“… all e-mails sent to or from, Director of the FBI James Comey, which contain the word ‘TRUMP’. I ask that you conduct a search for records dating from 1/1/16 to 5/9/17.”

The request was originally rejected as being too broad, so an appeal was submitted (case DOJ-AP-2018-005587) on May 25, 2018. There was no final response received from this case, however, nearly 1,600 pages were released on April 2024 relating to the original filing.

In essence, the appeal was likely granted (unclear why The Black Vault was never notified), and the records were processed.

The case is still open seeking out additional records, however, the initial near 1,600 pages are available below.

Document Archive

Former FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: Trump [1,598 Pages, 848MB]

The post Former FBI Director James Comey Emails With Keyword: Trump first appeared on The Black Vault.

This is a collection of photographs, as released via the Freedom of Information Act, by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Below, you will find 4 .zip files containing all of the 870 photos released. They were broken up for easier downloading. These are housed at Internet Archive for historical preservation, as well.

.Zip Downloads

Camera 1

.zip File #1 [2.4GB]

.zip File #2 [2.1GB]

Camera 2

.zip File #1 [888MB]

The post President Donald Trump Photos – Suresnes Veterans Day Photos (11/11/2018) 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.

Emily Webster Murphy (born 1973) is an American attorney and government official who served as the administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) from 2017 to 2021. Before serving in the GSA, Murphy was an attorney for the Republican National Committee and worked for several congressional committees and executive departments in the field of acquisition policy. She was appointed as GSA administrator in 2017 by President Donald Trump.

She came under scrutiny after the 2020 presidential election for her delay in starting the transition to a Biden administration after Biden won the election on November 7. Murphy initially refused to sign a letter allowing Biden’s transition team to access federal agencies and transition funds; this came as Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory. She signed the letter on November 23, allowing the presidential transition process to begin.

Document Archive

All E-mails containing the keyword “transition” from 11/20/20 – 11//25/20 [162 Pages, 13.5MB]

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The post Former Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) Emily W. Murphy E-Mails first appeared on The Black Vault.

On January 19, 2021, one of the final actions of President Donald Trump was to order the declassification “to the maximum extent possible,” of certain material related to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

The text of his order is below.

Document Archive

MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

SUBJECT:    Declassification of Certain Materials Related to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:

Section 1.  Declassification and Release.    At my request, on December 30, 2020, the Department of Justice provided the White House with a binder of materials related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.  Portions of the documents in the binder have remained classified and have not been released to the Congress or the public.  I requested the documents so that a declassification review could be performed and so I could determine to what extent materials in the binder should be released in unclassified form.

I determined that the materials in that binder should be declassified to the maximum extent possible.  In response, and as part of the iterative process of the declassification review, under a cover letter dated January 17, 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation noted its continuing objection to any further declassification of the materials in the binder and also, on the basis of a review that included Intelligence Community equities, identified the passages that it believed it was most crucial to keep from public disclosure.  I have determined to accept the redactions proposed for continued classification by the FBI in that January 17 submission.

I hereby declassify the remaining materials in the binder.  This is my final determination under the declassification review and I have directed the Attorney General to implement the redactions proposed in the FBI’s January 17 submission and return to the White House an appropriately redacted copy.

My decision to declassify materials within the binder is subject to the limits identified above and does not extend to materials that must be protected from disclosure pursuant to orders of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and does not require the disclosure of certain personally identifiable information or any other materials that must be protected from disclosure under applicable law.  Accordingly, at my direction, the Attorney General has conducted an appropriate review to ensure that materials provided in the binder may be disclosed by the White House in accordance with applicable law.

Sec. 2.  General Provisions.   (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d)  The Attorney General is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The post Declassification of Certain Materials Related to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation, January 19, 2021 first appeared on The Black Vault.

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

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

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

Official Press Release by the Committee on Oversight and Reform

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

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

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

The letter is available here and below.

November 13, 2020

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

Dear Administrator Murphy:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Jody Hice
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Government Operations

###

Official Letter

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

The President’s Daily Brief (PDB), sometimes referred to as the President’s Daily Briefing or the President’s Daily Bulletin, is a top-secret document produced and given each morning to the President of the United States, and is also distributed to a small number of top-level US officials who are approved by the President, and includes highly classified intelligence analysis, information about CIA covert operations and reports from the most sensitive US sources or those shared by allied intelligence agencies. The PDB is also provided to the President-elect of the United States, between election day and inauguration.

In September of 2017, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) seeking the following:

“…any new or updated guidelines or for any/all memos regarding the preparation and formatting and creation of the President’s Daily Brief.  Please note that I limit this request to records during Calendar Year 2016 and 2017.”

On March 16, 2018, they sent out the responsive documents.

The records show that their instructions are heavily classified and exempted from release. You can see from the records below, that much of the information is redacted, however, there are some instructions and notes that made it through, and it is very telling how the PDB’s are created for President Donald Trump.

For example, use lots of pictures:

And, “one(ish)” has become a proper page count directive:

And finally, use the least amount of acronyms possible:

Declassified Documents

 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump [20 Pages, 2.4MB]

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The above release contained quite a bit of “non-responsive” material, which they consider not responsive to my request, so they do not review it for release. I then filed a second FOIA request specifically for the “non-responsive” material previously unreviewed. The below is the result. In large part, they denied it all again, just citing various other FOIA exemptions.

 Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump [26 Pages, 5MB]

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The post Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Memos on Creating Presidential Daily Briefs for Donald Trump first appeared on The Black Vault.

From 2017 to 2019, the Committee held hearings, conducted interviews, and reviewed intelligence related to Russian attempts in 2016 to access election infrastructure. The Committee sought to determine the extent of Russian activities, identify the response of the U.S. Government at the state, local, and federal level to the threat, and make recommendations on how to better prepare for such threats in the future. The Committee received testimony from state election officials, Obama administration officials, and those in the Intelligence Community and elsewhere in the U.S. Government responsible for evaluating threats to elections.

Document Archive

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 1: Russian Efforts Against Election Infrastructure [67 Pages, 25MB]

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 2: Russia’s Use of Social Media with Additional Views [85 Pages, 7.4MB]

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 3: U.S. Government Response to Russian Activities [55 Pages, 4.5MB]

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 4: Review of the Intelligence Community Assessment with Additional Views [158 Pages, 26.1MB]

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 4: Additional Declassified Pages June 2020 [11 Pages, 3.1MB]

Report on Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election – Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities [966 Pages, 50.2MB]

The post Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report on Russian Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election first appeared on The Black Vault.

It is believed the referenced funding ties in to this $1,000,000 NASA program, posted in the Congressional record in January of 2017.

Document Archive

Budget for America’s Future FY 2021 [138 Pages, 2MB]

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The post FY 2021 Budget Document Wants Extraterrestrial Preparedness for Religion Removed first appeared on The Black Vault.

President Donald Trump sent the following letter to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 18, 2020. The entire letter is below, without editorial.

Document Archive

The post President Donald Trump Letter to World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus first appeared on The Black Vault.

Richard Vaughn Spencer (born January 18, 1954) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 76th United States Secretary of the Navy. While serving as Secretary of the Navy, he also briefly served as Acting United States Secretary of Defense and Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. Spencer served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1981 as a Marine Aviator and also served as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Intercontinental Exchange from November 2001 to January 2008. Spencer served as Secretary of the Navy from August 3, 2017, to November 24, 2019, when he was fired by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper over his handling of the Eddie Gallagher case.

Below, you will find the full text of his resignation letter.

Document Archive

In November of 2019, The Black Vault filed a FOIA request for all emails send to/from Richard Spencer with the words RESIGN or RESIGNATION. In June of 2022, responsive records were received, and are archived here for reference purposes.

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Text Version of Resignation Letter

Dear Mr. President:

It has been the extreme honor of a lifetime to stand alongside the men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps team in the protection of the American people and the values we all hold dear.

Together we have made great strides over the past two years. strengthening the foundation of our readiness, and bolstering our constellation of allies and partners, to respond wherever needed with the honor and professionalism that have marked our force for the past 244 years.

Now more than ever, the United States Navy and Marine Corps stands ready and firm in every part of the globe, fueled at all times by our greatest resource – the men and women who wear the uniform. Many of them will soon miss their Thanksgiving dinners at home so that they can continue the watch beyond the curve of the horizon. They and their families are, and will forever be, my personal heroes.

As Secretary of the Navy, one of the most important responsibilities I have to our people is to maintain good order and discipline throughout the ranks. I regard this as deadly serious business. The lives of our Sailors, Marines and civilian teammates quite literally depend on the professional execution our many missions, and they also depend on the ongoing faith and support of the people we serve and the allies we serve alongside.

The rule of law is what sets us apart from our adversaries. Good order and discipline is what has enabled our victory against foreign tyranny time and again, from Captain Lawrence’s famous order “Don’t Give up the Ship” to the discipline and determination that propelled our flag to the highest point of Iwo Jima.

The Constitution, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, are the shields that set us apart, and the beacons that protect us all. Through my Title Ten Authority, I have strived to ensure our proceedings are fair, transparent and consistent, from the newest recruit to the Flag and General Officer level.

Unfortunately, it has become apparent that in this respect, I no longer share the same understanding with the Commander in Chief who appointed me, in regards to the key principle of good order and discipline. I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took in the presence of my family, my flag and my faith to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

The President deserves and should expect a Secretary of the Navy who is aligned with his vision for the future of our force generation and sustainment. Therefore, with pride in the achievements we’ve shared, and everlasting faith in the continued service and fidelity of the finest Sailors, Marines and civilian teammates on earth, I hereby acknowledge my termination as United States Secretary of the Navy, to be effective immediately.

I will forever be grateful for every opportunity to have served, from my days as a Marine, to the extreme honor of serving as the 76th Secretary of the Navy. My wife Polly and I stand in appreciation and admiration of the patriots who today forge the next link in the unbroken chain of our Navy and Marine Corps, and we urge all Americans to keep them, and their families, in their hearts and prayers through this holiday season and beyond.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve.

Respectfully yours,

Richard V. Spencer

Additional Information

Statement by DOD Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, November 24, 2019

Statement by DOD Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman:

“Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper has asked for the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer after losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor over conversations with the White House involving the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher.

After Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley spoke with the Commander in Chief on Friday regarding the case of Gallagher, Secretary Esper learned that Secretary Spencer had previously and privately proposed to the White House – contrary to Spencer’s public position – to restore Gallagher’s rank and allow him to retire with his Trident pin.  When recently asked by Secretary Esper, Secretary Spencer confirmed that despite multiple conversations on the Gallagher matter, Secretary Esper was never informed by Secretary Spencer of his private proposal.

Secretary Esper’s position with regard to UCMJ, disciplinary, and fitness for duty actions has always been that the process should be allowed to play itself out objectively and deliberately, in fairness to all parties. However, at this point, given the events of the last few days, Secretary Esper has directed that Gallagher retain his Trident pin.  Secretary Esper will meet with Navy Under Secretary (now Acting Secretary) Thomas Modley and the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday on Monday morning to discuss the way ahead.

“I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official.” said Secretary Esper.  “Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position. I wish Richard well.”

Secretary Esper has proposed to the President that Ambassador Kenneth Braithwaite, current U.S. Ambassador to Norway and a retired Navy Rear Admiral, be considered as the next Secretary of the Navy.”

The post Resignation Letter of Richard Spencer, Secretary of the Navy first appeared on The Black Vault.

The United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence investigated Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential campaign. This is the Committee’s final report, complete and unabridged and displaying all redacted classified passages as released by the Committee.

Document Archive

U.S. House of Representatives Report on Russian Active Measures, March 22, 2018 [253 Pages, 68MB]

The post U.S. House of Representatives Report on Russian Active Measures, March 22, 2018 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

Document Archive

House Democrat Impeachment Resolution, October 29, 2019 [8 Pages, 0.1MB]

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The post House Democrat Resolution to Impeach President Donald J. Trump, October 29, 2019 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On September 26, 2019, the House Intelligence Committee released the following press release. The documents follow below:

Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released the declassified whistleblower complaint. [See complaint and IG letter below]

Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) made the following statement:

“The Committee this morning will be releasing the declassified whistleblower complaint that it received late last night from the ODNI. It is a travesty that it was held up this long.

“This complaint should never have been withheld from Congress. It exposed serious wrongdoing, and was found both urgent and credible by the Inspector General.

“This complaint is a roadmap for our investigation, and provides significant information for the Committee to follow up on with other witnesses and documents. And it is corroborated by the call record released yesterday.

“I want to thank the whistleblower for having the courage to come forward, despite the reprisals they have already faced from the president and his acolytes. We will do everything in our power to protect this whistleblower, and every whistleblower, who comes forward.

“The public has a right to see the complaint and what it reveals.”

Document Archive

 Whistleblower Complaint [10 Pages, 4.3MB]

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Inspector General Letter Regarding Complaint [7 Pages, 3.2MB]

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The post Whistleblower Complaint Against President Donald Trump Regarding Abuse of Power in 2020 Election first appeared on The Black Vault.

This report describes the investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ or Department) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) into the creation, storage, and handling of certain memoranda (Memos) written by former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey. Between January 6, 2017, and April 11, 2017, while Comey was Director of the FBI, he memorialized seven one-on-one interactions that he had with President-elect and President Donald J. Trump. Throughout this report, these Memos are referred to as Memo 1 through Memo 7, numbered chronologically according to the date each Memo was written. Comey, who had original classification authority as FBI Director, marked a small amount of information in Memo 1 as classified at the time that he wrote it. Comey also believed that Memo 3 contained classified information when he wrote it, but did not mark the document as classified. Comey kept signed originals of Memos 2, 4, 6, and 7 in a personal safe in his home and, following his May 2017 removal as FBI Director, provided his personal attorneys with copies of Memos 2, 4, and 6, and a redacted version of Memo 7; Comey never took copies of Memos 1, 3, and 5 to his home, and never shared these Memos with anyone outside the FBI.

Document Archive

Report of Investigation of Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey’s Disclosure of Sensitive Investigative Information and Handling of Certain Memoranda, August 2019 [83 Pages, 5MB]

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The post Report of Investigation of Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey’s Disclosure of Sensitive Investigative Information and Handling of Certain Memoranda, August 2019 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On May 17, 2017, Robert S. Mueller III was appointed by acting Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein to serve as Special Counsel. Special Counsel Mueller’s job was to oversee the previously-confirmed FBI investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters. After nearly two years, the below is the report generated by Mueller’s investigation, and it is commonly referred to as, “The Mueller Report.”  This was released on April 18, 2019. There are color coded “redactions” with explanations on why the material is redacted.

The document, as released by the Department of Justice, is available below, unedited. The only change is the addition of “The Black Vault” header, which accompanies every .pdf file downloaded from this website. I also included a SEARCHABLE .pdf, which was created by myself. As with most government document drops, they release it without a search capability. You can find that version below, as well, as created by The Black Vault. Other than a searchable conversion (OCR process), there are no changes to the document, accept the addition of the header.

Have comments? Post them below, or join The Black Vault Facebook group.

Document Archive

Note: These are large files, and heavily being downloaded. I recommend you right click, and select SAVE AS instead of opening in your browser.

Mirror #1: The Black Vault’s Main Dedicated Server (Secure)

The Mueller Report, Released April 18, 2019 – Unedited, original (not-searchable), as released by the DOJ – [448 Pages, 145.6MB]

The Mueller Report, Released April 18, 2019 – Unedited, but converted to a SEARCHABLE pdf by The Black Vault – [448 Pages, 90.6MB]

Problems with the above? You can also use:

Mirror #2: The Black Vault’s Backup Dedicated Server (Secure)

The Mueller Report, Released April 18, 2019 – Unedited, original (not-searchable), as released by the DOJ – [448 Pages, 145.6MB]

The Mueller Report, Released April 18, 2019 – Unedited, but converted to a SEARCHABLE pdf by The Black Vault – [448 Pages, 90.6MB]

See Also

• Summary of the Final Report of the Special Counsel into Donald Trump, Russia, and Collusion (aka “The Mueller Report”) by Attorney General William Barr, March 24, 2019

The post The Mueller Report, Released April 18, 2019 – Special Counsel Investigation into Donald Trump, Russia, and Collusion first appeared on The Black Vault.

In November of 2016, based on various media reports, I requested the following from the CIA:

…any/all reports on investigations by your agency into the unacknowledged ties between the Trump Organization or the Trump Company and the Russian Government or proxies of the Russian Government.

It took until March of 2019, for the CIA to give what is called the “GLOMAR RESPONSE”. This means that they will “neither confirm nor deny” the existence of the information sought.

Document Archive

CIA Investigations on Ties Between the Trump Organization and the Russian Government [3 Pages, 1.5MB]

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The post CIA Investigations on Ties Between the Trump Organization and the Russian Government first appeared on The Black Vault.

The United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is an independent agency within the executive branch of the U.S. Federal Government which is responsible for directing executive branch policies relating to the prevention of conflict of interest on the part of Federal executive branch officers and employees. Under the Ethics in Government Act, this agency was originally part of the Office of Personnel Management from 1978 until it separated in 1989.

On November 20, 2016, in a rare occurrence, the OGE tweeted to President-elect Donald Trump about his decisions about divesting in his business to avoid conflicts of interest. Here are a few of those tweets:

On December 16, 2016, I sent a FOIA request for e-mails to/from certain OGE employees to search the keyword TWITTER to see what was being talked about. Those employees I requested searched were:

Walter M. Shaub, Jr.
Dale A. Christopher
Barbara A. Mullen-Roth
Lori Kelly
Heather A. Jones
Seth Jaffe
Elaine Newton
Vincent J. Salamone
Monica Ashar
Rachel Dowell
Leigh J. Francis
Patrick Lightfoot
Kimberly Sikora Panza
Christopher Swartz
Rodrick Johnson
Emory Rounds
James T. Cooper
Edith M. Brown
Michael Hanson
Danny Lowery
Timothy Mallon
Leonard Upson
Shelley K. Finlayson
Diana J. Veilleux
Brandon Steele
Heidi Fischer
Elizabeth Horton
Jennifer Matis

On December 30, 2016, I received a final response.

Document Archive

 Office of Government Ethics E-mails Mentioning “Twitter” – November 30, 2016 [367 Pages, 21.3MB]

The post Office of Government Ethics E-mails Mentioning “Twitter” – November 30, 2016 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On August 9, 2016, at a rally in Wilmington, N.C., Donald Trump said the following while campaigning to become President of the United States:

“So here, I just wrote this down today. Hillary wants to raise taxes — it’s a comparison. I want to lower them. Hillary wants to expand regulations, which she does bigly. Can you believe that? I will reduce them very, very substantially, could be as much as 70 to 75 percent. Hillary wants to shut down energy production. I want to expand it. Lower electric bills, folks! Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish, the Second Amendment. By the way, and if she gets to pick –if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know. But I’ll tell you what, that will be a horrible day, if — if — Hillary gets to put her judges in.”

Immediately, the general public and media were outraged at the possible implication that Trump just threatened or incited violence against Hillary Clinton.

On September 26, 2016, I filed a FOIA request to the United States Secret Service for all records pertaining to this. I asked for:

“…any investigation, report, letter(s), memo(s), email(s), etc. that may pertain to this comment and possibly perceived threat.

I ask that you also include any correspondence between any member of the Trump presidential campaign, attorneys for Mr. Trump, and any communication to/from Donald Trump himself, that pertain to these comments.”

The following are the records received.

Document Archive

United States Secret Service

 Donald Trump’s ‘Second Amendment people’ comment Documents, Released by Secret Service September 20, 2017 [137 Pages, 34.8MB]

After a FOIA Appeal of the above release, I was able to get the Secret Service to release the additional documents:

 Donald Trump’s ‘Second Amendment people’ comment Documents, Released by Secret Service November 8, 2017 [103 Pages, 9.3MB]

 Letter from the Committee of Homeland Security, Bennie G. Thompson, Reporting Donald Trump to the Secret Service [5 Pages, 1.3MB]

The post Donald Trump’s ‘Second Amendment people’ comment first appeared on The Black Vault.

Remember this tweet by President Donald J. Trump posted on October 21, 2017?

Everyone was hopeful that this meant the end to the secrecy behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

However, on April 26, 2018, despite his promise — President Trump signed the below memorandum for the heads of various Executive Departments and Agencies.  In short, it authorized agencies to continue to withhold information, and President Trump also extended the release of additional information for another 3 1/2 years – October 26, 2021.

Although he demands review of the information, and for it to be released if it no longer warrants withholding, his action authorizes agencies to continue to redact and refuse to release the information he promised in October of 2017.

One can only assume, based on his tweet above, “Subject to the receipt of further information…” what “further information” President Trump received to extend his deadline, and authorize the redactions to hold.

President Trump’s memorandum can be read below and the JFK Assassination Document Collection can be found here:

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Certification for Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

As I explained in my temporary certification of October 26, 2017, the American people expect their Government to provide as much access as possible to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records (records) so that they may — as they deserve — finally be fully informed about all aspects of this pivotal event.  Over the past 180 days, executive departments and agencies (agencies) have reviewed all of the information within records temporarily withheld from release and have proposed to the Archivist of the United States (Archivist) that certain information should continue to be redacted because of identifiable national security, law enforcement, and foreign affairs concerns.  The Archivist has reviewed the information agencies proposed to withhold and believes the proposals are consistent with the standard of section 5(g)(2)(D) of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note) (the “Act”).

I agree with the Archivist’s recommendation that the continued withholdings are necessary to protect against identifiable harm to national security, law enforcement, or foreign affairs that is of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure.  I am also ordering agencies to re-review each of those redactions over the next 3 years.  At any time during that review period, and no later than the end of that period, agencies shall disclose information that no longer warrants continued withholding.

Accordingly, by the authority vested in me as President and Commander in Chief by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby certify that all information within records that agencies have proposed for continued postponement under section 5(g)(2)(D) of the Act shall be withheld from full public disclosure until no later than October 26, 2021.

Any agency that seeks further postponement beyond this certification shall take note of the findings of the Act, which state, among other things, that “only in the rarest cases is there any legitimate need for continued protection of such records.”  The need for continued protection can only grow weaker with the passage of time from this congressional finding.  Any agency that seeks further postponement beyond October 26, 2021, shall, no later than April 26, 2021, identify to the Archivist the specific basis for concluding that records (or portions of records) satisfy the standard for continued postponement under section 5(g)(2)(D) of the Act.  Thereafter, the Archivist shall recommend to the President, no later than September 26, 2021, whether continued withholding from public disclosure of the identified records is warranted after October 26, 2021.

The Archivist is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The post Certification for Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Signed by President Donald Trump, 26 April 2018 first appeared on The Black Vault.

On April 19, 2018, the online news agency AXIOS published the following about the release of the memos:

Copies of former FBI Director James Comey’s memos have been delivered to Congress, reports the Associated Press who has obtained and is reviewing 15 pages of the memo.

Why it matters: The memos are “believed to be central” to special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. Per Politico, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd said Congress would get two versions of the memos: an “unclassified version with sensitive information redacted and a classified unredacted version that would be transmitted through a secure channel on Friday.”

The documents were quickly leaked to many members of the press shortly after the Justice Department handed them over, and are available below.

Document Archive

 The James Comey Memos on President Donald Trump [15 Pages, 1MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/doj/Ex-FBI-Director-James-Comey-s-memos.pdf

The post The James Comey Memos on President Donald Trump first appeared on The Black Vault.

Background

On January 12, 2018, CNN published the following:

President Donald Trump expressed frustration behind closed doors with people coming to the US from “shithole countries,” sources told CNN on Thursday.

One of the sources briefed on the Thursday Oval Office meeting with lawmakers confirmed Trump asked, “Why do we want all these people from ‘shithole countries’ coming here?”

CNN, along with other networks, began running stories regarding the comment. Though uncharacteristically, many networks (arguably, mostly CNN) had no problem saying “Shithole” without any type of censorship in the form of a “beep” or finding a different way to reference the statement (ie: “s-hole” etc.)

In January of 2018, I filed a report to the FCC for complaints filed that contain the word “Shithole”.  This would encompass the complaints sent in to the FCC about this statement.

The result shows a barrage of complaints on various networks from all over the United States.

Document Archive

 FCC Flooded With Complaints About News Stories Regarding Donald Trump’s “S**thole” Comment on January 11, 2018 [165 Pages, 1.9MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/fcc/TrumpLanguageComplaints-2018.pdf

The post FCC Flooded With Complaints About News Stories Regarding Donald Trump’s “S**thole” Comment on January 11, 2018 first appeared on The Black Vault.

This memorandum provides Members an update on significant facts relating to the Committee’s ongoing investigation into the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) during the 2016 presidential election cycle. Our findings, which are detailed below 1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance  Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to the FISA process.

The Declassified Memo

 The FISA Memo: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation [6 Pages, 1MB]

The post The FISA Memo: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the White House press release on May 9, 2017:

Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

“The FBI is one of our Nation’s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement,” said President Trump.

A search for a new permanent FBI Director will begin immediately.

Donald Trump fired Mr. James Comey via letter, which read as follows:

Dear Director Comey:

I have received the attached letters from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the United States recommending your dismissal as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. O have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately.

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions. that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.

I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Donald J. Trump

The actual documents, including this letter, and the one President Trump referenced from Attorney General Jeff Sessions, can be viewed below.

Document Archive

 James Comey is Fired: The Actual Documents [6 Pages, 1.2MB]

On May 12, 2017, I requested from the FBI all memorandums, notices, agency-wide emails etc. that were sent to all FBI employees on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 and Wednesday, May 10, 2017.

On January 16, 2018, the documents were released, and do include the email sent from Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the removal of James Comey as director.

 FBI Employee Emails/Notices, May 9 – May 10, 2017 [8 Pages, 2.5MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/fbifiles/comeyfiringnotice.pdf

The post James Comey is Fired: The Actual Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Internal Revenue Service created a video parody of Donald Trump’s television show “The Apprentice” which was broadcast at a 2011 conference held by the IRS’s Small Business/Self-Employed Division (SB/SE).

The video features a group of IRS employees impersonating contestants on the program and one impersonating Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and contestants of the competition show.

The video was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act Request by The Black Vault, and still outstanding on the FOIA request, are documents relating to the budget, drafts or the scripts, outtakes, etc. This page will be updated, as those documents come in.

 FOIA Response dated December 15, 2016 [1 Pages, 0.5MB]

 Responsive Records / Emails / Budgets Released April 12, 2017 [41 Pages, 3.9MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/irs/irs-apprentice-emailsbudgets.pdf

The post IRS Spoof Video of Donald Trump and ‘The Apprentice’ first appeared on The Black Vault.