Lardner v. Department of Justice (2009)
Public Citizen represented George Lardner, who is writing a book on the presidential pardon power, and who requested documents from the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney concerning a pardon applicant named Chibueze Okorie. Even after Mr. Okorie waived any privacy interest, DOJ refused to release certain portions of the requested records, claiming privacy and deliberative process exemptions. After we filed suit, DOJ released additional material and provided explanation for withholding some material, and the case settled.