Judicial Watch, which describes itself as a “conservative, non-partisan educational foundation” pursuing transparency and integrity in government, filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the Defense Department and CIA last month.
The CIA acknowledged receiving the request May 4, according to court papers. On May 9, the Defense Department replied that it would not be able to comply with the request within the statutory 20-day period. Nor would a 10-day extension provide sufficient time, the department said.
The suit, Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency, seeks access “to all photographs and/or video recordings of Osama bin Laden taken during and/or after the U.S. military operation in Pakistan on or about May 1, 2011.
According the Judicial Watch the American people are entitled to basic information on the death of Osama bin Laden. They feel Obama’s personal reluctance to withhold them in fear of retaliation is not lawful.
The Obama administration will now need to justify its lack of compliance in federal court. This historic lawsuit should remind the administration that it is not above the law.
