Tom Fitton
Tom Fitton is the current president of Judicial Watch, Inc. He previously worked for America's Voice and National Empowerment Television, the International Policy Forum, the Leadership Institute, and Accuracy in Media. He also is a former talk radio and television host.[1]
Fitton has been President of Judicial Watch since 1998. It is a self-described "conservative, non-partisan, educational foundation," which, according to its mission statement, attempts to bring "transparency, accountability and integrity" to the federal government, primarily by filing lawsuits, FOIA requests, and other civil litigation and actions designed to generate public pressure on agencies and individuals within the federal government.[2]
Judicial Watch's Chairman, Larry Klayman, left the organization in 2003. Klayman would later attempt to reclaim control of Judicial Watch. In 2006 Klayman sued Judicial Watch and Tom Fitton. The lawsuit charged Fitton misrepresented his academic and professional credentials upon hiring; Fitton asserts that he holds a B.A. in English, Klayman disputes that assertion and claims that Fitton admitted that he does not in fact have a Bachelor's degree. The lawsuit charges that upon assuming his position Fitton engaged in false and misleading fund raising, misuse of donor money, failure to appoint an attorney as Chairman, failure to comply with a promised severance package to Klayman, and other actions which damaged Judicial Watch, the donors and Klayman.[3][4] The majority of Klayman’s claims have been dismissed, including all claims against Fitton and the other officers of the organization. The only claims by Klayman that remain pending before the Court consist of allegations that Judicial Watch breached a severance agreement with Klayman.[5] Judicial Watch has asserted several claims against Klayman.[6] On October 14, 2009, the Court found that Klayman breached the severance agreement by failing to pay Judicial Watch, $69,358,48 in unreimbursed personal expenses.[7] The remainder of Judicial Watch’s claims against Klayman, which include additional claims of breaches of the severance agreement and trademark infringement, remain pending before the Court as of October 5, 2010.[8]
Under Fitton Judicial Watch also has been sued by former donor Peter F. Paul. Paul accused them of using his name to raise more than $15 million to support his lawsuit against Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton while doing little to advance his case.[9][10][11] All of Paul’s claims have been dismissed.[12]
References
- ^ Tom Fitton biography at Judicial Watch web site.
- ^ About Judicial Watch at its web site.
- ^ Timothy Noah, Judicial Watch v. Judicial Watch, Slate, April 28, 2006.
- ^ FOUNDER SUES JUDICIAL WATCH PRESIDENT TOM FITTON, Saving Judicial Watch press release, April 13, 2006.
- ^ Klayman v. Judicial Watch, Inc., 628 F. Supp.2d 112, 118 (D.D.C. 2009).
- ^ Klayman v. Judicial Watch, Inc., 628 F. Supp.2d 112, 118 (D.D.C. 2009).
- ^ Klayman v. Judicial Watch, Inc., 661 F. Supp.2d 2, 4 (D.D.C. 2009).
- ^ Klayman v. Judicial Watch, Inc., 628 F. Supp.2d 112, 118 (D.D.C. 2009).
- ^ Kristen Lombardi, Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Rides Again; Hillary haters go wild over campaign finance case, Village Voice, May 17th 2005.
- ^ "Battling the Clintons, and each other (Judicial Watch may tie up Peter F. Paul)", The New York Times, March 15, 2005, p. B3.
- ^ "Former Donor To Clinton Sues Judicial Watch," Josh Gerstein, New York Sun, February 8, 2007, p.5
- ^ Paul v. Judicial Watch, Inc., Civil Action No. 07-00279 (RCL) (D.D.C. Feb. 2, 2009) (memorandum and order granting dismissal with prejudice).
External links
- Judicial Watch homepage
- Saving Judicial Watch A website established by Judicial Watch's former president.
- Judicial Watch v. Judicial Watch A Slate column exploring the legal issues involved in the legal dispute.