The Chicago Tribune newspaper has sought public access to over a dozen sealed documents presented in court as key evidences in the Tahawwur Rana case, arguing that keeping them under secrecy undermines the benefits of public scrutiny.
Invoking the First Amendment and common law rights, the paper asked the court to give it access to at least the redacted versions of the documents that have been presented under seals in the court and are believed to have key evidence of links between ISI and LeT and other terrorist outfits.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights and covers the freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
The documents have not been made available to anyone. In fact, some of these documents are not even available to Rana's attorneys. Rana is the co-accused in the Mumbai attack case and his trial is likely to throw light on ISI's links to the incident.
Access to the Santiago Proffer and the sealed documents, the paper said, was crucial to its ability to report completely and accurately on the case, but it is equally as important that such access is "prompt".
{{/usCountry}}Access to the Santiago Proffer and the sealed documents, the paper said, was crucial to its ability to report completely and accurately on the case, but it is equally as important that such access is "prompt".
{{/usCountry}}The Santiago Proffer is a document in which the government presents its case and connects evidence by joining point to point the evidence, witnesses and conspirators.
The paper has argued that keeping the documents under wraps "undermines the benefits of public scrutiny".