A high-ranking Commerce Department official, Ms. Stewart made headlines when she testified in Judicial Watch’s Chinagate case against the Commerce Department that the Clinton White House and Commerce Department officials conspired to improperly withhold documents concerning the sale of trade mission seats in exchange for campaign contributions.  With Ms. Stewart’s help, a Judicial Watch Freedom of Information Act case led to the uncovering of accused Chinese Spy John Huang.

Ms. Stewart, represented by Judicial Watch, later brought a civil rights lawsuit against Commerce Department lawyers over an illegal search.  Ms. Stewart claims that private papers concerning the Commerce Department trade mission scandal were illegally searched by Commerce lawyers while she was in the hospital.

CASE STATUS

Although Judicial Watch fought diligently for 4 years, Ms. Stewart’s cases against Commerce Department officials were denied on appeal.