FOIA Lawsuit Seeks Records from ODNI, FBI, and DOJ after Agencies Failed to Comply with Federal Transparency Law

July 18, 2026 - Democracy Forward on Friday filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) after the agencies failed to comply with federal law requiring timely responses to requests for records related to the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to investigate the 2020 election and advance baseless claims of election fraud.

The lawsuit comes after President Trump delivered a nationally televised address on Thursday, once again promoting false claims about the 2020 election while asserting that intelligence and law enforcement agencies possess information supporting those claims.

The lawsuit seeks records concerning reports, internal communications, contracts, threat assessments, and other materials related to the administration’s reported investigations into voting machines, election systems, and allegations of voter fraud. Democracy Forward submitted multiple FOIA requests beginning in May 2026 after public reporting revealed that the administration had directed intelligence and law enforcement agencies to investigate long-debunked claims about the 2020 election. Despite the deadlines imposed by federal law, the agencies have failed to make the required determinations or produce the requested records.

“The Trump-Vance administration cannot cherry-pick information from our nation’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies to justify attacks on voting rights while refusing to show the American people the full records behind those claims,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “If taxpayer resources are being used to pursue conspiracy theories to undermine confidence in our elections, the public has a right to know. The Freedom of Information Act exists to ensure that government power is exercised in the open – not behind closed doors. Transparency is not optional. It is the law, and we are going to court yet again to enforce it.”

The lawsuit asks the court to order the agencies to conduct adequate searches for responsive records, produce all non-exempt records, and comply with their obligations under the FOIA.

For more information, explore Democracy Forward’s new The People’s Guide to Voting Rights. This must-read manual covers the voting landscape of the 2026 midterm elections and informs voters about their rights and options. It also examines the most pressing threats to free and fair elections, and provides trusted resources for every step of the process. It is designed for all voters, regardless of party, and includes information for election workers and volunteers.

The case is Democracy Forward Foundation v. Office of the Director of National Intelligence et al., and the legal team on this case includes Anisha Hindocha, Daniel McGrath, Ronald Fein, and Robin Thurston.

Read the complaint here.

Source: Democracy Forward