Sen. Leahy Hits Administration Secrecy, Pledges Open Government Priority

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT., the incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a speech at the Georgetown University Law Center that the administration is “ the first administration in modern times that is explicitly hostile to the public’s right to know” and has “displayed a dangerous disdain for the free press and the public.” He pledged to make stronger open government laws a priority and said he hoped to work with Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX., in reintroducing legislation to reform the Freedom of Information Act. (12/13/06)