Group files Freedom of Information request for Pentagon papers on Trump's military parade

Free Speech For People submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of Defense, calling for the release of communications, documents and other records regarding Donald Trump’s request for a military parade through Washington, D.C.

As reported in The Washington Post Feb. 6, while the president has long expressed a desire for a grand military parade, on Jan. 18, he gave a directive to the military and planning has now moved to a more concrete preparation stage.

Planning now reportedly includes:

• Consideration of potential parade routes — with the president’s preferred option reportedly passing directly past the Trump International Hotel.

• Particular hardware — including Abrams tanks.

• Costs.

• Dates.

While the Post report contained of range of dates, and the parade could be as soon as May 28.

Free Speech For People’s request seeks expedited review under the Freedom of Information Act for all Department of Defense records pertaining to or addressing the idea of a potential military parade in Washington, D.C., including communications, notes or documents, addressing the parade and topics such as dates, costs, parade routes, vehicles, hardware, weapons, aircraft, units, equipment, materiel and/or personnel.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department of Defense must grant or deny the request for expedited processing within 10 working days, and must grant or deny the underlying request for records within twenty working days.