Court urged to delay action on prison photos

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration, saying that Congress is addressing the issue, urged the US Supreme Court to delay consideration of the government’s bid to block the release of dozens of photographs that show abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The House on Thursday approved a measure that would bar release of the photos, and the Senate is due to take up the matter next week.

“In light of these additional legislative developments, the court may conclude that it would be appropriate to reschedule its consideration’’ of the government’s appeal to take up the issue, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, who represents the administration, said in a letter to the Supreme Court clerk.

The justices are scheduled to announce actions in pending appeals next week. The administration is challenging a federal appeals court decision favoring the American Civil Liberties Union, which is seeking the photos under the Freedom of Information Act. Congressional approval of the measure to ban release of the photos probably would prompt the high court to decline to take the case.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/10/17/obama_administration_urges_supreme_court_to_delay_action_on_prisoner_abuse_photos/

A lot of people don't even know they were fighting, but it's over now.

http://washingtonindependent.com/63974/louise-slaughter-slams-effort-to-amend-foia-to-shield-abuse-photos

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In June, I and other House leaders prevailed and the FOIA exemption was dropped from legislation.

However, the conferees – apparently under direct orders from the Administration – quietly put it back into the bill this month.

It’s hard for me to express how disappointed I am with that decision. I am sorry because I believe that we had turned a page from the cloud of suspicion and secrecy that marked the previous Administration. It runs so counter to our principals and stated desire to reject the abuses of the past. The FOIA laws in this country form a pillar of our First Amendment principals.

It’s unfortunate given that this Administration promised that openness and transparency would be the norm. We should never do anything to circumvent FOIA and I believe that our country would gain more by coming to terms with the past than we would by covering it up. I hope that the President will follow judicial rulings and consider voluntarily releasing these photos so we can put this chapter in history behind us.