Judicial Watch disclosed on Friday that a federal court convened on Tuesday, April 9, to address its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, aimed at compelling the CIA to disclose records pertaining to its interactions with former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann. Sussmann faced prosecution by Special Counsel John Durham for allegedly providing false statements to a federal agent.
In February 2022, Judicial Watch initiated a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the CIA neglected to respond to a FOIA request submitted in October 2021. The FOIA request sought records concerning meetings or telephone discussions involving Michael Sussmann, who was formerly an attorney with Perkins Coie.
At the hearing, Judicial Watch informed the court that the case had been filed over two years ago and highlighted that it took the CIA more than a year, until July 1, 2023, to furnish four responsive records. These records were subsequently presented as evidence during Sussmann's criminal trial in spring 2022.
The CIA then attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing that there was no further necessity to identify any more records, also admitting that they had never once actually searched for them.
Another hearing is set for May 2024.
