D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals side with Reporters Committee in FBI impersonation lawsuit
On Friday, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with the Reporters Committee and the Associated Press, overturning a district court ruling in their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the FBI and the Department of Justice.
In its decision, the court found that the FBI failed to demonstrate that it conducted an adequate search for records relating to the impersonation of journalists. The case will be sent back to the district court for review.
“This decision is a significant victory in our effort to help reporters and the public better understand law enforcement practices for impersonating the news media,” said Katie Townsend, litigation director for the Reporters Committee. “These practices undermine the media’s credibility and could make sources wary of trusting journalists in the future. The public has a right to this information.” Read more…