Source: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/amended-complaint-for-injunctive-relief-11070/
Timestamp: 2015-09-02 00:10:13
Document Index: 641081619

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 1331', '§ 552', '§ 1331', '§ 552', '§ 552', '§ 552']

Amended Complaint For Injunctive Relief | Electronic Privacy Information Center v. National Security Agency | Electronic Privacy Information Center - JDSupra
Electronic Privacy Information Center v. National Security AgencyAmended Complaint For Injunctive Relief
In this Freedom of Information Act complaint filed on February 6, 2006 in federal court, EPIC seeks the release of National Security Agency documents detailing the Administration's warrantless domestic surveillance program. EPIC filed a similar lawsuit in January against the Department of Justice, which has played a key role in authorizing, implementing and overseeing the NSA's warrantless surveillance activities. This is EPIC'S amended complaint in the action.
Download PDF IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION ) CENTER ) 1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. ) Suite 200 ) Washington, DC 20009, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) C. A. No. 06-0199 (RWR) ) NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY ) Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755, ) ) Defendant. ) ) AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 1. This is an action under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552. Plaintiff seeks injunctive and other appropriate relief for the expedited processing and release of agency records requested by plaintiff from the National Security Agency. Jurisdiction and Venue 2. This Court has both subject matter jurisdiction over this action and personal jurisdiction over the parties pursuant to 5 U.S.C. §§ 552(a)(4)(B). This Court also has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Venue lies in this district under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B). Parties 3. Plaintiff Electronic Privacy Information Center (“EPIC”) is a public interest research organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in Washington, DC. EPIC’s activities include the review of federal law enforcement activities and policies to determine their possible STATES DISTRICT COURT OF COLUMBIA PRIVACY INFORMATION C. A. No. 06-0199 SECURITY AGENCY MD FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. § seeks and other appropriate for the expedited processing requested by plaintiff and This Court has over this action and over the to 5 U.S.C. § This Court also has over this § 1331. 5552(a)(4)(B). Plaintiff Electronic Privacy Information Center ("EPIC") is a public interest research as a not-for-profit corporation in Washington, DC. EPIC's Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5c7040b3-34b9-4001-9c18-643244df99422 impacts on civil liberties and privacy interests. Among its other activities, EPIC publishes books, reports and a bi-weekly electronic newsletter. EPIC also maintains a heavily-visited site on the World Wide Web (www.epic.org) containing extensive information on privacy issues, including information EPIC has obtained from federal agencies under the FOIA. 4. Defendant National Security Agency (“NSA”) is a component of the Department of Defense, which is a Department of the Executive Branch of the United States Government. NSA is an “agency” within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. § 552(f). The Revelation of Warrantless Electronic Surveillance Conducted by the National Security Agency Within the United States and NSA’s Role in That Activity 5. On December 16, 2005, the New York Times reported on its front page that “after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying.” 6. One day after the publication of the Times article, on December 17, 2005, President Bush confirmed the existence of the warrantless surveillance program. The President and other senior Administration officials have subsequently acknowledged, and defended, the program on numerous occasions. 7. In response to the revelation of warrantless domestic surveillance, Senator Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said within hours of the New York Times report that such surveillance is “wrong, clearly and categorically wrong . . . This will be a matter for oversight by the Judiciary Committee as soon as we can get to it in the new year — a very, very high priority item.” its other EPIC publishes a bi-weekly epic.org) containing extensive on privacy issues, EPIC has obtained federal agencies Defendant ("NSA") is a component of Executive Branch of Government. "agency" 552(f). and NSA's Role in That Activity On December "President Bush secretly authorized the National eavesdrop to search for evidence of terrorist activity ordinarily spying." the on December The President officials have subsequently acknowledged, and defended, In response Judiciary is "be as we can get to it in the new year -item." Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5c7040b3-34b9-4001-9c18-643244df99423 Plaintiff’s FOIA Request and Request for Expedited Processing 8. By letter dated December 16, 2005 to the NSA, plaintiff requested under the FOIA the following agency records from September 11, 2001 to the present: a. any records concerning a presidential order or directive authorizing the National Security Agency or any other component of the intelligence community to conduct domestic surveillance without the prior authorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The existence of such an order was reported in an article entitled Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts that appeared on the front page of the New York Times this morning (see attached article). b. All legal or policy memoranda, opinions, statements, guidance, and communications concerning the NSA’s collection of intelligence information about American citizens. c. All legal or policy memoranda, opinions, statements, guidance, and communications concerning the NSA’s collection of intelligence information within the United States. 9. In its letter to the NSA, plaintiff asked that the processing of its FOIA request be expedited because it pertains to a matter about which there is an “urgency to inform the public about an actual or alleged Federal government activity,” and the request was made by “a person primarily engaged in disseminating information,” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(v)(II). 10. In support of its request for expedited processing, plaintiff noted the pendency of Congressional hearings on NSA’s warrantless domestic surveillance and stated that it is “critical for Congress and the public to have as much information as possible about the NSA’s domestic surveillance to fully consider and determine its propriety.” NSA’s Wrongful Withholding of Records Responsive to Plaintiff’s Request 11. By letter dated January 4, 2006, NSA responded to plaintiff’s December 16 letter and stated that plaintiff’s request had been processed. NSA disclosed two records, totaling four pages, which included two messages from the NSA’s director to the work force dated December 16, 2005 and December 18, 2005. The messages defended the warrantless surveillance program Plaintiffs FOIA Request and By letter dated requested agency records from September 11, 2001 to the present: presidential order or directive without reported in article S Courts that appeared Times this morning (see attached All legal or policy memoranda, opinions, statements, guidance, and NSA's about legal or policy memoranda, opinions, statements, guidance, NSA's within the United States. In its letter to the NSA, plaintiff asked that the processing request it pertains to a matter about which there is an "urgency to inform activity," and the request "engaged information," 6)(support its request noted on NSA's stated that it is "critical much information NSA's its propriety." NSA's Withholding of Records Responsive Plaintiff's Request letter dated to plaintiff's December that plaintiff's request NSA two totaling which from NSA's force dated messages the warrantless surveillance Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5c7040b3-34b9-4001-9c18-643244df99424 and urged NSA employees not to discuss the matter with the media. 12. In its letter to plaintiff, defendant NSA stated that it was withholding all other requested records under 5 U.S.C. §§ 552(b)(1), (b)(3), and (b)(5). 13. Defendant NSA advised plaintiff of its right to appeal the NSA’s adverse determination on plaintiff’s request. 14. By letter dated January 5, 2006, plaintiff appealed the NSA’s determination. 15. By letter dated January 13, 2006, defendant NSA responded to plaintiff’s appeal. In its letter, defendant NSA granted plaintiff’s request for expedited processing, but upheld the agency’s initial determination to withhold responsive records. Defendant NSA advised plaintiff of its right to seek judicial review of the agency’s final determination. 16. Plaintiff has exhausted the applicable administrative remedies. 17. Defendant NSA has wrongfully withheld the requested records from plaintiff. CAUSE OF ACTION Violation of the Freedom of Information Act for Wrongful Withholding of Agency Records 18. Plaintiff realleges the allegations contained in ¶¶ 1-17. 19. Defendant NSA has wrongfully withheld responsive agency records from plaintiff. 20. Plaintiff has exhausted the applicable administrative remedies with respect to its FOIA request. 21. Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief with respect to the release and disclosure of the requested documents. Requested Relief WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays that this Court: A. order defendant NSA to process immediately the requested records in their defendant stated records under 5 U.S.C. § of its right to appeal NSA's adverse plaintiff's request. letter dated appealed NSA's 13, 2006, defendant NSA responded to plaintiff's plaintiff's request for expedited processing, agency's NSA plaintiff the agency's has remedies. NSA wrongfully records from plaintiff. of Information Withholding of Agency Records realleges the allegations contained ¶NSA wrongfully records from plaintiff. Plaintiff has exhausted request. is entitled to injunctive relief with respect to the release and prays that process the Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5c7040b3-34b9-4001-9c18-643244df99425 entirety; B. order defendant NSA, upon completion of such expedited processing, to disclose the requested records in their entirety and make copies available to plaintiff; C. provide for expeditious proceedings in this action; D. award plaintiff its costs and reasonable attorneys fees incurred in this action; and E. grant such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________________ DAVID L. SOBEL D.C. Bar No. 360418 MARCIA HOFMANN D.C. Bar. No. 484136 MARC ROTENBERG D.C. Bar. No. 422825 ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER 1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 200 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 483-1140 Counsel for Plaintiff of such expedited records in their entirety make copies available to plaintiff; its costs and reasonable for Plaintiff Document hosted at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=5c7040b3-34b9-4001-9c18-643244df9942