Judge Orders Release of Richard Nixon’s Grand Jury Testimony
A federal judge has ordered the release of former President Nixon’s grand jury testimony about Watergate.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth of Washington, D.C., found that the historical interest in the documents outweighed the need for secrecy, according to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. The transcripts won’t be immediately released, however, to allow the government time to appeal the decision.
Nixon gave the testimony in 1975 after his resignation and pardon. “Nearly 40 years later, Watergate continues to capture both scholarly and public interest,” Lamberth wrote. “The disclosure of President Nixon’s grand jury testimony would likely enhance the existing historical record, foster further scholarly discussion, and improve the public’s understanding of a significant historical event.”