This could be very interesting. Even more interesting would be if we
could get transcripts of what was said.
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White House told to detail Christian leader visits
By Randall MikkelsenMon Dec 17, 6:34 PM ET
A U.S. judge ordered the Secret Service on Monday to disclose records of
visits by nine prominent conservative Christian leaders to the White
House and Vice President ***** Cheney's residence.
The ruling, in response to a legal watchdog group's suit, could shed
light on the influence leaders like James Dobson of Focus on the Family
have had on President George W. Bush's administration. It may also
affect legal efforts to force the release of visiting records of
convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other similar cases.
"We think that these conservative Christian leaders have had a very big
impact," said Executive Director Melanie Sloan of Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed the case.
"The White House doesn't want to talk about how much influence these
leaders have, and we want to talk about how much they do have," she said.
Dobson is one of the most influential opinion leaders among conservative
Christians who are at the heart of Bush's political base.
Others whose visiting records were sought included Family Research
Council president Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, who unsuccessfully sought
the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, and Moral Majority
co-founder Jerry Falwell, who died in last May.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth rejected as "misguided" the
Secret Service's arguments that disclosing the records would reveal
confidential policy deliberations.
The Secret Service is responsible for presidential security and clears
visitors for entry to the White House and Cheney's official residence.
It also argued that the records were not under its control but were
protected presidential documents.
Lamberth wrote: "The most that can be said is the Secret Service acts as
if the White House has legal control over these records. Upon closer
inspection, however, even this proposition seems suspect."
The White House has also fought against releasing Abramoff's visiting
records. Lambeth's ruling means they cannot be destroyed without
permission of the national archivist, Sloan said.
She said she expected the administration to fight the ruling, but if it
survives it could mean White House visits will be considered public
records.
Their disclosure would then be open to challenge only on a case-by-case
basis, for reasons such as state secrecy or attorney-client privilege.
Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said the agency was
reviewing the ruling but had not decided whether to appeal.
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http://tinyurl.com/yoyqur
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John #1782
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