AP, 3 Media Firms File Brief in FEMA Records Withholding Case

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The Associated Press and three media corporations asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court decision that held the names of FEMA aid recipients are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. FEMA was initially sued by three Gannett newspapers in Florida seeking information on the distribution of aid after four 2004 hurricanes hit the state. At least 26 people have been charged with filing false claims. (3/6/06)