Md. ACLU seeks state police spy files

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Dozens of activist groups say they want Maryland authorities to release information on spying activities by the state police.

The request came as an independent review panel prepared to release the results of its investigation into revelations that Maryland State Police operatives posed as activists while conducting surveillance in 2005 and 2006 on war protesters and death penalty opponents, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a freedom of information request on behalf of such groups as Progressive Maryland, which promotes liberal causes, and Defend Life, a Washington-area anti-abortion coalition, the newspaper said. The groups want to see government files to determine if they were among those infiltrated by state police.

The state probe is expected to determine why officers assigned to the state's Division of Homeland Security and Intelligence infiltrated meetings and rallies and if they broke any laws, the Post said.

"The police said they were spying because they were worried about disruptive or violent anti-death penalty protests," ACLU staff attorney David Rocah told the newspaper. "If that worry was the true motive, it could exist with respect to any and all of the groups we are filing for."