We sued the government over excessive secrecy three times this week
The U.S. classifies far too many secrets, obstructing democracy.
Excessive government secrecy takes many forms, from agencies needlessly claiming documents are classified to ignoring information requests and destroying records — even when the documents show government fraud or illegal conduct. This hinders a free press, effective oversight, and the public’s ability to self govern.
We need to fight for systemic improvements, and we need the press to vigorously question the government every time it says something is classified.
Fight presidential secrecy
Help promote transparency when the public needs it most.
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Write a letter to strengthen presidential library transparency
It’s too difficult to know what current presidential administrations are doing with donations to presidential libraries or what past administrations have done. Congress can help fix it — but it needs to hear from you to act.
Featured Items
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DHS Dumps 1,400 Pages of Heavily Redacted Records Related to Agency's Role in Drafting 2012 Counterterrorism Guidelines
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just released 1,400 pages of emails and other internal records concerning the agency’s role in advising the Department of Justice and Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on changes made to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) guidelines used to collect and retain data …
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Journalist Files FOIA Lawsuit Against Justice Dept For Copy of Senate's CIA Torture Report
<!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- DV.load("//www.documentcloud.org/documents/782493-leopold-foia-lawsuit-against-justice-department.js", { width: 600, height: 600, sidebar: false, text: false, pdf: false, container: "#DV-viewer-782493-leopold-foia-lawsuit-against-justice-department" }); //--><!]]> Late Monday evening, I filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Justice to obtain a copy of the executive summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on …
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Guantanamo Warden Details Fears About Prison Attack in New Document
The warden of the Guantanamo Bay prison continues to make extraordinary claims about potential threats to the detention facility from enemies “foreign” and “domestic” if he is compelled to reveal information in a June 3 sworn declaration he signed about the rationale behind a genital search policy prisoners are subjected …
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Here's What the White House's "Secret" Plan to Close Guantanamo Looks Like
<!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- DV.load("//www.documentcloud.org/documents/777815-white-house-plan-to-close-guantanamo.js", { width: 600, height: 600, sidebar: false, text: false, pdf: false, container: "#DV-viewer-777815-white-house-plan-to-close-guantanamo" }); //--><!]]> Last month, hours before a Senate subcommittee held a hearing on shuttering the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, the White House circulated a two-page document to Congress that contained the administration's plans for …
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UK Authorities Destroy Guardian's Hard Drives, Force Journalists to Report NSA Stories In Exile
Fresh off the news that UK authorities detained the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald for nine hours yesterday, Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger has published an extraordinary report of government pressure and intimidation that should send chills down the spine of anyone who cares about a free press. Rusbridger, who …
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Bradley Manning Did Not Hurt the United States
In his sentencing hearing yesterday, Bradley Manning took the stand and apologized for the "hurt" he inflicted on the United States. While the legal strategy of Manning’s attorney at this point—as it would be for any attorney—is to convince the judge to reduce Manning's sentence as much as possible, …
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Security, Secrecy and the Democratic Demands of an Informed Public
The American experiment is premised on the idea that an informed public is central to self-governance and a functioning democracy. But today, that fundamental idea is being challenged, at times by the very people – journalists and the media – who should be its staunchest defenders. In a new post …
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Revealed: The 95 FOIA Requests Flagged for Pentagon Approval
A few weeks ago, the nonpartisan organization Cause of Action posted a story on its website about a secret Pentagon policy that calls for certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that may generate media attention to first be approved by the Pentagon. Naturally, I was eager to find out …
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Guantanamo’s Indefinite Prisoners Will Finally Have Cases Reviewed Just as Senate Committee Set to Hold Hearing On Closing Prison
Attorneys representing Guantanamo prisoners were notified by a government official late Friday night that the men who the Obama administration has determined can neither be prosecuted nor released will finally have their cases reviewed to determine whether they should still be indefinitely detained. In an email I obtained, retired Navy …
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Government: Halting Guantanamo Prisoner Genital Searches Will Cause “Irreparable Harm”
The Justice Department has asked a federal court judge to put an order he issued last week on hold that barred Guantanamo guards from conducting the “abhorrent” and “humiliating” procedure of searching prisoners’ genitals when they leave their cells to meet with attorneys and return to the prison camp. In …
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