The Intelligence Agencies' "Duty to Warn"
Documents released in our FOIA lawsuit for records on the U.S. government's "duty to warn" Jamal Khashoggi
This Reading Room features all of the documents produced in Knight Institute v. CIA, a FOIA lawsuit the Knight Institute and the Committee to Protect Journalists filed in late 2018 for records showing whether U.S. intelligence agencies fulfilled their “duty to warn” reporter Jamal Khashoggi of threats to his life and liberty.
Our FOIA lawsuit sought records from the agencies most likely to learn of threats to Khashoggi: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Department of State (DOS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA), and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
In response, the agencies released about 20 documents concerning Intelligence Community Directive 191, which provides that when a U.S. intelligence agency learns of an impending threat to an individual’s life or liberty, the agency must “warn the intended victim.” The CIA, FBI, NSA, and ODNI refused to confirm or deny, however, whether they possess records concerning Khashoggi and the duty to warn, and the DOS insisted that they did not.
How to use this Reading Room: The collection below can be searched by keyword, or filtered using the criteria in the left-hand column.
Showing 21–26 of 26
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FBI Memo: Duty to Warn Operation Guidance
Electronic communication from FBI Counterterrorism Division regarding guidance for duty to warn procedures. The document refers to two DTW victim lists, one from 5/2/2016 and one from 6/21/2016, that were not included in the release. The document notes that "CTD is cognizant of the significant operational demands these DTW operations entail" and goes on to provide four procedures that the field is expected to follow regarding the contact of DTW victims.
3/29/2019
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DOS Foreign Affairs Manual: 7 FAM 050 No Double Standard Policy
Section of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding DOS's No Double Standard Policy. This policy deals with DOS's policy of sharing information with both the official and non-official U.S. communities.
6/13/2019
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DOS Foreign Affairs Manual: 7 FAM 050 No Double Standard Policy
Section of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding DOS's No Double Standard Policy. This policy deals with DOS's policy of sharing information with both the official and non-official U.S. communities.
6/13/2019
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CIA Policy Document: Duty to Warn
Document outlining the CIA's Duty to Warn. Much of the document is redacted.
3/15/2019
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DOS Foreign Affairs Manual: 7 FAM 050 No Double Standard Policy
Section of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding DOS's No Double Standard Policy. This policy deals with DOS's policy of sharing information with both the official and non-official U.S. communities.
6/13/2019
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DOS Foreign Affairs Manual: 7 FAM 050 No Double Standard Policy
Section of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding DOS's No Double Standard Policy. This policy deals with DOS's policy of sharing information with both the official and non-official U.S. communities.
6/13/2019