Edmonds, who had reported serious misconduct and security breaches in the FBI’s translation unit, filed suit against the agency after she was terminated in 2002. However, her case was dismissed in July 2004 when then–U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft invoked the “state secrets privilege,” arguing information about the case could compromise national security. A federal appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling in May 2005.
“Government does not always have an incentive to limit secrecy to instances when national security demands such protection,” the brief read. “Thus, meaningful judicial review is necessary to separate out the legitimate and illegitimate claims for secrecy.”
Also filing the amicus were the National Security Archive, the Project on Government Secrecy of the Federation of American Scientists, the National Whistleblower Coalition, the Project on Government Oversight, Public Citizen, the Government Accountability Project, the National Freedom of Information Coalition, the National Air Disaster Alliance, and September 11th Advocates.
Posted October 14, 2005.