NARA: National Archives Posts Unsealed Watergate Records Online

From The Washington Post:

The weekend reading load for Watergate aficionados became a lot heavier Friday when the National Archives and Records Administration posted online nearly 1,000 pages of formerly sealed records relating to the infamous burglary case.
The newly released documents come from the U.S. v. Liddy criminal trial against seven of the individuals involved in the Watergate break-in scandal that led to the impeachment and resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. They include evidentiary discussions held outside the jury’s hearing, pretrial discussions with defendants’ lawyers and the court, and post-trial sentencing information.

Read the Complete Article
See Also: National Archives to Release Nixon Watergate-related Records Online Today (via NARA)

On May 1, 2009, Professor Luke Nichter of Texas A&M University-Central Texas petitioned Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the District Court for the District of Columbia to release records sealed in the case of U.S. v. Liddy, the Watergate break-in case. The sealed proceedings include evidentiary discussions held outside the jury’s hearing, pretrial discussions between defendants’ lawyers and the Court, and post-trial sentencing information.
On November 2, 2012, the District Court for the District of Columbia ordered most of these records to be unsealed, given the passage of time, completion of the criminal proceedings, and non-invasive nature of the content. Consistent with the recommendation of the Department of Justice, the court ordered that the following categories of records remain sealed, pending further review by the court:

• Personal documents regarding living individuals;
• Documents regarding the content of illegally obtained wiretaps; and
• Grand Jury information.

Accordingly, the court directed the National Archives to release the uncontested records within 30 days from the date of the Order. The National Archives is therefore releasing the previously sealed records from U.S. v. Liddy, with the three categories of contested materials removed and marked “Court Sealed.” If/when the Court later unseals additional materials, the National Archives will make them available.

Read the Complete Announcement for More Info and Several Related Links

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