DC Group Sues to See Osama Bin Laden Death Photos
Judicial Watch, which describes itself as a conservative education foundation, filed a lawsuit today seeking the release of Osama bin Laden’s death photos and videos. It is one of many organizations, including the Associated Press, National Public Radio and Politico, to seek the footage under the Freedom of Information Act, and the first to file a lawsuit, the Atlantic Wire reports.
According to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia complaint (PDF), the Defense Department previously stated that it could not produce the photographs in a time frame specified under FOIA laws. The May 13 complaint states that Pentagon is “unlawfully withholding records.”
Judicial Watch filed identical FOIA requests with the CIA last Wednesday.
“Not wanting to ‘spike the football’ is not a reason to withhold basic information about this historically important raid,” Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch’s president, told the Atlantic Wire.
The White House is exempt from FOIA requests, experts say, but the Defense Department and the CIA are not.
