Feds won't turn over Camp David sleepover list

The Clinton administration has refused to comply with a Freedom of
Information Act request for the names of overnight guests at the
president's retreat, Camp David, saying such a list "would not
significantly contribute to the public understanding of the operations
or activities of the government."

Judicial Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit legal watchdog organization, filed the FOIA request as part of its investigation into President Clinton's fund-raising activities at Camp David, located in the Catoctin mountains north of the nation's capital. The retreat is technically a Navy Department installation and has been used most recently as the venue for Clinton's failed Middle East peace negotiations.

The FOIA request was filed with the Navy on Sept. 14 and sought "the names of all persons (other than U.S. government employees) who have stayed overnight at Camp David since Jan. 21, 1993." Judicial Watch finally received a faxed letter from Defense Department Director H. J. McIntyre on the last possible day for response before Judicial Watch would file suit -- Oct. 13.

McIntyre wrote "... I have determined that any responsive information that may be found would not significantly contribute to the public understanding of the operations or activities of the government. I have determined that a list of persons who stayed overnight at Camp David as guests of the President does not make a meaningful contribution to the public's understanding of the operations or activities of the government."

"The Clintons have obviously ordered the Defense Department to illegally stonewall this request," said Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said McIntyre's response was a display of government arrogance.

"The arrogance of the Defense Department's Oct. 13th letter demonstrates the contempt with which this administration holds the American public -- but that same public can rely on Judicial Watch to dig out the truth from these prevaricators and hold the responsible parties accountable for selling access to Camp David and the White House," Fitton said.