Qassim Soleimani FOIA Lawsuit

January 22, 2022
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In Jan. 2020, the Trump administration ordered the targeted killing of Qassim Soleimani, then Iran’s top general and second most powerful government official. Later that month, Protect Democracy sued the Departments of State, Justice, and Defense to enforce Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests for the legal and policy justifications for and communications with Congress about the military strike on Soleimani.

Case Documents

Complaint (Jan. 22, 2020) Complaint (Jan. 22, 2020)

Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Jan. 22, 2020) Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Jan. 22, 2020)

Amended Complaint (Feb. 19, 2020) Amended Complaint (Feb. 19, 2020)

Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Feb. 19, 2020) Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Feb. 19, 2020)

Government’s Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Feb. 26, 2020) Government’s Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Feb. 26, 2020)

Reply in Support of Preliminary Injunction (Mar. 3, 2020) Reply in Support of Preliminary Injunction (Mar. 3, 2020)

Government’s Answer (Mar. 4, 2020) Government’s Answer (Mar. 4, 2020)

Notice Regarding Escalating Hostilities with Iran (Mar. 17, 2020) Notice Regarding Escalating Hostilities with Iran (Mar. 17, 2020)

Government’s Notice of Office of Legal Counsel Memorandum (Mar. 19, 2020) Government’s Notice of Office of Legal Counsel Memorandum (Mar. 19, 2020)

Joint Status Report (Apr. 3, 2020) Joint Status Report (Apr. 3, 2020)

Partial Response from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (May 11, 2020) Partial Response from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (May 11, 2020)

Interim FOIA Response – Department of Defense (May 11, 2020) Interim FOIA Response – Department of Defense (May 11, 2020)

Government’s Motion for Summary Judgment (July 2, 2020) Government’s Motion for Summary Judgment (July 2, 2020)

Protect Democracy's Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Government's Motion for Summary Judgment (July 16, 2020) Protect Democracy's Motion for Summary Judgment and Opposition to Government's Motion for Summary Judgment (July 16, 2020)

Order on Motions for Summary Judgment (May 17, 2021) Order on Motions for Summary Judgment (May 17, 2021)

Current United States Authoritarian Threat Index score: 3.3/5 Severe Threat •

The Score Breakdown

Executive Constraints 3.8/5 • Severe Threat

Qassim Soleimani FOIA Lawsuit

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Relevant Experts

Ben Berwick

Director of Impact Programs, Protecting Civic Space

Anne Tindall

Head of State Strategies Team & Special Counsel

Current United States Authoritarian Threat Index score: 3.3/5 Severe Threat •

It can happen here. We can stop it.

It can happen here.
We can stop it.