Maine Civil Liberties Union Challenges FBI Stonewalling

FBI Surveillance Raises Questions of Government Integrity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 9, 2005

PORTLAND – Today, the MCLU appealed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to expedite the handling of its Freedom of Information Act request on surveillance of peaceful activists. The FBI has refused to acknowledge that its widespread surveillance of activists and organizers in the State of Maine implicates “questions about the government’s integrity which affect public confidence.”

The MCLU had requested expedited processing of its Freedom of Information Act request, citing public concern about FBI harassment and intimidation. The FBI has denied the request, noting that it “cannot find that there is a particular urgency.”

“We all have the right to question our government and to speak out—indeed, our democracy only works if we have the courage to do so” said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the MCLU. “Our Constitution protects the right to speak out, and we’re not going back to the days when criticizing the government was grounds for FBI surveillance.”

In May, the MCLU launched an investigation of FBI surveillance of law-abiding human rights and advocacy groups, using the Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees public access to government records. The MCLU’s clients comprise a Who’s Who of Maine advocates for well-known causes, including the environment, religion, fair trade, grassroots politics, peace, social justice, nuclear disarmament, human rights and civil liberties. Requests were filed on behalf of seven groups and fifteen individuals including among others Peace Action Maine and Veterans for Peace.

“If the FBI is showing the proper respect for the Constitution, it should have nothing to hide.” said Zachary Heiden, Staff Attorney for the MCLU. “The FBI ought to turn over these documents immediately. We’ve made a very reasonable request, but the FBI is employing stalling tactics.”

In July, the American Civil Liberties Union learned that the FBI had amassed more than 1,100 pages of documents on its organization since 2001, as well as documents concerning other non-violent groups including Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice. The FBI has refuse to turn over those documents as well.

The ACLU National office has already sued the FBI concerning its request.

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Contact: Shenna Bellows, MCLU, 207-774-5444; sbellows@mclu.org
Zachary Heiden, MCLU, 207-774-5444; heiden@mclu.org