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Judicial Watch Victory Administration Forced to Release Energy Task Force Docs Conservative columnist Robert Novak recently wrote, "[Judicial Watch] is viewed as the most difficult of the parties suing to force release of information about Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force." The Administration was right to fear Judicial Watch. While the Vice President continues to withhold important information with respect to his closed-door energy policy meetings, thousands of pages of documents are beginning to be released thanks to JW's legal actions, earning Judicial Watch unprecedented coverage by the liberal media. According to the evidence collected, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham met with more than 100 energy industry executives, including representatives of Enron, while most other groups were excluded from the discussion. Many of these industry executives in attendance have contributed millions of dollars to the Republican party. (Contrary to claims by the media, the documents do reveal the fact that environmental groups were included in the discussions as well.) And though there is as yet no absolute evidence of a quid pro quo contributions for policy favors the relationships, and the Vice President's attempts to cover them up, are suspicious. "Whether or not the Vice President was influenced by meetings with energy industry executives is not the point," said JW President Tom Fitton. “The Vice President, just like Hillary Clinton, must release the information to the public according to the law.” Even with the thousands of pages of documents released to Judicial Watch and the public, much information is missing. Many critical documents have significant portions redacted (or blacked out) such that they cannot be read and other documents referred to attachments that were not included. Furthermore, 15,000 documents from the Energy Department and 10,000 from the EPA are still being withheld. The Departments of Treasury and Commerce have failed to turn over a single requested document. "We’re pleased to have won significant court victories for openness and honesty in government," said JW President Tom Fitton. "But these victories are hollow if not followed and enforced. What we have witnessed so far is a systematic effort on the part of the Administration not to produce documents, and this cannot be allowed to continue." The documents are being released under court orders issued by Judges Gladys Kessler and Paul Friedman of the U.S District Court.
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