HHS-OIG FOIA Responses and Appeal Decision (2021–2022) – Records Relating to “Tyson Howard”
This record documents subsequent efforts to verify the identity of “Tyson Howard,” who participated in the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview, as reflected in the FBI report and later sworn affidavits.
In November 2021, Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster placed a call to the cellular telephone number listed on the business card provided during the March 2, 2018 FBI interview.
The individual who answered identified himself as “Howard” but stated that he did not know Dr. Petrou or Dr. Foerster.
Following this, multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) seeking identifying information associated with “Tyson Howard,” including his email address, federal badge identification, and business card.
Business card provided during the March 2, 2018 FBI interview by the individual identifying himself as Tyson F. Howard, Special Agent, HHS-OIG.
In response to a December 2021 FOIA request seeking a copy of the business card, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) located one responsive page but withheld the record in full under FOIA exemptions (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C).
Separate FOIA requests seeking the email address and federal badge identification of the individual were also denied, and appeals were submitted challenging those determinations.
On appeal, the Department of Health and Human Services upheld the original decision and determined that the responsive records would be withheld in full.
The Department further stated that the withheld information consisted of personal information about an individual “who is not a target of the investigation, however mentioned in law enforcement files.”
This letter constituted the final decision of the Department in response to those requests.
These records reflect multiple attempts to obtain identifying information for the individual identifying himself as HHS-OIG Special Agent “Tyson Howard”—including direct telephone contact and formal FOIA requests for the individual’s email address, federal badge identification, and business card—and the Department’s determination, following administrative review, to withhold that information in full.
.png "HHS-OIG FOIA response December 20 2021 page 1 denying request for Tyson Howard business card under privacy exemptions")
HHS-OIG FOIA response dated December 20, 2021 — initial denial of request seeking a copy of the business card associated with the individual identifying himself as Tyson Howard.
%202.png "HHS-OIG FOIA response December 20 2021 page 2 continuing denial of request for Tyson Howard business card")
HHS-OIG FOIA response dated December 20, 2021 — continuation of business card denial response.
%203.png "HHS FOIA appeal decision May 5 2022 page 1 upholding denial of requests for Tyson Howard email address and badge identification")
HHS FOIA appeal decision dated May 5, 2022 — initial page upholding denial of requests seeking identifying information associated with Tyson Howard.
%204.png "HHS FOIA appeal decision May 5 2022 page 2 stating individual mentioned in law enforcement files not a target of investigation")
HHS FOIA appeal decision dated May 5, 2022 — continuation stating that the withheld information concerned an individual mentioned in law enforcement files.
Related record:
Sworn Affidavits (April 10, 2019) – FBI Interview of Dr. Petrou and Dr. Foerster
Sworn affidavits describing the March 2, 2018 FBI Ann Arbor interview and subsequent efforts to verify the identity of the individual identifying himself as Tyson Howard.
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Brad Foerster, MD PhD
Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.