Judicial Watch filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of Defense in March 2004 to obtain documents concerning the Empower Peace website and the Rendon Group. It has been reported that the Pentagon has made use of the Rendon Group to influence public opinion. The Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. ‘ 1461), forbids the domestic dissemination of U.S. government-authored or developed propaganda or “official news” deliberately designed to influence public opinion or policy.