Records on Covert Action

The materials in FOIA 2001-1419-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2001-1419-F contains materials that primarily consist of correspondence between executive branch agencies and the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, as well as other interagency correspondences revolving around the debate over two very distinct legislative topics. The first of the two is the statutory definition of “covert action” and the second is the statutory definition of 48–hour “timely notice” to the Congress by the President of any covert action that is actively pursued by the Bush administration. Various Newspaper articles included in these files primarily consist of media coverage of these debates as they unfolded between primarily the executive branch and Congress. In addition, a bulk of these materials consist of a variety of publications including past Supreme Court cases, legislative and statutory publications, and past Congressional Records, which served the purpose of providing foundation for research to provide clarity and background for key legislative debate on both issues. Draft legislation is routinely routed back in forth between these branches in an effort to find compromise on both topics. Classified materials routinely make reference to a variety of agency activities that could be potentially engaged by executive agencies during covert actions exercised by executive branch agencies; therefore, are protected in the interest of the National Security of the United States of America. Read less