Watchdog sues Biden administration over Iran envoy case

The US watchdog group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration accusing it of obstructing efforts to uncover details about the suspension of former US Iran envoy Robert Malley.

Reported by the Washington Free Beacon, it points to growing tensions over transparency in the handling of Malley’s case amid an ongoing FBI investigation into his alleged mishandling of classified information.

Malley, suspended in 2023, is under FBI investigation for mishandling classified information. CASA claims the State Department has ignored Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for related documents.

“The State Department has blocked CASA's investigation for nearly seven months, ignoring a series of Freedom of Information Act requests aimed at unearthing details about the circumstances surrounding Malley's suspension and subsequent efforts to hide his misdeeds from Congress,” The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday.

CASA’s lawsuit seeks to obtain internal communications detailing Malley’s suspension, his security clearance revocation, and potential breaches. The group also requested documents from the National Archives related to Malley’s previous government roles, which it says could reveal longstanding interactions with Iranian officials.

Malley was placed on unpaid leave, and his security clearance was suspended in April 2023. Iran International first reported the incident in June, but the State Department has since obstructed all efforts to obtain further information on Malley’s case.

In May, two influential congressmen suggested that Malley’s security clearance was revoked due to his transfer of classified documents to his personal email and cell phone, which were then stolen by a hostile cyber actor.

In September, a Wall Street Journal report stated that “Malley had clicked on a phishing link, compromising a personal email account.” Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report also revealed that investigators found evidence suggesting “Malley had potentially moved classified material, including meeting notes, to a personal account.”

CASA’s director, James Fitzpatrick, said the public "has a right to know" about potential security risks tied to Malley’s alleged actions.