White House forced to release visitor records

December 17, 2007

A federal judge ruled Monday that the White House cannot continue hiding behind a shield of privilege over release of its visitor logs.

A federal judge ruled Monday that the White House cannot hide behind a shield of privilege over release of its visitor logs.

The ruling is a blow to the Bush administration, which is fighting the release of records showing visits by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and prominent religious conservatives.

The Bush administration has resisted public disclosure while it fights a lawsuit over alleged political influence by conservative Christian leaders.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth concluded the information was a public records request, subject to Freedom of Information Act disclosure of "agency records."

The White House had claimed exclusive control of the documents, subject to the complete discretion of the president over their release.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a self-described government watchdog group, sought the visitor records of prominent conservatives James Dobson (Focus on the Family), Wendy Wright (Concerned Women of America), and seven others, including the late televangelist Jerry Falwell.

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