McMichael v. United States Department of Defense

910 F. Supp. 2d 47, 2012 WL 6585113, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178369

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: December 18, 2012
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2011-2119
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ROSEMARY M. COLLYER, District Judge.

William McMichael, a journalist, complains that the United States Department of Defense improperly responded to his requests for information from the United States Strategic Command. The initial request asked for records from a specific Inspector General investigation into misconduct allegations concerning a specific Navy captain. To each of three requests, USSTRATCOM neither confirmed- nor denied that any records existed. The Court finds that DOD’s response was improper and remands for reconsideration.

I. FACTS

. The following facts are not in dispute. On March 27, 2011, Mr. McMichael, on behalf of Navy Times, 1 submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, to United States Strategic Command (“USSTRATCOM”) 2 for access to and a copy. of the “Inspector General investigation into a complaint of an allegedly abusive command climate within the command’s J4 created by Captain William Powers, [sic] from October 2008 to March 2010.” Exs. to McMichael Decl., Ex. F. Captain Power served as USSTRATCOM’s Director of Logistics (J4) during this time. 3 See Exs. to McMi chael Deck, Ex. C (formal complaint). ' In a letter issued on April 4, 2011, by Vice Admiral Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM denied Mr. McMichael’s request pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C) (“Exemption 7(C)”) neither confirming nor denying the existence of “such records.” 4 See id., Ex. G.

Mr. McMichael filed an administrative appeal on April 11, 2011, to the Defense Freedom of Information Policy Office. See Def. Mot. [Dkt. 10], Statement of Material Facts [Dkt. 10-1] (“DOD Facts”) ¶ 3. By letter dated May 13, 2011, the FOIA Appellate Authority for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, William E. Brazis, Deputy Director of Administration and Management, affirmed the denial of his request. See id. ¶ 4; Exs. to McMichael Deck, Ex. H.

Mr. McMichael submitted two additional FOIA requests on April 11, 2011, again on behalf of Navy Times. The first requested “access to and a copy of the U.S. Strategic Command Inspector General investigation into a complaint of an abusive command climate in the command’s J4 from October 2008 to March 2010.” Exs. to McMichael Deck,’ Ex. I. The second FOIA request asked for:

access to and a copy of the record of payment or payments made to an unknown private firm for the transcription of interviews made during a U.S. Strategic Command Inspector General investigation into a complaint of an abusive command climate in the command’s J4 from October 2008 to March 2010. Such expenditures are not classified and are a matter of public record. Please include all relevant information including the amount or amounts of such payments; the dates the payments were made; the specific reason for each payment, such as the number of hours of transcription each payment covered; and for what specific purpose the [sic] were made.

Id., Ex. J. Vice Admiral Haney denied these requests with Glomar responses, by separate letters issued on May 23, 2011. Id., Exs. K & L. Mr. McMichael appealed on May 24, 2011, and Deputy Director Brazis affirmed Vice Admiral Haney’s determination by individual letters dated July 12, 2011. Id., Exs. M & N; DOD Facts ¶¶ 7-8. Mr. McMichael filed suit on November 29, 2011. See Compl. [Dkt. 1].

While admitting these facts, Mr. McMichael adds the following additional background information, which is uncontested. A number of USSTRATCOM employees knew that the IG conducted an- investigation into allegations of an abusive environment in the J4 command under Captain Power. See McMichael Deck ¶¶ 2-9; Exs. to McMichael Deck, Exs. A-E. A USSTRATCOM employee reported that the investigation generated over 1,000 pages of testimony and more than $6,000 in transcription fees. See Exs. to McMichael Deck, Exs. A & B. That same employee provided Navy Times with a copy of a formal complaint sent to USSTRATCOM. See id., Ex. C. A different USSTRATCOM employee informed Mr. McMichael that the investigation included an estimated 30 witnesses and lasted more than eight months but closed'with no action taken. See McMichael Deck ¶ 5. Still two additional employees of USSTRATCOM confirmed that a formal investigation occurred and that the nature and existence of the investigation were well known within the command. See id. ¶¶8-9. After completing his tour as J4 Director at USSTRATCOM, Captain Power became the Commanding Officer at the United States Naval Supply Systems Command’s Fleet Logistics Center Puget Sound. See Exs. to McMichael Deck, Ex. S.' As a reporter, Mr. McMichael previously has used FOIA to receive redacted reports into alleged misconduct by high-ranking Navy personnel. See, e.g., id., Ex. O.

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

A. Motion to Dismiss

A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) challenges the adequacy of a complaint on its face. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).. A complaint must be sufficient to “give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Although a complaint does not need' detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief “requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is “plausible on its face.” Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.

A court must treat the complaint’s factual allegations as true, “even if doubtful in fact.” Id. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. But a court need not accept as true legal conclusions set forth in a- complaint. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). In deciding a motion under Rule 12(b)(6), a court may consider the facts alleged in the complaint, documents attached to the complaint as exhibits or incorporated by reference, and matters about which the court may take judicial notice. Abhe & Svoboda, Inc. v. Chao, 508 F.3d 1052, 1059 (D.C.Cir.2007).

B. Motion for Summary Judgment

Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment must be granted when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Moreover, summary judgment is properly granted against a party who “after' adequate time for discovery and upon motion ... fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must draw all justifiable inferences in the nonmoving party’s favor and accept the nonmoving party’s evidence as true. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A nonmoving party, however, must establish more than “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence” in support of its position. Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

FOIA cases are typically and appropriately decided on motions for summary judgment. Miscavige v. IRS, 2 F.3d 366, 368 (11th Cir.1993); Rushford v. Civiletti 485 F.Supp. 477, 481 n. 13 (D.D.C. 1980). In a FOIA case, the Court may award summary judgment solely on the basis of information provided by the department or agency in affidavits or declarations when the affidavits or declarations describe “the documents and the justifications for nondisclosure with reasonably specific detail, demonstrate that the information withheld logically falls within the claimed exemption, and are not controverted by either contrary evidence in the record nor by evidence of agency bad faith.” Military Audit Project v. Casey, 656 F.2d 724, 738 (D.C.Cir.1981); see also Vaughn v. Rosen, 484 F.2d 820, 826-28 (D.C.Cir. 1973). An agency must demonstrate that “each document that falls within the class requested either has been produced, is unidentifiable, or is wholly [or partially] exempt from the Act’s inspection requirements.” Goland v. CIA 607 F.2d 339, 352 (D.C.Cir.1978) (internal quotation mark and citation omitted).

III. ANALYSIS

FOIA requires' public disclosure of government records, subject to nine listed exceptions. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b); Wolf v. CIA, 473 F.3d 370, 374 (D.C.Cir.2007). USSTRATCOM answered each of Mr. McMichael’s three FOIA requests with a Glomar response, neither admitting nor denying the existence of .responsive records regarding an IG investigation into Captain Power, an IG investigation of the same allegations against an unspecified person, and records of payment for transcription of related investigative interviews. A Glomar response is appropriate when “to answer the FOIA inquiry would cause harm cognizable under a[] FOIA exception — in other words, in cases in which the existence or nonexistence of a record is a fact exempt from disclosure under a FOIA exception.” Int’l Counsel Bureau v. CIA 774 F.Supp.2d 262, 266 (D.D.C.2011) (alteration in original) (internal quotation mark and citation omitted); see also Wolf, 473 F.3d at 374. In invoking its Glomar response, USSTRATCOM relied on FOIA Exemption 7(C), which allows an agency to withhold from disclosure information “compiled for law enforcement purposes” that “could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C).

Accordingly, the question presented is whether Exemption 7(C), which allows nondisclosure of certain records, also allows a Glomar response to Mr. McMichael’s FOIA requests. In other words, is the very existence or nonexistence of the IG investigation a fact that is exempt from disclosure or, under these specific circumstances, must USSTRATCOM perform the normal record-by-record review, redaction, decision-to-withhold (if any), and support its decisions in court? Compare Phillippi, 546 F.2d at 1013 (“When the Agency’s position is that it can.neither confirm nor deny the existence of the requested records, there are no relevant documents for the court to examine other than the affidavits which explain the Agency’s refusal.”), with Vaughn, 484 F.2d at 827 (requiring “a system of itemizing and indexing” the relevant documents by the government for the opposing counsel and the court to review when it relies on an exemption to withhold disclosure). The question of disclosure of the existence or nonexistence of . the IG investigation is a distinct question from disclosure of the content of the records. See People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals v. Nat’l Insts. of Health Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 853 F.Supp.2d 146, 155 (D.D.C.2012) (“So, the question the Court must resolve at this point is not whether the documents need to be produced but whether merely acknowledging their existence invades an interest that the FOIA exemptions were designed to protect.”), aff 'd in part, No. 12-5183, 2012 WL 5896791 (D.C.Cir. Nov. 2, 2012). The Court only decides the validity of DOD’s Glomar response and makes no decision on the applicability of any FOIA exemption to disclosure of any specific record, in whole or in part. •

When considering “whether the existence of agency records vel non fits a FOIA exemption, courts apply the general exemption review standards established in non-Glomar cases.” Wolf, 473 F.3d at 374; see also Int’l Counsel Bureau, 774 F.Supp.2d. at 267. The threshold inquiry in determining the applicability of Exemption 7(C) is whether the documents sought were “compiled for law enforcement purposes” 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C). 'Arecord is compiled for law enforcement purposes when it “foeus[es] directly on specifically alleged illegal acts, illegal acts of particular identified officials, acts which could, if proved, result in civil or criminal sanctions.” Rural Hous. Alliance v. Dep’t of Agric., 498 F.2d 73, 81 (D.C.Cir.1974). When a military investigation may result in a finding of a violation of law or regulation, records compiled pursuant to such investigation are for law enforcement purposes. See Lurie v. Dep’t of the Army, 970 F.Supp. 19, 36 (D.D.C.1997) (finding that records concerning an informal Army investigation into alleged misconduct by command personnel were compiled for law enforcement purposes). Mr. McMichael does not dispute that the records he seeks, if they exist, were compiled for law enforcement purposes because the IG investigation concerned “allegations of misconduct, which, if proven to be true, would have constituted violations of [law and regulations].” Def. Mot., Def. Mem. [Dkt. 10-2] at 8.

Once it is established that records were compiled for law enforcement purposes, the legal standard for withholding them, in whole or in part, under 7(C) is that “the privacy interest at stake outweighs the public’s interest in disclosure.” Nation Magazine, Wash. Bureau v. U.S. Customs Serv., 71 F.3d 885, 893 (D.C.Cir. 1995) (citing Dep’t of Justice v. Reporters Comm. for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749, 776, 109 S.Ct. 1468, 103 L.Ed.2d 774 (1989)). “[I]ndividuals have an obvious privacy interest cognizable under Exemption 7(C) in keeping secret the fact that they were subjects of a law enforcement investigation.” Id. at 894. At the same time, law enforcement records pertaining to a specific individual may “be cloaked with the public interest if the information would shed light on agency action.” Quiñon v. FBI, 86 F.3d 1222, 1231 (D.C.Cir. 1996) (citation omitted).

Captain Power has a legitimate interest in keeping private the record of any investigation into allegations of an abusive command climate. See Stern v. FBI, 737 F.2d 84, 92 (D.C.Cir.1984) (“[I]ndividuals have a strong interest in not being associated unwarrantedly with alleged criminal activity.”). But Captain Power’s status as a federal employee with leadership responsibilities diminishes his privacy interest. See id. at 92-94 (distinguishing between low-level and high-level employees when applying the Exemption 7(C) balancing test); see also Providence Journal Co. v. Dep’t of Army, 981 F.2d 552, 568 (1st Cir.1992) (“[A] federal government employee investigated for criminal misfeasance relating to the performance of official duties generally possesses a diminished privacy interest.”). Additionally, Mr. McMichael presented evidence that some number of USSTRATCOM employees were aware of the investigation and its subject. See McMichael Decl. ¶¶ 2-9; Exs. to McMichael Decl., Exs. A-E. Captain Power himself informed some of those under his command about the investigation and its outcome. 5 See McMichael Decl. ¶ 7; id., Exs. to McMichael Decl., Ex. E. Although this fact does not eliminate his privacy interest, it diminishes it to a limited extent. See Kimberlin v. Dep’t of Justice, 1 39 F.3d 944, 949 (D.C.Cir.1998) (concluding that a statement to the press by the subject of the investigation “undoubtedly does diminish his interest in privacy” although it did not eliminate his privacy interest “in avoiding disclosure of the details of the investigation”).

The public interest must also be considered. To secure disclosure of requested information when the government relies on Exemption 7(C), a plaintiff must show that (1) the public interest is significant — “an interest more specific than having the information for its own sake” — and (2) “the information is likely to advance that interest.” Nat’l Archives & Records Admin. v. Favish, 541 U.S. 157, 172, 124 S.Ct. 1570, 158 L.Ed.2d 319 (2004). The Court agrees with Mr. McMichael’s assertion that the public has a strong interest in knowing whether the IG investigated allegations of an abusive command climate by the J4 Director. See PI. Mem. at 9-11. Disclosure of whether the investigation took place will provide insight into what the government is up to, specifically if the IG’s office is carrying out its official duties. See Reporters Comm. for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. at 773, 109 S.Ct. 1468 (explaining that the public has an interest in information that “sheds light on an agency’s performance of its ■ statutory duties.”); Lewis v. Dep’t of Justice, 867 F.Supp.2d 1, 19 (D.D.C.2011) (“The only public interest relevant for purposes of Exemption 7(C) is one that focuses on the citizens’ right to be informed about what their government-is up to.” (quoting Davis v. Dep’t of Justice, 968 F.2d 1276, 1282 (D.C.Cir.1992) (alteration in original omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted))). Further, the public interest in information regarding an investigation is strengthened when the subject of the investigation is a federal employee in a leadership position. See Stern, 737 F.2d at 92 (“[W]e agree that the level of responsibility held by a federal employee, as well as the activity for which such an employee has been censured, are appropriate considerations for determining the extent of the public’s interest in knowing the identity of that censured employee.”). In the context of a non-responsive Glomar answer, the Court concludes that Mr. McMichael’s asserted public interest is significant and that the information he seeks is likely to advance this interest. 6

Finally, the Court balances the privacy interest with the public interest. Balancing Captain Power’s diminished expectation of privacy against the public’s interest in knowing whether the IG investigated allegations of misconduct, it must be concluded that the public interest prevails. Particularly where the fact of the IG investigation was known to a number of people and the identity of the person under investigation was equally apparent, a Glomar response cannot satisfy. The Court concludes, on these facts and this Complaint, that a Glomar response was inappropriate even if the records in question, if they exist, may otherwise be exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemptions 7(C) and 6. 7

IY. CONCLUSION

DOD’s motion to dismiss, or in the alternative for summary judgment [Dkt. 10] will be denied without prejudice. The case will be remanded to DOD to perform a FOIA analysis of the requested documents. In light of the remand, Mr. McMichael’s cross-motion for summary judgment [Dkt. 18] will also be denied.

1 .At the time of the requests, Mr. McMichael was a journalist with Navy Times. Pl. Mem. [Dkt. 13], McMichael Decl. [Dkt. 13-2] ¶ 1. “Navy Times is an independent journalistic organization that reports on matters of public concern involving the U.S. military.” Pl. Mem., Pl. Resp. Dei Statement Material Facts [Dkt. 13-1] ¶ 10. Mr. McMichael is now a journalist with News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware. McMichael Decl. at 1.

2 . "USSTRATCOM integrates and coordinates the necessary command and control capability to provide support with the most accurate and timely information for the President, the Secretary of Defense, other National Leadership and regional combatant commanders.” Pl. Mem., Exs. to McMichael Decl. [Dkt. 13-3], Ex. Q.

3 . Although the parties disagree about the significance of Captain Power's position as J4 Director, it is not disputed that he held a position of responsibility. The J4 Director is "charged with planning, coordinating and executing logistics functions of supply, mobility, maintenance, engineering, sustainment and munitions management in support of command' missions.” See Exs. to McMichael Deck, Ex. R. The position also requires direction and oversight of approximately 49 people. See Def. Reply [Dkt. 18] at 3.

4 . A response that neither confirms nor denies the existence of requested records is called a "Glomar” response, named for a secret government ocean vessel, the Hughes Glomar Explorer. See Phillippi v. CIA, 546 F.2d 1009, 1010-11 (D.C.Cir.1976) (a case brought under FOIA in which the plaintiff requested documents concerning the Hughes Glomar Explorer from the CIA).

5 . DOD misses the mark with its argument that the information Mr. McMichael seeks has not been "officially acknowledged” by DOD. See Def.- Reply at 9-12. Mr. McMichael does not claim that DOD "officially acknowledged” the information requested but instead states that individuals within the J4 Command were aware of and participated in the investigation. See PL Mem. at 9. DOD fails to rebut these facts. Although not determinative, the fact that individuals in the command knew about the investigation is a consideration for the 7(C) Exemption balancing test.

6 . The Court rejects DOD’s contention that Mr. McMichael must produce evidence of government wrongdoing to secure acknowledgment ’ of the existence or nonexistence of the IG -investigation. See Def. Mem. at 12-14. Mr. McMichael has not alleged that USSTRATCOM acted "negligently or otherwise improperly,” Favish, 541 U.S. at 174, 124 S.Ct. 1570, but instead contends that the public has an "independent interest” in knowing about the investigation itself. See PL Mem. at 9 n. 3. Under these circumstances and when the Court only considers the propriety of the Glomar response, Favish’s heightened evidentiary requirement is inapplicable.

7 . DOD argues that the requested report is also exempt under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6) ("Exemption 6") for the first time in this Court. See Def. Mem. at 14. Exemption 6 also requires a balancing of the private and public interests. See Morley v. CIA, 508 F.3d 1108, 1127 (D.C.Cir.2007). Exemption 6, however, requires courts to tilt the balance of interests toward disclosure. Id. Because the Court concludes that DOD’s Glomar response cannot suffice under Exemption 7(C), which does not require a balance toward disclosure, the Court need not also consider separately whether DOD can rely on Exemption 6 to neither confirm nor deny the existence of the requested documents. See Roth v. Dep’t of Justice, 642 F.3d 1161, 1173 (D.C.Cir.2011) (explaining that Exemption 7(C) is broader than Exemption 6).