Federal judge rules Muslims can't see FBI files

By AMY TAXIN Associated Press

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that a group of Southern California Muslim activists and organizations cannot review additional records of FBI inquiries into their activities but berated the government for misleading the court about the existence of the files.

Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled Wednesday that the groups and activists who sued in 2007 to gain access to records about them do not have a right to additional information the government dug up because of national security concerns.

He reached the conclusion after reviewing the documents privately to ensure the government complied with freedom of information laws.

But Carney also criticized the government for misleading the court about the records' existence.

The groups and activists believed the documents would show the agency was unlawfully targeting Muslims in Southern California.