Washington, D.C. – Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to compel the release of records related to the Civil Rights Division’s (CRT) recent activities concerning election administration, including reported efforts to obtain state voter data and communications with individuals and groups associated with election denial.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges DOJ’s failure to comply with multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records about CRT’s communications with political actors, outside organizations, and other federal agencies regarding voting and elections. Despite acknowledging some requests, DOJ has failed to produce records or make timely determinations as required by law.
The requested records include communications between senior CRT officials and individuals linked to efforts to undermine confidence in U.S. elections, as well as agreements regarding the sharing of voter registration data with other agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Democracy Forward also sought records of communications between CRT officials and external organizations that have promoted false claims about election integrity.
“People in America deserve to know what the U.S. Department of Justice is doing where our elections are concerned,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The Trump-Vance administration’s continued stonewalling of information about its actions that could impact the integrity of our elections undermines trust, accountability, and our democracy itself. We will continue to go to court to ensure the public gets the answers it is entitled to under the law.”
Democracy Forward submitted FOIA requests in November 2025 and February 2026 seeking urgent information about CRT’s activities ahead of the 2026 federal elections. The lawsuit asks the court to order DOJ to conduct a thorough search for responsive records, produce all non-exempt materials, and stop unlawfully withholding information from the public.
The case is Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of Justice, and the team at Democracy Forward includes Anisha Hindocha, Daniel McGrath, and Robin Thurston.
Read the complaint here.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
