Supreme Court Throws Out Order to Disclose Abuse Photos
The Supreme Court today threw out a ruling of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that had ordered the government to disclose photographs of detainees being abused by U.S. officials. The ruling was widely expected, given that Congress had recently changed the Freedom of Information Act to exempt disclosure of these specific photos. President Obama, who initially promised to release the photos but then changed his mind, signed that bill into law in October.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates in mid-November invoked his new authority under the law to keep the photos concealed, saying that distribution of the photos would endanger U.S. troops abroad.
The Associated Press reports that the ACLU vows to continue fighting for the photos’ release.
