I Filed A FOIA Challenging the Trump Regime
Shortly after being sworn in, Donald Trump issued full pardons to the roughly 1575 duly convicted insurrectionists. Now, he’s ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove any mention of the insurrectionists, their names, the charges against them, or their case status from the DOJ website. This isn’t just censorship—it’s a deliberate effort to shield violent insurrectionists from public scrutiny for their crimes against our country.
I have promised to do everything in my power as a human rights lawyer to hold the Trump regime accountable. So yesterday, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the DOJ demanding they re-release the names, charges, convictions, and sentences of the 1,575 white supremacist insurrectionists Trump has pardoned. Today, the DOJ responded. And, sadly, there’s an even deeper issue here that corporate media is refusing to discuss. Let’s Address This.
Erasing History and Elevating Racism
Trump’s actions send a chilling message: white supremacists who attempt to overthrow democracy will not only be forgiven but protected and praised—even as they injure hundreds of police officers and enable the death of several more. Likewise, corporate media is refusing to address Trump’s grotesque racism and hypocrisy. For example, while white supremacist felons are being pardoned and protected, Black Americans and other marginalized groups remain targets of systemic oppression. Black and brown Americans face significantly higher scrutiny from America’s carceral system, and face lifelong repercussions for non-violent drug convictions. This includes barriers to housing, employment, and federal financial aid. Meanwhile, white supremacists who attacked democracy, caused deaths, and injured law enforcement officers are absolved of accountability and protected by the President himself.
And these pardons are not an isolated act. They are part of a broader agenda to protect white supremacy and erase Black history. While the Trump regime wiped the DOJ website of information about insurrectionists, they simultaneously ordered the Air Force to stop mentions of the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary Black pilots who heroically fought for democracy during World War II.
When a government protects white supremacists who sought to destroy democracy—especially while censoring the stories of Black heroes who defended it—it ceases to be a government of the people. It becomes a tool of white supremacy. That is the identity Trump is embracing. Sadly, corporate media continues to fail to call out and reject this injustice.
The DOJ’s Response To My FOIA Request
Today the DOJ responded to my FOIA request. While they did not yet fulfill my request, they acknowledged receipt and offered next steps, stating:
The Criminal Division acknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act request dated January 27, 2025. The Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) is the U.S. Department of Justice component responsible for responding to Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests for information maintained by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Hence, your request has been routed to EOUSA for processing and a direct response to you. You should contact EOUSA directly about the status of your routed request.
In all transparency, given Trump’s strategy to absolve himself of all accountability, I expected an outright rejection to my FOIA. However, the DOJ Criminal Division’s decision to instead forward my request to the EOUSA, to then fulfill my request, is a step in the right direction.
Fortunately, due to NPR1 and a few other outlets, I have been able to download and preserve a makeshift list of the insurrectionists, their conviction date, the charges against them, and the status of their case. You can view that list for free here. Soon I’ll be able to upload the photographs of the insurrectionists as well.
It is imperative we continue to exercise our rights and continue to demand government accountability. This is why transparency and accountability matter. My FOIA is lawful and valid. It is about exposing the truth and ensuring that history cannot be rewritten by those in power. It is a fight to hold those who undermine justice accountable, no matter how desperately they attempt to hide their actions. And the Trump regime needs to comply.
Therefore, I am spending this week contacting the EOUSA to ensure they fulfill my FOIA request. Once I hear back from the EOUSA, you’ll be the first to know.
Conclusion
The past few weeks have provided a sobering glimpse into the depths of fascism Donald Trump is willing to embrace to expand his autocratic power. His actions, from pardoning insurrectionists to erasing their records from public view, to banning teaching about heroic Black soldiers, to raiding children in schools with ICE, and more, reveal an administration hellbent on protecting white supremacy at the expense of democracy and justice.
I will continue to do everything in my power to counter these injustices. And as you can no doubt see, I cannot do this alone. I welcome your support. Subscribe below, share this article, and help amplify the call for accountability. Fascism thrives in the darkness, but we have the power to bring it into the light. Together, we can ensure that those who betray democracy face the justice they deserve.
