State Department: Don’t Invade Privacy of Cleric on CIA Kill List

Catherine Herridge
Fox News
August 30, 2011

COMMENT: Of course they won’t release documents; he’s their guy…

While the New Mexico-born cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, is the first American on the CIA’s kill or capture list, the U.S. State Department refuses to release documents about al-Awlaki citing his right to privacy. This disconnect was uncovered as part of the ongoing investigation by Fox News’ Specials Unit into the cleric who is a leader of a major Al Qaeda affiliate.

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in March 2010, Fox News requested “….any and all records maintained by the United States Department of State, in the passport file….” for the cleric. Initially, the request was referred to Human Resources at the State Department, before a formal response was issued more than a year later, in August 2011. The letter reads in part :

“The Department of State, Passport Services has reviewed your request and has given full consideration to the reasons provided. However, we have determined that your request must be denied. This denial is pursuant to subsection (b)(6) of the Freedom of Information Act. The release of this information to you would be an invasion of personal privacy of another person, without written authorization from that person.”

The government refused to release the records for the terror leader who is well known to be the first American that the U.S. government has green-lighted to be killed or captured.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 2:24 pm

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