Judge Blocks Seattle From Disclosing FBI Surveillance Info

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked the city of Seattle from releasing information that the FBI said could jeopardize ongoing investigations.

U.S. District Judge Richard Jones issued the temporary restraining order after the Justice Department sued the city, seeking to prevent officials from releasing documents about where the FBI has placed six hidden surveillance cameras on utility poles.

The city said it had planned to release the information pursuant to public records requests by news reporters and a privacy activist. But the DOJ said that if the locations of the cameras are made public, the information could tip off investigation subjects that they are being monitored.

The Justice Department said the FBI provided the information to the city under a promise of confidentiality to prevent the cameras from being removed or destroyed by utility workers.