Document Archive

Senator Dianne Feinstein Communications with the CIA [38 Pages, 9.5MB] – In this Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release, documents were disclosed that shed light on the communications between the office of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The FOIA request, filed on March 14, 2014, sought to uncover communications from January 1, 2014, through circa March 2013. The CIA, after a comprehensive search, found seven documents, of which two were released in full and five with redactions due to FOIA exemptions.

A central theme in these documents is the respect for the Constitution’s separation of powers, as highlighted in a letter dated January 27, 2014, from the CIA Director. This letter acknowledges the critical importance of this principle for the effective functioning and oversight of government operations.

The correspondence also reveals concerns raised by Senator Feinstein regarding unauthorized searches conducted by the CIA. In a letter, Feinstein describes the CIA’s actions at an offsite facility assigned exclusively to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) staff. These searches were to locate specific documents related to the CIA Detention and Interrogation Program. Feinstein underscored the potential constitutional issues arising from these unauthorized searches, indicating a possible breach of the separation of powers.

The matter escalated when Senator Feinstein, in a letter dated January 17, 2014, requested the CIA to suspend all searches of the Committee network. This request was subsequently agreed upon by the CIA, aligning with previous written agreements between the agency and the Committee.

Further emphasizing the seriousness of the issue, the SSCI, on March 13, 2014, voted to formally request detailed responses from the CIA regarding their search of the computer network at the CIA-leased facility. This was in the context of the Committee’s investigation into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.

Overall, the FOIA release provides a rare glimpse into the interactions between a key Senate oversight committee and the CIA. It highlights the complexities and sensitivities involved in maintaining legal and constitutional boundaries in the realm of intelligence and national security.

The post Senator Dianne Feinstein Communications with the CIA first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

2013 Congressional Correspondence Logs with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) [19 Pages, 1MB]

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The post Congressional Correspondence Logs with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents have been released by the Department of the Navy.  They include all correspondence between members of Congress, and the Navy.

Document Archive

Congressional Correspondence Log, Department of the Navy, January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 [364 Pages, 40MB]

Congressional Correspondence Log, Department of the Navy, January 1, 2020 – June 31, 2020 ARCHIVED VERSION – LOG SHOULD BE IN REQUEST ABOVE [219 Pages, 2MB]

Congressional Correspondence Log, Department of the Navy, July 28, 2019 – December 31, 2019 [249 Pages, 2.2MB]

Congressional Correspondence Log, Department of the Navy, January 1, 2019 – July 27, 2019 [96 Pages, 24MB]

Congressional Correspondence Log, Department of the Navy, January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018 [185 Pages, 18MB]

The post Congressional Correspondence with the Department of the Navy first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following letter was sent from the ranking member of the U.S. Congress, Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, to the Administrator of the General Services Administration Emily W. Murphy.

It states that, “…according to Congressional intent and past precedent set by President Clinton, as of today, there is no apparent President-Elect.”

The letter, as obtained directly from the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Reform, is published below — in full.

Official Press Release by the Committee on Oversight and Reform

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Government Operations Ranking Member Jody Hice (R-Ga.) today wrote Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), correcting Democrats’ misrepresentation of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 and calling on GSA to adhere to the Constitution when ascertaining a President-Elect.

“Contrary to complaints issued by House Oversight Democrats, the General Services Administration has followed the letter of the law. State governments certify election results; not the media, and not political parties. When the election is certified, we fully anticipate the GSA to take appropriate action as necessary. Until then, our priority must be on ensuring that this race was a fair and free election with an honest count,” said Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Hice.

In the letter, Hice outlines the three situations where there is not an apparent President-Elect. All three situations apply to the 2020 election. The GSA Administrator should determine the President-Elect based on the Constitution and past precedent, which both indicate there is not an apparent President-Elect. Government-funded transition assistance can only be provided after GSA has made a determination.

The letter is available here and below.

November 13, 2020

The Honorable Emily Murphy
Administrator
General Services Administration
1800 F St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20405

Dear Administrator Murphy:

On November 9, 2020, Democratic House Members sent you a letter that misrepresented the facts surrounding your responsibilities under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (Act).  I write to correct the record.

Under the Act, you, as administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), have the authority to provide government-funded transition assistance to the President-Elect and the Vice-President-Elect. However, this assistance can only occur after there are “apparent successful candidates for the office of the President and Vice President, respectively, as ascertained by the Administrator [you].”

There are enough state contests in question, such that there is not yet an apparent President or Vice-President-Elect. Precedent and legislative history present three situations where there may be an un-apparent President-Elect:

1. 1. The drafters of the Act anticipated three electoral situations where there would be an un-apparent President-Elect: (1) a tie, (2) a plurality winner, or (3) the presence of extensive voter fraud or intimidation. The third being applicable to 2020 since the Trump campaign has raised questions and filed legal challenges in several states;
   2. The drafters concluded that “if there is any doubt in the Administrator’s mind” the Administrator does not have to release transition assistance. Since states have not yet certified an electoral winner and some states are still tabulating legal ballots, there remains doubt as to the winner; and
   3. The precedent set by the Clinton Administration in the contested 2000 election is that to ascertain an apparent President-Elect there would need to be a concession—which has not yet occurred in 2020—or no more legitimate continuing legal challenges—which has not yet occurred in 2020.

According to Congressional intent and past precedent set by President Clinton, as of today, there is no apparent President-Elect.

A GSA spokesman recently stated that “the GSA Administrator ascertains the apparent successful candidate once a winner is clear based on the process laid out in the Constitution.” I strongly encourage you to do just that: follow the Constitution and past precedent, not the media, when making your determination of the President-Elect. This democracy relies on a rule of law and the law must be followed.

Sincerely,

Jody Hice
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Government Operations

###

Official Letter

The post Congressional Letter Declaring “…no apparent President-Elect” to GSA sent November 13, 2020 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents have been released by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff.  They include all correspondence between members of Congress, and their office.

Document Archive

Congressional Correspondence Logs

Congressional Correspondence Log, 2007 and 2009 [1,011 Pages, 199.6MB]

Congressional Correspondence Log, 2012 [368 Pages, 69.8MB]

All Congressional Correspondence Letters

Incoming congressional correspondence (all Members) February 2009 – July 2009 – Document Release 1 [361 Pages, 192.8MB]

Incoming congressional correspondence (all Members) February 2009 – July 2009 – Document Release 2 [265 Pages, 141.8MB]

Incoming congressional correspondence (all Members) February 2009 – July 2009 – Document Release 3 [147 Pages, 79.7MB]

The post Congressional Correspondence with the Office of the Secretary of Defense first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents have been received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and contain the “Congressional Correspondence Logs” for all communications between Congress, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Each log outlines who the correspondence was with, the date, and topic of the letter.

Declassified Documents

2014-2015

 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2014-2015 Release #1 July 2017 [350 Pages, 187MB ]
 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2014-2015 Release #2  November 2017 [5 Pages, 0.9MB ]

2013

 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2013 Release #1 November 2014 [286 Pages, 110MB ]
 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2013 Release #2 January 2016 [5 Pages, 0.2MB ]
 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2013 Release #3 April 2017 [5 Pages, 1.2MB ]
 FBI Congressional Correspondence Log – 2013 Release #4, November 2017 [5 Pages, 0.8MB ]

The post Congressional Correspondence with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the HUD/OIG website:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General is one of the original 12 Inspectors General authorized under the Inspector General Act of 1978.

Over the years, we have forged a strong alliance with HUD personnel in recommending ways to improve departmental operations and in prosecuting program abuses. We strive to make a difference in HUD’s performance and accountability.

We are committed to our statutory mission of detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse and promoting the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations. While organizationally we are located within the Department, we operate independently with separate budgetary authority.

This independence allows for clear and objective reporting to the Secretary and the Congress. Our activities seek to:

• Promote efficiency and effectiveness in programs and operations;
• Detect and deter fraud and abuse;
• Investigate allegations of misconduct by HUD employees; and
• Review and make recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation and regulations affecting HUD.

The Executive Office and the Offices of Audit, Investigation, Counsel, and Management and Technology are located in Headquarters. Also, the Offices of Audit and Investigation have staff located in eight regions and numerous field offices.

Below, you will find HUD OIG Responses to Congressional Requests for a list of Closed Investigations not Disclosed to the Public, 2015-2016.

Document Archive

 HUD OIG Responses to a Congressional Request for a list of Closed Investigations not Disclosed to the Public, 2015-2016 [121 Pages, 1.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/hud/Congressional_data_call_rev_Redacted.pdf

The post HUD OIG Responses to a Congressional Request for a list of Closed Investigations not Disclosed to the Public, 2015-2016 first appeared on The Black Vault.

John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election.

Below you will find various communications between Senator McCain and different government agencies.

Document Archive

Communications between McCain and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGIA), 2010 [17 Pages, 600kb]

Communications between McCain and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), 2008 [5 Pages, 1.2MB]

The post Senator John McCain first appeared on The Black Vault.

What is the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board?

The Board is an independent, bipartisan agency within the executive branch established by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act, Pub. L. 110-53, signed into law in August 2007.

Comprised of four part-time members and a full-time chairman, the Board is vested with two fundamental authorities: (1) To review and analyze actions the executive branch takes to protect the Nation from terrorism, ensuring the need for such actions is balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties and (2) To ensure that liberty concerns are appropriately considered in the development and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the Nation against terrorism.

Document Archive

 Congressional Correspondence with the Privacy & Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), 2014-2016 [85 Pages, 24.8MB]

The post Congressional Correspondence with the Privacy & Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), 2014-2016 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Each log outlines who the correspondence was with, the date, and topic of the letter.

Declassified Congressional Correspondence Logs

 Congressional Correspondence with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Calendar Year 2013 [6 Pages, 0.6MB]

Background on the CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman. The act also created a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to serve as head of the United States intelligence community; act as the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the National Security Act to provide for a Director of National Intelligence who would assume some of the roles formerly fulfilled by the DCI, with a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency serves as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and reports to the Director of National Intelligence. The CIA director’s responsibilities include:

• Collecting intelligence through human sources and by other appropriate means, except that he shall have no police, subpoena, or law enforcement powers or internal security functions;
• Correlating and evaluating intelligence related to the national security and providing appropriate dissemination of such intelligence;
• Providing overall direction for and coordination of the collection of national intelligence outside the United States through human sources by elements of the Intelligence Community authorized to undertake such collection and, in coordination with other departments, agencies, or elements of the United States Government which are authorized to undertake such collection, ensuring that the most effective use is made of resources and that appropriate account is taken of the risks to the United States and those involved in such collection; and
• Performing such other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting the national security as the President or the Director of National Intelligence may direct.

The function of the Central Intelligence Agency is to assist the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in carrying out the responsibilities outlined above.

To accomplish its mission, the CIA engages in research, development, and deployment of high-leverage technology for intelligence purposes. As a separate agency, CIA serves as an independent source of analysis on topics of concern and also works closely with the other organizations in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the intelligence consumer—whether Washington policymaker or battlefield commander—receives the best intelligence possible.

As changing global realities have reordered the national security agenda, CIA has met these challenges by:

• Creating special, multidisciplinary centers to address such high-priority issues such as nonproliferation, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, international organized crime and narcotics trafficking, environment, and arms control intelligence.
• Forging stronger partnerships between the several intelligence collection disciplines and all-source analysis.
• Taking an active part in Intelligence Community analytical efforts and producing all-source analysis on the full range of topics that affect national security.
• Contributing to the effectiveness of the overall Intelligence Community by managing services of common concern in imagery analysis and open-source collection and participating in partnerships with other intelligence agencies in the areas of research and development and technical collection.

By emphasizing adaptability in its approach to intelligence collection, the CIA can tailor its support to key intelligence consumers and help them meet their needs as they face the issues of the post-Cold War World.

The post Congressional Correspondence with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) first appeared on The Black Vault.

From 2007-2010, Pelosi served as Speaker of the House, having been elected as the first woman in American history to serve as Speaker. She first made history in November 2002 when House Democrats elected her the first woman to lead a major political party. Pelosi served as Democratic Leader from 2003 to 2007 and previously served as House Democratic Whip in 2002.

The following documents have been released on her correspondence with various agencies.

Speakers’ requests for travel on military aircraft, 2004-2008 [163 Pages, 30.4 MB]

Speaker Pelosi’s requests for own military air travel, 2009-2010 [26 Pages, 20.6 MB]

Speaker’s waiver requests for dependent’s travel on military aircraft, 2007-2009 [22 Pages, 7.5 MB]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and e-mails on travel on military aircraft, July 2008-December 2008, File #1 [45 Pages, 18 MB]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and e-mails on travel on military aircraft, July 2008-December 2008, File #2 [39 Pages, 16 MB]

DoD Notifications to Speaker Pelosi or Members of Congress of FOIA Requests 2009-2010 [258 Pages, 60.1 MB]

The post House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents chronicle the years prior to his Presidency, and his communications with different agencies.

Department of Defense (DOD)

Correspondence between the Department of Defense sent to Senator Barack Obama in 2005-2008 [49 Pages, 17.28mb]

Correspondence between Senator Barack Obama sent to the Department of Defense 2005-2008 [68 Pages, 26.3mb]

Department of Energy (DOE)

Correspondence between Senator Obama and the Department of Energy in 2008 [40 Pages, 5.54mb]

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

Correspondence between Senator Obama and the National Endowment of the Arts in 2005-2007 [68 Pages, 11.93mb]

Correspondence between Senator Obama and the National Endowment of the Arts in 2008 [14 Pages, 3.65mb]

The post Senator Barack Obama (Before Presidency) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Department of Defense (DOD)

Correspondence between the Department of Defense sent to Senator Joseph Biden [49 Pages, 17.28mb]

Correspondence between Senator Joseph Biden sent to the Department of Defense [68 Pages, 26.3mb]

The post Senator Joseph Biden first appeared on The Black Vault.