&comply&with&
FOIA&were&filed&in&the&first&term&of&the&administration&of&the&President&than&in&the&
last&term&of&the&administration&of&former&President&George&W.&Bush,&and&adding&that,&
Partly& because& President& Obama& has,& since& his& first& few& days& in& office,& made&
sweeping& promises& about& his& administrations& support& for& open& government,& the&
somewhat& surprising& increase& in& FOIA& filingsespecially& in& the& last& two& years
adds& credence& to& the& criticism& of& some& activists& about& the& Obama& Administrations&
actual& commitment& to& this& goal.)& ;& Erika& Eichelberger,& Most1 Transparent1
Administration1

Ever1

Is1

Still1

Not,&

Mother&

Jones&

(Feb.&

7,&

2013),&

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/02/darrellIissaIelijahIcummingsIfoiaI
transparencyIdepartmentIofIjustice& (noting& that& filing& a& FOIA& request& and& getting&

&

13&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 15 of 35 PageID #: 182

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
information& back& is& still& a& struggle).& & Frustration& with& the& governments& failure& to&
comply& with& each& of& it& legal& obligations& under& FOIA,& the& Presidents& FOIA&
Memorandum,&and&the&Attorney&Generals&FOIA&Guidelines&forced&the&leadership&of&
the&U.S.&House&of&Representatives&Committee&on&Oversight&and&Government&Reform&
to& send& a& letter& the& OIP& to& focus& attention& on& concerns& that& included& fees& for&
accessing& government& records,& backlogs& of& FOIA& Requests,& and& the& misuse& of&
exemptions.& & See& Darrell& Issa& && Elijah& Cummings,& Letter1 to1 Office1 of1 Information1
Policy,&U.S.&House&of&Representatives&(Feb.&4,&2013),&http://oversight.house.gov/wpI
content/uploads/2013/02/2013I02I04IDEIIEECItoIPustayIreIFOIA.pdf&(the&Letter&
to&the&OIP).&&Furthermore,&a&coalition&of&49&groups&acted&in&support&of&the&Letter&to&
the& OIP& by& pressing& the& government& to& honor& its& obligations& under& FOIA.& & See& Jeff&
Plungis,& National1 Press1 Club1 asks1 President1 Obama1 to1 fulfill1 FOIA1 promises,& National&
Press& Club& (Feb.& 25,& 2013),& http://www.press.org/newsImultimedia/news/&
nationalIpressIclubIasksIpresidentIobamaIfulfillIfoiaIpromises.&
26.&

Since& then,& the& number& of& court& complaints& seeking& to& force& the&

government& to& comply& with& FOIA& has& increased.& & See,& e.g.,& Hadas& Gold,& NYT,1 Vice,1
Mother1 Jones1 top1 FOIA1 suits,& Politico& (Dec.& 23,& 2014),& http://www.politico.com/&
blogs/media/2014/12/nytIviceImotherIjonesItopIfoiaIsuitsI200325.html&

(noting&

that& the& top& defendant& was& the& DOJ)& ;& Ted& Bridis,& Administration1 sets1 record1 for1
withholding1 government1 files,& The& Associated& Press& (Mar.& 18,& 2015),&
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ab029d7c625149348143a51ff61175c6/usIsetsInewI
recordIdenyingIcensoringIgovernmentIfiles& (noting& that& The& government& took&
longer& to& turn& over& files& when& it& provided& any,& said& more& regularly& that& it& couldn't&

&

14&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 16 of 35 PageID #: 183

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
find& documents& and& refused& a& record& number& of& times& to& turn& over& files& quickly&
that1might1be1especially1newsworthy&(emphasis&added),&adding&that&in&nearly&1&in&3&
cases,& the& governments& initial& decisions& to& withhold& or& censor& records& were&
improper&under&the&lawbut&only&when&it&was&challenged.).&
27.&

Given&the&governments&pattern&and&practice&of&refusing&to&comply&

with&FOIA&Requests&until&challenged,&the&government,&in&an&act&of&bad&faith,&waited&
until&after&the&original&Complaint&was&filed&in&this&case&before&it&has&neither&released&
records,& & responsive& to& the& Request& and& the& government& has& notnor& explained& the&
rationale&for&having&waited&over&two&years&to&answer&the&Requestits&failure&to&do&so,&
making& it& impossible& to& know& how& the& government& balances& the& First& Amendment&
rights,& other& Constitutional& rights,& civil& liberties,& and& other& civil& rights& of& activists&
against& charges& that& the& government& brings& against& activists.& & Without& this&
information,& the& public& is& unable& to& determine& if& the& government& is& intentionally&
targeting& activists& for& prosecution.& & If&the& government& is& engaged& in& targeting&
activists,&then&the&public&is&also&unable&to&make&informed&judgments&about&why&the&
government&has&targeted&activists&for&prosecution.&
28.&

The& government& has& been& portrayed& in& the& press& to& have& been&

engaged& in& the& intentional& targeting& of& journalists,& for& example,& even& though&
journalists& operate& in& a& profession& that& benefits& from& protections& from& First&
Amendment& rights& to& free& speech& and& freedom& of& the& press.& & U.S.& Const.& amend.& I.&&
See,1 e.g.,& Sari& Horwitz,& Under1 sweeping1 subpoenas,1 Justice1 Department1 obtained1 AP1
phone1 records1 in1 leak1 investigation,& The& Washington& Post,& (May& 13,& 2013)&
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nationalIsecurity/underIsweepingI

&

15&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 17 of 35 PageID #: 184

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
subpoenasIjusticeIdepartmentIobtainedIapIphoneIrecordsIinIleakI
investigation/2013/05/13/11d1bb82Ibc11I11e2I89c9I3be8095fe767_story.html&
(noting&that&guidelines&existed&for&how&the&DOJ&treated&investigations&of&the&press,&
specifically&adding&that&the&guidelines&indicated&that&any&subpoenas&of&records&from&
news& organizations& must& be& approved& personally& by& the& attorney& general).& & Even&
though& the& activities& of& journalists& are& protected& by& the& First& Amendment,& the&
government& still& investigated& and& prosecuted& journalists& in& accordance& with&
guidelines& that& governed& those& prosecutions.& & The& DOJ& later& updated& and& made&
public& those& guidelines.& & See& Charlie& Savage,& Attorney1 General1 Signs1 New1 Rules1 to1
Limit1 Access1 to1 Journalists1 Records,& The& New& York& Times& (Feb.& 21,& 2014),&
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/us/attorneyIgeneralIsignsInewIrulesItoI
limitIaccessItoIjournalistsIrecords.html.& & However,& the& public& does& not& know& what&
guides& the& DOJ& in& the& prosecution& of& activists,& whose& civic& activities& are& also&
protected&by&the&First&Amendment.&
The&EIMail&Request&
29.&

On&April&March&3027,&2013,&Flores&submitted&an&electronic&mail&to&

George&seeking&information&that&would&allow&Flores&to&update&a&blog&post.&&The&EI
mail& Request& presented& three& questions& to& George,& including& a& request& for&
production&of&a&tabulation&of&costs&incurred&by&the&DOJ&in&its&prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi&:&

&

a.&

Explanation&for&the&DOJs&prosecution&of&activists&;&&

b.&

Explanation&for&the&failure&by&DOJ&officials&to&refer&to&Lt.&
Choi&by&his&rank&;&and&

c.&

Disclosure&of&the&cumulative&costs&incurred&by&the&DOJ&to&
prosecute&Lt.&Choi.&

16&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 18 of 35 PageID #: 185

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
30.&

The&EImail&Request&was&copied&to&officials&at&DOJ&components.&&&

31.&

By& April& 10,& 2013,& no& response& was& received,& so& Flores& sent& a&

followIup&electronic&mail&requesting&a&response.&
32.&

By& April& 16,& 2013,& no& response& was& received,& so& Flores& forwarded&

the&EImail&Request&to&a&general&public&assistance&electronic&mail&account&of&the&DOJ,&
asking& for& a& response.& & The& April& 16,& 2013,& electronic& mail& cited& the& Attorney&
General's&FOIA&Guidelines.&
33.&

By&electronic&mail&dated&April&17,&2013,&Miller&instructed&Flores&to&

submit&a&FOIA&request&to&the&EOUSA.&
The&FOIA&Request&
34.&

Based& on& Millers& instruction& communicated& to& Flores& by& Millers&

electronic& mail& of& April& 17,& 2013,& Flores& prepared& and& submitted& by& letter& dated&
April&30,&2013,&a&FOIA&Request&seeking&:&
a.&

&

All&records&and&information&pertaining&to&the&legal&basis&of&
prosecuting& activists,& who& engage& in& protests,& including,&
but&not&limited,&to&records&and&information&regarding&:&&
(i)&

&what& kind& of& activists& may& be& targeted& for&

prosecution,& how& many& activists& have& been&
targeted& for& prosecution,& what& are& the& names& of&
such& activists,& and& which& Department& of& Justice&
officials&approved&of&such&prosecution&of&activists&;&

(ii)&

whether&the&nature&and&purpose&of&prosecution&of&
activists& may& be& aggressive,& selective,& or& involve&
overreach,& and& which& Department& of& Justice&
officials& approve& of& such& nature& and& purpose& of&
prosecution&of&activists&;&

(iii)&

limits,& rules,& procedures,& or& other& guidelines& that&

must&or&should&be&taken&into&consideration&before,&
during,& and& after& the& prosecution& of& activists& to&
mimimise& the& interference& with& First& Amendment&
17&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 19 of 35 PageID #: 186

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
rights,& other& Constitutional& rights,& civil& liberties,&
and&other&civil&rights&of&activists&;&

b.&

(iv)&

consideration& of& other& circumstances,& conditions,&

and&restrictions&that&form&any&part&of&the&decision&
to& target& activists& for& prosecution& ;& and,& if& such&
considerations& exist,& under& what& circumstances,&
under& what& conditions,& and& subject& to& what&
restrictions&;&

(v)&

any& and& all& agency,& executive,& judicial,& or&

congressional& reports,& memoranda,& records,& and&
information,& which& provide& any& description& of& the&
process& for& the& determination& as& to& whether&
activists&can&be&targeted&for&prosecution&;&and&

(vi)&

whether& agencies& other& than& the& Department& of&

Justice&may&target&activists&for&prosecution,&and,&if&
so,& under& what& circumstances,& under& what&
conditions,& and& subject& to& what& restrictions& ;& and&
which&agency&officials&approve&of&such&prosecution&
of&activists.&&

All& records& and& information& created& on& or& after& Nov.& 12,&
2010,& pertaining& to& the& legal& basis& for& the& arrest& and/or&
prosecution& of& Lt.& Choi,& including,& but& not& limited& to,&
records&and&information&regarding&:&&
(i)&

whether&the&prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi&was&part&of&any&
Department&of&Justices&process&to&target&activists&;&
and&

(ii)&

the& limits& of& the& Department& of& Justices&

prosecution& to& mimimise& the& interference& with&
First&Amendment,&other&Constitutional&rights,&civil&
liberties,&and&other&civil&rights&of&Lt.&Choi.&

c.&

All& records& and& information& created& on& or& after& Nov.& 12,&
2010,& pertaining& to& the& legal& basis& for& the& Department& of&
Justice&or&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&to&fail&to&refer&to&Lt.&Choi&by&
his&military&rank,&in&accordance&with&Army&Regulation&670I1.&&

d.&

The&total&cost&of&the&prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi,&including,&but&
not&limited&to&:&&
(i)&

&

any&and&all&records&and&information&created&on&or&
after& Nov.& 12,& 2010,& pertaining& to& the& cost& of&
18&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 20 of 35 PageID #: 187

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
arresting& and/or& prosecuting& Lt.& Choi,& including,&
but& not& limited& to,& records& and& information&
regarding&:&

35.&

(A)&

any& and& all& agency,& executive,& judicial,& or&

congressional&
reports,&
memoranda,&
records,& and& information,& which& indicate,&
calculate,&or&analyze&the&budged&and&actual&
cost&of&the&prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi&;&&

(B)&

any& and& all& records& of& the& cost& of& staff&

costs,& staff& benefits,& travel,& transcripts,&
accommodations,& meals,& nonIattorney&
investigation& costs,& research& costs,& other&
investigation& costs,& and& all& other& costs& on&
the&prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi&;&

(C)&

any&and&all&records&of&the&costs&of&fact&and&
expert& witnesses& in& connection& with& the&
prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi&;&

(D)&

any&and&all&records&of&assistance&provided&
by& other& law& enforcement& agencies& in&
connection& with& the& prosecution& of& Lt.&
Choi&;&and&

(E)&

any&and&all&records&of&hours&worked,&paid&
or& unpaid& overtime& hours,& and& other&
information& about& personnel& hours&
worked& in& connection& with& the&
prosecution&of&Lt.&Choi.&

The&Request&directed&the&DOJ&to&search&for&responsive&records.&&In&

the&EImail&Request,&Flores&specifically&asked&whether&there&was&another&process&by&
which&Flores&could&obtain&the&information&he&sought,&and,&if&so,&Flores&requested&to&
be& informed& by& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& of& such& process.& & This& was& recounted& on&
Page&1&of&the&Request.&
36.&

Plaintiff&sought&expedited&processing&of&the&Request&on&the&grounds&

that& there& is& a& compelling& need& for& these& records,& because& the& information&

&

19&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 21 of 35 PageID #: 188

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
requested& is& urgently& needed& by& Flores,& who& is& primarily& engaged,& as& a& journalist&
and& activist,& in& disseminating& information& to& inform& the& public& about& the&
governments&conduct.&&See&5&U.S.C.&&552(a)(6)(E)&;&22&C.F.R.&&171.12(b)&;&28&C.F.R.&
&16.5(d)&;&32&C.F.R.&&286.4(d)(3)&;&32&C.F.R.&&1900.34(c).&
37.&

Plaintiff& sought& a& waiver& of& search,& review,& and& reproduction& fees&

on& the& grounds& that& disclosure& of& the& requested& records& is& in& the& public& interest,&
because&it&is&likely&to&contribute&significantly&to&public&understanding&of&operations&
or&activities&of&the&government&and&is&not&primarily&in&the&commercial&interest&of&the&
requester.&&See&5&U.S.C.&&552(a)(4)(A)(iii)&;&22&C.F.R.&171.17(a)&;&see1also&28&C.F.R.&
&16.11(k)(1)&;&32&C.F.R.&&286.28(d)&;&32&C.F.R.&&1900.13(b)(2).&
38.&

Plaintiff& also& sought& a& waiver& of& search& and& review& fees& on& the&

grounds& that& Flores& qualifies& as& a& representative& of& the& news& media& and& that& the&
records&are&not&sought&for&commercial&use.&&See&5&U.S.C.&&552(a)(4)(A)(ii);&28&C.F.R.&
&16.11(d).&
The&U.S.&Attorneys&Offices&Response&to&the&EIMail&Request&
39.&

By& electronic& mail& dated& April& 17,& 2013,& Miller& acknowledged&

receipt&of&the&chain&of&electronic&mails&that&included&the&EIMail&Request,&instructing&
Flores&to&submit&the&Request&to&the&EOUSA.&
40.&

The&twentyIday&statutory&limit&for&the&DOJ&to&respond&to&Plaintiffs&

Request&has&elapsed.&&See15&U.S.C.&&552(a)(6).&
41.&

In& spite& of& the& urgent& public& interest& surrounding& the& requested&

documents,&after&more&than&six&months&had&passed&since&Plaintiff&filed&his&Request,&

&

20&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 22 of 35 PageID #: 189

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office,& in& another& act& of& bad& faith,& never& released& responsive&
records,&prompting&Plaintiff&to&engage&Counsel.&
42.&

Plaintiff& challenges& the& responses& and& nonresponses& by& the& U.S.&

Attorneys&Office&on&its&own&behalf&and&on&behalf&of&the&DOJ&components.&&&
43.&

To& dateFor& over& two& years,& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& has& neither&

released&responsive&records&nor&explained&its&failure&to&do&so,&constituting&an&act&of&
bad&faith.&&It&was&only&after&Plaintiff&filed&the&original&Complaint&in&this&case&that&the&
EOUSA&provided,&on&behalf&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&for&the&District&of&Columbia,&
the& incomplete& and& nonresponsive& FOIA& Response& more& completely& described& in&
Paragraph&8.& & Plaintiff& alleges& bad& faith& conduct& on& the& part& of& the& EOUSA& in&
deliberately&preparing&an&incomplete&FOIA&Response,&one&that&intentionally&omitted&
responsive&records,&and,&by&virtue&of&having&produced&a&partial&copy&of&the&pleadings&
in&the&governments&case&against&Lt.&Choi,&in&creating&a&red&herring&to&intentionally&
create&confusion&surrounding&the&records&that&are&truly&responsive&to&the&Request.&&&
The&Executive&Office&for&United&States&Attorneys&
44.&

During&two&telephone&calls&on&June&5,&2013,&Sanjay&Sola,&a&paralegal&

at&the&EOUSA&(Sola),&informed&Flores&that&the&Request&had&been&received&and&been&
assigned& the& request& number& :& & 13I1506,& first& adding& that& Vinay& Jolly& would& be&
handling& the& expedited& processing& request,& before& later& correcting& himself,& saying&
that& Sonya& Whitaker& (Whitaker)& would,& instead,& handle& the& expedited& request&
aspect&of&the&Request.&&Sola&transferred&Flores&to&Whitakers&voicemail,&whereupon&
Flores&left&his&cellular&telephone&number&for&Whitaker&to&use&to&inform&Flores&if&the&
request&for&expedited&processing&would&be&approved&for&the&Request.&

&

21&

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45.&

On&June&18,&2013,&Flores&again&spoke&with&Sola&during&a&telephone&

call,& and,& once& again,& Sola& transferred& Flores& to& Whitakers& voicemail,& whereupon&
Flores&left&another&voicemail&message&for&Whitaker&about&the&Request.&
46.&

In& subsequent& attempts& to& reach& Sola& by& telephone,& Flores& spoke&

with&Sola&on&July&9,&2013,&whereupon&Sola&informed&Flores&that&the&request&for&a&fee&
waiver&was&declined.&&Sola&told&Flores&that&the&person&making&the&determination&just&
checks&a&box.&&Sola&added&that&the&computer&showed&him&that&the&Request&was&not&a&
matter&of&widespread&and&exceptional&interest.&&Sola&said&that&Flores&may&receive&a&
letter& to& this& effect& ;& however,& Flores& never& received& such& a& letter.& & Furthermore,&
Flores& asked& Sola& how& should& Flores& go& about& to& appeal& the& determination& that&
denied&the&fee&waiver,&and&Sola&told&Flores&that&Sola&did&not&have&that&information.&&
Additionally,&Sola&told&Flores&that&the&Request&was&under&search,&and&Flores&asked&
Sola& if& Flores& should& wait& to& see& how& many& records& would& be& produced& before&
addressing&the&issue&of&fees.&&Sola&said&that&the&policy&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&is&
to&not&charge&for&the&first&100&pages,&generally,&but,&after&100&pages,&the&charge&is&ten&
cents&per&page,&adding&that&the&next&step&would&be&for&Flores&to&receive&an&invoice,&
which&would&then&inform&Flores&how&many&records&were&found.&&The&invoice&would&
also&inform&Flores&how&much&Flores&would&have&to&pay.&&Flores&never&received&such&
an&invoice.&
47.&

In& subsequent& attempts& to& reach& Sola& by& telephone,& Flores& spoke&

with& Sola& on& October& 17,& 2013,& whereupon& Flores& told& Sola& that& Flores& had& never&
received&any&written&confirmation&that&the&DOJ&had&received&the&Request.&&Sola&then&
asked&Flores&if&Flores&had&received&the&notification&from&OPA&that&the&request&for&

&

22&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 24 of 35 PageID #: 191

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
expedited& processing& had& been& declined,& to& which& Flores& said& that& Flores& had& not.&&
Sola& promised& to& send& the& notification& to& Flores& by& electronic& mail.& & Flores& never&
received&anything&by&electronic&mail.&&Sola&added&that&since&the&expedited&processing&
request& had& been& declined,& the& Request& was& going& through& normal& processing.&&
Flores& asked& why& was& the& expedited& processing& request& declined& when& one& of& the&
activists,& who& was& the& principal& subject& of& the& Request,& namely,& Lt.& Choi,& was& a&
newsworthy& individual.& & Sola& told& Flores& that& he& had& no& information,& promising&
Flores& that,& I& need& to& get& more& information.& & Furthermore,& Flores& asked& Sola& if&
there& was& anybody& else& with& whom& Flores& could& speak,& to& which& Sola& replied& that&
Solas&role&in&respect&of&FOIA&requests&was&to&process&searches&after&the&search&had&
been& completed,& adding& that& Sola& would& find& out& from& the& intake& staff& what& was&
happening&with&the&Request,&before&further&adding&that,&After&that,&well&have&more&
answers&for&you.&&Finally,&Sola&said&that&the&FOIA&Request&would&have&to&go&to&the&
District&for&the&search&to&be&conducted,&adding&that&the&DOJ&only&has&one&person&in&
the& District& of& Columbia,& making& the& process& very& slow,& before& promising& to& get&
more&information&on&behalf&of&Flores,&given&that&October&17,&2013,&had&been&the&first&
day& back& for& employees& in& the& office& since& the& conclusion& of& the& government&
shutdown.& & Sola& concluded& the& call& by& saying& that& Sola& would& call& Flores& in& the&
following& week.& & Flores& never& received& such& a& followIup& call.& & Plaintiff& alleges& the&
DOJs& conduct& in& delaying,& thwarting,& or& failing& to& process& the& Request& constitutes&
acts&of&bad&faith.&
48.&

Approximately& three& weeks& later,& on& November& 7,& 2013,& Flores&

retained&Counsel&and&attempted&no&more&communication&with&Sola&at&the&EOUSA.&

&

23&

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49.&

When&no&responsive&records&were&produced,&Flores&approached&the&

office&of&his&representative&in&the&U.S.&Congress,&the&Hon.&U.S.&Representative&Joseph&
Crowley& (Crowley),& and& asked& that& the& office& of& Crowley& write& a& letter& to& the&
EOUSA&on&Flores&behalf,&asking&that&the&EOUSA&answer&the&Request.&&On&February&
10,&2014,&the&office&of&Crowley&sent&to&the&EOUSA&such&a&letter&signed&by&Crowley.&&
Plaintiff& further& alleges& that& the& EOUSAs& failure& to& answer& the& letter& sent& by&
Crowley,&who&is&a&ranking&member&of&the&U.S.&House&of&Representatives,&constitutes&
an& act& of& bad& faith& and& demonstrates& the& DOJs& overIall& disregard& for& attempts& by&
government&leaders&to&pressure&the&agency&to&comply&with&FOIA.&
50.&

To& dateFor& over& two& years,& the& EOUSA& has& neither& released&

responsive&records&nor&explained&its&failure&to&do&so,&constituting&an&act&of&bad&faith.&&
It& was& only& after& Plaintiff& filed& the& original& Complaint& in& this& case& that& the& EOUSA&
provided,& on& behalf& of& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for& the& District& of& Columbia,& the&
incomplete& and& nonresponsive& FOIA& Response& more& completely& described& in&
Paragraph&8.& & Plaintiff& alleges& that& the& delays& and& the& subsequent& deliberate&
omissions&of&responsive&records&constitute&acts&of&bad&faith,&and&the&totality&of&the&
EOUSAs&disregard&for&FOIA&constitutes&an&act&of&bad&faith&made&with&impunity.&&
The&Office&of&Information&Policy&
51.&

By&letter&dated&December&6,&2013,&Counsel&filed&the&Appeal&with&the&

OIP,& informing& the& OIP& that& the& failure& by& the& DOJ& to& respond& to& the& Request&
constitutes&a&denial&of&the&Request&and&Mr.&Flores&is&deemed&to&have&exhausted&his&
administrative&remedies,&adding&that,&the&DOJ&has&done&nothing&at&all&to&respond&to&
the& Request& other& than& to& tell& Mr.& Flores& that,& due& to& the& agencys& own& internal&

&

24&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
limitations& on& resources& and& staff,& it& is& having& difficulty& processing& the& numerous&
FOIA&requests&that&the&DOJ&receives,&further&adding&that,&Given&the&DOJs&conduct&
in& connection& with& the& Request,& we& are& left& with& the& impression& that& the& DOJ& is&
taking&an&uncooperative&stance,&is&not&exercising&due&diligence&in&responding&to&the&
Request,& or& both,& before& urging& the& DOJ& to& be& mindful& of& the& Attorney& Generals&
admonition& that& [o]pen& government& requires& agencies& to& work& proactively& and&
respond& to& requests& promptly& & When& information& not& previously& disclosed& is&
requested,&agencies&should&make&it&a&priority&to&respond&in&a&timely&manner.&&Timely&
disclosure& of& information& is& an& essential& component& of& transparency.& & Long& delays&
should& not& be& viewed& as& an& inevitable& and& insurmountable& consequence& of& high&
demand,&&and&finally&concluding&by&demanding&a&response&within&20&business&days.&
52.&

By&letter&dated&May&20,&2014,&the&OIP&corresponded&with&Counsel,&

informing&Counsel&that&the&OIP&was&remanding&the&Request&for&responsive&records,&
adding& that,& if& EOUSA& locates& releasable& records,& it& will& be& send& them& to& you&
directly,&subject&to&any&applicable&fees.&&&
53.&

To&dateFor&over&two&years,&the&OIP&has&neither&released&responsive&

records&nor&explained&its&failure&to&do&so,&constituting&an&act&of&bad&faith.&&It&was&only&
after&Plaintiff&filed&the&original&Complaint&in&this&case&that&the&EOUSA&provided,&on&
behalf&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&for&the&District&of&Columbia&but&without&mention&
or& regard& to& the& OIP,& the& incomplete& and& nonresponsive& FOIA& Response& more&
completely&described&in&Paragraph&8.&&Plaintiff&alleges&bad&faith&on&behalf&of&the&OIP&
for&deliberately&not&being&in&compliance&with&FOIA.&

&

25&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
The&Department&of&Justice&
54.&

On& Sept.& 17,& 2014,& Flores& protested& outside& New& York& University&

School&of&Law&before&Holder&was&set&to&deliver&a&speech.&&Amongst&the&protest&signs&
that& Flores& carried& was& one& that& read,& ERIC& HOLDER& :& & ANSWER& FOIA& REQUEST&
ABOUT&GOVT&PROSECUTION&OF&ACTIVISTS&INCL.&LT.&DANIEL&CHOI.&&When&Holder&
arrived,&Flores&held&up&this&protest&sign&and&said,&as&Holder&looked&in&the&direction&of&
Flores,& Attorney& General& Holder,& answer& my& FOIA& request.& & Answer& my& FOIA&
request.& & See& Louis& Flores,& Twitter& (Sept.& 17,& 2014,& 12:34& PM),&
https://twitter.com/maslowsneeds/status/512278432131350528.&
55.&

Again& on& Sept.& 23,& 2014,& Flores& protested& outside& New& York&

University& School& of& Law,& where& Holder& was& appearing,& to& demand& that& the& DOJ&
answer&the&Request.&&Again,&Flores&carried&the&same&sign,&which&read,&ERIC&HOLDER&
:& & ANSWER& FOIA& REQUEST& ABOUT& GOVT& PROSECUTION& OF& ACTIVISTS& INCL.& LT.&
DANIEL& CHOI.& & See& Louis& Flores,& Twitter& (Sept.& 23& 2014,& 1:07& PM),&
https://twitter.com/maslowsneeds/status/514460998418579456.&
56.&

Flores& even& launched& a& social& media& campaign& to& challenge& the&

DOJs&pattern&and&practice&that&systematically&refused&to&answer&the&Request.&&See,1
e.g.,& Louis& Flores,& Twitter& (Oct.& 15,& 2013,& 4:42& PM& EST),& https://twitter.com/&
maslowsneeds/status/390216209636925440&(attaching&a&link&to&a&YouTube&video,&
which& had& been& uploaded& on& Oct.& 15,& 2013,& that& explored& whether& individuals&
outside& the& DOJ& had& a& role& in& ordering& the& arrest& of& Lt.& Choi& for& his& activism& and&
questioned&whether&the&DOJ&was&targeting&for&vindictive&prosecution&activists,&who&
may&have&been&engaged&in&pressure&politics&against&the&President&in&order&to&bring&

&

26&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 28 of 35 PageID #: 195

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about& social& change)& ;& Louis& Flores,& Twitter& (Feb.& 25,& 2014,& 4:24& PM& EST),&
https://twitter.com/maslowsneeds/status/438424392977375232&(attaching&a&link&
to& another& YouTube& video,& which& had& been& uploaded& on& Dec.& 4,& 2013,& noting& that&
speech&critical&of&government,&for&example,&political&speech,&is&a&freedom&guaranteed&
as& a& protection& in& the& First& Amendment& to& the& U.S.& Constitution,& adding& that& when&
the& DOJ& does& not& honor& FOIA& requests,& this& failure& acts& to& curtail& free& speech,&
because& the& failure& denies& citizens& information& about& the& governments& conduct,&
consequently&preventing&citizens&from&meaningfully&forming&informed&speech,&from&
meaningfully&assembling&to&discuss&the&governments&conduct,&and&to&petition&their&
government&for&a&redress&of&grievances)&;&and&Louis&Flores,&Twitter&(Sept.&25,&2014,&
11:15& AM& EST),& https://twitter.com/maslowsneeds/status/515157736821358592&
(noting&the&Sept.&17,&2014,&protest&against&Holder).&&
57.&

To&dateFor&over&two&years,&the&DOJ&has&neither&released&responsive&

records&nor&explained&its&failure&to&do&so,&constituting&an&act&of&bad&faith.&&It&was&only&
after&Plaintiff&filed&the&original&Complaint&in&this&case&that&the&EOUSA&provided,&on&
behalf&of&the&U.S.&Attorneys&Office&for&the&District&of&Columbia&but&without&mention&
or& regard& to& the& DOJ,& the& incomplete& and& nonresponsive& FOIA& Response& more&
completely&described&in&Paragraph&8.&&Plaintiff&alleges&bad&faith&on&behalf&of&the&DOJ&
for&deliberately&not&being&in&compliance&with&FOIA.&
58.&

Plaintiffs&Request&seeks&records&about&how&the&DOJ&&balances&First&

Amendment&rights,&other&Constitutional&rights,&civil&liberties,&and&other&civil&rights&of&
activists& against& charges& that& the& DOJ& brings& against& activists.& & As& a& journalist,&
Plaintiff& seeks& these& records& in& order& to& inform& the& public.& & Demonstrating& the&

&

27&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 29 of 35 PageID #: 196

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danger& to& the& First& Amendment,& the& government& precludes& the& full& exercise& of&
complete&speech&by&restricting&the&public&to&engage&in&speech&that&lacks&information&
in&the&records&sought&by&the&Request&filed&by&Plaintiff&under&FOIA.&
59.&

In& response& to& Defendants& restrictions& on& speech,& Plaintiff&

produced&two&YouTube&videos&to&inform&the&public&about&the&governments&refusal&
to& answer& the& Request.& & See,1 e.g.,& LGBTcivilRIRGHTS& ,& Why1 won't1 DOJ1 answer1 FOIA1
Request1 about1 Lt.1 Dan1 Choi1 ?,& YouTube& (Oct.& 15,& 2013),& https://youtu.be/&
JfqJ8FncI9Q&;&astoria25,&Free1Speech1Implications1of1DOJ1Denying1FOIA1Request1on1Lt.1
Daniel1Choi,&YouTube&(Dec.&4,&2013),&https://youtu.be/axxpXab1ZVQ&;&Louis&Flores,&
Protest1against1Eric1Holder1at1NYU1re:1FOIA1request1about1government1prosecution1of1
activists,&YouTube&(Sept.&17,&2014),&https://youtu.be/3HQIIoRpmK8.&
60.&

The& & ability& to& engage& in& complete& speech& concerning& the& nature&

and& extent& of& the& governments& conduct& is& critical& to& each& of& Plaintiff,& readers& of&
Plaintiffs&Web&sites,&the&public,&and&activists,&who&are&not&party&to&the&Request.&&&
61.&

(a).&&As&a&consequence&of&the&governments&refusal&to&either&release&

responsive& records& or& to& explain& its& failure& to& do& so,& the& public& cannot& fully& and&
completely& speak& ;& meaningfully& assemble& with& other& journalists,& citizens,& or&
activists& ;& and& discuss& any& petition& to& the& government& for& a& redress& of& grievances.&&
Since&the&government&is&intruding&on&free&speech&and&on&the&freedom&of&the&press,&
the&government&is&violating&the&First&Amendment&with&no&explanation&for&either&its&
intrusion& or& its& violation,& respectively.& & (b).&&Before& answering& the& Request,& the&
government&misrepresented&before&this&Court&that&the&government&had&no&copy&of&
the& Request,& even& though& the& government& admitted& in& its& Answer& to& the& original&

&

28&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
Complaint& in& this& case& that& the& government& had& received& eImail& from& Plaintiff& to&
which&

Plaintiff&

had&

attached&

an&

electronic&

copy&

of&

the&

Request.&&

(c).&&InsteadMeanwhile,& the& government& spent& over& two& years& simply& refusinges& to&
answer& the& Request& in& a& particularly& egregious& act& of& bad& faith.& & (d).&&When& the&
government&did&answer&the&Request,&the&government&did&so&by&falsely&claiming&that&
no& responsive& records& could& be& found,& in& spite& of& the& fact& that& the& FOIA& Response&
included&references&to&the&existence&of&such&responsive&documents.&&(e).&&Therefore,&
Plaintiff& claims& that& the& DOJ& components& have& not& complied& with& FOIA,& the&
Presidents& FOIA& Memorandum,& and& the& Attorney& Generals& FOIA& Guidelines.&&
(f)&&Finally,& the& DOJ& components& willful& disregard& for& FOIA,& its& misrepresentation&
before& this& Court,& and& its& refusal& to& provide& documents& responsive& to& the& Request&
constitute& acts& of& bad& faith& and& an& improper& withholding& of& agency& records,&
particularly&in&light&of&:&&(i)&&the&Appeal&filed&with&the&OIP,&informing&the&OIP&that&the&
government& had& been& deemed& to& have& constructively& denied& Plaintiffs& FOIA&
Request& and& concluding,& in& part,& that& Plaintiff& had& exhausted& his& administrative&
remedies& and& (ii)& the& subsequent& FOIA& Response,& which& referenced& the& kinds& of&
records&Plaintiff&had&been&seeking&but&were&denied&Plaintiff.&&
CAUSES'OF'ACTION'
62.&

Defendants& failure& to& make& a& reasonable& effort& to& search& for&

records&sought&by&the&Request&violates&FOIA,&5&U.S.C.&&552(a)(3),&and&Defendants&
corresponding&regulations.&

&

29&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
63.&

Defendants&failure&to&promptly&make&available&the&records&sought&

by& the& Request& violates& FOIA,& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(6)(A),& and& Defendants&
corresponding&regulations.&
64.&

Defendants& failure& to& process& Plaintiffs& request& expeditiously& and&

as& soon& as& practicable& violates& FOIA,& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(6)(E),& and& Defendants&
corresponding&regulations.&
65.&

Defendants& failure& to& release& responsive& records& or& explain& its&

failure& to& do& so& violates& the& rights& of& Plaintiff,& who& is& a& journalist,& under& the& First&
Amendment,&U.S.&Const.&amend.&I,&to&be&able&to&carry&out&his&function&to&inform&the&
public&about&the&governments&conduct.&&
66.&

Defendants& failure& to& release& responsive& records& or& explain& its&

failure&to&do&so&violates&the&rights&of&Plaintiff,&activists,&and&citizens&under&the&First&
Amendment,& U.S.& Const.& amend.& I,& to& be& informed& of& the& governments& conduct& in&
order& to& create& and& engage& in& complete& and& informed& speech,& to& meaningfully&
assemble&with&other&citizens&to&discuss&the&governments&conduct,&and&to&be&able&to&
petition&their&government&for&a&redress&of&grievances,&if&they&so&choose.&&
67.&

Defendants& failure& to& grant& Plaintiffs& request& for& a& waiver& of&

search,& review,& and& duplication& fees& violates& FOIA,& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(4),& (a)(6),& and&
Defendants&corresponding&regulations.&
68.&

Defendant's& failure& to& grant& Plaintiffs& request& for& a& limitation& of&

fees& violates& FOIA,& 5& U.S.C.& & 552(a)(4),& (a)(6),& and& Defendant's& corresponding&
regulations.&

&

30&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
REQUESTED'RELIEF'
WHEREFORE,&Plaintiff&respectfully&request&that&this&Court:&
&
A.&
Order& Defendant& and& its& components& the& U.S.& Attorneys& Office& for&
the& District& of& Columbia,& the& Executive& Office& for& United& States&
Attorneys,& and& the& Office& of& Information& Policy& to& immediately&
process& the& Request& and& to& release& any& responsive& records& not&
properly&withholdable&under&FOIA&;&
B.&

Enjoin& Defendant& and& its& components& from& charging& Plaintiff&

search,& review,& or& duplication& fees& for& the& processing& of& the&
Request&;&

C.&

Award&Plaintiff&their&costs&and&reasonable&attorneys'&fees&incurred&
in&this&action&;&and&

D.&

Grant&such&other&relief&as&the&Court&may&deem&just&and&proper&;&and.&

E.&

Given& the& demonstrations& of& bad& faith& by& Defendant& and& to& verify&
that& the& DOJ& components& release& all& responsive& records,& appoint& a&
monitor& to& conduct& or& verify& the& search& for& responsive& records,&
order&the&conduct&of&in&camera&reviews&of&records,&and/or&impose&
sanctions& and& penalties,& including& fines,& against& the& Defendant& to&
compel& compliance& with& FOIA& and& to& deter& each& of& future& acts& of&
bad&faith&and&future&violations&of&FOIA.&

&
&

&

Respectfully&submitted,&
&
&
&
___________________________________&
31&

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Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
Dated&:& Jackson&Heights,&New&York&
&
SeptemberMay&235,&2015&
&

Louis&Flores&
34I21&77th&Street,&Apt.&406&
Jackson&Heights,&NY&&11372&&
Phone&:&&(646)&400I1168&
louisflores@louisflores.com&

&

&

32&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 34 of 35 PageID #: 201

Track&Changes&23/9/15&(LF)&
&
UNITED'STATES'DISTRICT'COURT''
EASTERN'DISTRICT'OF'NEW'YORK'
&
&
LOUIS&FLORES,&
&
&
&
&
Plaintiff,&&
15ICVI2627&(JG)(RLM)&&
&
'
v.&&
AFFIRMATION'
&
OF'SERVICE'
UNITED&STATES&DEPARTMENT&OF&
&
JUSTICE,&
&
&
&
&
Defendant.&
&
&
&
&
&
I,&LOUIS'FLORES,&declare&under&penalty&of&perjury&that&I&have&served&a&copy&of&
the&attached&AMENDED'COMPLAINT'FOR'INJUNCTIVE'RELIEF&upon&RUKHSANAH'L.'
SINGH,&whose&address&is&:&&c/o&United&States&Attorneys&Office,&Eastern&District&of&New&
York,& 271& Cadman& Plaza& East,& 7th& Floor,& Brooklyn,& New& York& 11201& by& ELECTRONIC'
MAIL'DELIVERY&to&:&&rukhsanah.singh@usdoj.gov.&&&
&
&
Dated&:& Jackson&Heights,&New&York&
&
September&23,&2015&
&

&
Louis&Flores&
34I21&77th&Street,&Apt.&406&
Jackson&Heights,&New&York&&11372&&
Phone&:&&(646)&400I1168&
louisflores@louisflores.com&

&
&

&

33&

Case 1:15-cv-02627-JG-RLM Document 16 Filed 09/23/15 Page 35 of 35 PageID #: 202

UNITED#STATES#DISTRICT#COURT##
EASTERN#DISTRICT#OF#NEW#YORK#
&
&
LOUIS&FLORES,&
&
&
&
&
Plaintiff,&&
15FCVF2627&(JG)(RLM)&&
&
#
v.&&
AFFIRMATION#
&
OF#SERVICE#
UNITED&STATES&DEPARTMENT&OF&
&
JUSTICE,&
&
&
&
&
Defendant.&
&
&
&
&
&
I,&LOUIS#FLORES,&declare&under&penalty&of&perjury&that&I&have&served&a&copy&of&the&
attached&PLAINTIFFS#LETTER#REGARDING#AMENDED#COMPLAINT&upon&RUKHSANAH#
L.# SINGH,&whose&address&is&:&&c/o&United&States&Attorneys&Office,&Eastern&District&of&New&
York,&271&Cadman&Plaza&East,&7th&Floor,&Brooklyn,&New&York&11201&by&ELECTRONIC#MAIL#
DELIVERY&to&:&&rukhsanah.singh@usdoj.gov.&&&
&
&

Dated&:& Jackson&Heights,&New&York&
&
September&23,&2015&
&
$

&
Louis&Flores&
34F21&77th&Street,&Apt.&406&
Jackson&Heights,&New&York&&11372&&
Phone&:&&(646)&400F1168&
louisflores@louisflores.com&