Case: Democracy Forward Foundation v. Federal Bureau of Investigation

1:26-cv-02075 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 11, 2026

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case]. A nonprofit focused on government transparency filed suit on June 11, 2026, against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint arose from the plaintiff's submission of five Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the FBI and DOJ's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) between March and April 2026, seeking records related to FBI Director Kash Patel's conduct. Those requests followed an April 2026 report in The Atlantic alleging that Director Patel's tenure had been marked by "excessive drinking," "unexplained absences," and rescheduled meetings, and that his security team had on at least one occasion employed breaching equipment to reach him—allegations Director Patel disputed in a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the publication. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to provide timely determinations on its FOIA requests and improperly denied expedited processing for four of the five requests, despite the plaintiff's argument that the matters raised exceptional media interest and government integrity concerns. The plaintiff brought two counts under 5 U.S.C. § 552, seeking court orders compelling the FBI and DOJ to search for and produce all non-exempt responsive records, grant expedited processing, provide a Vaughn index of any withheld materials, and award costs and attorneys' fees.

Summary Authors

(6/14/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73472005/parties/democracy-forward-foundation-v-federal-bureau-of-investigation/

Judge(s)

Moss, Randolph Daniel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Fein, Ronald A. (District of Columbia)

Hindocha, Anisha (District of Columbia)

McGrath, Daniel Alexander (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Moss, Randolph Daniel (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Fein, Ronald A. (District of Columbia)

Hindocha, Anisha (District of Columbia)

McGrath, Daniel Alexander (District of Columbia)

Thurston, Robin F. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-02075	Complaint for Injunctive Relief Democracy Forward Foundation v. Federal Bureau of Investigations	June 11, 2026	June 11, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73472005/democracy-forward-foundation-v-federal-bureau-of-investigation/

Last updated Aug. 25, 2026, 3:14 a.m.

Docket for: DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 11, 2026	COMPLAINT against FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12481951) filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/11/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	June 11, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/11/2026)	RECAP
3	June 11, 2026	SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 06/11/2026)	RECAP
	June 11, 2026	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	June 11, 2026	Case Assigned to Judge Randolph D. Moss. (zmtm)
4	June 12, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Alexander McGrath on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (McGrath, Daniel) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
5	June 12, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Ronald A. Fein on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Fein, Ronald) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
6	June 12, 2026	STANDING ORDER: The parties are hereby ORDERED to comply with the directives set forth in the attached Standing Order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 6/12/26. (lcrdm2) (Entered: 06/12/2026)	RECAP
7	June 24, 2026	ENTERED IN ERROR.....RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/15/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/15/2026. (Girard, Bradley) Modified on 6/24/2026, pursuant to Counsel (mg). (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
8	June 24, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/15/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 7/15/2026. (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
9	June 24, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION served on 6/15/2026 (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
10	June 24, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 6/15/2026 (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
11	June 24, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 6/15/2026. (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
12	July 7, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Dimitar Georgiev-Remmel on behalf of FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
13	July 7, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
	July 8, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: In light of Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer, Dkt. 13, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff respond to the motion on or before July 10, 2026. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/8/26. (lcrdm2)
	July 8, 2026	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines
14	July 9, 2026	RESPONSE re 13 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, in partial opposition filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION. (Hindocha, Anisha) (Entered: 07/09/2026)	RECAP
15	July 9, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Robin F. Thurston on behalf of DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 07/09/2026)	RECAP
	July 9, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines
	July 9, 2026	MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer, Dkt. 13, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED. Defendant may answer or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before July 30, 2026. Signed by Judge Randolph D. Moss on 7/9/26. (lcrdm2)
16	July 30, 2026	ANSWER to Complaint by FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Georgiev-Remmel, Dimitar) (Entered: 07/30/2026)	RECAP
	July 31, 2026	.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings
17	Aug. 20, 2026	Status Report	RECAP
	Aug. 20, 2026	.Order AND Terminate Hearings AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

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Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 1.0 & 2.0 FOIA cases

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

FOIA

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 11, 2026

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-02075

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Democracy Forward Foundation v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48223/ (last updated 6/14/2026).