Homeland Security Office Loses Ruling in Privacy Lawsuit

The Office of Homeland Security lost the first round in a legal fight to keep its activities secret, as a federal judge in Washington ruled it will have to answer questions about its power over other federal agencies. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said the office must prove it has no authority other than helping and advising President Bush if it wants to have a lawsuit seeking access to its records dismissed.