Progressive Politics

In October, The Electronic Intifada filed a freedom of information request with the Office of the Attorney General of New York State seeking documents related to Betar’s noncompliance with New York’s nonprofit fundraising laws.

The reply from the attorney general’s office on 3 December stated that “the records that respond to your request are exempt from disclosure and have been withheld” because “the documents requested were compiled for law-enforcement purposes and would, if disclosed, interfere with law-enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings.”

The attorney general’s response cited a state law that allows records to be kept from the public if a law enforcement agency determines that releasing them could interfere with an ongoing investigation, deprive a person of a fair trial, disclose information or sources relating to a criminal investigation or reveal criminal investigative techniques.