A conservative legal watchdog group says the deadline is up and is suing the CIA and Defense Department to release photos and videos of the May raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
"The American people by law have a right to know basic information about the killing of Osama bin Laden," Tom Fitton, president of Washington-based Judicial Watch, said in a statement. "President Obama's personal reluctance to release the documents is not a lawful basis for withholding them. 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."
The al Qaeda mastermind was killed when U.S. Navy SEALs stormed his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2. He was later buried at sea. Though some members of Congress have been allowed to see photos and CIA Director Leon Panetta initially said it was "important" that the photos be released, President Barack Obama said his administration would not release photos of the slain terrorist leader or his burial.
The photos - which have been described as gruesome and reportedly show brains hanging out of bin Laden's eye socket - could be used as a propaganda tool and could result in additional violence against American interests, Obama told "60 Minutes" last month, comparing the release of the photos to an unnecessary end-zone celebration.
"We don't trot out this stuff as trophies," Obama told the news show. "We don't need to spike the football."
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.
Both departments had 20 business days to respond: June 2 for the CIA, this past Tuesday for the Defense Department, according to Judicial Watch. The group now says the government is "unlawfully withholding records," causing irreparable harm to the watchdog organization.
The suit, Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency (No.11-00890) (PDF), seeks access "to 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."
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Why do you need a freakin video? ITS CLASSIFIED!
Not sure if it's the same group, but if so they're going to have a hard time getting it since they were pretty much unsuccessful getting video of a plane hitting the pentagon when they tried to get that.
I agree. It is nothing more than rubber necking by gruesomely curious and sick minds.
And it can STAY classified until classification is no longer needed.
Because transparency lets everyone know there is know squirrelly stuff going on in this administration or other governmental or NGO agencies that control information. FOIA and the Privacy Act is a great combination of statutory law. Look them up... USC 5 Sec. 552 et. seq
If it's a matter of national security, according the previous administration then the White House IS above the law.
So you're saying that the current administration thinks differently?
OMG!! If people would just leave well enough alone this world would be a better place!! To have to keep talking about this monster only keeps him alive and gives the other monsters power (in their minds anyways). Many of our men risked their lives to do what they did and instead of patting them on the back and dropping it, their lives are in even more danger along with their families and our men and women who were not even there. Sometimes the details are not important especially if it will cause more devastation to others. The monster is dead, it has been verified by not only our side but theirs. LEAVE IT ALONE!!
Let the families grieve in peace without having to see this monsters face on t.v. or CNN every time they turn around!! I mean do you even care what would happen if the pictures came out? Have you even thought about it or is it just yourselves that you care about? Sick! Sick! Sick!
I want to see it, I want to fap to it!
i think /b/ would too
The truth is that it is quite natural for one to raise one's eyebrows at the news of a famous chief suspect being assassinated RATHER than arrested, tried, and convicted. (like we used to). Those whose eyebrow's do not move? Hyptnotized I reckon. Plugged so deep in the system and so dependant on it, that to even consider that the hand that feeds them might also be taking a chunk out of their brain would be unthinkable. So it's not so much that they disagree, they simply lack the capacity to think otherwise.
Pics or it didn't happen.
Your ultimatum is sure to get the president's attention. Really. It is. I mean, if you think a photograph is the evidence that would clear this all up, you're part of why America is globally viewed as a populace of idiots. A picture of a dead, bearded Arab is not proof of anything, so why do you NEED to see one. Was bin Laden a regular at your local bar? Think your keen eyes could ID him if only YOU had the chance? Dypshyt.
@diggit...the video of a du missile hitting the pentagon has been out for years. get a clue
This article fails to mention that "Judicial Watch" is financed by Richard Mellon Scaife, billionaire publisher tied to the oil, aluminum and gas Mellon family. He isn't just conservative – he is a FAR right wing conservative who financed (almost 8 million dollars) in 18 lawsuits against President Clinton leading to his impeachment; publicly accused Bill and Hillary Clinton of arranging the "murder" of friend/white house counsel, Vince Foster in the Pittsburgh Trib newspaper (he owns). etc. etc. Just for the sake of "fair reporting" we need to ask what is the motivation of "Judicial Watch?"
So now we get to waste our taxes dollars in a court fight with these folks? While I am all for ensure gov't in not above the law, I am not sure this is where the the fight is. I question their judegement and motives. CNN...time to investigate them!!!
It's a funny thing to me that the US doesn't want to show any proof that they killed Osama....they just want us to take their word for it. I mean come on, no body, no picture means they didn't kill anyone! I could say I killed Snow White and buried her at sea and I took pictures but you can't see them because they are to gruesome so you just have to believe me....now...does that make sense to you?? Or let me ask you another question...Do you believe me?
If the U.S. Navy Seals say bin Laden is dead – that's good enough for me.
And how would a photograph clear anything up? You gonna ID him personally?
Every media outlet already had access to a lot more information about a mission as classified as this one was–and they reported it without hesitation. Hence, basic information about the killing of Bin Laden has already been released. A short term desire to see photos and video is grossly outweighed by what I agree to be the concern for potential propaganda effect that these photos may have against the US. If UBL wasn't shot in the head and was killed in more of a manner reflecting that of Zarqawi or Saddam Husseins sons, then I believe the US would have readily released the photos. But the release of a photo as graphic as this is said to be is different.
If they find a Conservative Activist Judge, maybe they have a chance.
Oh now that will be a good use of people's time and money. Maybe we should focus on the real issues, people.
This is so ridiculous. What "law" or legal right are they referring to? Forget about it already.
good luck getting that video under freedom of the information act... however, to pacify their curiousity– i'll gladly send them a video of my rear end