Just to follow-up briefly on a post from yesterday, Sibel Edmonds’ case against the FBI — the one I had hoped might be a blockbuster — isn’t going well. Her case was thrown out of court yesterday by a judge concerned about classified government secrets.
A federal judge threw out a lawsuit Tuesday by a whistle-blower who alleged security lapses in the FBI’s translator program, ruling that her claims might expose government secrets that could damage national security.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he was satisfied with claims by Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and a senior FBI official that the civil lawsuit by Sibel Edmonds could expose intelligence-gathering methods and disrupt diplomatic relations with foreign governments.
The judge said he couldn’t explain because his explanation would expose sensitive secrets.
I suppose it’s cold comfort, but the judge’s decision wasn’t based on the merits of Edmonds’ case.
In his decision, Walton acknowledged that dismissing a lawsuit before the facts of the case can be heard is “Draconian” and said he was throwing out the lawsuit “with great consternation.”
Edmonds indicated yesterday that she’ll appeal the ruling. Stay tuned.