Case: Democratic National Committee v. US Department of Justice

1:26-cv-00825 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

On March 10, 2026, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed this complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. The DNC alleged that these agencies failed to timely respond to eleven Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted in October 2025 concerning potential deployments of federal agents and troops to polling places, drop boxes, and election offices during upcoming elections. Plaintiffs alleged a violation of FOIA statutory deadlines by withholding responsive documents and failing to provide even a list of withheld documents. They sought injunctive relief requiring the defendants to promptly search for and produce the requested records, and to supply any required Vaughn index for withheld documents.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72384565/parties/democratic-national-committee-v-us-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)

Howell, Beryl Alaine (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Freeman, Daniel J. (District of Columbia)

Miller, Adam B. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-00825

Complaint

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72384565/democratic-national-committee-v-us-department-of-justice/

Last updated March 22, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12288782) filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit FBI FOIA Letter, # 2 Exhibit DOJ-CRT FOIA Letter, # 3 Exhibit DOJ-CRM FOIA Letter, # 4 Exhibit DOJ-OIP FOIA Letter, # 5 Exhibit DHS-CBP FOIA Letter, # 6 Exhibit DHS-FPS FOIA Letter, # 7 Exhibit DHS-ICE FOIA Letter, # 8 Exhibit DHS-HQ FOIA Letter, # 9 Exhibit DOD-NGB FOIA Letter, # 10 Exhibit DOD-NORTHCOMM FOIA Letter, # 11 Exhibit DOD-OSD FOIA Letter, # 12 Civil Cover Sheet, # 13 Summons, # 14 Summons, # 15 Summons)(Freeman, Daniel) (Attachment 12 replaced on 3/10/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 03/10/2026)

1 Exhibit FBI FOIA Letter

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2 Exhibit DOJ-CRT FOIA Letter

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3 Exhibit DOJ-CRM FOIA Letter

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4 Exhibit DOJ-OIP FOIA Letter

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5 Exhibit DHS-CBP FOIA Letter

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6 Exhibit DHS-FPS FOIA Letter

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7 Exhibit DHS-ICE FOIA Letter

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8 Exhibit DHS-HQ FOIA Letter

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9 Exhibit DOD-NGB FOIA Letter

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10 Exhibit DOD-NORTHCOMM FOIA Letter

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11 Exhibit DOD-OSD FOIA Letter

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12 Civil Cover Sheet

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13 Summons

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14 Summons

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15 Summons

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March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.(Freeman, Daniel) (Main Document 2 replaced on 3/10/2026) (zmtm). (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

3

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons USAG, # 2 Summons USAO, # 3 Summons DOJ, # 4 Summons DHS, # 5 Summons DOD)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

4

SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

5

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Adam B. Miller on behalf of DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Miller, Adam) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

7

STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 10, 2026. (lcbah4) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

RECAP

Notice of Error- New Case

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect civil cover sheet. Please locate the Civil Cover Sheet (JS44) form at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms & file using the event Civil Cover Sheet. Missing summonses- U.S. government. When naming a U.S. government agent or agency as a defendant, you must supply a summons for each defendant & two additional summonses for the U.S. Attorney & U.S. Attorney General. Please submit using the event Request for Summons to Issue. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zmtm)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

8

Notice of Appearance

March 14, 2026

March 14, 2026

9

Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

10

Summons Returned Executed in FOIA case as to U.S. Attorney

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

11

Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

12

Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

13

Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant

March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00825

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation