In an extraordinary turn of events, we are thrilled to announce a landmark victory for Animal Partisan in their lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This triumph marks a significant moment in the fight for transparency and accountability in government operations concerning animal protection. As previously reported, with the help of Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic and Sorenson Law LLC, Animal Partisan sued the FBI over its refusal to release records responsive to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by Animal Partisan. This case, which was the subject of a recent Animal Law Podcast, sought to uncover documents concerning the FBI's involvement at two significant trade industry conferences put on by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI). Initially, the FBI asserted that the records Animal Partisan sought were exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 7A, an exemption often invoked to protect law enforcement records from disclosure.

Today, in a complete reversal, the FBI declared that it no longer considers FOIA Exemption 7A applicable to the records originally requested by Animal Partisan and that it will soon begin to release the records. This reversal signals the forthcoming release of records likely to cast a revealing light on the FBI’s interactions with key players in the meat industry.

The pivotal moment in this legal challenge arrived following a meticulously crafted letter by Andrea McMillan, a dedicated student attorney at the Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic, sent to FBI’s counsel. McMillan's compelling letter outlined the flaws in the FBI's stance, challenging the agency's application of Exemption 7 and advocating for the release of these records. Her arguments likely played a crucial role in shifting the tides in this case, demonstrating the power of persuasive legal writing and advocacy.

Reflecting on this result, McMillan states that “Animal Partisan's victory represents a win for animal advocates nationwide, and the animals who rely on them. We are thrilled that Animal Partisan will have the opportunity to review these government records and use their insight to promote a more humane food system."

We commend the resilience and advocacy of Animal Partisan, Andrea McMillan, Sorenson Law LLC, and the team involved in this legal battle. Their work not only exemplifies the impact of skillful legal advocacy but also the critical role that clinical legal education plays in shaping future attorneys capable of making substantial contributions to public interest law.