Special Counsel Robert Mueller will testify before Congress on Wednesday, July 17, according to the chairs of the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. "Americans have demanded to hear directly from the Special Counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia's attack on our democracy," Chairmen Jerrold Nadler and Adam Schiff said in a statement. Mueller's testimony comes as EPIC is pursuing the release of the complete and unredacted Mueller Report in EPIC v. Department of Justice. Judge Reggie B. Walton will hold a hearing on EPIC's case August 5. Copies of the Mueller report obtained by EPIC, related materials, and background on the case are available for purchase at the EPIC Bookstore. (Jun. 25, 2019)
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has announced three new oversight projects. The PCLOB reviews federal agency programs to ensure they do not diminish privacy and civil liberties. The Board said it will review: (1) the use of biometrics, such as facial recognition, in airports; (2) how the FBI queries data collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's Section 702, including searches for US person information called "backdoor searches"; and (3) oversight of passenger identity databases used by airlines. Earlier this year, EPIC sent a statement to the Board urging limits on the government use of facial recognition and and end to backdoor searches. In 2012, EPIC sent a detailed statement to PCLOB outlining priorities for the agency. In 2016, EPIC awarded former PCLOB Board Member Judge Patricia Wald with the EPIC Champion of Freedom Award.
EPIC has moved for summary judgment in EPIC v. Department of Justice, EPIC's case for the release of the complete and unredacted Mueller Report. EPIC told the Court that "the nation's ability to fully assess the Report is hindered by the decision of the Justice Department to withhold critical information from the American public." EPIC argued that the Justice Department had unlawfully redacted extensive material and urged Judge Reggie B. Walton to personally review the full Report. Judge Walton previously said EPIC's case should move "as expeditiously as humanly possible" and ordered the parties to brief the case on an accelerated schedule. A hearing on EPIC's motion is set for August 5. The case is EPIC v. Department of Justice, No. 19-810 (D.D.C.). Copies of the Mueller report obtained by EPIC, related materials, and background on the case is available for purchase at the EPIC Bookstore.
