President Obama's Gitmo roulette to empty the prison in Cuba has drawn a lawsuit from the Kansas attorney general, who says politics has stifled his requests for information.
Back in December, Derek Schmidt filed a federal Freedom of Information Act request for records regarding the future placement of detainees from the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay. But the Defense Department has refused to release any information — until a week after the presidential election.
Of concern to Kansas is a government site survey of that state's Fort Leavenworth, presumably a potential dumping site, among others, for about 76 remaining Gitmo detainees.
“We're seeking some court-ordered sunshine now to discourage mischief later in the final weeks before the president leaves office,” said Mr. Schmidt.
Mr. Obama has vowed to close Gitmo. But in military appropriation bills in 2014 and 2015, Congress has expressly forbidden the use of federal funding to transfer or even assist in the transfer of Gitmo detainees.
As such, the administration might already be in violation by doing surveys at various sites, including Leavenworth, in preparation for Gitmo transfers. Hence, the request for information — before any year-end lame-duck mischief.
The question is, how far will Team Obama go to fulfill a campaign promise to close Gitmo? On this issue, Congress must not blink.
