@jasonleopold.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter, Bloomberg News. "FOIA terrorist." Subscribe to my newsletter, FOIA Files and my FOIA podcast, Disclosure. Signal: JasonLeopold.666 http://swap.fm/l/O8A3zzBKsGWpqLtjzLSF https://www.bloomberg.com/foiafiles
CHICAGO FOIA filers! I'm going to be in the city for FOIA Fest on March 21 doing a live taping of my podcast, Disclosure, with my co-host and FOIA attorney, @mvtopic.bsky.social. Do you have Q's about local and federal public records? Send em over in the comments!
headlineclub.org/2026/02/13/f...
Your cooperation, in conjunction with a consensual search would help provide a level of comfort that the FBI has retrieved and safeguarded all the appropriate documents.”
27.02.2026 16:08 — 👍 22 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0“We therefore request the former president’s cooperation, and the opportunity to thoroughly search and retrieve any additional classified documents, or governmental records in order to properly secure these records.
27.02.2026 16:08 — 👍 20 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 0“Your assistance would facilitate the proper retrieval and handling of these classified documents and governmental records,” an unredacted portion of the script said.
27.02.2026 16:08 — 👍 20 🔁 9 💬 1 📌 0The FBI prepared a “Call Script” for bureau officials to use when they contacted Trump's attorney “asking for their future cooperation and a consent search of Mar-a-Lago."
27.02.2026 16:07 — 👍 25 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 1
An FBI form memorializing the creation of a "call script" for bureau officials to use when they contacted Trump's attorney “asking for their future cooperation and a consent search of Mar-a-Lago."
NEW FOIA Files newsletter is out! The FBI just turned over nearly 100 pages of emails to me that provides additional context and color related to the FBI's resistance to searching Trump's Mar-a-Lago for classified & other docs he took after he left office in 2021
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The list of finalists for the National Magazine Awards in the newsletter category. In addition to FOIA Files, the other finalists are: Harper's, New York Magazine, The Spread and Today in Tabs
Some cool #FOIA Friday news! The American Society of Magazine Editors named my newsletter, FOIA Files, as a finalist for this year's National Magazine Awards!!
Sign up for a FREE subscription to FOIA Files @bloomberg.com. New installment dropping in 30 minutes!
www.bloomberg.com/account/news...
Thank you, Michael!! See you in a couple of weeks!
27.02.2026 14:52 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Congrats to @jasonleopold.bsky.social for being the 2026 @brechnerfoi.bsky.social Freedom of Information Award! brechner.org/about/awards...
26.02.2026 14:52 — 👍 12 🔁 3 💬 2 📌 0
@jasonleopold.bsky.social of @bloomberg.com wins FOI award: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/b...
23.02.2026 16:51 — 👍 35 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 2Privacy
20.02.2026 19:54 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Freedom of Information/Privacy Act
20.02.2026 19:54 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0You’ll be seeing a lot about this memo today. I published it first (and got the story right) b/c I’ve been covering this case in depth at Law Dork — even filing a motion last week to intervene and improve public access. I knew this was an important case; my work shows it. Subscribe: www.lawdork.com
19.02.2026 15:37 — 👍 406 🔁 145 💬 5 📌 2
Response to my question from FBI Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups: FOIPAQUESTIONS (foipaquestions@fbi.gov) The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now. Please try resending your message later, or contact the recipient directly.
Hey FBI I have a question about one of my FOIA requests
19.02.2026 15:52 — 👍 107 🔁 36 💬 2 📌 0In another thread, Ruemmler forwarded Epstein an email that she had received from then-White House deputy press secretary, Eric Schultz. The message contained a letter to the Washington Post reporter from an attorney representing the WH volunteer who’d been swept up in the prostitution scandal
19.02.2026 13:53 — 👍 45 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0It’s unclear if Ruemmler accepted any advice on the Secret Service scandal from Epstein, who was already a convicted sex offender at the time. Jennifer Connelly, a spox for Ruemmler, said the former WH counsel “has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise”
19.02.2026 13:52 — 👍 55 🔁 7 💬 2 📌 1Epstein offered advice, as well as what he described as “edits” to the email draft, which Ruemmler indicated she was planning to send to a journalist. “Breathe, smile. You’re free,” he wrote in one message.
19.02.2026 13:51 — 👍 52 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0In a dozen or so exchanges 4 mos after Ruemmler left her WH position in 2014, she complained to Epstein about “this secret service crap” & forwarded him a draft email that contained detailed info about the behind-the-scenes role the WH Counsel’s office played in investigating the prostitution case
19.02.2026 13:51 — 👍 66 🔁 13 💬 1 📌 0
NEW: Kathy Ruemmler shared nonpublic details with Jeffrey Epstein about the White House probe into a 2012 prostitution scandal that engulfed the Secret Service during her tenure as White House counsel, emails show
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Epstein's advice to Amir Taaki and the Bitcoin crew:
'Review the laws on money laundering, gambling, PATRIOT Act, and conspiracy rules.'
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
An email explaining the redactions "It was agreed upon by Assistant Director of Information Management Division, Office of General Counsel, Criminal Investigative Division, and New York executive management, all redactions will be conducted under a hybrid of FBI Freedom of Information Act and Civil Litigation Standards. The hybrid redaction standard will consist of 26 category codes within six exemptions. All FBI personnel will receive training by IMD in order to conduct redactions to the agreed upon standard."
13.02.2026 15:48 — 👍 27 🔁 7 💬 2 📌 0
Gift Link / Free to Read
Newsletter
FOIA Files
The FBI’s Reasons for Redacting the Epstein Files
A document from the Epstein files explains the FBI’s justifications for redactions in the massive trove.
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet... via @bloomberg.com @jasonleopold.bsky.social
The hybrid model resulted in “26 category codes within six exemptions.” The decision was made by the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, the Criminal Investigative Division and New York Executive Management, according to a March 16, 2025 email.
13.02.2026 15:41 — 👍 27 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 0
An FBI list of exemptions that explains why certain information in the Epstein files was withheld.
The internal guidance sent to document reviewers said the FBI used a combination of exemptions under the #FOIA, as I previously reported, and “Civil Litigation Standards.” The hybrid model resulted in “26 category codes within six exemptions.”
13.02.2026 15:40 — 👍 22 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 1
NEW in my newsletter FOIA Files: A document I found in the Epstein files explains the FBI’s justifications for redactions in the massive trove while bureau personnel were reviewing the documents between February and May 2025
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
NEW: One of Dubai’s Most Powerful Executives Discussed Sex, Business With Epstein
Among an elite network that corresponded with Epstein, few kept in communication with him as long as Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. Here’s what the emails reveal
🎁
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The story is based on emails and other documents released by the DOJ as well as a cache of emails and attachments obtained last year by @bloomberg.com
10.02.2026 06:16 — 👍 66 🔁 9 💬 2 📌 0
NEW: One of Dubai’s Most Powerful Executives Discussed Sex, Business With Epstein
Among an elite network that corresponded with Epstein, few kept in communication with him as long as Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. Here’s what the emails reveal
🎁
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
EPSTEIN Files: As FBI agents and other personnel were reviewing the files last year, Kash Patel asked them to find out if Epstein was ever an FBI confidential human source.
Response: "Per searches conducted by NYO and the DNI all searches for 'Jeffrey E. Epstein were negative."
“The DOJ/FBI Epstein memo that was leaked last night, has been officially released by DOJ,” a special agent in the New York bureau wrote in an email. The person included a link in the email to the joint statement issued by the DOJ and FBI. “Hopefully this means it is finally over.”
The Epstein files also show FBI agents weren’t shedding tears when the DOJ and FBI initially made the decision on July 7, 2025 not to release any of the Epstein files that agents and prosecutors had already reviewed and redacted.
06.02.2026 16:36 — 👍 67 🔁 16 💬 0 📌 0