A lawsuit was filed against Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and the House Intelligence Committee by the government watchdog group Judicial Watch for not replying to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Judicial Watch inquired about the subpoenas issued for private phone records, including those of President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The phone records led to the publication of the private phone records of Giuliani, Rep. Devon Nunes (R-CA), journalist John Solomon, Trump’s attorney Jay Sekulow, attorney Victoria Toensing, and other American citizens.

The lawsuit was filed under the public’s common-law right of public access to examine government after not getting a response to a request made on December 6, 2019.

The lawsuit states, “The records are of critical public importance as the subpoenas were issued without any lawful basis and violated the rights of numerous private citizens. Disclosure of the requested records would serve the public interest by providing information about the unlawful issuance of the subpoenas.The requested records fall within the scope of the public’s right of access to governmental records as a matter of federal common law.”

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton asked, “Adam Schiff abused his power to secretly subpoena and then publish the private phone records, in potential violation of law, of innocent Americans. What else is Mr. Schiff hiding? Schiff and his Committee ran roughshod over the rule of law in pursuit of the abusive impeachment of President Trump. This lawsuit serves as a reminder that Congressman Schiff and Congress are not above the law.”