Lauren Harper
@laurenleharper.bsky.social
Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy at @freedom.press. Interested in reducing overclassification, FOIA reform, enforcement of the Presidential Records Act, and preservation of federal records. Opinions mine. Signal leharper.89
Genuinely don’t know… btw, do you have any “no docs” responses from ICE that contain the language in the last paragraph?
December 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Genuinely don’t know… btw, do you have any “no docs” responses from ICE that contain the language in the last paragraph?
IRS says it needs at least 8 months to find a single email about ICE's request to access taxpayer data in response to my FOIA.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
December 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
IRS says it needs at least 8 months to find a single email about ICE's request to access taxpayer data in response to my FOIA.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
Back in July I FOIAd the IRS for a single email about reported "deficiencies” in ICE's request to access the home addresses of taxpayers.
IRS just told me they need until March 24, 2026 to complete a search for a *single* email.
Nice of them to remind me I can sue them, I guess.
IRS just told me they need until March 24, 2026 to complete a search for a *single* email.
Nice of them to remind me I can sue them, I guess.
December 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Back in July I FOIAd the IRS for a single email about reported "deficiencies” in ICE's request to access the home addresses of taxpayers.
IRS just told me they need until March 24, 2026 to complete a search for a *single* email.
Nice of them to remind me I can sue them, I guess.
IRS just told me they need until March 24, 2026 to complete a search for a *single* email.
Nice of them to remind me I can sue them, I guess.
FOIA makes it to the morning show
December 3, 2025 at 2:25 AM
FOIA makes it to the morning show
DOJ OLC hard at work pretending urgent information isn’t urgent and should stay hidden.
Should we see the OLC memo stating that personnel taking part in drug boat strikes won’t be exposed to future prosecution?
Or communications about the War Powers Resolution?
OLC says no, not any time soon.
Should we see the OLC memo stating that personnel taking part in drug boat strikes won’t be exposed to future prosecution?
Or communications about the War Powers Resolution?
OLC says no, not any time soon.
November 26, 2025 at 12:13 AM
DOJ OLC hard at work pretending urgent information isn’t urgent and should stay hidden.
Should we see the OLC memo stating that personnel taking part in drug boat strikes won’t be exposed to future prosecution?
Or communications about the War Powers Resolution?
OLC says no, not any time soon.
Should we see the OLC memo stating that personnel taking part in drug boat strikes won’t be exposed to future prosecution?
Or communications about the War Powers Resolution?
OLC says no, not any time soon.
DHS placed my FOIA request for all of Kristi Noem's Truth Social DM's in its simple processing queue.
Not that I'm going to hold DHS's feet to the fire (I am), but in FY 2024 their average processing time for simple requests when information was released is...11 days.
Let's see if that sticks.
Not that I'm going to hold DHS's feet to the fire (I am), but in FY 2024 their average processing time for simple requests when information was released is...11 days.
Let's see if that sticks.
November 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
DHS placed my FOIA request for all of Kristi Noem's Truth Social DM's in its simple processing queue.
Not that I'm going to hold DHS's feet to the fire (I am), but in FY 2024 their average processing time for simple requests when information was released is...11 days.
Let's see if that sticks.
Not that I'm going to hold DHS's feet to the fire (I am), but in FY 2024 their average processing time for simple requests when information was released is...11 days.
Let's see if that sticks.
The FBI hates making FOIA easy.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
November 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The FBI hates making FOIA easy.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Instead of sending somebody an email that contains actual information about their request, it sends them a link with a time-sensitive token that expires after 48 hours and that can't be renewed more than twice.
As often as not, the tokens take you to a broken link.
Trump on brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: "Things happen, but [MBS] knew nothing about it.”"
In 2021 the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report saying otherwise.
In 2021 the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report saying otherwise.
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Trump on brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: "Things happen, but [MBS] knew nothing about it.”"
In 2021 the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report saying otherwise.
In 2021 the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report saying otherwise.
@kenklippenstein.bsky.social gets it
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
@kenklippenstein.bsky.social gets it
I fail to see how he’s bowing to reality as opposed to just changing tactics.
All he has to do if it passes the senate is to tell Bondi to say it’s all either classified or has to do with an ongoing investigation.
Maybe he’s losing his grip on the MAGA zeitgeist, but he’s firmly in control of DOJ
All he has to do if it passes the senate is to tell Bondi to say it’s all either classified or has to do with an ongoing investigation.
Maybe he’s losing his grip on the MAGA zeitgeist, but he’s firmly in control of DOJ
November 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I fail to see how he’s bowing to reality as opposed to just changing tactics.
All he has to do if it passes the senate is to tell Bondi to say it’s all either classified or has to do with an ongoing investigation.
Maybe he’s losing his grip on the MAGA zeitgeist, but he’s firmly in control of DOJ
All he has to do if it passes the senate is to tell Bondi to say it’s all either classified or has to do with an ongoing investigation.
Maybe he’s losing his grip on the MAGA zeitgeist, but he’s firmly in control of DOJ
If only there were a more straightforward way to describe a president “blending family and governance.”
November 15, 2025 at 10:15 PM
If only there were a more straightforward way to describe a president “blending family and governance.”
Interesting day to “declassify” the Amelia Earhart records.
I’m willing to bet that a lot of these were previously available, although perhaps not digitized.
Also unclear how many of these were actually classified to begin with, but it’s possible some were.
www.archives.gov/research/ame...
I’m willing to bet that a lot of these were previously available, although perhaps not digitized.
Also unclear how many of these were actually classified to begin with, but it’s possible some were.
www.archives.gov/research/ame...
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Interesting day to “declassify” the Amelia Earhart records.
I’m willing to bet that a lot of these were previously available, although perhaps not digitized.
Also unclear how many of these were actually classified to begin with, but it’s possible some were.
www.archives.gov/research/ame...
I’m willing to bet that a lot of these were previously available, although perhaps not digitized.
Also unclear how many of these were actually classified to begin with, but it’s possible some were.
www.archives.gov/research/ame...
I’m not sold on down cemetery road but I’ll keep watching anything once a character files a FOIA to solve a lil mystery
November 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I’m not sold on down cemetery road but I’ll keep watching anything once a character files a FOIA to solve a lil mystery
Presidential foundations don’t own presidential records, even if they display them on their websites. The National Archives (and technically the public) owns them. Interesting you haven’t heard anything about this from archivist of the US Rubio
October 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Presidential foundations don’t own presidential records, even if they display them on their websites. The National Archives (and technically the public) owns them. Interesting you haven’t heard anything about this from archivist of the US Rubio
In August the Energy Dept sent a mass still interested letter to FOIA requesters, basically making it much easier to close out a bunch of old requests.
Obviously I filled a FOIA request about it.
Energy just told me I have 3 days to narrow my request or they are closing it.
Lolol uh no.
Obviously I filled a FOIA request about it.
Energy just told me I have 3 days to narrow my request or they are closing it.
Lolol uh no.
October 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In August the Energy Dept sent a mass still interested letter to FOIA requesters, basically making it much easier to close out a bunch of old requests.
Obviously I filled a FOIA request about it.
Energy just told me I have 3 days to narrow my request or they are closing it.
Lolol uh no.
Obviously I filled a FOIA request about it.
Energy just told me I have 3 days to narrow my request or they are closing it.
Lolol uh no.
Today I learned that, in addition to there being no guardrails for Trump’s construction whims, there are official White House construction cones.
October 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Today I learned that, in addition to there being no guardrails for Trump’s construction whims, there are official White House construction cones.
I think a lot of people would like to see those ten emails withheld under FOIAs b5 about the construction of the ball room right about now (yes, I appealed - still waiting)
October 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I think a lot of people would like to see those ten emails withheld under FOIAs b5 about the construction of the ball room right about now (yes, I appealed - still waiting)
Official State Department graphic.
Filed a FOIA request to learn more about it. And if this was the winning slogan… what were the losers?
Filed a FOIA request to learn more about it. And if this was the winning slogan… what were the losers?
October 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Official State Department graphic.
Filed a FOIA request to learn more about it. And if this was the winning slogan… what were the losers?
Filed a FOIA request to learn more about it. And if this was the winning slogan… what were the losers?
Sure sounds like a lot of FOIA requests are about to get lost.
From FOIA.gov: "Please note that FOIA requests that fail to submit to agencies will not be resubmitted until funding is re-established."
From FOIA.gov: "Please note that FOIA requests that fail to submit to agencies will not be resubmitted until funding is re-established."
October 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Sure sounds like a lot of FOIA requests are about to get lost.
From FOIA.gov: "Please note that FOIA requests that fail to submit to agencies will not be resubmitted until funding is re-established."
From FOIA.gov: "Please note that FOIA requests that fail to submit to agencies will not be resubmitted until funding is re-established."
Come with an interest in classification and how kitchen cabinets could possibly be a national security threat, stay for the cat who refused to get off the kitchen counter.
October 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Come with an interest in classification and how kitchen cabinets could possibly be a national security threat, stay for the cat who refused to get off the kitchen counter.
Great - Amelia Earhart declassified. Check.
Now do something that matters, like declassifying still secret records about Jamal Khashoggi - starting with 1) the full disclosure of the Director of National Intelligence assessment and 2) the CIA’s report that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination.
Now do something that matters, like declassifying still secret records about Jamal Khashoggi - starting with 1) the full disclosure of the Director of National Intelligence assessment and 2) the CIA’s report that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination.
October 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Great - Amelia Earhart declassified. Check.
Now do something that matters, like declassifying still secret records about Jamal Khashoggi - starting with 1) the full disclosure of the Director of National Intelligence assessment and 2) the CIA’s report that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination.
Now do something that matters, like declassifying still secret records about Jamal Khashoggi - starting with 1) the full disclosure of the Director of National Intelligence assessment and 2) the CIA’s report that MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination.
Oversight.gov is required by law to improve and promote accountability and transparency.
But this is what you get when you visit it now.
But this is what you get when you visit it now.
October 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Oversight.gov is required by law to improve and promote accountability and transparency.
But this is what you get when you visit it now.
But this is what you get when you visit it now.
I asked the FBI to expedite the release of the tape of "border czar" Tom Homan being bribed.
FBI said it couldn't see how there wasn't an urgent need to provide the public more information about (checks notes) an active federal official taking bribes and denied expedition of the request.
FBI said it couldn't see how there wasn't an urgent need to provide the public more information about (checks notes) an active federal official taking bribes and denied expedition of the request.
September 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I asked the FBI to expedite the release of the tape of "border czar" Tom Homan being bribed.
FBI said it couldn't see how there wasn't an urgent need to provide the public more information about (checks notes) an active federal official taking bribes and denied expedition of the request.
FBI said it couldn't see how there wasn't an urgent need to provide the public more information about (checks notes) an active federal official taking bribes and denied expedition of the request.
“Pay 50k for Information Act”
September 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
“Pay 50k for Information Act”