- WASHINGTON, DC - Judicial
Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government
corruption, today announced that a federal court has ruled in its favor
against Vice President Cheney and his Energy Task Force. The 83 page opinion
was issued late yesterday by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan and lambasted the
arguments put forward by the Bush Justice Department seeking to prevent
any inquiry into the operations of the Energy Task Force. After the Vice
President rejected Judicial Watch's request that his Task Force open its
meetings to the public, Judicial Watch was forced to file suit in July,
2001. A few months later, the Sierra Club also filed suit against the Task
Force.
-
- The Court is set to allow discovery into, among other
things, the Vice President's role in the Task Force, how the Task Force
operated, and the identities of Task Force participants. Judicial Watch
will seek discovery from the Vice President himself in this case.
-
- The Court firmly rejected as "mischief" Bush
Administration arguments that inquiry into the operations of Task Force
would necessarily impinge on the President's constitutional powers. The
Court said the Bush Administration's "stunning" arguments "fly
in the face of precedent" and are a "problematic and unprecedented
assertion...of Executive Power."
-
- The Court voiced "concern" over the Bush Administration's
misstating Constitutional law and guiding precedent.
-
- "Judge Sullivan's decision is historic. We are pleased
that the Court turned back the Bush Administration's lawless attempt to
prevent the American people from gaining access to information about the
operations of its government. Let discovery begin," stated Judicial
Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman.
-
- A copy of Judge Sullivan's ruling is available here:
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/01-1530.pdf
-
- © Copyright 1997-2002, Judicial Watch, Inc.
|
