– The government must release some documents that will shed light on two grand juries that sat in Boston nearly 50 years ago to investigate the leak of the Pentagon Papers, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said in her written decision that she would grant a “limited disclosure” of the grand jury materials but not allow the “unfettered” access Lepore sought.
If the government objects to the release of other documents, it has 60 days to explain why they should stay under wraps, Burroughs said.
Burroughs said she was allowing the documents to be released “reluctantly,” expressing concern it could have “unintended consequences" or open the door to the release of other secret grand jury documents in the future.
Among those who supported their release was Daniel Ellsberg, the former government consultant who gave the papers to The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers.