Judicial Watch obtained the records in response to a Freedom of Information Act request sent on September 13, 2021, for records related to the scrubbing of reports about Afghanistan from the SIGAR web site.
On August 16, 2021, at 4:06 p.m. Sopko writes to SIGAR staff: "Do not take anything down until we receive an official request in writing" At 4:15 p.m., Sopko notifies Dove that Clay's approval of removing the reports is "Not sufficient. I want it from the secretary or deputy secretary or as the minimum her boss. She is a mere office director. What is the basis of her conclusion that reports that have been public for years are now causing a risk. I repeat do not pull anything down until we get a better and more authoritative request." In an email to SIGAR staff, also on August 16, Sopko reiterates his opposition to removing the reports: Let me repeat.
At 4:51 p.m. on August 16, Dove writes to Clay: "The IG would like a formal request from the Comptroller, or above, that outlines the request, the reason for the request, and how/why the Department came to the conclusion that reports that have already been made publicly available now pose a new/heightened risk. Standing by to chat if you'd like to discuss." In an August 18, 2021, email to SIGAR Deputy IG Eugene Aloise, Dove notes that the Government Accountability Office removed over 400reports from its website: FYSA, I just talked to Carole Clay at State.
On August 18, 2021, Sopko notes to Clay and others, that scrubbing the SIGAR website of public reports would be a "Violation of the IG Act." After a plea from top State Department officials, the reports were removed from the SIGAR site: Carole, this is a highly unusual request without any explanation or justification for why you are requesting that we review and delete certain documents that have been posted on our web site - all in violation of the IG Act [see here].
John Sopko, SIGAR On August 19, 2021, the State Department's Comptroller Jeffrey Mounts writes to Sopko, claiming that it was necessary to remove the reports from federal websites over concern for "The welfare of vendors and individuals who have conducted work with the Department and who have yet to exit Afghanistan:" Dear Mr. Sopko: The Department of State is concerned about the welfare of vendors and individuals who have conducted work with the Department and who have yet to exit Afghanistan.
The Department formally requests that you temporarily suspend website access to these reports until these individuals can safely exit the country.
On August 31, a spokesperson for SIGAR admitted to the media that the agency pulled reports offline: "In recent days, some SIGAR reports have been temporarily removed from the agency's public website due to ongoing security concerns in accordance with guidance received from the U.S. Department of State. This is in line with actions taken by other U.S. federal agencies and is out of an abundance of caution." These extraordinary emails document a cover-up and unprecedented government censorship to protect Joe Biden from further humiliation over his surrender in Afghanistan.
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