Communications From Robert Destro

Thank you for filing your FOIA request online on 5/17/2022. Here is a review of your request.

The records I request can be described as follows:

To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:All records reflecting communications (including emails, email attachments, text messages, messages on messaging platforms (such as Slack, GChat or Google Hangouts, Lync, Skype, or WhatsApp), telephone call logs, calendar invitations, calendar entries, meeting notices, meeting agendas, informational material and notes taken during oral communications) between Joe Oltmann, Matthew DePerno and former Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert A. Destro. I am requesting records from November 2, 2020 until January 7, 2021.I am requesting that this request be expedited due to the serious nature of the communications. The Washington Post has reported that Mr. Destro met with Oltmann and DePerno on January 6th. Oltmann and DePerno had been involved with several events leading up to the Capitol Riot. For them to meet a State Department employee is highly unusual and the public has a right to know what prior communications they had.The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.Sincerely,Matt BernardiniUpload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

The time period of my request is from 11/02/2020 to 01/07/2021

I am An individual seeking information for personal use and not for commercial use.

I am willing to pay $25 for my request.

I have a compelling need for expeditious handling:

-An urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity exists.
-I am requesting that this request be expedited due to the serious nature of the communications. The Washington Post has reported that Mr. Destro met with Oltmann and DePerno on January 6th. Oltmann and DePerno had been involved with several events leading up to the Capitol Riot. For them to meet a State Department employee is highly unusual and the public has a right to know what prior communications they had.

My additional comments are as follows:

N/A

Contact Information
Mr. Matt Bernardini
MuckRock News DEPT MR 128964
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
P: (617)299-1832
F: N/A
requests@muckrock.com

**THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.** Mr.Bernardini: This email acknowledgesreceipt of your May 17, 2022, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. §552) request received by the U.S. Department ofState, Office of Information Programs and Services on May 18, 2022, regarding "All records reflecting communications (including emails, email attachments, text messages, messages on messaging platforms (such as Slack, GChat or Google Hangouts, Lync, Skype, or WhatsApp), telephone call logs, calendar invitations, calendar entries, meeting notices, meeting agendas, informational material and notes taken during oral communications) between Joe Oltmann, Matthew DePerno and former Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert A. Destro" (Date Range for Record Search: From 11/2/2020 To 1/7/2021). Unless you advise otherwise, we will treat as non-responsive any compilations of publicly available news reports and any publicly available documents not created by the U.S. government, such as mass-distribution emails from news media.  This Office assigned your request the subject reference number and placed it in the complex processing track where it will beprocessed as quickly as possible. See 22CFR § 171.11(h). You requested expeditedprocessing of this request. According to22 CFR § 171.11(f), requests shall receive expedited processing when arequester demonstrates a “compelling need” for the information exists for oneof the following reasons: (1) f ailure to obtain the requested informationon an expedited basis could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threatto the life or physical safety of an individual; (2) the information isurgently needed by an individual primarily engaged in disseminating informationin order to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal governmentactivity; or (3) failure to release the information would impair substantialdue process rights or harm substantial humanitarian interests. Your requestdoes not demonstrate a “compelling need” for the requested information. Therefore, this Office denies your requestfor expedited processing. Ifyou are not satisfied with this Office’s determination in response to yourrequest for expedited processing, you may administratively appeal to: ; or facsimile at 202-485-1718. Appeals Officer, Office ofInformation Programs and Services, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Room B266, Washington, D.C. 20520 Your appeal must be postmarked orelectronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of this email. This Office willnot be able to respond within the 20 days provided by the statute due to“unusual circumstances.” See 5 U.S.C. §552(a)(6)(B)(i)-(iii). In this instance,the unusual circumstances include the need to search for and collect requestedrecords from other Department offices or Foreign Service posts. If you have any questions regarding your request , would like to narrowthe scope or arrange an alternative time frame to speed its processing, orwould like an estimated date of completion, please contact our FOIA RequesterService Center or our FOIA Public Liaison by email at FOIAstatus@state.gov or telephoneat 202-261-8484. Additionally,you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at theNational Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIAmediation services they offer. Thecontact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government InformationServices, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS,College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, email at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769. Sincerely, /s/ W. Evans, for Kellie N. Robinson Chief, Requester Liaison Division (Acting) FOIA Program Manager/FOIA Public Liaison U.S. Department of State Office of Information Programs and Services **THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.**

Mr. Bernardini,

This is in reference to your email below regarding your FOIA request control number F-2022-08353.

The Department has a backlog of FOIA requests, and there will be a delay in processing FOIA requests. As the Department continues to work through its backlog of FOIA requests, it is mindful of its accountability to the public and is processing this request as quickly as possible.

The Office of Information Programs and Services' electronic records system indicates that your request is being processed. At this time, the estimated date of completion (EDC) is November 29, 2024. EDCs are estimates and are subject to change.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding a FOIA-related matter, please send an email to the FOIA Requester Service Center at foiastatus@state.gov<mailto:foiastatus@state.gov>.

We truly appreciate your continued patience and apologize for the delayed response.

Sincerely,

U.S. Department of State
FOIA Requester Service Center

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED