In a court filing today, EPIC raised key questions about the version of the Mueller Report released by the Attorney General, and also about the Justice Department's inconsistent statements regarding the release. EPIC noted the extensive redactions in the report—material is withheld on approximately 178 pages of the 448-page report. EPIC explained that the Attorney General claimed "harm to ongoing matter" as the primary reason for withholding information, but that phrase is nowhere to be found in the Freedom of Information Act. EPIC also highlighted the Attorney General's statement that he gave the Report to the White House Counsel and the President's personal lawyers in advance of the press conference, even though the Justice Department previously told the Court in EPIC v. DOJ that it was not possible to disclose the report to EPIC before today. EPIC's case for the release of the Mueller Report—the first in the nation—is EPIC v. Department of Justice, No. 19-810 (D.D.C.).
An extensively redacted version of the Mueller Report released today reveals that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was much greater than previously known. The Special Counsel's investigation found that the "Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion." The Report details Russia's hacking of US political organizations and a large-scale social media disinformation campaign. The Report also reveals that Russia breached the computers of election officials in Florida. The Report confirms that members of the Trump family and the Trump presidential campaign enthusiastically retweeted Russian propaganda. But much in the report is still secret. The Attorney General has withheld information on more than 170 pages of the 448 page report. EPIC is currently suing for the public release of the complete Mueller Report in EPIC v. Department of Justice, No. 19-810 (D.D.C.). A hearing is scheduled in federal district court on May 2.
EPIC has announced the newest members of the EPIC Advisory Board. They are Professor Elizabeth Joh, Dr. Lorraine Kisselburgh, Travis LeBlanc, Dr. Bilyana Petkova, Jennifer Stoddart, Dr. Paul Vixie, and Professor Ari Waldman. The EPIC Advisory Board is a distinguished group of experts in law, technology, and public policy who contribute to EPIC's work on privacy and civil liberties. The publication of the EPIC Advisory Board members are available at the EPIC Bookstore. The 2019 EPIC Champion of Freedom Awards will be presented on June 5, 2019 at the National Press Club. Press Release.
