Public Interest Group to File Chicago 2016 FOIA Lawsuit

By Prescott Carlson in News on Nov 25, 2009 9:20PM

Judicial Watch, a "conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, [that] promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law," is preparing to file a lawsuit against the city of Chicago to force them to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request they filed in September of this year. The group had filed the request in order to obtain records involving Chicago's failed Olympic bid, specifically looking at the role President Obama and the White House played in the bid.

The group wants to review all correspondence between Mayor Daley and President Obama and others in Washington regarding the Olympic bid; any notes and memos regarding the Olympics rally in Daley Plaza in 2008; all correspondence between Daley and the Chicago 2016 Committee that references President Obama, Michelle Obama, Rahm Emmanuel, or Valerie Jarrett; and any memos or reports prepared by the Chicago 2016 Committee that references the Obamas, Emmanuel, or Jarrett. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton calls the Chicago Olympic bid a "scandal," and thinks there are dubious reasons for the city ignoring the FOIA request saying:

"Why else would Obama's 'Olympics Czar' Valerie Jarrett need an 'ethics waiver' to lead the campaign to bring the Olympics to Chicago? Mayor Daley's illegal refusal to release documents about the Olympics bid is a rather transparent effort to protect President Obama and other key White House officials."

Apparently Mr. Fitton is unaware of how things work in Chicago -- join the club, Tom.