Legal News

Obama Team Asks For Sneak Preview at Docs; DOJ Balks

By Dionne Searcey

In the five short weeks since the presidential election, many feel that President-elect Obama’s transition has gone along pretty smoothly. So for all those looking for a little conflict, a little frisson, we bring you the following story from the Legal Times.

According to the story, Obama’s transition team is ruffling feathers at the DOJ by seeking information from the Office of the Legal Counsel on classified legal opinions related to secret programs at the nation’s top clandestine agencies, specifically, the CIA and the NSA. Turns out it seems the DOJ isn’t so interested in full disclosure on these matters.

The story explains that the dispute between Obama’s team and the DOJ over the records has caught the attention of Williams & Connolly’s Greg Craig (pictured), who has been named as the incoming White House counsel. The story cites an unnamed justice official as saying the agencies first want to sign off on any information disclosed to their new boss before turning over sensitive records.

The opinions likely contain juicy stuff that has been hotly sought after by privacy advocates among others: the legal rationale of the NSA’s warrantless spying program and the CIA’s detention and interrogation policies, as well as other initiatives, the Legal Times says.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has said he’s waiting for Obama’s team to take the oath of office before he hands over some of the secret items.

Photo: Getty Images

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on December 10, 2008 (boomark / email).