Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOD - FOIA Case Seeking Trump Administration's Secret Rules for Lethal Strikes Abroad
In October 2017, the Trump administration secretly adopted rules governing the use of lethal force in drone strikes and other killings abroad. These rules, known as the 鈥淧rinciples, Standards, and Procedures,鈥� reportedly loosen Obama-era safeguards against civilian casualties outside 鈥渁reas of active hostilities.鈥� On October 30, 2017, the 桃子视频filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking public disclosure of these new rules. When the government failed to release them, we filed a lawsuit on December 21, 2017, to force their disclosure. The government responded by refusing even to acknowledge that the new rules exist. We challenged this unjustifiable secrecy鈥攁nd on September 29, 2020, a federal court ordered that the government cannot keep the existence of its new killing rules a secret. Our fight to expose the contents of the rules goes on.
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8 Targeted Killing Cases
Court Case
Apr 2019
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOJ - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Targeted Killing Law, Policy, and Casualties
In March 2015, the 桃子视频filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit demanding information about the government鈥檚 targeted-killing program, including the Obama administration鈥檚 Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) under which the program operates. In a crucial victory, the government released a redacted version of the PPG and four other documents. Many other documents were kept secret, however, and the 桃子视频continues to seek additional records through additional FOIA requests and litigation concerning the specific legal standards the government invokes when using lethal force abroad, and how they apply in practice.
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Court Case
Apr 2019
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOJ - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Targeted Killing Law, Policy, and Casualties
In March 2015, the 桃子视频filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit demanding information about the government鈥檚 targeted-killing program, including the Obama administration鈥檚 Presidential Policy Guidance (PPG) under which the program operates. In a crucial victory, the government released a redacted version of the PPG and four other documents. Many other documents were kept secret, however, and the 桃子视频continues to seek additional records through additional FOIA requests and litigation concerning the specific legal standards the government invokes when using lethal force abroad, and how they apply in practice.
Court Case
Jun 2018
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOD 鈥� FOIA on Yemen Raid
A U.S. military raid in Yemen on January 29, 2017, left one Navy SEAL and many Yemeni civilians dead. The 桃子视频filed a Freedom of Information Act request in March with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Departments of Defense, Justice, and State. In May 2017, we filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to enforce the request, which asks for records including the legal basis and decision-making process used for the raid, as well as assessments of civilian deaths afterwards.
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Court Case
Jun 2018
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOD 鈥� FOIA on Yemen Raid
A U.S. military raid in Yemen on January 29, 2017, left one Navy SEAL and many Yemeni civilians dead. The 桃子视频filed a Freedom of Information Act request in March with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Departments of Defense, Justice, and State. In May 2017, we filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to enforce the request, which asks for records including the legal basis and decision-making process used for the raid, as well as assessments of civilian deaths afterwards.
Court Case
Dec 2016
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. CIA - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Drone Killings
In a Freedom of Information Act request filed on January 13, 2010, the 桃子视频asked the government to disclose the legal and factual basis for its use of predator drones to conduct "targeted killings" overseas. In particular, the 桃子视频sought to find out when, where, and against whom drone strikes can be authorized, and how the United States ensures compliance with international laws relating to extrajudicial killings.
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Court Case
Dec 2016
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. CIA - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Drone Killings
In a Freedom of Information Act request filed on January 13, 2010, the 桃子视频asked the government to disclose the legal and factual basis for its use of predator drones to conduct "targeted killings" overseas. In particular, the 桃子视频sought to find out when, where, and against whom drone strikes can be authorized, and how the United States ensures compliance with international laws relating to extrajudicial killings.
Court Case
Dec 2016
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOJ - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Killing of Three U.S. Citizens
In October 2011, the 桃子视频submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking information about the killings of three U.S. citizens in Yemen: Anwar al-Aulaqi; his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman al-Aulaqi; and Samir Kahn. Over five years of litigation, this case was appealed to the Second Circuit three times. The government acknowledged it had killed the three Americans, and was forced to describe targeted-killing program documents in its possession. The 桃子视频won an important victory in securing the release of a memorandum in which the government set out its legal justification for killing Anwar al-Aulaqi in June 2014. In December 2016, the Second Circuit ruled that no other documents must be disclosed, concluding this litigation. The 桃子视频continues to seek additional details about the targeted killing program鈥檚 rules and consequences through other FOIA requests and cases.
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Court Case
Dec 2016
Targeted Killing
桃子视频v. DOJ - FOIA Case for Records Relating to Killing of Three U.S. Citizens
In October 2011, the 桃子视频submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking information about the killings of three U.S. citizens in Yemen: Anwar al-Aulaqi; his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman al-Aulaqi; and Samir Kahn. Over five years of litigation, this case was appealed to the Second Circuit three times. The government acknowledged it had killed the three Americans, and was forced to describe targeted-killing program documents in its possession. The 桃子视频won an important victory in securing the release of a memorandum in which the government set out its legal justification for killing Anwar al-Aulaqi in June 2014. In December 2016, the Second Circuit ruled that no other documents must be disclosed, concluding this litigation. The 桃子视频continues to seek additional details about the targeted killing program鈥檚 rules and consequences through other FOIA requests and cases.