Friday, September 30, 2011
(graphic: FBI)
On behalf of the White House, as well as the military, diplomatic and intelligence wings of the Obama administration, the Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit seeking the release of government photos and video from the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
The summary judgment was filed in response to the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that several organizations are pursuing to obtain images of bin Laden before and after he was shot in May by Navy SEALs operating in Pakistan. The plaintiffs include the Associated Press and National Public Radio, as well as the conservative group Judicial Watch.
The Justice Department is arguing that the photos and video taken by American commandoes should not be released publicly because they would reveal government secrets and could lead to retribution against U.S. personnel.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), it possesses more than 50 “unique” photographs and/or video-recordings depicting bin Laden during or after the May operation.
President Barack Obama stated after bin Laden’s death that it was “important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence.”
-Noel Brinkerhoff
CIA, Pentagon Fight to Keep Osama bin Laden Death Photos Secret (by Josh Gerstein, Politico)
AP, NPR and Conservative Group Ask for Death Photos of Osama bin Laden (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
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