Department of Justice records in response to American Oversight’s records requests for orders and directives of Attorney General Barr issued in the course of leading the federal response to protests following the death of George Floyd, as well as for directives given to federal police forces regarding the use of force, deployment orders, self-identification guidelines, or guidance about the display of badges and any related final assessments. These records include senior officials’ email communications concerning the federal response to nationwide protests in May 2020. They also include materials related to invoking the insurrection act.

The lawsuit seeks documents detailing the use of force to suppress protests in Lafayette Square and beyond, including the role of Attorney General Barr.

American Oversight lawsuit against the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Defense, and the National Guard Bureau for records reflecting directives, assessments, and deployment orders regarding federal law enforcement response to protests. This lawsuit also seeks guidance given to federal forces regarding self-identification and display of badges when responding to demonstrations, as well as use-of-force guidelines.

As stirring protests against police brutality gripped the nation’s attention and as the coronavirus continued its tragic spread through multiple states, Georgia held a chaotic primary election.

FOIA to the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security seeking final assessments or reports provided to agency heads regarding protests.