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Fbi translator sues justice department Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/09/22/attacks.fbi.translator.ap/ http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/09/22/attacks.fbi.translator.ap/ Fired FBI translator sues over records She complained about shoddy wiretap translations WASHINGTON (AP) -- An FBI contract linguist who alleged that there were security lapses in the bureau's translator program sued the Justice Department on Wednesday to compel its inspector general to disclose results of an investigation into her firing. The department's inspector general, Glenn Fine, previously has said he would work toward releasing parts of the investigation involving Sibel Edmonds, who was fired in April 2002. The report, classified at the "secret" level, has circulated among the FBI, Justice Department, the 911 Commission and some lawmakers on oversight committees. "We're continuing to work aggressively with the FBI and the department to produce an unclassified version of this report," said Paul K. Martin, the deputy inspector general. "This lawsuit will have no impact on our efforts to achieve that end, efforts that are ongoing and vigorous." Martin noted that his office cannot lawfully release the report because it was based on material classified as secret by the FBI. Under federal rules, the classifying agency must agree to the information's disclosure. Edmonds alleges she was fired after complaining to FBI managers about shoddy wiretap translations and telling them that an interpreter with a relative at a foreign embassy might have compromised national security after the September 11 attacks by passing information from an FBI wiretap to the target of an investigation. She filed her lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. FBI Director Robert Mueller already has disclosed that Fine's investigation did not conclude the FBI retaliated against Edmonds. But Mueller has acknowledged in a letter to lawmakers that he was concerned by Fine's determination that Edmonds' allegations "were at least a contributing factor in why the FBI terminated her services." Edmonds' lawsuit, filed under the Freedom of Information Act, said the inspector general's office on August 12 rejected her request for records about her case but did not respond to her administrative appeal August 31 and therefore "wrongfully withheld the relevant records." Martin said the inspector general's office told Edmonds in its August 12 denial that she could appeal the decision through the Justice Department's Office of Information and Privacy. This summer, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton threw out a related lawsuit by Edmonds challenging her firing, ruling that Edmonds' suit might expose government secrets that could damage national security. Walton said he was satisfied with claims by Attorney General John Ashcroft and a senior FBI official that the lawsuit could expose intelligence-gathering methods and disrupt diplomatic relations with foreign governments. The judge said he could not explain further because his explanation itself would expose sensitive secrets. Edmonds' lawsuit over her records was assigned to a different judge, Ricardo Urbina. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

Another FBI employee blows whistle on agency { August 2 2004 } Appeals court backs dismissal of fbi suit { May 7 2005 } Court doesnt explain closing case of fbi translator { April 21 2005 } Court turns down case of sibel edmonds { November 28 2005 } Fbi translator sues justice department Gag order on 911 fbi translator whistleblower { June 14 2004 } Panel to probe fbi informants tip { April 6 2004 } Senator Grassley says sibel edmonds is credible Supreme court rejects fbi whistleblower linguist appeal { November 28 2005 } Translator found pre911 warning docs { July 7 2004 } Translator in eye of storm on retroactive classification { July 5 2004 } Us knew alqaida would attack cities with aeroplanes Us knew of sept 11 plans leaked Whistle blower says us knew of alqaeda attack { September 11 2001 } Whistle blowing factor in firing fbi translator edmonds { July 29 2004 } Files Listed: 15

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