Bush Administration Files Last Minute Motion Against Release Of New Abu Ghraib Photos

by Steve

As a result of a court decision surrounding a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights aimed at forcing the Bush Administration to release more information on Abu Ghraib detainee treatment practices, a federal court ordered the Administration to comply by today with releasing another batch of Abu Ghraib pictures. These images deal with interrogations and the treatment of Iraqi men, women, and even children.

The Bush Administration waited until today, the deadline for compliance with the court order, to file a new motion opposing the release of these photos, using a new argument.

In June, the government requested and received an extension from the judge stating that they needed time in order to redact the faces of the men, women and children believed to be shown in the photographs and videos. They were given until today to produce the images, but at the eleventh hour filed a motion to oppose the release of the photos and videos, based on an entirely new argument: they are now requesting a 7(F) exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act to withhold law enforcement-related information in order to protect the physical safety of individuals.

What do you make of that?

(Thanks to commenter The Truth for this tip)