01/27/12: The Blog of Legal Times reports that the US Justice Department has asked a federal judge to keep secret photos showing the death of Osama bin Laden, saying the images are classified because of their potential to incite violence against the United States. The department filed court papers this week in a FOIA suit in Washington asking US District Judge James Boasberg to keep the photos out of the public domain. The DOJ asserts the photos reveal specific military and intelligence activities, methods and techniques.
05/14/11: The Miami Herald reports that the Defense Department is refusing to do a speedy review of a Freedom of Information Act request for graphic photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse, setting the stage for a protracted battle over access to the images. In a letter to The Associated Press, the department said the AP did not demonstrate an urgent or compelling need for the photos or show that the information has a particular value that would be lost if not provided in an expedited manner. As a result, it is not clear when or if the photos will be provided.
05/05/11: The FOIA blog has published a link to the National Law Journal article detailing the difficulties that may face those who make a FOIA request for Bin Laden photos. The journal article requires free registration to read. It discusses figuring out which agency has control of the photos and anticipates exceptions the government may use to withhold them.
Thread: FOIA Request for bin Laden Photos
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