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

Watchdog Wants Receipt for Malia Guard Costs

WASHINGTON (CN) - Judicial Watch has sued the Secret Service to learn how much the government spent guarding President Barack Obama's eldest daughter on a March 2012 trip to Mexico.

The group's federal complaint says the Secret Service must release such information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Judicial Watch has requested "any and all records regarding, concerning, or related to the expenditure of U.S. government funds to provide security and/or any other services for Malia Obama and any companions during her March 2012 visit to Mexico."

Secret Service has allegedly ignored the request and refuses to either release the records or notify the group why it is withholding the information.

"Plaintiff is being irreparably harmed by reason of defendant's unlawful withholding of the requested public records, and plaintiff will continue to be irreparably harmed unless defendant is compelled to conform its conduct to the requirements of the law," the government watchdog claims.

Malia, the eldest of Obama's two daughters, is 14 years old.

Judicial Watch has been up in arms over the school trip since it occurred. In a blog post, the group notes that the State Department has been discouraging Americans from traveling to the cartel-ravaged nation, but that 25 Secret Service agents guarded "Malia and 12 buddies" there at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.

Several sites reportedly removed their coverage of the trip out of privacy concerns.

The group wants the Secret Service to release its search methods, the implicated records and exemption explanation for any information that it withholds.

Judicial Watch is represented by Paul Orfanedes.

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