The U.S. government can keep secret the names of hundreds of people arrested and detained after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. The three-judge panel dealt a setback to more than 20 civil liberties and other groups that invoked the Freedom of Information Act, a law that allows for disclosure of certain government records, to challenge the secret arrests. The groups also argued the First Amendment free-speech rights required release of the information, a position rejected by the appeals court. “We conclude that the government was entitled to withhold the names of those detained for immigration violations and as material witnesses during the investigation,” the federal appeals court in Washington said. It also said the government could keep secret “the dates and locations of arrest, detention and release of all detainees, including those charged with federal crimes; and the names of counsel for detainees.” Full Story
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