Obama
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A government watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service to determine how much taxpayer money was spent on security for President Barack Obama's daughter's spring break trip to Mexico.
Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit Sept. 20 in District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging the Secret Service has not responded to a Freedom of Information Act request in a timely manner.
On April 6, the Secret Service received a FOIA request from Judicial Watch requesting information on the expenditure of U.S. government funds to provide security for Malia Obama during her March trip to Mexico.
Many press outlets reported Malia Obama was accompanied by 25 agents, though the reports were quickly removed from the Internet, Judicial Watch said.
"Contrary to federal law, the Obama administration has simply ignored this basic FOIA request. I have little doubt that this stonewall is because of the embarrassment of the security costs for the Spring Break trip of the Obamas' daughter," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
The Secret Service has not explained why it has not complained with the group's request, the lawsuit says. Judicial Watch says the Secret Service is "unlawfully withholding public records."
The case has been assigned to Judge Beryl Howell.
Previously, Judicial Watch obtained records that showed Michelle Obama's February ski vacation in Aspen with her two daughters included $48,950.38 in Secret Service costs.
Also, a June 2011 trip by Michelle Obama, her family and her staff to Africa cost more than $400,000 for the flight and crew, Judicial Watch said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien at jobrienwv@gmail.com.