"Willie Brown has managed to slip out of many other scandals, but this time it appears that even he has gone too far," said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. "Judicial Watch will use every legal means necessary to expose this sordid affair and to hold corrupt politicians accountable."

The case in question involves a fight allegedly started by three San Francisco off-duty police officers on November 20, 2002. The officers aggressively confronted two men who had just left a restaurant, demanded their left over food, and then beat the two men when they refused to comply. One of the officers involved was the son of the Assistant Police Chief.

The San Francisco Police Department launched an investigation. However, from the very beginning, their handling of the matter drew accusations of a cover-up. In fact, a grand jury found enough evidence to indict the Police Chief and five other high-ranking officers for obstruction of justice and for conspiracy. Allegations had been made that PD brass initiated a "Code of Silence" in the matter and then punished police officers who broke it by testifying truthfully.

However, after Mayor Willie Brown intervened and pressured the District Attorney, the charges against two top officials, the Police Chief and Assistant Police Chief, were dropped. Now, the District Attorney has completely taken over the case and has further recommended that the remaining charges be dropped.

Judicial Watch has requested records relating to the scandal on several independent grounds, including its First Amendment rights as a member of the news media, the California Public Records Act, and the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance.