Justice Department Confirms to Judicial Watch: As of January 31, 2008, Bill Clinton Holds Key to Release Hillary Clinton's White House Records

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - January 31, 2008) - Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that the Department of Justice has confirmed that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is on schedule to process 10,000 pages of Hillary Clinton's daily schedule records by today, January 31, 2008, pursuant to NARA's court filing (and promises made during a court hearing last month) in a Judicial Watch lawsuit (Judicial Watch, Inc. v U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Civil Action No: 1:07-cv-01267 (JR)). The decision to immediately release Hillary's White House records now rests with former President Clinton and his representatives.

"NARA confirms that the Clinton Presidential Library is on track to adhere to the schedule represented to the Court in NARA's December 3 filing and at the December 17 hearing, and estimates that it will complete processing the daily schedule records by January 31, 2008 and will notify Presidential representatives shortly thereafter," wrote Justice Department trial attorney Helen Hong in a letter to Judicial Watch dated January 28, 2008. The Archives has the authority to release these documents within 30 days of notifying President Clinton. The Archives will also report to the court the status of this presidential review on March 1, 2008.

During a November 30, 2007, interview with C-SPAN Bill Clinton said he wanted, "...to push the release of more [White House records], including the request for documents about Hillary's time in the White House...I'd like it if the records got out there...but the American people just [need] to know, we're getting this stuff out there as soon as we can..."

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton offered the following statement in response to the Justice Department letter: "Bill and Hillary Clinton do not need to review these schedules -- unless they seek to hide something embarrassing. Bill Clinton has publicly stated his desire to have all of Hillary's records released as soon as possible, and he has blamed the National Archives for the delays. Now the ball is in his court. All Bill Clinton has to do is say the word and Hillary's schedules will be released to the American people immediately -- the clock is ticking."

To view this letter and all court filings related to Judicial Watch's lawsuit against the National Archives, please visit www.judicialwatch.org.

Contact Information: Contact: Jill Farrell 202-646-5188