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 For Immediate Release
Jun 9, 2000 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5172


NEW DOCUMENTS SHOW CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ‘COLLABORATED' WITH CUBA ON ELIAN GONZALEZ

Documents Also Show INS Knew It Didn't Have Legal Basis To Force Elian's Return

INS Documents Were Turned Over to Judicial Watch Under Court Order – Contradict Clinton-Gore Administration Spin

(Washington, DC) Further refuting recent spin by Clinton-Gore Administration spokesmen, additional Clinton-Gore Administration documents uncovered by Judicial Watch, Inc. in its lawsuits show that the Clinton-Gore Administration "collaborated" with Cuba on the Elian Gonzalez matter. Copies of these additional documents are available at Judicial Watch's Internet site at www.judicialwatch.org.

The documents were turned over to Judicial Watch recently by the Clinton-Gore Justice Department as part of its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Justice Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service to obtain underlying information on the Elian Gonzalez saga. A federal court judge appointed by President Clinton, James Robertson, ordered that the Justice Department begin turning over the documents to Judicial Watch on April 26, 2000.

Just yesterday, the Clinton-Gore Administration turned over a December, 1999 e-mail showing that INS Commissioner Doris Meissner, as part of the most "beneficial" litigation strategy, sought to work with the State Department and the Communist Cuban government to arrange a secret meeting with Juan Miguel Gonzalez -- despite evidence that he was being coerced by the Cuban government. Additionally, an undated e-mail produced last week shows that the INS knew it had no legal basis to act on behalf of Juan Miguel Gonzalez. The document states that the "INS is giving him rights in violation of law."

"When will the Clinton-Gore Administration begin telling the truth about their collaboration with the Castro regime? As part of their ‘litigation' strategy, they sought to conspire with Fidel Castro to obtain a secret meeting with Elian's father. The Administrations actions were despicable and contrary to what they had been publicly telling the courts and the American people, " said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Judicial Watch is a public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption. It is pursuing civil rights lawsuits against Janet Reno and others on behalf of Elian's rescuer Donato Darylmple and the other peaceful Americans outside the home of Elian Gonzalez's relatives' home on the night of the raid.

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