Politics

Updated May 05, 2009

Government Fights Public Release of Spitzer Wiretap Documents

AP

Government lawyers filed papers Tuesday with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals arguing a judge was wrong to order the release of wiretap materials in the criminal case that ousted Spitzer.

NEW YORK -- The federal government has asked an appeals court to reverse a ruling ordering the public release of sealed documents in the prostitution probe that led to the resignation of former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Government lawyers filed papers Tuesday with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals arguing a judge was wrong to order the release of wiretap materials in the criminal case that ousted Spitzer.

The government says the materials haven't been among court documents routinely made available to the public. It says Congress intended for the documents usually to remain secret.
The New York Times had sought the documents on First Amendment grounds. Times lawyer David McCraw has no immediate comment.

Spitzer resigned in March 2008 after being identified as a client of an upscale escort service.

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