$90 Million Lawsuit In FBI Files Scandal

WASHINGTON (CNN, Sept. 13) -- First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and the FBI are among defendants named today in a $90 million invasion-of-privacy lawsuit stemming from the mishandling of sensitive FBI background files at the White House.

The attorney who filed the class-action suit on behalf of former White House employees told CNN, "Their actions were intentional. People were damaged. Apologies aren't enough." Larry Klayman, general counsel for the watchdog group Judicial Watch, denied the suit was politically motivated, and insisted no other group was behind the suit.

Five plaintiffs who were members of previous administrations were identified, but the suit contends more than 700 former White House employees are entitled to damages. The suit says the violations of privacy damaged the reputations of the former employees.

The suit names four individuals and two institutions as defendants. In addition to Mrs. Clinton, the group is suing former White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum, former Head of the White House Security Office Craig Livingstone and Anthony Marceca, who worked in that office. The FBI and the Executive Office of the President are also listed as defendants.

If the case filed in U.S. District Court in Washington proceeds, procedural steps ensure it would not be considered until after the November elections.

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