Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Murphy Slam Global Engagement Center Conspiracy Theories, Call on Secretary Rubio to Protect Former Employees and Implementing Partners

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Murphy (D-CT) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling out the promotion of demonstrably false conspiracy theories and urging him to ensure that any release of the so-called "Global Engagement Center (GEC) files" does not put State Department employees or implementers at risk.

In the letter, Ranking Member Shaheen and Senator Murphy requested assurances that Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of U.S. government employees and GEC implementing partners would be fully protected as part of any public disclosure. They urged Secretary Rubio to ensure that classified, sensitive and personal information is not released by Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Darren Beattie that could expose and endanger career employees and implementing partners who were simply carrying out their responsibilities.

"Given Mr. Beattie's history on this issue, we are deeply concerned that such an initiative will use cherry-picked information to promote the baseless conspiracy theory that the GEC sought to 'censor' conservative speech," wrote the Senators. "More specifically, we are alarmed by reports that this effort will include the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of State Department employees - putting them at risk simply for carrying out their duties as assigned. We therefore request that you personally conduct appropriate oversight of this initiative and provide assurances that classified and sensitive information is withheld from any public release."

"We hope you agree that employees of the Department should not be 'doxed' because they performed the duties required by their job description. Any documents published by the Department must protect employees from potential retribution, including through appropriate redaction of PII should you move forward with publishing internal GEC communications," continued the Senators. "We also ask that you take similar measures to protect former GEC implementing partners, many of whom are based in authoritarian countries where they took great risk to undertake work outlined in accordance with their grants."

"Individuals in countries without free speech or fair judicial processes who are exposed through the publication of unredacted communications would be vulnerable to political targeting, potential jailtime, torture and perhaps even extrajudicial killings," concluded the Senators. "Moreover, including their identities in this report will damage the credibility of the United States when we ask individuals in closed societies like Iran, Venezuela and China to work with us in the future."

Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We understand that acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Darren Beattie is undergoing a "widespread transparency effort" regarding the recently closed Global Engagement Center (GEC), which could be shared publicly in the coming weeks. Given Mr. Beattie's history on this issue, we are deeply concerned that such an initiative will use cherry-picked information to promote the baseless conspiracy theory that the GEC sought to "censor" conservative speech. More specifically, we are alarmed by reports that this effort will include the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of State Department employees - putting them at risk simply for carrying out their duties as assigned. We therefore request that you personally conduct appropriate oversight of this initiative and provide assurances that classified and sensitive information is withheld from any public release.

State Department employees rotate through positions at the Department and are responsible for implementing the policy of the United States as set by the duly elected Administration. We hope you agree that employees of the Department should not be "doxed" because they performed the duties required by their job description. Any documents published by the Department must protect employees from potential retribution, including through appropriate redaction of PII should you move forward with publishing internal GEC communications.

We also ask that you take similar measures to protect former GEC implementing partners, many of whom are based in authoritarian countries where they took great risk to undertake work outlined in accordance with their grants. Individuals in countries without free speech or fair judicial processes who are exposed through the publication of unredacted communications would be vulnerable to political targeting, potential jailtime, torture and perhaps even extrajudicial killings. Moreover, including their identities in this report will damage the credibility of the United States when we ask individuals in closed societies like Iran, Venezuela and China to work with us in the future.

We ask that you provide a response to the following questions:

• Does the State Department plan to publicly release internal files related to the former GEC? If so, when?

• Who is overseeing the review and potential release of these files? Under what authority are the files being reviewed and potentially released?

• What precautions has the Department taken to prevent PII of State Department employees and implementing partners from being exposed as part of any potential document release?

• To what extent has the Office of the Legal Adviser, including career attorneys, been consulted in the review, redaction, and approval of files to be included in any potential release?

Given Mr. Beattie's reported intent to disclose files in the near future, we would appreciate your response no later than Friday, September 26.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.

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