Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Conservatives Want Info on Bin Laden Movie

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Pentagon and CIA refuse to give details of their alleged communications with the director of a forthcoming movie about the killing of Osama bin Laden, a government watchdog claims in Federal Court.

Judicial Watch sued the Department of Defense and the CIA in a federal FOIA complaint.

It demands information on the agencies' alleged cooperation with Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, whose movie for Annapurna Pictures is tentatively titled "Killing bin Laden."

Bigelow's 2009 movie "The Hurt Locker" won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Judicial Watch says it requested "information concerning meetings and communications between the DoD and filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow" on Aug. 9, 2011. It sought records of communications between Pentagon officials and various employees of Annapurna Pictures and other government agencies.

It claims that the Pentagon acknowledged its request, but said it was unable to release the information due to "unusual circumstances."

Judicial Watch says it sent a similar request to the CIA, but was told that the agency receives too many FOIA requests for it to respond within the legally required 20 working days.

"As of the date of this complaint, defendants have failed to produce any records responsive to plaintiff's requests or demonstrate that responsive records are exempt from production," the complaint states. "Nor have they indicated whether or when they will produce any responsive records."

Bigelow's other notable works include the 1991 action movie "Point Break," about a gang of surfing bank robbers.

Judicial Watch wants to see the record, plus costs and attorneys fees.

It is represented by Paul Orfanedes.

Congressman Peter King, the senior Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, claims Bigelow wanted to release her film in October to boost President Obama's re-election chances. King has demanded an investigation to see whether the White House provided the filmmakers with information that could jeopardize national security.

The New York Times reported that the release date has been changed to after the November elections.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...