coronavirus - The Black Vault

CIA Will Not Confirm or Deny If E-Mails on COVID or the Pandemic Exist Within Trump’s CIA Director’s E-mail Box

John Greenewald — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 13:50:40 +0000

On March 31, 2020, The Black Vault filed a FOIA request with the CIA for e-mails sent to or from then Director Gina Haspel (FOIA Case F-2020-01212). The keywords sought after included, “PANDEMIC,” “COVID19,” “COVID-19,” and “Coronavirus.” The request did not stipulate a timeframe, and asked for a search of Haspel’s e-mails that was feasible. This likely would include her first date as CIA Director, which was April 26, 2018, through to at least the date of the request.

The CIA’s final response after more than a year and a half is what is known as a “GLOMAR response.” This is when an agency “can neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of such records responsive” to any particular request.

The question does arise if the CIA will blanket deny 100% of requests that come in on their director’s e-mail box, and this is just standard practice. In another case from 2019 (FOIA Case F-2020-00333), The Black Vault filed for a search of Haspel’s emails for the keyword, “Ciaramella,” which tied in to the alleged CIA whistleblower who exposed President Donald Trump’s phone call with the president of Ukraine which led to Trump’s impeachment trial. This case also yielded a “GLOMAR response,” but in that case, that outcome is somewhat expected, given his identity was not confirmed at the time of filing.

If it were standard practice, it does not seem reasonable that it would take more than a year and a half to offer a GLOMAR response. It would be expected that upon filing, for any keyword search on a CIA director’s e-mail box; it would just be immediately denied.

The Black Vault has numerous other cases currently still open for e-mails sent to or from Haspel and those cases will be posted upon completion.

The final response letter is below:

The post CIA Will Not Confirm or Deny If E-Mails on COVID or the Pandemic Exist Within Trump’s CIA Director’s E-mail Box first appeared on The Black Vault.

GAO Report: COVID-19 — Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions, September 2020

John Greenewald — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:00:13 +0000

Background

In the government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress and the administration have taken action on multiple fronts to address challenges that have contributed to catastrophic loss of life and profound economic disruption. These actions have helped direct much-needed federal assistance to support many aspects of public life, including local public health systems and private-sector businesses.

However, the nation faces continued public health risks and economic difficulties for the foreseeable future. Among other challenges, the public health system, already strained from months of responding to COVID-19 cases, will face the additional task of managing the upcoming flu season. At the same time, many of the federal, state, and local agencies responsible for responding to the ongoing public health emergency are called on to prepare for and respond to the current hurricane season. Timely and concerted federal leadership will be required in responding to these and other challenges.

GAO has identified lessons learned and issues in need of continued attention by the Congress and the administration, including the need to collect reliable data that can drive decision-making; to establish mechanisms for accountability and transparency; and to protect against ongoing cyber threats to patient information, intellectual property, public health data, and intelligence. Attention to these issues can help to make federal efforts as effective as possible.

GAO has also identified a number of opportunities to help the federal government prepare for the months ahead while improving the ongoing federal response.

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GAO Report: COVID-19 — Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions, September 2020 [371 Pages, 11MB]

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FBI Coronavirus Situational Awareness E-Mail, February 24, 2020

John Greenewald — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:00:02 +0000

Background

The following document was sent internally at the FBI on February 24, 2020. It was a “Situational Awareness” record that was an update on the Coronavirus situation.

The record stated, when written, “Center for Disease Control (CDC) assesses the current risk to the American public as low, but is taking proactive preparedness precautions.”

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FBI Coronavirus Situational Awareness E-Mail, February 24, 2020 [7 Pages, 0.5MB]

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Intelligence Community Statement on Origins of COVID-19, April 30, 2020

John Greenewald — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 17:16:34 +0000

The following was a press release issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on April 30, 2020. It is archived here for future reference.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today issued the following Intelligence Community (IC) statement:

“The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China. The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified.

“As we do in all crises, the Community’s experts respond by surging resources and producing critical intelligence on issues vital to U.S. national security. The IC will continue to rigorously examine emerging information and intelligence to determine whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.”

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President Donald J. Trump’s Letter to Governors on Coronavirus, March 26, 2020

John Greenewald — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 20:55:09 +0000

Background

President Donald Trump sent the following letter to all Governors in America on March 26, 2020. It deals with the Coronavirus and the Guidelines for America.

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President Trump’s Letter to Governors on Coronavirus, March 26, 2020 [2 Pages, 1.5MB]

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Coronavirus Guidelines for America, Issued on: March 16, 2020

John Greenewald — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:59:13 +0000

Background

On March 16, 2020, President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued new guidelines to help protect Americans during the global Coronavirus outbreak.

Even if you are young and otherwise healthy, you are at risk—and your activities can increase the risk of contracting the Coronavirus for others. Everyone can do their part. The new recommendations are simple to follow but will have a resounding impact on public health.

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