Judicial Watch sought the information through a FOIA lawsuit, however; the watchdog group is being told the material is being withheld because it is protected from disclosure under the FOIA.

Via Judicial Watch:

Judicial Watch sought “the copy of the budget prepared or submitted” by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. But, on Friday, January 19, the Justice Department notified Judicial Watch that it refuses to turn over documents, stating: “seven pages were located that contain records responsive to your … request. We have determined that this material should be withheld in full because it is protected from disclosure under the FOIA.” The Justice Department asserts the Mueller budget information cannot be released because its release could interfere with “law enforcement proceedings” and the material is protected from disclosure by the “deliberative process privilege.”

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Judicial Watch filed a FOIA lawsuit against the DOJ on October 5, 2017, after it failed to respond to a July 10, 2017, request (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-02079)). Judicial Watch is seeking:

A copy of the budget prepared and submitted by Robert S. Mueller III or his staff….

A copy of all guidance memoranda and communications by which the Justice Management Division will review the Special Counsel’s Office’s “Statement of Expenditures”…

A copy of each document scoping, regulating, or governing the Special Counsel’s Office appointed under the leadership of Mueller III…

The Justice Department has thus far ignored Judicial Watch’s requests for documents about its management of the Mueller operation.