Case: Democratic National Committee v. U.S. Department of Justice

COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12622594) filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1: FBI Requeset, # 2 Exhibit 2: FBI Denial, # 3 Exhibit 3: FBI Appeal, # 4 Exhibit 4: CRM Request, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons DOJ, # 7 Summons AG, # 8 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Attachment 5 replaced on 8/21/2026) (gsk). (Entered: 08/20/2026)

1 Exhibit 1: FBI Requeset

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2 Exhibit 2: FBI Denial

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3 Exhibit 3: FBI Appeal

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4 Exhibit 4: CRM Request

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5 Civil Cover Sheet

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6 Summons DOJ

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7 Summons AG

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8 Summons USAO

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LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/20/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Adam B. Miller on behalf of DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Miller, Adam) (Entered: 08/20/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin B. Klubes on behalf of DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Klubes, Benjamin) (Main Document 4 replaced on 8/21/2026) (gsk). (Entered: 08/20/2026)

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons DOJ, # 2 Summons AG, # 3 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 08/21/2026. (lcckk1) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (gsk)

Case Assigned/Reassigned

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect summonses. Please locate the summons applicable to your case at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and file using the event Request for Summons to issue. (gsk)

Notice of Error- New Case

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE (Corrected) filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons DOJ, # 2 Summons AG, # 3 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/25/2026)

Summons Not Issued

SUMMONS Not Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Summons(es) incomplete. (zjm)

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zjm) (Entered: 08/28/2026)

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/28/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/27/2026. (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 9/8/2026. (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/8/2026 (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Lindsey, Zachariah) (Entered: 09/20/2026)

Memorandum in opposition to re 12 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Sept 20 Email, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/20/2026)

1 Exhibit Sept 20 Email

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2 Text of Proposed Order

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Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

MINUTE ORDER: The Defendant's 12 Motion for Extension of Time to Respond is DENIED. The Defendant has not shown good cause for an extension, given the potential risk for prejudice to the Plaintiff and the fact that the circumstances giving rise to the request are within the Defendant's control. The Defendant shall file an answer, or otherwise respond to the Complaint, on or before September 28, 2026. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 09/21/2026. (lcckk1)

Set/Reset Deadlines

Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint due by 9/28/2026. (dot)

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Devin Iorio on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Substituting for attorney Zack Lindsey (Iorio, Devin) (Entered: 09/28/2026)

ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.(Iorio, Devin) (Entered: 09/28/2026)

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

Order

MINUTE ORDER: The Court is in receipt of the Defendant's 15 Answer. Upon consideration of this filing, it is ORDERED that the parties shall MEET AND CONFER and file a Joint Status Report proposing a schedule for further proceedings in this matter. This report should address the status of the processing of the Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to the Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the requested documents, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether the parties expect that a Vaughn index will be required, and any other matters necessary to bring to the Court's attention. The parties shall file this report on or before October 14, 2026. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 09/30/2026. (lcckk1)

Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Iorio, Devin) (Entered: 10/14/2026)

1 Exhibit

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.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

MINUTE ORDER: The Court is in receipt of the parties' 16 Joint Status Report, in which Plaintiffs recommend the parties file Joint Status Reports every 14 days, and Defendants recommend the parties file Joint Status Reports every 30 days. In addition, Plaintiffs ask the Court to "order the FBI to complete its review before the next deadline for a joint status report"; to "order CRM [the Criminal Division] to provide the parameters of the search it conducted and to conduct supplemental searches"; and to "order [the Civil Rights Division] to provide the parameters of the search it conducted, to determine if additional searches are necessary." Joint Status Report, Dkt. No. 16, at 2-3.The Court ORDERS the parties to submit a Joint Status Report on October 30, 2026, and every 14 days thereafter until further order of the Court. With respect to Plaintiffs' requested orders for Defendants' document production, however, the Court reminds the parties that "[a] request for a court order must be made by motion." Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b)(1); see also Local Rule 7(m) ("Before filing any nondispositive motion in a civil action, counsel shall discuss the anticipated motion with opposing counsel in a good-faith effort to determine whether there is any opposition to the relief sought and, if there is, to narrow the areas of disagreement."). Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 10/16/2026. (lcckk1)

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Notice of Appearance

Status Report