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Legal battle to release Bin Laden body photos

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    Judicial Watch: The American people have a right to know

  • Duration 4:54
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There are new developments now in a legal fight over pictures of a dead Osama bin Laden.

A watchdog group filing a freedom of information request to force the release of images taken by US forces who killed the terrorist last year.

The Obama administration blocking it now the case is moving through the courts.

Tom fitness president.

Judicial watch he was in court yesterday when some of these arguments were heard by.

The appeals court Tom how are you good morning to know -- to go to -- a very intrigued by this make your best case why should we -- him.

Well law requires they released President Obama almost immediately said we don't want to release the photos.

-- because we don't want to be seen is spiking the football.

While our Freedom of Information Act doesn't have any exemption for spiking the football.

And he may think these are photos are politically controversial.

But we don't not follow the law just because the president is -- comfortable what do you do with the results -- follow.

-- just just a matter of fact question what do you think we would gain.

If we had access to the focus.

We gain information about one of the most important military victories in the war against terror.

And the American people have a right to these documents under law and we gain further respect for our rights under law we have a right to know.

About this rate in details.

Within reason about the rate.

And certainly photos of the deceased bin Laden like like even the funeral of his his funeral on.

On the aircraft carrier that's basic information it's not terribly controversial.

And that needs to be documented for the historical record will with we just can't withhold them because you don't want to release and that's not the way the law work.

I know you're not an attorney but you're in the courtroom yesterday and you said in the during the commercial -- that you were screaming to yourself -- your own head.

When you were -- similar questions by the judges but we hear you're looking for 52 images -- public and many of them.

The attorney for you -- your side argued yesterday that you know the images on the aircraft carriers should be made public that seem to be the -- -- his argument.

And the judge is saying look you know these images could be used for propaganda and -- her which you reference -- your first answer there.

The president said this on sixty minutes a while ago it's 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 or as a propaganda tool that's not who we are.

We don't trot out this stuff as trophies as you just referred to.

Propaganda how you -- that argument.

Well what other things can be used by propaganda by the terrorists who don't like us.

The law requires -- release of this information and this would be the first time as best I could tell.

That the government won't give the American people things they are entitled to documents are entitled to because the terrorists would be upset about it.

You know one of the judges yesterday reference to Ben -- video as causing.

The -- the ambassador.

To Libya.

So you know the judge just seems to me it was mostly just everyone else that which has been debunked and I'd imagine.

-- Israel can't believe the president's analysis here and his analysis may be -- But it's not the law.

His word is not law the law is these documents need to be released okay -- -- -- off the court doesn't buy into this all of this noise about -- Riots when he was CIA director Leon Panetta said they would be released eventually.

I don't know if that's weeks or months or even years what do you think that cancerous.

I think they will be released eventually we'll get -- court requires they released it.

You know maybe even buying into the government's argument the further in time we get away from the incident the less controversial photos are so.

Their argument -- over time that's for sure of what about the lawyer arguing.

Forcefully.

For the photos of the burial.

The -- photos in the back of the aircraft carried -- NC.

You know I consider to be that you least -- less harmful or -- less offensive or what what's the logic there.

Well you know buying into the government's argument that you know these photos are controversial cause concern.

You know the gruesome photos if that's true maybe they with all the gruesome photos but certainly.

-- photos of bin Laden's body wrapped up for fighters of the funeral service that was provided to him.

And descriptions of which -- produced in detail to judicial watch and separate Freedom of Information Act request.

We already know what happened -- -- have photos documenting what happened I have a right to this information I don't understand why the government says we don't need it.

It might cause controversy.

And therefore our laws requiring there really should be overruled.

We don't we -- a law that way if they don't like it they can go get the laws change by congress.

But we need to follow our principles of American transparency and accountability.

And get this information according to the law.

Not according to the whims of the terrorists -- will find out a couple months if you win your case thank you Tom -- -- with us from Washington twenty minutes before the hour.

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