ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen Raid
What's at Stake
A U.S. military raid in Yemen on January 29, 2017, left one Navy SEAL and many Yemeni civilians dead. The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request in March with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Departments of Defense, Justice, and State. In May 2017, we filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to enforce the request, which asks for records including the legal basis and decision-making process used for the raid, as well as assessments of civilian deaths afterwards.
Summary
President Trump called the mission in the village of al Ghayil “successful,” but news reports and members of Congress have called that description into question. The military has said that between four and 12 civilians were killed, but Human Rights Watch and journalists have reported that the true number is likely higher — at least 14 and as many as 25. According to a journalist who visited the village, the dead include nine children ranging in age from 3 months to 12 years old.
The Obama administration put in place rules requiring that there be “near certainty” that no civilians would be killed in military strikes “outside areas of active hostilities,” such as in Yemen. But the Trump administration reportedly exempted certain regions of Yemen from that rule, “temporarily” designating them as “areas of active hostilities.” The ACLU’s FOIA request also asks for information about this change, which the government has not explained.
The Departments of Defense, Justice, and State have produced some records—although most were heavily redacted—but refused to produce many others. The ACLU is challenging these withholdings.
Unlike other agencies, the C.I.A. refused even to confirm or deny that it had records, claiming that doing so would reveal whether the C.I.A. had an intelligence interest in the raid—a supposedly secret fact. The ACLU challenged the C.I.A.’s secrecy claim, arguing that it is unjustified because the CIA’s intelligence interest had already been publicly disclosed by former White House press secretary Sean Spicer. In a victory for transparency, the federal court agreed, and ordered the C.I.A. to conduct a search and either produce records or justify any other specific secrecy claims it makes.
We have seen that the Trump White House cannot be trusted to give the public accurate information, which is especially critical when the president authorizes military action that kills civilians. The public has a right to know about any exceptions the Trump administration is making to civilian protection rules generally and what really happened with this tragic operation specifically. The administration’s explanations have little credibility, and the documents sought are essential for public accountability when civilians are killed in the name of our national security.
SEE DOCUMENTS RELEASED UNDER this FOIA REQUEST
See documents released under all of the ACLU’s targeted killing FOIA requests
Legal Documents
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11/12/2020
Clerk's Judgement -
11/12/2020
Opinion -
01/27/2020
Opinion -
07/19/2019
Diakun Declaration in Further Support of ACLU's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment -
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07/19/2019
Exhibit 1 -
07/19/2019
Exhibit 2 -
07/19/2019
Exhibit 3 -
07/19/2019
Exhibit 4 -
07/19/2019
Exhibit 5
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Date Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Date Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 3Date Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 4Date Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 5Date Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
07/19/2019
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07/19/2019
ACLU Reply in Support of Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment -
06/28/2019
Gov't Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment & Opposition to Pls' Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment -
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06/28/2019
Herrington Declaration -
06/28/2019
Supplemental Stein Declaration
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsHerrington DeclarationDate Filed: 06/28/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsSupplemental Stein DeclarationDate Filed: 06/28/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
06/28/2019
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05/10/2019
Diakun Declaration -
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05/10/2019
Exhibits 1-56
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibits 1-56Date Filed: 05/10/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
05/10/2019
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05/10/2019
ACLU Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Against Departments of Defense and State -
04/05/2019
Motion for Summary Judgment by the Department of Defense, Department of State, and Central Intelligence Agency -
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04/05/2019
Hecker Declaration -
04/05/2019
Exhibit A -
04/05/2019
Exhibit B -
04/05/2019
Stein Declaration -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 1 -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 2 -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 3 -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 4 -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 5 -
04/05/2019
Exhibit 6 -
04/05/2019
Shiner Declaration
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsHecker DeclarationDate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit ADate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit BDate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsStein DeclarationDate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 3Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 4Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 5Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 6Date Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsShiner DeclarationDate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
04/05/2019
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08/21/2018
ACLU Memo in Support of Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment Against the Dep't of State and Partial Summary Judgment Against DOD, and in Opposition to Gov't's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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08/21/2018
Diakun Declaration -
08/21/2018
Exhibits 1 - 45
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsDiakun DeclarationDate Filed: 08/21/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibits 1 - 45Date Filed: 08/21/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
08/21/2018
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08/20/2018
Declaration of Mark H. Herrington in Further Support of Gov't's July 20 Motion for Summary Judgment -
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08/20/2018
Gov't's Revised Vaughn Index
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsGov't's Revised Vaughn IndexDate Filed: 08/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
08/20/2018
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07/20/2018
Gov't Memo in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
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07/20/2018
Malloy Declaration -
07/20/2018
Ferrell Declaration -
07/20/2018
Exhibit A - OCA Memo -
07/20/2018
Exhibit B - FOIA Request -
07/20/2018
Exhibit C - DOD Vaughn Index -
07/20/2018
Stein Declaration -
07/20/2018
Exhibit A - FOIA Request -
07/20/2018
Exhibit B - March 21, 2017 Acknowledgement -
07/20/2018
Exhibit C - November 17, 2017 Response -
07/20/2018
Exhibit D - December 15, 2017 Response -
07/20/2018
Exhibit E - July 18, 2017 Response -
07/20/2018
Colborn Declaration -
07/20/2018
Exhibit A - FOIA Request -
07/20/2018
Exhibit B - March 21, 2017 Acknowledgement -
07/20/2018
Exhibit C - November 17, 2017 Response -
07/20/2018
Exhibit D - December 15, 2017 Response
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsMalloy DeclarationDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsFerrell DeclarationDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit A - OCA MemoDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit B - FOIA RequestDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit C - DOD Vaughn IndexDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsStein DeclarationDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit A - FOIA RequestDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit B - March 21, 2017 AcknowledgementDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit C - November 17, 2017 ResponseDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit D - December 15, 2017 ResponseDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit E - July 18, 2017 ResponseDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsColborn DeclarationDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit A - FOIA RequestDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit B - March 21, 2017 AcknowledgementDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit C - November 17, 2017 ResponseDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit D - December 15, 2017 ResponseDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
07/20/2018
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06/27/2018
Opinion and Order re: Rejecting CIA Glomar Response -
05/08/2018
ACLU Pre-Motion Letter re: Gov't Withholdings -
05/01/2018
Gov't Letter re: Anticipated Motion for Summary Judgment -
01/12/2018
ACLU Letter Re: CIA Letter to Judge Engelmayer -
01/11/2018
CIA Letter to Judge Engelmayer -
12/13/2017
CIA Reply Brief in Support of Cross-Motion for SJ -
11/28/2017
ACLU Memo in Opposition to CIA Motion for Summary Judgment and Reply -
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11/28/2017
Diakun Declaration -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 1 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 2 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 3 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 4 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 5 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 6 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 7 -
11/28/2017
Exhibit 8
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsDiakun DeclarationDate Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 3Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 4Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 5Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 6Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 7Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 8Date Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
11/28/2017
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11/09/2017
Gov't Memo in Opposition to ACLU's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and in Support of Def. CIA's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment -
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11/09/2017
Shiner Declaration -
11/09/2017
Exhibit A: CIA Acknowledgment Letter
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsShiner DeclarationDate Filed: 11/09/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit A: CIA Acknowledgment LetterDate Filed: 11/09/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
11/09/2017
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10/11/2017
ACLU Memo in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment re: CIA Glomar Response -
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10/11/2017
Diakun Declaration -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 1 -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 2 -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 3 -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 4 -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 5 -
10/11/2017
Exhibit 6
ACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsDiakun DeclarationDate Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 1Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 2Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 3Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 4Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 5Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentACLU v. DOD – FOIA on Yemen RaidLegal DocumentsExhibit 6Date Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document -
10/11/2017
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09/16/2017
Gov't Response to ACLU Pre-Motion Letter -
09/01/2017
ACLU Letter re: Anticipated Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
08/17/2017
Memo Endorsement on Joint Status Report -
07/05/2017
Scheduling Order -
06/30/2017
ACLU Letter to Judge Engelmayer -
06/30/2017
Gov't Letter to Judge Engelmayer -
06/14/2017
Gov't Answer -
05/08/2017
Yemen FOIA Complaint
Date Filed: 11/12/2020
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 11/12/2020
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/27/2020
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/19/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/28/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/10/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/10/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/05/2019
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/21/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/20/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/27/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/08/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/01/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/12/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/11/2018
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 12/13/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 11/28/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 11/09/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 10/11/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/16/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/01/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/17/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/05/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/30/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/30/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/14/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/08/2017
Court: District Court (S.D.N.Y.)
Download Document-
03/15/2017
FOIA Request
Date Filed: 03/15/2017
Court: FOIA Request
Download DocumentPress Releases
ACLU Sues Trump Administration for Records on Botched Yemen Raid