Judicial Watch Announces Freedom of Information Act Lawsuit Seeking bin Laden Photos and Videos

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) seeking "all photographs and/or video recordings of Osama (Usama) bin Laden taken during and/or after the U.S. military operation in Pakistan on or about May 1, 2011" (Judicial Watch v. DOD (No. 1:11-cv-00890) (JEB)).

Judicial Watch filed a FOIA request with the DOD on May 3.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the DOD has 20 business days legally to respond. Rather than follow the law, the DOD has stated:

At this time, we are unable to make a release determination on your request within the 20-day statutory time period.

Judicial Watch filed an identical FOIA request with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on May 4. The CIA has yet to acknowledge or respond to the request.

"The American people have a right to know, by law, basic information about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Incredibly, the Obama administration told us that it has no plans to comply with the Freedom of Information law, so we must now go to court. President Obama's not wanting to 'spike the football' is not a lawful basis for withholding government documents. This historic lawsuit should remind the Obama administration that it is not above the law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Visit www.judicialwatch.org to view Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information requests.

Founded in 1994, Judicial Watch Inc. is a constitutionally conservative, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. JW is perhaps the most active FOIA requestor and litigator operating today.

SOURCE Judicial Watch

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