The records consist of the CIA’s June 27, 2013, response to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) regarding the Committee’s Study of the Agency’s former Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation (RDI) Program. A previous version of this same document was previously released publicly in December 2014 following publication of the SSCI’s executive summary on CIA detention and interrogation practices.

A comparison of the two releases shows that the substantive content remains largely unchanged, with extensive redactions carried forward to this new release. Within the report, the CIA disputes claims that it systematically misled Congress or the Executive Branch, while acknowledging that some past representations were inaccurate.

“We cannot vouch for every individual statement that was made over the years of the program, and we acknowledge that some of those statements were wrong.”

Although there are very few new tidbits of information released, the newly released version does make more explicit reference to internal oversight structures, including the Covert Action Review Group (CARG). While CARG’s existence is now known even prior to this document and is not newly revealed, its role is more clearly articulated in this document, particularly in the section outlining lessons learned and recommended reforms.

The CIA states that the Executive Director, acting as head of CARG, should oversee expanded reviews of sensitive covert action programs, and that CARG would consider whether new covert actions warranted special scrutiny at their inception.

“At the inception of a new covert action program, the CARG would consider and recommend to DCIA whether a special review is warranted.”

The Agency describes such reviews as particularly applicable to operations that carry high potential diplomatic or national security consequences if disclosed or if they fail.

The most notable aspect of the release is not what it reveals, but how long it took to formally release material that had already entered the public domain more than a decade earlier. The CIA’s response letter closing the case is dated April 2, 2025, reasserting classification and withholding determinations for a document first approved for public release in 2014.

###

Document Archive

F-2013-02345 Release [142 Pages, 24MB]

The post CIA Reprocesses Detention Program Record Under FOIA More Than a Decade After Public Disclosure first appeared on The Black Vault.

{ Click here to immediately jump to The Black Vault’s Amelia Earhart Search Engine }

On November 14, 2025, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced the initial posting of these documents. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard detailed how the President’s order prompted agencies to locate and review both known and previously overlooked materials. The initial release includes reports, maps, telegrams, weather data, communications assessments, and early investigative records from the immediate days after Earhart vanished. Newly declassified NSA files and other intelligence-derived material are also among the documents now available, reflecting both the scope of the original government response and the degree to which the case intersected with intelligence collection during a period of global tension. Gabbard characterized the release as part of a broader effort to increase transparency, remove unnecessary secrecy, and provide the public with direct access to historical government holdings.

The National Archives and Records Administration serves as the central repository for this initiative. Many Earhart-related records had been transferred to NARA over the years through routine processes, while others remained siloed within agencies or bound by classification until the new directive forced a government-wide review. As agencies continue to identify additional material, they are required to send the records to NARA for digitization and public posting. The process is ongoing and records will be added on a rolling basis, meaning the full collection will expand over time.

Earhart’s disappearance has long fascinated historians, investigators, and the public because it occurred at the intersection of pioneering aviation, early long-distance radio communication, and rising geopolitical uncertainty. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished on July 2, 1937, while attempting to reach Howland Island during a globe-circling flight. Despite an extensive naval and Coast Guard search, no confirmed wreckage or remains were ever found. The absence of physical evidence has allowed multiple explanations to persist. Some researchers argue that navigational errors and fuel exhaustion caused the aircraft to ditch into the Pacific. Others suggest Earhart diverted to Nikumaroro Island, where anecdotal accounts and ambiguous artifacts have been periodically cited as possible clues. Additional claims, particularly after World War II, proposed that Earhart may have been captured by Japanese forces, though no definitive evidence has surfaced. Still others have speculated that U.S. or foreign intelligence agencies held data about intercepted signals, search operations, or classified assessments that were never fully acknowledged publicly. The newly released records provide an opportunity to re-examine these claims using primary source material, rather than relying on assumptions or folklore.

The release of previously classified documents also raises questions about why some records were withheld for so long. Many intelligence-era documents, including those involving signals collection, wartime assessments, or sources and methods, were historically classified by default, even when they did not relate to contemporary national security threats. Other files may simply have been overlooked or unprocessed within agency archives until required to be reviewed. The new directive forces a level of disclosure that earlier administrations did not prioritize, allowing researchers to evaluate how much of the historical secrecy was tied to legitimate intelligence concerns, bureaucratic inertia, or gaps in archival processing.

To assist the public in navigating this growing body of material, The Black Vault has created a full-text search engine dedicated to the Amelia Earhart document releases. The tool mirrors the features used in the JFK, RFK, and MLK archives, offering a clean, modern interface that indexes filenames, OCR-converted text, and available metadata. Users can search across the entire collection as it evolves, review individual PDFs, and explore the content using keywords, phrases, and Boolean logic. The search engine will be updated as new sets of documents are added by NARA, ensuring ongoing access to the full digital record.

The release of the Amelia Earhart files represents the first government-backed effort to unify federal records about her disappearance into a single location accessible to the public. While these documents may not resolve the mystery, they offer the most complete and transparent view of what various agencies collected, analyzed, and concluded across decades. Their publication makes it possible for historians, researchers, journalists, and the public to examine the underlying evidence for themselves, without relying solely on secondary interpretations or long-standing speculation. Whether these records ultimately reshape the understanding of Earhart’s fate remains unknown, but they mark a significant step toward illuminating a case that has captivated generations.

The post Amelia Earhart Declassified: New Government Records Released and Indexed by The Black Vault first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the report, Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Livelsberger deliberately drove a rented Tesla Cybertruck into the hotel’s porte cochere at approximately 8:40 a.m. and detonated it seconds later. The explosion killed Livelsberger and injured six others. The blast was determined to be a premeditated attack involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device capable of mass casualties and structural damage.

Investigators recovered firearms, ammunition, fuel containers, fireworks, and multiple electronic devices from the destroyed vehicle.

The LVMPD’s Digital Forensics Lab later extracted digital evidence including Livelsberger’s chat history, internet searches, encrypted notes, and a manifesto from one of two recovered iPhones. The report states that this material helped confirm the suspect acted alone but contained information that led the Department of Defense to classify the manifesto on January 9, 2025. The classification order ended LVMPD’s local investigation, transferring full control to federal authorities citing national security concerns.

Authorities and media outlets have reported the existence of an alleged manifesto linked to Livelsberger that may shed light on his motivations and state of mind in the days leading up to the explosion. According to information first published by the Shawn Ryan show, Livelsberger sent a lengthy email to a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer claiming to possess knowledge of secret government programs, classified drone technology, and alleged wartime misconduct. In the message, he described what he believed were “gravitic propulsion” aircraft, technology he attributed to both the United States and China, and referenced a “checkmate” scenario in which such craft could hover undetected over strategic targets. The email also included statements about covert military operations in Afghanistan, which Livelsberger claimed had resulted in civilian casualties that were later covered up. He wrote that he had been “followed for over a week” by intelligence agencies and suggested he was being digitally tracked.

The manifesto’s authenticity has not been verified by investigators, and its contents remain a subject of speculation. The Department of Defense has not publicly commented on whether the material it classified on January 9, 2025, matches the document published by Ryan. However, the overlap between the descriptions has fueled widespread discussion about whether the writings seized from Livelsberger’s devices and the email now circulating online are the same. If confirmed, the classification of the manifesto could suggest that elements of Livelsberger’s claims intersected with restricted or sensitive defense information, raising further questions about why the federal government moved swiftly to block public release of the document.

The sequence of events outlined in the report shows that Livelsberger rented the Cybertruck through the peer-to-peer car service Turo on December 28, 2024, after advancing the reservation from December 30. Surveillance footage later confirmed that, just before the explosion, Livelsberger was seen pouring an accelerant into the bed of the vehicle before driving it to the Trump hotel. Investigators verified that the Cybertruck’s internal cameras had been disabled manually prior to detonation.

Army Criminal Investigation Division agents assisted in executing search warrants at Livelsberger’s residences in Colorado and Germany, uncovering personal and service-related records. Interviews with his wife indicated marital and behavioral problems in the days before the incident, including erratic communication and financial isolation. Federal agents determined Livelsberger had purchased firearms, fireworks, and other materials in the days leading up to the attack.

The report documents a highly coordinated response between local, federal, and private-sector partners. Within minutes of the explosion, officers and firefighters evacuated the hotel, contained the fire, and established command posts. Specialized bomb technicians from the Las Vegas Fire Rescue Bomb Squad and the FBI confirmed the presence of fuel containers, fuses, and fireworks remnants. Drone footage and air-monitoring technology were used to assess the scene and ensure safety for investigators. The report cites this integration of drone technology as critical to “ensuring that personnel could advance only when it was deemed safe to do so.”

The LVMPD’s analysis also includes internal recommendations following the event. These include additional training on electric-vehicle battery hazards after several officers reported exposure symptoms from lithium-ion fumes, improved interagency communication protocols, and expanded protective equipment for crime-scene analysts. The report further calls for continued joint training between police and fire personnel to address differences in incident-command expectations during complex emergencies.

The Cybertruck was ultimately wrapped in a tarp and transported under escort to a secure LVMPD facility for examination. Once the Department of Defense intervened, LVMPD was directed to halt further public disclosure. Sheriff Kevin McMahill said that, despite significant media pressure to classify the attack as terrorism, investigators “prioritized a methodical and unbiased investigative approach” and refrained from public speculation until evidence could be verified.

The incident occurred just hours after a separate New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed fourteen and injured fifty-seven. Though investigators found no connection between the two events, the timing amplified national security concerns. The LVMPD report concludes that Livelsberger acted alone but offers no explanation for the Department of Defense’s decision to classify his writings or what specific content warranted federal secrecy.

The release of the after-action report closes LVMPD’s portion of the case but leaves lingering questions about why the military assumed control, what was contained in Livelsberger’s manifesto, and whether any broader implications remain hidden behind classification.

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Document Archive

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The post Las Vegas Police Release Full Report on Cybertruck Explosion — and the Federal Intervention That Followed first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to Luna, her office received the physical dossier directly from the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. “This is of massive historical significance,” she wrote on X. She noted that Congress had previously attempted to obtain the same material in the 1990s but was denied. Luna stated that a “team of experts” is now working to translate and authenticate the files, which have not been edited or redacted and “appear in their original form as delivered.”

The documents have been published in full by veteran journalist and author Jefferson Morley on his Substack platform, JFK Facts. Morley was entrusted with ensuring that the public could access the dossier without restrictions.

Morley is an American journalist and historian who has spent decades researching U.S. intelligence and the Kennedy assassination. He worked for The Washington Post for 15 years, served as national editorial director for the Center for Independent Media, and currently serves as vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation. His writing has appeared in The New Republic, Salon, and The Intercept.

Luna emphasized that the report “has not been edited, redacted, or tampered with” since its delivery and said that “while experts are actively authenticating the legitimacy of these documents, at this time they are believed to be authentic.” The dossier’s early English-language sections indicate a focus on Lee Harvey Oswald’s time in the Soviet Union and possible intelligence connections, but the full scope of the Russian findings remains unclear pending complete translation.

###

Document Archive

Download the Russian dossier, in full, unedited (The Black Vault’s Mirror #1 [Recommended]):  Russian_Jfk_Dossier_10152025.pdf [386 Pages, 67.7MB]

Download the Russian dossier, in full, unedited (The Black Vault’s Mirror #2):  Russian_Jfk_Dossier_10152025.pdf [386 Pages, 67.7MB]

Download the Russian dossier, in full, unedited (Mirror #3 [JFK Facts]):  Russian_Jfk_Dossier_10152025.pdf [386 Pages, 67.7MB]

See Also

Explore the JFK Assassination Records

The Black Vault hosts a dedicated, free search engine for the 2025 JFK file releases and prior records—indexing
hundreds of thousands of pages from multiple agencies.

• Full-text search across OCR’d documents
• Metadata display (title, agency, date, RIF, classification)
• Multi-select filters with “Select All” toggles
• Preview snippets with highlighted search terms
• Open PDFs in PDF.js with query highlights
• Color-coded classification indicators

Open the JFK Files Search Engine

No account required. Free public access.

The post Russian Dossier on JFK Assassination Released to Public After Hand Delivery to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna first appeared on The Black Vault.

You can get quite a bit of material under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) even copies of cafeteria menus and complaints sent in regarding the food.

Although I still have quite a few open FOIA requests regarding this, the below have come in thus far.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

 CIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [29 Pages, 2.7MB]

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

DIA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [33 Pages, 11MB]

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 USDA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 0.6MB] – USDA claims only 1 complain was filed, but was settled, so there was no official report.

Department of Commerce (DOC)

 DOC Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [4 Pages, 1.7MB] – Pretty long and detailed complaint because he felt he overpaid by… 47 cents! (Wonder how much taxpayers paid to pay this worker, to write this letter?)

Department of Defense (DOD)

 DOD / Pentagon Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [37 Pages, 1.7MB]

Department of Energy (DOE)

 DOE Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [149 Pages, 14.1MB]

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

 HHS Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [11 Pages, 1.6MB]

Department of Transportation (DOT)

 DOT Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [16 Pages, 2.8MB]

Department of Treasury

Department of Treasury Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [5 Pages, 1MB]

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [30 Pages, 0.6MB]

National Security Agency (NSA)

 NSA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Year 2013 [18 Pages, 9.3MB]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

 NRO Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [8 Pages, 0.6MB]

Veterans Affairs (VA)

 VA Cafeteria Complaints, Calendar Years 2014-2015 [7 Pages, 2.1MB]

The post Agency Cafeterias – Complaints & Menus first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post The Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Records Archive first appeared on The Black Vault.

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, is one of the most significant events in American history. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while on a political trip to Texas to smooth over frictions in the Democratic Party. The motorcade route through Dealey Plaza was planned in advance, and Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, along with Texas Governor John Connally, were riding in an open-top convertible limousine when the shots were fired.

Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested and charged with the assassination. Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later, on November 24, while in police custody, before he could be tried. This series of events triggered numerous conspiracy theories about the assassination, as Oswald was never able to testify or be tried in court.

In the wake of the assassination and Oswald’s death, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, more commonly known as the Warren Commission, named after its chairman, Chief Justice Earl Warren. The Warren Commission was tasked with investigating the circumstances of JFK’s assassination and Oswald’s role in it. After months of investigation, the Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone in assassinating Kennedy and that there was no credible evidence of a conspiracy, either domestic or international, in the assassination. The Commission’s findings, however, have been controversial and the subject of criticism and skepticism.

In 1992, in response to the ongoing public interest and skepticism towards the official narrative of JFK’s assassination, the U.S. Congress passed the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act. This Act mandated the creation of the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB), an independent agency that was tasked with re-examining the assassination and declassifying records related to it.

While the ARRB did not come to any definitive conclusions about the assassination, its work helped to shed new light on the events surrounding JFK’s death and sparked renewed public interest in the assassination.

In recent years, The Black Vault has collected hundreds of thousands of pages related to the JFK assassination. These documents are freely available for download below.

The Documents Collection

The MOU about the JFK Act

In June of 2021, NARA released to The Black Vault all drafts of the, “Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Continuing Obligations of the CIA Under the JFK Act.”

All drafts of the MOU [15 Pages, 6.2MB] – This PDF contains all draft copies of the memorandum of 1998 in Box 4 of the Files of K, Michelle Combs in a folder labeled CIA Compliance.

The “JFK Files” Released from 2017-2025

Available Document Indexes

Each of the indexes below have clickable direct links for the files. Or, keep scrolling, and you will find links to browse the entire collection via a directory.

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS
RELEASED in 2017 and 2018 [3,032 Pages, 28.3MB]

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS
RELEASED in 2021 [0.2MB]

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS
RELEASED in 2022 [1.8MB]

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS
RELEASED in 2023 [1.8MB]

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE INDEX OF DOCUMENTS
RELEASED in 2025 [Not Yet Available]

Download Documents Released – .PDF Files

The links in this section will take you to a full file listing for individual downloads of the .pdf files. If you prefer .zip files instead, scroll down for a list breakdown of .zip files available.

2017 Releases

July & October 2017 Release
November 3, 2017 Release
November 9, 2017 Release
November 17, 2017 Release
December 15, 2017 Release

2018 Releases

April 26, 2018 Release
ARRB Hard Drives
ARRB Emails (.pdfs) or (raw .csv files)

2021 Releases

December 15, 2021 Release

2022 Releases

December 15, 2022 Release

2023 Releases

June 27, June 13, May 11, April 27, and April 13, 2023 Releases

2025 Releases

March 18, March 20, March 26, and April 3, 2025 Releases
March 28, 2025 “Hidden 75” Files – Note: These files were found by X user Luis Gonzalez 𝕏 @prgrlm by using past 2023 links to bulk downloads, and guessing the URL. He found this one by doing so. As of the morning of March 21, 2025, the documents within this .zip are primarily not found on NARA’s 2025 release pages. Some were not released on March 18, but were released in part on March 20, but there were differences. It is unknown why these files were singled out, but not linked anywhere. The URL, and verified again on 3/20/25, is at: https://archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/jfk2025.zip

When some of the “Hidden 75” Files did show up on the March 20, 2025, drop, there were some differences including quality, declassification markers, and even page counts. So, I am keeping the original state of the files discovered on March 18, 2025, which when downloaded on that day, all had a file date from NARA of March 1, 2025, 3:24pm.

Download Documents Released – .Zip Files

2017 Releases

Download the July and October Release: (right click – press save as): [ .zip  39.1GB]

Download the November 3 (searchable .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ .zip  3.7GB ]

Download the November 9 (searchable .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ .zip 7.0GB ]

Download the November 17 (searchable .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ .zip 16.4GB ]

Download the December 15 (searchable .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ .zip 41.1GB ]

2018 Releases

Download the April 26 (SEARCHABLE .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ JFK-April2018.zip  38.5GB  ]

Or for a smaller, segmented download (but is not searchable) I have left the following .zip files available for download:

Download the April 26 (non-searchable .pdf) Release: (right click – press save as): [ jfk201804a.zip  1.1GB | jfk201804b.zip  1.0GB | jfk201804c.zip  1.2GB | jfk201804d.zip  1.1GB | jfk201804e.zip  1.15GB | jfk201804f.zip  1.4GB | jfk201804g.zip  1.1GB | jfk201804h.zip  0.95GB | jfk201804i.zip  1.1GB | jfk201804j.zip  1.1GB | ]

2021 Releases

Download the December 15, 2021, (SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2021.zip  1.4GB]

2022 Releases

Download the December 15, 2022, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2022.zip  12.6GB]

Download the December 15, 2022, (SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2022-ocr.zip  19.8GB] 

2023 Releases

Download the June 27, June 13, May 11, April 27, and April 13, 2023 (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2023-nonprocessed.zip  5.6GB]

Download the June 27, June 13, May 11, April 27, and April 13, 2023 (SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2023-processed.zip  10.5GB] 

2025 Release

March 18

Download the March 18, 2025, (SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-processed-ocr.zip 9.69GB] Having trouble downloading? Try Mirror #1: [jfk2025-processed-ocr.zip 9.69GB]

Download the March 18, 2025, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-raw-no-ocr.zip 5.88GB] Having trouble downloading? Try Mirror #1: [jfk2025-raw-no-ocr.zip 5.88GB]

March 18 The “Hidden 75” Files

Download the March 18, 2025 “Hidden 75” Files, (SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Hidden75-processed-ocr.zip 40.4MB] – Note: These files were found by X user Luis Gonzalez 𝕏 @prgrlm by using past 2023 links to bulk downloads, and guessing the URL. He found this one by doing so. As of the morning of March 21, 2025, the documents within this .zip are primarily not found on NARA’s 2025 release pages. Some were not released on March 18, but were released in part on March 20, but there were differences. It is unknown why these files were singled out, but not linked anywhere. The URL, and verified again on 3/20/25, is at: https://archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/jfk2025.zip

Download the March 18, 2025 “Hidden 75” Files, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Hidden75-raw-no-ocr.zip 58.9MB]

March 20

Download the March 20, 2025, SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Mar20-processed-ocr.zip 817MB]

Download the March 20, 2025, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Mar20-raw-no-ocr.zip 995MB]

March 26

Download the March 26, 2025, SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Mar26-processed-ocr.zip 5.5MB]

Download the March 26, 2025, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Mar26-raw-no-ocr.zip 3.8MB]

April 3

Download the April 3, 2025, SEARCHABLE .pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Apr3-processed-ocr.zip 101MB]

Download the April 3, 2025, (Non-processed, non-searchable [original release from NARA].pdf files) Release: (right click – press save as): [jfk2025-Apr3-raw-no-ocr.zip 430MB]

Assassination Reports and Records

 Final Report of the Select Committee on Assassinations US House of Representatives, January 2, 1979 [716 Pages, 43.27MB]

From Bright Ideas to Social Research: The Studies of the Kennedy Assassination, May 1965 [38 Pages, 1 MB]

Central Intelligence Agency Records

 Arthur James Balletti Et Al – Unauthorized Publication or Use of Communications – Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 14 May 1962 [7 Pages, 9.1MB]

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Files on Key Players

Banister, Guy – FBI Release #1 – [297 Pages, 32.9 MB]  Banister, Guy – FBI Release #2 – [335 Pages, 20.3 MB] – William Guy Banister (March 7, 1901 – June 6, 1964) was an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an Assistant Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, and a private investigator. After his death, he gained notoriety from allegations made by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison that he had been involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  He was an avid anti-communist, alleged member of the Minutemen, the John Birch Society, Louisiana Committee on Un-American Activities, and alleged publisher of the Louisiana Intelligence Digest. He also supported various anti-Castro groups in the New Orleans area: “Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front”; “Anti-Communist League of the Caribbean”; “Friends of Democratic Cuba”. According to the New Orleans States-Item newspaper, “Guy [Banister] participated in every anti-Communist South and Central American revolution that came along, acting as a key liaison man for the U.S. government-sponsored anti-Communist activities in Latin America.”

Estes, Billie Sol – [34 Pages, 4.44 MB] – Billie Sol Estes (January 10, 1925 – May 14, 2013) was an American businessman; a former financier best known for a business scandal that sent him to jail for fraud multiple times and complicated by his ties to friend and future U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. Estes was living in Granbury, Texas at the time of his death. His body was discovered on May 14, 2013 at his home in DeCordova, Texas. Please note: This was a limited release on his full file, which is estimated to be 77,000 pages in length.  I amended my request after some electronic communication with the FBI by stating, “I understand the Estes made some (unfounded) claims about the death of John F. Kennedy towards the end of his life, connecting the murder to LBJ. That’s a small nutshell, but in essence, what I am looking for is anything related to JFK’s assassination and LBJ.”

Garrison, Jim – [ 160 Pages, 10.13 MB ] – Earling Carothers “Jim” Garrison (November 20, 1921 – October 21, 1992) – who changed his first name to Jim in the early 1960s – was the District Attorney of Orleans Parish, Louisiana, from 1962 to 1973. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best known for his investigations into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was played by Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone’s JFK.Requesting additional records on Garrison, other than the above, the FBI informed me that records may have BEEN DESTROYED.  In addition, others may exist at the National Archives. I am awaiting a response.

Nagell, Richard Case – FBI Release #1 – [740 Pages, 323MB] Nagell, Richard Case – FBI Release #2 – [224 Pages, 9MB] – Richard Case Nagell (August 5, 1930 – November 1, 1995) is a former United States military officer who, according to Dick Russell’s biography of him, claimed to have had foreknowledge of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. According to Russell, Nagell also claimed to have gotten himself arrested in a bank shooting weeks before the assassination to avoid becoming a patsy. Nagell met with New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, who at the time was investigating Clay Shaw’s possible complicity in the assassination. Nagell died from heart disease on November 1, 1995 in Los Angeles, California, one day after the Assassination Records Review Board had sent him a letter for information. He was 65 years old at the time of his death.

National Committee To Investigate Assassinations – [65 Pages, 18MB] – The National Committee to Investigate Assassinations (NCIA) was an organization dedicated to uncovering the truth behind political assassinations, particularly those of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Formed in the 1960s, the committee sought to challenge official government narratives and promote transparency by conducting independent investigations and disseminating findings to the public. The NCIA gathered researchers, legal experts, and concerned citizens who questioned the conclusions of government investigations, such as the Warren Commission, and advocated for further inquiry into potential conspiracies and overlooked evidence. Their work played a significant role in fueling public skepticism and the ongoing debate over the true circumstances surrounding these high-profile assassinations.

Pavlick, Richard [ 289 Pages, 16MB ]  United States Secret Service File [ 601 Pages, 29.39MB ]  Secret Service Release #2 [ 9 Pages, 1.7MB ] – Richard Paul Pavlick (February 13, 1887 – November 11, 1975) was a retired postal worker from New Hampshire who stalked U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy, with the intent of assassinating him. On December 11, 1960 in Palm Beach, Florida, Pavlick positioned himself to carry out the assassination by blowing up Kennedy and himself with dynamite, but delayed the attempt because Kennedy was with his wife and children. He was then arrested before he was able to stage another attempt.

John “Handsome Johnny” Roselli was rumored by many to have played a role in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Roselli was also involved with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) plot to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the early 1960s. Although I have filed multiple FOIA requests to multiple agencies, the below are the only records to have come back:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – [1,306 Pages, 52.58MB] – The FBI finally released 1,306 pages of Roselli’s file. There are approximately 17,000 more pages. See the below letter. Please Note: The FBI acknowledges that there is a nearly 18,000 page FBI file on Johnny Roselli, however, there are enormous fees to go along with obtaining the file. $530 to obtain the records on CD while a printed copy would cost $1,769.40. If anyone would like to sponsor the rest of this file, I would put all 18,000 pages on The Black Vault and archive it here for research.  National Security Agency (NSA) – The NSA claims that they can “Neither confirm nor deny records exist” on Roselli. Is this simply a standard response? Or are they hiding information?

Weisberg, Harold NARA Release #1 – [22 Pages, 2.2MB] Harold Weisberg (April 8, 1913 – February 21, 2002) served as an Office of Strategic Services officer during World War II, a U.S. Senate staff member and investigative reporter, an investigator for the Senate Committee on Civil Liberties, and a U.S. State Department intelligence analyst who devoted 40 years of his life to researching and writing about the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. He wrote ten self-published and published books and approximately thirty-five unpublished books related to the details for those assassinations, mostly with respect to Kennedy’s assassination. Weisberg was a strong critic of the Warren Commission report and of the methods used in investigating President Kennedy’s murder. In this regard, he was avant-garde, embarking on a course that many other conspiracy theorists would later come to follow. Weisberg is best known for his seminal work, Whitewash, where he wrote: “Following thousands of hours of research in and analysis of the vast, chaotic, deliberately disorganized, padded and largely meaningless 26 volumes of the testimony and exhibits of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy and its 900-page Report – millions of words of which are not needed and are merely diversionary – I published the results of my investigation in a book, Whitewash: The Report on the Warren Report. In this book, I establish that the inquiry into the assassination was a whitewash, using as proof only what the Commission avoided, ignored, misrepresented and suppressed of its own evidence.” On February 21, 2002, Weisberg died of cardiovascular disease at his home in Frederick, Maryland.

National Security Agency Records

National Security Agency Records on the JFK Assassination Batch 1 [214 Pages, 17.3MB]

National Security Agency Records on the JFK Assassination Batch 2 [492 Pages, 47MB]

Report of the Assassination Records Review Board

The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 created the Assassination Records Review Board as an independent agency to re-examine for release the assassination-related records that federal agencies still regarded as too sensitive to open to the public. The Board finished its work on September 30, 1998, issued a final report, and transferred all of its records to the National Archives and Records Administration.

1.  Final Report of the Assassination Records Review Board September, 1998 [227 Pages]

Warren Commission Report

The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 29, 1963 to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy that had taken place on November 22, 1963. Its 889-page final report was presented to President Johnson on September 24, 1964 and made public three days later. It concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy and wounding Texas Governor John Connally and that Jack Ruby also acted alone when he killed Oswald two days later. The Commission’s findings have proven controversial and have been both challenged and supported by later studies.

The Commission took its unofficial name—the Warren Commission—from its chairman, Chief Justice Earl Warren. According to published transcripts of Johnson’s presidential phone conversations, some major officials were opposed to forming such a commission and several commission members took part only with extreme reluctance. One of their chief reservations was that a commission would ultimately create more controversy than consensus, and those fears proved valid. (Source: Wikipedia)

 Warren Commission Report (Full) [910 Pages, 88.9MB]

The post J.F.K. Assassination Records Archive – Previously Withheld JFK Assassination Documents Database first appeared on The Black Vault.

Although there was a lot of confusion on social media on what the documents actually were (many were linking to files that were online for years, and labeling them as new) the below are the actual records released.

Many have posted that some, if not all, have been available in the past.

They are added here to The Black Vault without editorial or comparison to previous releases.

The records below have been archived directly from the Department of Justice, and combined for easy viewing. There are bookmarks within the pdf files which differentiates the files that were released.

Original Department of Justice Press Release

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), declassified and publicly released files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida, among other locations. The first phase of declassified files largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government.

“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”  

“The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be. The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise.”

Attorney General Bondi requested the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In response, the Department received approximately 200 pages of documents, however, the Attorney General was later informed of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein that were not previously disclosed. The Attorney General has requested the FBI deliver the remaining documents to the Department by 8:00 AM on February 28 and has tasked FBI Director Kash Patel with investigating why the request for all documents was not followed.

The Department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.

Document Archive

Full release of ‘First Phase’ Epstein Files – Combined PDF [342 Pages, 71MB]

  ‘First Phase’ .zip file of all archived but uncombined .pdf’s released by the Department of Justice (same files as above, different download format) [65MB]

The post Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files first appeared on The Black Vault.

The report outlines Trump’s actions, including spreading false claims of election fraud, pressuring the Justice Department, and inciting the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. It emphasizes that these actions constituted an “unprecedented criminal effort” to disrupt the democratic process.

Despite challenges such as executive privilege claims and social media influence, Smith defends the integrity of the investigation, stating that his team “stood up for the rule of law.” He also dismisses claims of political influence, asserting that the inquiry was conducted independently.

A second volume of the report, focusing on Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, remains undisclosed due to ongoing legal proceedings.

In response, Trump criticized Smith on his Truth Social platform, calling him “a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election” and asserting his innocence.

Document Archive

DOJ Releases Special Counsel’s Final Report on Trump’s Election Interference [174 Pages, 28MB]

The post DOJ Releases Special Counsel’s Final Report on Trump’s Election Interference first appeared on The Black Vault.

The report is divided into four parts:

1. ALA-17 Flare Tests: Examines the effectiveness of deploying one to three flares as decoys. The tests demonstrated successful missile decoying under most conditions, with a few exceptions.
2. C-130 Susceptibility: Analyzes the vulnerability of C-130 aircraft to ground-launched infrared-guided missiles during low-level flight. It was feasible to achieve missile lock-on at low offsets from the launch site, though larger offsets posed challenges.
3. QRC-399 Countermeasures: Evaluates the QRC-399 equipment’s ability to disrupt missile guidance systems. A high jamming-to-signal ratio was critical for success, particularly against the more agile ATOLL missile.
4. Infrared Radiometry: Assesses the effectiveness of airborne countermeasures and measures infrared emissions from target aircraft, providing insights into decoy probabilities and radiant intensities.

The findings contribute to understanding infrared countermeasure technologies and air-to-air and ground-to-air missile vulnerabilities.

Document Archive

HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV [154 Pages, 53MB]

The post HAVE CARGO Captive Flight Tests, Phase III, Volume IV – August 1974 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The plan included various possible scenarios, such as staging attacks on American military installations in Guantanamo Bay, sinking boats carrying Cuban refugees, and orchestrating fake hijackings of civilian airliners. These incidents were to be designed in such a way that they would appear to be carried out by Cuban operatives. The hope was that these provocations would lead the American public and international community to support military action against Cuba. The operation’s proposals went as far as considering the possible loss of American lives, which would have been falsely blamed on the Cuban government to rally support for intervention.

Operation Northwoods was never approved, and President John F. Kennedy ultimately rejected the plan. The proposal was part of a broader effort by the U.S. government during the Cold War to contain the spread of communism, particularly in Latin America. This rejection is often viewed as a critical moment in Kennedy’s presidency, demonstrating his reluctance to escalate military conflict in Cuba, especially in the wake of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion the previous year.

The details of Operation Northwoods remained classified for decades until documents related to the operation were declassified in the 1990s. These revelations sparked widespread controversy and debate about the ethics of such proposals and the extent to which governments might go to achieve political or military objectives. While the operation was never carried out, its existence highlights the extreme measures considered during the Cold War and serves as a reminder of the lengths to which some officials were willing to go in the fight against communism.

Ultimately, the exposure of Operation Northwoods has contributed to ongoing discussions about the transparency and accountability of government actions, particularly in the context of military and intelligence operations. It remains a significant example of a covert plan that, had it been implemented, could have had far-reaching consequences for U.S.-Cuba relations and global perceptions of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era.

Document Archive

Central Intelligence Agency

 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Records from the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) [ 24 Pages, 2.92MB ]

 Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Denial After my Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) [ 1 Page, 0.7MB ]

Joint Chiefs of Staff

 Justification for US Military Intervention in Cuba, 13 March 1962 [ 15 Pages, 2.92MB ]

 Report by the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Representative of the Caribbean Study Group to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on CUBA PROJECT, 9 March 1962 [ 13 Pages, 2.5MB ]

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

 Northwoods [181 Pages, 25.6MB ] – This, according to the National Archives, is the only document within their collections that deals with Operation Northwoods.  Special thanks to friend and fellow FOIA requester Michael Best for obtaining this document and notifying me about it.  He graciously created the searchable PDF for The Black Vault.

(The following document is ARCHIVED, but no longer relevant. The referenced document in this order form was received, and added above.)
 Northwoods – Original response to The Black Vault from NARA [ 7 Pages, 2.9MB ] 

The post Operation Northwoods first appeared on The Black Vault.

The original request sought emails which contain the words  “FOIA” and “Freedom of Information”.

The controversy revolves around allegations that Dr. Morens used his personal email account to evade FOIA requests and potentially deleted critical federal records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic suggest that Dr. Morens advised his colleagues to use personal emails and delete messages to protect themselves and Dr. Anthony Fauci from public scrutiny. These actions have raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the NIH.

The emails show Dr. Morens expressing concern over the volume of emails that could be scrutinized under FOIA, indicating the potential for thousands of documents to be reviewed. His discussions include suggestions to streamline the process, such as forwarding emails to a central source or hiring additional help to manage the overwhelming task of compliance. This illustrates the challenges faced by NIH officials in balancing transparency with the demands of the pandemic.

In addition to these logistical concerns, the emails also highlight Dr. Morens’ apparent relief when certain FOIA requests were closed, suggesting a desire to avoid further scrutiny.

The documents reveal his strategic approach to handling information requests, which could be seen as an attempt to shield himself and his colleagues from external examination. W

For those interested in examining the documents in detail, the full release is provided below.

Document Archive

NIH FOIA Case 61804 [335 Pages, 52MB]

The post New Documents Highlight NIH Adviser’s Controversial Handling of Emails and FOIA Requests first appeared on The Black Vault.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the FBI’s Carnivore system drew considerable attention and debate. Unveiled during this period, Carnivore was a sophisticated email wiretapping system designed to intercept and analyze digital communications. The system’s capabilities and the implications for privacy and civil liberties were subjects of intense scrutiny and concern among privacy advocates, Internet service providers (ISPs), and the public at large.

Carnivore, officially known as DCS1000, was a network diagnostic tool utilized by the FBI to monitor and intercept email and other online communications. The system was installed at an ISP’s premises and was capable of scanning vast amounts of digital data passing through the ISP’s network. Carnivore specifically targeted communications of suspects under investigation, allowing the FBI to capture emails, chat sessions, and other forms of online interactions.

The Carnivore system operated by tapping into the ISP’s network and filtering the data packets that flowed through it. According to an internal FBI document, the system was designed to “ensure that only the exact communications authorized by the court to be intercepted are what is intercepted”​​. This meant that Carnivore could be configured to capture only the communications of a specific target while excluding all other traffic.

The deployment of Carnivore was subject to strict legal guidelines and required a court order based on probable cause. The FBI had to demonstrate that the interception of communications was necessary for an ongoing investigation and that it would yield evidence of criminal activity. The court order specified the scope of the surveillance, including the types of communications to be intercepted and the duration of the surveillance.

Despite these legal safeguards, privacy advocates raised significant concerns about the potential for abuse and the broader implications for digital privacy. A key issue was the transparency and accountability of the Carnivore system. ISPs and privacy groups worried that the system could be used for more extensive monitoring than intended, potentially capturing the communications of individuals not under investigation.

In a letter to Congress, John E. Collingwood, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs, emphasized that Carnivore was used “only when Internet Service Providers are unable on their own to restrict interceptions within the narrow confines of the controlling court order”​​. However, ISPs expressed doubts about their ability to verify that the FBI adhered strictly to these limitations once Carnivore was installed on their networks.

The reaction from the Internet industry was mixed. Some ISPs resisted the installation of Carnivore on their networks, citing concerns about the system’s impact on network performance and the privacy of their customers. In one notable case, EarthLink, a major ISP, refused to install Carnivore, arguing that it could cause disruptions to their service and compromise customer privacy​​.

EarthLink’s concerns were not isolated. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other privacy organizations filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to uncover more details about Carnivore’s technical capabilities and its use in investigations. The ACLU’s efforts aimed to obtain the source code of Carnivore, which would reveal the inner workings of the system and potentially confirm whether it could be used for broader surveillance than officially stated​​.

The controversy surrounding Carnivore led to calls for greater oversight and transparency in the deployment of digital surveillance tools. Critics argued that without independent verification of the system’s operations, there was no way to ensure that the FBI’s use of Carnivore was consistent with legal requirements and respected individual privacy rights.

In response to these concerns, the FBI conducted briefings with industry specialists and members of Congress to explain how Carnivore worked and the measures in place to prevent abuse. However, skepticism remained, and the debate over digital surveillance and privacy continued to evolve.

By circa 2005, it was reported that Carnivore had been replaced by more commercially available software​​. This shift indicated an evolution in the FBI’s approach to digital surveillance, moving away from proprietary systems like Carnivore to leveraging advancements in commercial technology.

Carnivore represented a significant development in law enforcement’s ability to monitor digital communications. While it provided a powerful tool for investigating and preventing criminal activity, it also raised critical questions about the balance between security and privacy in the digital age. As technology continues to advance and digital communication becomes even more integral to daily life, the need for clear legal frameworks and robust oversight mechanisms remains essential to protect civil liberties while enabling effective law enforcement.

In June of 2018, The Black Vault requested all FBI documents about the system. In July of 2018, the first release of records was received. In June of 2024, a second batch of records were released.

Document Archive

 FBI Release #1 on CARNIVORE – [608 Pages, 377MB] – Released July 2018

 FBI Release #2 on CARNIVORE – [468 Pages, 220MB] – Released June 2024

 FBI Release #3 on CARNIVORE – [443 Pages, 265MB] – Released August 2024

The post CARNIVORE (DCS1000): FBI Files on Their Email and Electronic Communication Monitoring Software first appeared on The Black Vault.

Origins and Release

The Family Jewels documents were originally compiled in response to a 1973 request by then-CIA Director James Schlesinger, who wanted to know if there were any agency operations that might be considered illegal or improper. This internal investigation was prompted by the Watergate scandal and increasing public scrutiny of government agencies. The resulting reports were intended to be kept confidential, but they eventually became part of the public record due to the persistent efforts of journalists and researchers, along with Freedom of Information Act requests.

In 2007, under pressure from a lawsuit filed by the National Security Archive, the CIA finally declassified and released the Family Jewels. The release was significant, not only because it shed light on past abuses but also because it marked a rare instance of transparency for an agency known for its secrecy.

Assassination Plots

One of the most shocking revelations in the Family Jewels was the CIA’s involvement in plots to assassinate foreign leaders. The documents detail various attempts to eliminate Cuban leader Fidel Castro, including collaboration with the Mafia to poison him and plans to use exotic devices like exploding cigars. In one instance, the CIA even considered using a contaminated diving suit to kill Castro.

The agency’s involvement in assassination plots was not limited to Cuba. The documents also reveal efforts to target leaders in the Congo, the Dominican Republic, and other countries. These revelations raised significant ethical and legal questions about the extent to which the United States was willing to go to influence foreign governments and political outcomes.

Illegal Surveillance

The Family Jewels also uncovered extensive illegal surveillance operations conducted by the CIA within the United States. Despite its mandate to operate only outside U.S. borders, the agency engaged in domestic spying activities, including the monitoring of American journalists, political activists, and dissidents. Operation CHAOS, one of the programs detailed in the documents, aimed to uncover foreign influences on domestic protest movements during the 1960s and early 1970s. However, it quickly expanded to include broad surveillance of American citizens, violating their constitutional rights.

Human Experimentation

Perhaps the most disturbing revelations in the Family Jewels are related to the CIA’s human experimentation programs. The documents detail Project MK-Ultra, a clandestine program focused on mind control and behavioral modification. Under this program, the CIA conducted experiments on unknowing subjects, including administering LSD and other drugs, subjecting individuals to sensory deprivation, and using psychological manipulation techniques. These experiments were often conducted without the informed consent of the participants, leading to severe psychological and physical harm in many cases.

One of the most infamous incidents involved the death of Frank Olson, a CIA scientist who was secretly dosed with LSD and later fell to his death from a hotel window under suspicious circumstances. The Family Jewels documents shed light on the agency’s attempts to cover up the true nature of Olson’s death and the broader unethical practices of the MK-Ultra program.

Quotes and Reactions

The release of the Family Jewels prompted a wide range of reactions from government officials, historians, and the public. Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden stated, “The documents provide a view of a very different era and a very different agency,” acknowledging the mistakes of the past while emphasizing the CIA’s efforts to operate within legal and ethical boundaries in the present day.

Senator Edward Kennedy, who had been a vocal critic of the CIA’s practices, remarked, “The release of these documents underscores the necessity of vigilant oversight of our intelligence agencies to ensure they do not overstep their bounds.” The documents’ release also fueled calls for greater transparency and accountability in the intelligence community.

Legacy and Impact

The Family Jewels documents have had a lasting impact on the public’s perception of the CIA and its operations. They serve as a reminder of the potential for abuse of power within secretive government agencies and the importance of checks and balances to prevent such abuses. The revelations prompted legislative reforms, including the establishment of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which were designed to provide oversight and accountability for the CIA and other intelligence agencies.

In the years since their release, the Family Jewels have become a crucial resource for historians, journalists, and researchers seeking to understand the complexities and ethical challenges of intelligence work. They provide a sobering account of the lengths to which the CIA went during the Cold War to achieve its objectives, often at the expense of legal and moral considerations.

Document Archive

Download the entire “Family Jewels” collection [702 Pages, 21.4MB]

Mandatory Declassification Review Request on First 11 Pages of “Family Jewels” collection [12 Pages, 3.5MB] – On March 22, 2018, I requested a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) on the first 11 pages of the Family Jewels document. I requested only the first 11 pages, due to the fact that the first item listen in the breakdown of projects and incidents outlined in the document, is entirely withheld. If anything in the first 11 pages would be unredacted and released, it would pave the way to request a full MDR of the document. However, they continue to deny the information, as of September 2019, when the CIA released the responsive records. The redactions were the same.

The post The “Family Jewels” Collection (CIA) first appeared on The Black Vault.

One of the central features of Obamacare is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance or face a penalty. This mandate was designed to expand the pool of insured individuals, thereby spreading the risk and enabling insurers to lower costs for everyone. The ACA also expanded Medicaid eligibility and created health insurance exchanges where individuals and families could purchase insurance plans, often with the help of government subsidies based on income levels. Additionally, the ACA implemented consumer protections, such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions, charging more based on health status or gender, and setting annual or lifetime coverage limits.

Despite its intentions and achievements, Obamacare has been the subject of significant political controversy and legal challenges. Critics argue that it has led to increased health insurance premiums for some individuals, excessive regulatory burdens on businesses, and undue government intervention in the healthcare market. Supporters contend that the ACA has significantly reduced the number of uninsured Americans, provided essential health benefits, and curbed healthcare spending growth. Legal challenges have reached the Supreme Court, which has upheld most of the law’s provisions, including the individual mandate (later effectively nullified by Congress in 2017 by reducing the penalty to zero). The ongoing debate reflects broader disagreements over the role of government in healthcare and the best ways to achieve universal coverage and cost control in the healthcare system.

The following documents is publicly available legislation and records released through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Document Archive

Office of Management and Budget Records

Emails from/to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the EOP/OMB, containing the keywords “Obamacare” [829 Pages, 50MB] – This request took almost a decade to process and complete.

Full Text of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, March 23, 2010 [906 Pages, 2.41MB] – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as passed by Congress

 Compilation of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, As Amended Through May 1, 2010 [974 Pages, 2.57MB] – PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH-RELATED PORTIONS OF THE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010.

What exactly is this version? Tom Giffey, of the Leader-Telegram, explains it best: “As you may recall, the Democrats’ loss of a supermajority in the Senate in early 2010 led to parliamentary gymnastics to pass an amended version of the bill in a way that avoided a Republican filibuster; this was done through the so-called “reconciliation” process, which limits debate on spending bills. As far as I can tell, including this reconciliation act makes the document a bit longer.”  (Source)

HHS Enrollment Reports

 HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE: NOVEMBER ENROLLMENT REPORT, November 13, 2013 [28 Pages, 0.7MB] – This issue brief highlights national and state-level enrollment-related information for the first month of the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace hereafter) initial open enrollment period that began October 1, 2013 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014 (see Appendix A for state-level data). It also provides an overview of the methodology that was used in compiling these data (see Appendix B), and includes information about strategies to reach consumers.

Other Related Documents

 The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook [110 Pages, 1.38MB] – Report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), June 2012.  Multiple references to the Affordable Care Act and its influence on the debt.

 DOD Health Care: Cost Impact of Health Care Reform and the Extension of Dependent Coverage, 26 September 2011 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The Department of Defense (DOD) offers health care to eligible beneficiaries through TRICARE, its health care program.1 Recently enacted health care reform legislation the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA)2 has implications for much of the nation s health care system, including TRICARE.3 One particular health reform provision directed certain health insurance plans to extend coverage to dependents up to age 26.4 Though this provision does not apply to TRICARE because it is not considered a health insurance plan,5 the subsequent Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (NDAA 2011) included a similar provision that extends TRICARE coverage to certain dependent children of TRICARE beneficiaries.6 In response, in May 2011, DOD began implementing TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), a premium-based health care plan7 that extends TRICARE coverage to dependents of TRICARE beneficiaries up to age 26 who do not have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage and are unmarried.8 The NDAA 2011 directed us to assess the cost to DOD of complying with PPACA and HCERA. You also asked us to examine DOD s costs of implementing, administering, and providing benefits under TYA. In this report, we assess DOD s costs of (1) complying with PPACA and HCERA and (2) implementing and providing benefits under TYA.

 National Healthcare Reform: Implications for the Military Healthcare System [36 Pages, 0.7MB] – For decades, economists, forward thinking lawmakers and academicians have issued warnings that continued escalating healthcare costs and an aging population would lead to a day of fiscal reckoning. Today, healthcare spending exceeds $2.1 trillion annually hitting twice that spent on food. Liberal benefits entailing little out of pocket expenses from the consumer lead the list of causes. Hospital and physician expenses experiencing little price discipline are at the heart of an emerging crisis in the American healthcare industry. Paralleling the civilian sector, department of defense medical costs have escalated, now threatening to exceed of the defense budget. Military leaders recognizing the link between open ended access to healthcare and excessive utilization, despite their warnings have met with stiff resistance from a broad coalition of lobbyists and elected representatives to implement reforms. The recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), injects an impetus toward change, however unless addressed comprehensively, the cost of healthcare will continue to rise independently from the stated goals of quality, equity, affordability. Regardless of its previous shortcomings, the Military Healthcare System (MHS) is unique as a large government run healthcare organization which could positively impact national healthcare reform.

 TRICARE and VA Health Care: Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 22 April 2010 [16 Pages, 0.4MB] – The 111th Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148; PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152; HCERA). In general, PPACA did not make any significant changes to the Department of Defense (DOD) TRICARE program or to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. However, many have sought clarification as to whether certain provisions in PPACA, such as a mandate for most individuals to have health insurance, or extending dependant coverage up to age 26, would apply to TRICARE and VA health care beneficiaries. To address some of these concerns, Congress has introduced and/or enacted legislation. The TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887), passed by both the House and the Senate and received by the President, would affirm that TRICARE satisfies the minimum acceptable coverage requirement in PPACA. Similarly S. 3162 (passed by the Senate on March 26, 2010) and H.R. 5014 (introduced in the House on April 14, 2010) would, if enacted, clarify that the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Spina Bifida Health Care Program, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program meet the “minimum essential coverage” requirement under PPACA. In addition, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act (H.R. 4923; S. 3201), if enacted, would extend certain PPACA provisions to TRICARE beneficiaries. This report addresses key questions concerning how PPACA will likely affect TRICARE and VA health care. This report will be updated if events warrant.

The post Obamacare / Affordable Care Act first appeared on The Black Vault.

Note: These documents were unsealed and released publicly, and not forced through FOIA or a state “Sunshine Law.” They are added to The Black Vault due to the public domain nature of the records, and the immense public interest in the case. Credit to Axios for their reporting which aided in the below summary.

Central to these documents are mentions of roughly 150 people in previously redacted parts of the suit against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced last year to 20 years for her role in aiding Epstein’s abuse of teenage girls.

* Inclusion in these documents does not imply any accusation of wrongdoing.

Among the names, several prominent figures are noted, although their mention does not suggest illegal activities. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, David Copperfield, and Stephen Hawking are referenced in various contexts, but without evidence of illegality. For instance, an Epstein accuser recalled a remark about Clinton and young girls, while a witness mentioned a casual reference to Trump. Allegations involving Prince Andrew are also detailed, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The documents’ release, orchestrated by Judge Loretta Preska of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, sheds light on various aspects of the case. This includes the 2017 settlement terms in the suit against Maxwell, initiated by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers.

Recognizing the public interest and the need for accessible information, The Black Vault is hosting these unsealed documents. This ensures that the documents are readily available to the public, especially given the frequent crashes and accessibility issues encountered on other platforms.

###

The Unsealed Records Released Late January 3, 2024

Unsealed Court Documents in Jeffrey Epstein Case [943 Pages, 23MB]

SEE ALSO THESE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN

The post Unsealed Court Documents in Jeffrey Epstein Case; Roughly 150 Names Unredacted first appeared on The Black Vault.

The initial FOIA request sought emails, decision papers, memos, and letters. These documents were expected to clarify the IRS’s position on Fortnite’s virtual currency and the subsequent removal of references to it from the IRS website.

The Controversy: Fortnite’s Virtual Currency and the IRS

The controversy began when the IRS classified Fortnite’s in-game currency as a form of virtual currency that required reporting. This decision positioned the virtual earnings within the game on par with other digital assets like Bitcoin. The implications were significant, as it meant players might need to report their in-game transactions for tax purposes.

However, this stance by the IRS sparked confusion and debate among gamers, tax experts, and legal scholars. The primary concern was the practicality and rationale behind taxing virtual transactions in a gaming environment, where the currency typically cannot be converted back into real money.

Quiet Removal: The IRS’s Change of Stance

As the debate intensified, the IRS quietly removed references to Fortnite’s virtual currency from its website. This removal indicated a change in their position, but it was done without a formal announcement, leading to further speculation and uncertainty about the IRS’s policies on virtual currencies.

Inside the FOIA Release: IRS’s Internal Deliberations

The released documents under FOIA case 2021-01180 offer a rare glimpse into the IRS’s internal communications regarding this issue. The emails and memos reveal a scenario where the agency recognized its mistake in hastily classifying Fortnite’s virtual currency. The documents show how IRS officials grappled with formulating a coherent response to the public and the press.

These internal discussions highlight the complexities the IRS faced in defining and regulating virtual currencies, especially in the rapidly evolving digital and gaming landscapes. The documents also contain broader deliberations on virtual currencies, reflecting the agency’s ongoing efforts to adapt its policies to new financial technologies.

Document Overview

1. Overview of Documents: The documents primarily consist of internal communications within the IRS, discussions on virtual currencies, and the agency’s approach to handling the Fortnite virtual currency issue.
2. IRS’s Approach to Virtual Currencies: The documents reveal extensive discussions on the broader topic of virtual currencies, their regulatory and market environments, and the challenges they pose. There’s an emphasis on understanding the evolving nature of these currencies and their impact on tax regulations.
3. Fortnite Virtual Currency Issue: Specific references to Fortnite and its virtual currency primarily revolve around the IRS’s decision to classify it as a taxable entity and the subsequent removal of this classification from their website. The documents discuss the challenges and implications of this decision.
4. Internal Deliberations: There’s evidence of the IRS attempting to understand and navigate the complex nature of virtual currencies, including emails where officials discuss how to publicly address their stance and errors regarding Fortnite’s virtual currency.
5. Quotes and Specific References: The documents include various statements and discussions reflecting the IRS’s understanding and approach to virtual currencies. Due to the limited interaction time with the file, I couldn’t extract specific quotes, but the overall tone indicates a cautious and evolving approach to handling digital currencies.
6. Broader Discussions on Virtual Currencies: The documents also cover a wide range of topics related to virtual currencies, their legal implications, and the IRS’s role in regulating them.

Document Archive

All documents released in FOIA 2021-01180 [857 Pages, 32MB]

The post IRS Documents Shed Light on Fortnite Virtual Currency Controversy first appeared on The Black Vault.

The United States Secret Service has released files pertaining to an incident in July 2023, where a suspicious white powdery substance, later identified as cocaine, was found at the White House. These documents, released following a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Black Vault (FOIA Case: 20230736), provide a detailed account of the events and the subsequent response by security and emergency services.

On the afternoon of July 2, 2023, the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division (USSS/UDW) reported the discovery of a small bag containing an unknown white powdery substance at the White House. This finding prompted an immediate response, including the evacuation of the West Wing and the closure of nearby streets. “The West Wing was evacuated as a result of the finding and 17th Street from H Street NW to New York Avenue NW was closed,” the report stated​​.

The White House Watch Commander swiftly requested the Crime Scene and Technical Services Division (TSD) to evaluate the substance. By 8:24 PM EDT, the West Wing, West Executive Avenue, and the entire area surrounding the White House had been evacuated, with closures extending to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the vicinity​​. This large-scale security operation was indicative of the high level of alert and the seriousness with which the incident was treated.

By 8:59 PM EDT, the USSS/UDW/JOC (Joint Operations Center) confirmed that the substance was not hazardous, leading to the lifting of closures and the departure of all partner agencies involved in the response​​.

The documents also reveal the extent of the security measures taken during the incident, including the evacuation of the White House and the Ellipse, along with road closures from Constitution Avenue to H Street​​. The USSS/PID (Protective Intelligence Division)/JOC informed relevant parties of the incident for situational awareness, demonstrating the coordinated approach of various agencies in managing such high-profile security incidents​​.

This release of documents provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Secret Service and their protocols in handling potential security threats at the White House. The incident, while swiftly contained, underscores the continual challenges and responsibilities faced by national security agencies in ensuring the safety of key government locations and personnel.

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Document Archive

1st Release of files by the Secret Service, November 14, 2023 [115 Pages, 22MB]

2nd Release of files by the Secret Service, May 6, 2024 [27 Pages, 2.8MB]

Photo Gallery

The post White House Cocaine Incident: Released Secret Service Files Shed Light on Security Response first appeared on The Black Vault.

Facts:

1. Incident Date: The shooting occurred on November 15, 2015.
2. Location: The incident took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
3. Events Leading Up to the Shooting: Police officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze were responding to a reported assault in which Clark was a suspect. Upon their arrival, they found Clark interfering with paramedics who were trying to treat the assault victim.
4. The Shooting: During a confrontation, Clark was shot once in the head by Officer Schwarze while he was being restrained on the ground by Officer Ringgenberg. He died a day later from his injuries.

Controversy:

1. Disputed Circumstances: There were conflicting accounts of the event. Some witnesses said Clark was handcuffed when he was shot, while police maintain that he was not and had gained control over an officer’s firearm.
2. Public Response: The shooting led to widespread protests, particularly from the Black Lives Matter movement. Demonstrators occupied the area around the Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th Precinct for several weeks, demanding justice for Jamar Clark and the release of video footage related to the incident.
3. Video Evidence: While there were several videos of the incident from various angles, none conclusively showed the entire confrontation. Authorities initially did not release the videos, arguing that it would jeopardize their investigation, but they were eventually made public in 2016.
4. Investigation and No Charges: In March 2016, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that no charges would be filed against the officers, stating that the evidence supported the officers’ account that Clark was not handcuffed and that he had attempted to grab one of the officer’s guns.

FBI Involvement:

1. Federal Investigation: Given the conflicting reports and the high-profile nature of the incident, the FBI was called in to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.
2. Results: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in June 2016 that there was insufficient evidence to support federal criminal civil rights charges against the involved officers. They determined that the officers did not willfully violate Clark’s civil rights.
3. Community Reactions: The decisions not to charge the officers at both the state and federal levels were met with disappointment and anger by many in the community, who felt the investigations were not thorough or transparent enough.

Document Archive

FBI Files on the November 15, 2015, Shooting of Jamar Clark – FBI Release #1 – [191 Pages, 10MB]

FBI Files on the November 15, 2015, Shooting of Jamar Clark – FBI Release #2 – [78 Pages, 2.8MB]

Additional Information

Department of Justice Press Release 16-634

Federal Officials Decline Prosecution in the Death of Jamar Clark

The post FBI Files on the November 15, 2015, Shooting of Jamar Clark first appeared on The Black Vault.

The DOJ OIG investigation and review identified:

• Numerous and Serious Failures by MCC New York Staff. The DOJ OIG found numerous and serious
  failures by MCC New York staff constituting misconduct and dereliction of their duties. Among other
  things, these failures resulted in Epstein being unmonitored and alone in his cell with an excessive
  amount of bed linens, from approximately 10:40 p.m. on August 9 until he was discovered hanged in
  his locked cell on August 10 at approximately 6:30 a.m.
  • MCC New York Staff Failed to Ensure that Epstein Was Assigned a Cellmate. Following a July 23,2019, incident that resulted in Epstein being placed on suicide watch, the MCC New York Psychology Department determined that Epstein needed to be housed with an appropriate cellmate. On August 9, Epstein’s cellmate was transferred out of MCC New York. MCC New York staff knew that Epstein did not have a cellmate but did not take steps to ensure that he was assigned a new cellmate.
  • MCC New York Staff Failed to Undertake Required Measures Designed to Ensure that Epstein and Other Inmates Were Accounted for and Safe. BOP policy requires Special Housing Unit (SHU) staff to observe all inmates, conduct rounds, conduct inmate counts, search inmate cells, and ensure adequate supervision of the SHU. BOP staff in the SHU in the hours before Epstein’s death failed to carry out these responsibilities. Specifically, only one SHU cell search was documented on August 9, and it was not of Epstein’s cell. BOP records did not indicate when Epstein’s cell was last searched. Had Epstein’s cell been searched as required, the search would have revealed that Epstein had excess prison blankets, linens, and clothing in his cell. The OIG also found that SHU staff did not conduct any 30-minute rounds after about 10:40 p.m. on August 9 and that none of the required SHU inmate counts were conducted after 4:00 p.m. on August 9. MCC New York staff falsified count slips and round sheets to show that they had been performed when they were not, leaving Epstein unobserved for hours before his death. Following a DOJ OIG investigation, two MCC New York employees were charged criminally with falsifying BOP records. The charges were dismissed upon compliance by the employees with the terms of deferred prosecution agreements they entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. That office declined prosecution for 2 other MCC New York employees who the OIG found created false documentation on earlier dates and times not proximate to the Epstein’s death.
  • MCC New York Staff Failed to Ensure that the Institution’s Security Camera System was Fully Functional Resulting in Limited Recorded Video Evidence. BOP policy also requires SHU staff to ensure the functionality of the video camera surveillance system. This investigation and review revealed longstanding deficiencies with MCC New York’s security camera system. Although video cameras in the SHU provided live video feeds to monitoring stations, system deficiencies resulted in nearly all of the cameras in and around the SHU where Epstein was being housed to not record video starting in late July 2019 and continuing through the date of Epstein’s death.
• Long-standing Operational Challenges. The DOJ OIG has repeatedly identified long-standing operational challenges that negatively affect the BOP’s ability to operate its institutions safely and securely. Many of those same operational challenges, including staffing shortages, managing inmates at risk for suicide, maintaining functional security camera systems, management failures, and widespread disregard of BOP policies and procedures, were again identified by the OIG during this investigation and review of the custody, care, and supervision of Epstein, one of the BOP’s most high profile inmates.
• No Evidence Contradicting the FBI’s Determination that there Was No Criminality Associated with Epstein’s Death. Separate from the OIG’s investigation, which focused on the conduct of BOP personnel, the FBI concurrently investigated whether Epstein’s death was the result of criminal conduct by any non-BOP actors. Among other things, the FBI investigated the cause of Epstein’s death and determined it was not the result of a criminal act. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York, determined that Epstein died by suicide. While the OIG determined MCC New York staff engaged in significant misconduct and dereliction of their duties, we did not uncover evidence contradicting the FBI’s determination regarding the absence of criminality in connection with Epstein’s death.

The combination of negligence, misconduct, and outright job performance failures documented in the report all contributed to an environment in which arguably one of the most notorious inmates in BOP’s custody was provided with the opportunity to take his own life. The BOP’s failures are troubling not only because the BOP did not adequately safeguard an individual in its custody, but also because they led to questions about the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death and effectively deprived Epstein’s numerous victims of the opportunity to seek justice through the criminal justice process. The fact that these failures have been recurring ones at the BOP does not excuse them and gives additional urgency to the need for DOJ and BOP leadership to address the chronic problems plaguing the BOP.

The DOJ OIG made eight recommendations to improve the BOP’s management of its correctional institutions. The BOP agreed with all recommendations.

You can find the report below.

The Report

DOJ OIG Releases Report on the BOP’s Custody, Care, and Supervision of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York [128 Pages, 6.2MB]

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The post DOJ OIG Releases Report on the BOP’s Custody, Care, and Supervision of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York first appeared on The Black Vault.

The conspiracy theory known as QAnon has been a subject of controversy since its inception. Recently, The Black Vault obtained a small collection of previously unseen FBI files that shed new light on the federal investigation of QAnon.

For those unfamiliar with the topic, QAnon is a conspiracy theory that emerged on the internet in 2017. Its followers believe in a worldwide cabal of satanic pedophiles and cannibals, which they claim includes top politicians and Hollywood celebrities. This theory alleges that an anonymous online figure known as “Q” is leaking top-secret information about this cabal to the public. The identity of “Q” remains unknown, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the narrative.

This newly released set of documents was obtained by The Black Vault through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, case number 1459895-000. Out of the 43 pages found by the FBI related to QAnon, only 19 have been released. The remaining pages are withheld under Title 5, United States Code, Section 552, subsection (b)(7)(A).

Title 5, United States Code, Section 552, subsection (b)(7)(A) allows an agency to exempt certain information from public release if it could harm a specific interest. In this particular case, the FBI explains the reason to exempt the material as it, “… pertains to records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, the release of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings.”

The information in these withheld documents could potentially provide insights into the scope and nature of the FBI’s investigation into QAnon, its potential threats to national security, and the countermeasures taken by the agency. However, the information contained within the withheld documents remains a subject of speculation, mirroring the elusive nature of QAnon itself.

The release of these documents serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing tension between public transparency and the need to safeguard certain information in the interests of national security. It is a delicate balance to strike, but one that is vital in our pursuit of truth and understanding in an increasingly complex world.

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Document Archive

FBI Releases Files On QAnon; Withholds More Than Half Of Them [29 Pages, 1MB]

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The post FBI Releases Files On QAnon; Withholds More Than Half Of Them first appeared on The Black Vault.

The post Uncovering the Secret Service Scandal: The Malia Litman FOIA Case and Revealed Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Designed and built by BAE Advanced Technologies (BAEAT), its purpose is to analyze the ionosphere and investigate the potential for developing ionospheric enhancement technology for radio communications and surveillance. The HAARP program operates a major sub-arctic facility, named the HAARP Research Station, on an Air Force–owned site near Gakona, Alaska.

HAARP has been the topic of conspiracy theories for quite some time, which range from HAARP being capable of modifying weather, disabling satellites and exerting mind control over people, and that it was being used as a weapon against terrorists. Such theories blamed the program for causing earthquakes, droughts, storms and floods, diseases such as Gulf War Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, and the 2003 destruction of the space shuttle Columbia.

Below are documents obtained about HAARP, and are archived here for research and are listed in chronological order of report date.

Environmental Impact Study

 Environmental Impact Statement. Volume 1. Proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, July 1993 [ 450 Pages, 21MB ] – The FEIS describes the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a proposed ionospheric research facility in interior Alaska. The system is referred to as HAARP(High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program), and would be used primarily for conducting pioneering studies of ionospheric properties. This proposed facility would be the most technologically advanced in the world. The program could lead to a better understanding of the ionosphere and enable researchers to develop methods for enhanced communications for both civilian and defense applications. The HAARP system consists of a powerful high frequency radio transmitter, referred to as the ionospheric research instrument, and a number of scientific data gathering (diagnostic) instruments. This document addresses three alternatives associated with the construction of the HAARP facility; namely construction at either Clear or Gakona, and the no action alternative. Issues and resources that were examined for both of the sites include land and minerals, vegetation and wetlands, mammals, birds, aquatics, hydrology and water quality, air quality, socioeconomics, cultural resources, subsistence, recreation, aesthetics, possible bioeffects of radio frequency radiation, electromagnetic environment and radio frequency interference, atmosphere, threatened and endangered species, hazardous materials and wastes, and irretrievable commitment of resources.

 Environmental Impact Analysis Process. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Part 2. Proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program [ 410 Pages, 21MB ]

FBI Files

FBI Files: High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) [25 Pages, 11MB]

Research Documents

 HAARP, Research and Applications, 1990 [ 19 Pages, 1.25MB ] – This report describes and documents the scientific uses and the wide range of applications created by the HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). The report is based on the deliberations of a scientific committee sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research and convened by the East-West Space Science Center of the University of Maryland. The HAARP represents a technological advancement with capabilities that allow for new and unique dual-use research and application opportunities. Use of the ionosphere as an active, nonlinear medium allows the primary HF energy to be transformed in a controlled fashion into coherent radiation from 0.001 Hz to 40 kHz and into incoherent IR and visible wavelengths. This function, supplemented with the generation of FAS and with the use of the transmitter as a radar, makes the HAARP transmitter a unique source for remote sensing and communication uses.

 Electromagnetic Interference Impact of the Proposed Emitters for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) 14 May 1993 [ 134 Pages, 4.9MB ] – The proposed HAARP emitters at the Gakona (Alaska) preferred site and at the Clear AFS (Alaska) alternative site are the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI), the Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR), and the Vertical Incidence Sounder(VIS). The electromagnetic interference (EMI) impact of those emitters on receiving systems in the vicinity of the sites is estimated in this study. The results are intended for use as an input to the Air Force Environmental Impact Statement as part of the Environmental Impact Analysis Process.

 An Electromagnetic Interference Study of Potential Transmitter Sites for the HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), 19 July 1993 [ 40 Pages, 1.81MB ] – This report presents the results of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) measurements conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory in June of 1991. This study examined a number of potential sites for the location of the proposed High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) transmitter facility. The proposed HAARP facility will consist of a large planar array of antennas excited by phased high power transmitters operating in the lower portion of the HF band (2.8 to 8 MHz). Several candidate locations were identified for study in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska. The magnitude of EMI in the population centers and on other commercial and public facilities in the vicinity of Fairbanks from the high power transmitter is a major factor in the site selection process for HAARP. The EMI investigations were conducted in two phases. For Phase I of the study, EMI measurements were conducted at two receiver locations using an airborne transmitter at thirteen potential HAARP sites. The results from the Phase I measurements were examined and the two most promising candidate transmitter locations were selected for more comprehensive measurements during Phase II. For Phase II, comprehensive EMI measurements were made for each of the two candidate transmitter sites. Field strengths were measured at a variety of receiver locations that are representative of the impact area for the EMI from HAARP. The results for both the Phase I and Phase II measurements are presented in this report.

 High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Imager, 30 September 1993 [ 322 Pages, 10.2MB ] – A low-light-level monochromatic imaging system was designed and fabricated which was optimized to detect and record optical emissions associated with high-power rf heating of the ionosphere. The instrument is capable of detecting very low intensities, of the order of 1 Rayleigh, from typical ionospheric atomic and molecular emissions. This is achieved through co-adding of ON images during heater pulses and subtraction of OFF (background) images between pulses. Images can be displayed and analyzed in real time and stored in optical disc for later analysis. Full image processing software is provided which was customized for this application and uses menu or mouse user interaction.

 HAARP High Power Experiments and Observations of Ionospheric Interactions, 1996 [ 5 Pages, 0.2MB ] – We review experiments in ionospheric modification and long distance propagation performed at the HAARP facility. Most experiments were in bistatic configuration with the WAVES receiver on the NASA/WIND satellite. Initial experiments showed scintillation-like variations in low frequency propagation through the earth’s ionosphere. A HAARP-HIPAS transmission experiment set up a spatial interference pattern measured at WIND. The Kodiak SuperDARN radar scanned the modified region above HAARP and observed the growth of ionospheric irregularities. Recently, lunar echoes at 8 MHz were detected by WIND. The experiments at HAARP will extend to nonlinear regimes as power levels increase.

 Imaging of Underground Structure Using HAARP, February 1999 [ 48 Pages, 3.3MB ] – Non-invasive imaging of underground structure is important for the detection of hidden tunnels and other hazards, as well as resource exploration, mineral exploration, and environmental contamination problems. We processed and analyzed electromagnetic imaging data sets provided by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The main parts of this study included: 1) subsurface imaging using smooth minimum-structure algorithms, 2) adaptation of imaging algorithms for parametric inversions, 3) analysis of the sensitivity and resolution of data to subsurface features and sharp boundaries, and 4) modification of robust processing algorithms for AMT data. Our analysis using synthetic data for simple models indicates the subsurface tunnels can be successfully detected if they are at a depth to diameter ratio of approximately 3:1 or less. Detection of tunnels in actual field conditions is more difficult because of the low signal levels in the AMT frequency range and geologic noise. This was evident in all data sets analyzed under this contract. The HAARP transmitter has the potential to be a valuable exploration tool in that it could generate EM fields that appeared locally as plane waves and could overcome the problems with low AMT signal levels and geologic noise. Our modifications to robust processing algorithms for AMT data and for controlled source data have proven useful for analyzing data with low signal levels and large amounts of noise.

 Geophysical Electromagnetic Sounding Using HAARP, March 2002 [ 14 Pages, 1MB ] – The electrical resistivity of the ground can be measured by several methods. One, which has proven useful, is the controlled source magnetotelluric method (CSAMT). Current over a wide range of frequencies is introduced into the earth through a grounded dipole. Then the resulting electric and magnetic fields are measured at a distance greater than several skin depths. The apparent resistivity is then calculated by: p = 1/5f E/B(exp 2) The apparent resistivity vs. frequency can be converted into true resistivity vs. depth, This grant involved an investigation into the HAARP virtual antenna pattern out to 200 km, and its use as a CSAMT transmitter.

 High Frequency Radar Astronomy With HAARP, 2003 [ 7 Pages, 0.4MB ] – At high frequency, radio waves will interact with space plasmas and surfaces of local astronomical objects, producing an echo that can provide new diagnostic data. The availability of high power radars operating at high frequencies opens a window for the remote investigation of our surrounding space environment. We discuss and illustrate this technique with some specific examples.

 Investigation of Plasma Phenomena in the Ionosphere Under Natural Conditions and Under Conditions Artificially Perturbed by HAARP, 17 August 2005 [ 81 Pages, 50.2MB ] – Under this contract, Northwest Research Associates (NWRA) is performing measurements of the ionosphere in order to investigate plasma phenomena in both the natural ionosphere and in the ionosphere perturbed by the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) high-frequency heater. The research being conducted falls within Hanscom Technical Areas 3(a), “Ionospheric Effects Research and Department of Defense Systems,” and 3(b), “Ionospheric Research Technology,” of the Broad Agency Announcement VS-O3-Ol released by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As a contribution to Technical Area 3(b), we are collaborating with scientists and engineers from AFRL, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and other research organizations in the application of diagnostic instrumentation to HAARP. Among the HAARP instruments that we are applying to ionospheric research are three NWRA ITS1OS coherent radio receiving systems for measuring relative Total Electron Content (TEC) and recording scintillation, and an Ashtech Model Z-FX UPS receiver for measuring absolute TEC. We are posting TEC from these instruments, and phase-scintillation records from the ITS10S receivers, on the HAARP Web site (www.haarp.alaska.edu) for telescience applications and for decision-making during active experiments, and we are also focusing on inverting the TEC data tomographically to produce images of the F layer over Alaska. Research topics under the foregoing objectives are reported in Section 2.

 Report on the HAARP 2008 Winter Campaign Focusing on Artificial Ionospheric Irregularities, 31 July 2008 [ 110 Pages, 14.1MB ] – A research campaign was conducted at the joint US joint Air Force, US Navy, and DARPA High-Latitude Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) site near Gakona, AK, during the period 21 February through 3 March 2008. The focus of the campaign was on generation of plasma-density irregularities in the ionosphere an optical and RF emissions from the ionosphere as a by-product of the interaction between the HAARP HF heater and the atmosphere and ionosphere above HAARP. This report documents the preliminary results obtained from this campaign through short (two to three page) summaries provided by the Principal Investigators for each of the experiments runs.

The post The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Published in a story by ABC27, on January 20, 2021:

“Before leaving office former President Trump ensured that his extended family would receive protection from the U.S. Secret Service for the next six months, according to several reports.

The Washington Post, citing three people briefed on the plan, reports that Trump instructed the elite team of agents to protect not only himself, his wife Melania, and their son Barron, as provided by federal law, but also 14 extended family members.”

This story, as cited to the Washington Post, was inaccurate. It was later corrected by the Washington Post to only include his grown children.

The first release of records also show internal communication about the inaccurate reporting.

APPEAL: As indicated by the responsive records in the release below, there were references to “attachments.” So it was clear not everything that was requested – was released. An appeal was filed by The Black Vault, and in October of 2022, was granted with additional documents released. Those are available below.

Document Archive

President Donald Trump Order For Secret Service Protection Over His Kids After Leaving Office [14 Pages, 1.2MB]

President Donald Trump Order For Secret Service Protection Over His Kids After Leaving Office – APPEAL RELEASE – [42 Pages, 6MB]

The post President Donald Trump Order For Secret Service Protection Over His Kids After Leaving Office first appeared on The Black Vault.

“In honor of World Space Week, we’re visiting the Naval Observatory in Washington to talk to none other than Vice President Kamala Harris about the National Space Council. We also hear from NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who joins us from the International Space Station – that’s right, from space! Plus, we’re building a DIY telescope that you can make yourself at home.”

There was much controversy about the video, given that it was said to be scripted and using child actors, and was heavily mocked on social media.

In October of 2021, The Black Vault filed a request for all records pertaining to the creation of the video. This sought after all “budgets, contracts, agreements, proposals, drafts of the script(s), communications about the video’s creation (both internal NASA communication and inter-agency communication including with the White House, VP Kamala Harris, or her staff), rough cuts, fine cuts, and all other cuts prior to the final cut of the video.”

The result is the below. The video is provided for archival purposes, as well.

Vice President Kamala Harris and an Astronaut? What A Day! | Get Curious with Vice President Harris

Document Archive

NASA’s ‘Get Curious with Vice President Harris’ Video Records from NASA, Released May 2022 [98 Pages, 20.5MB]

The post NASA’s ‘Get Curious with Vice President Harris’ Video first appeared on The Black Vault.