Some lawmakers to view bin Laden photos

ANNAPOLIS (AP) — Some members of Congress will be allowed to view photographs of Osama bin Laden’s body, a spokeswoman for a Maryland congressman said Wednesday.

Heather Molino, a spokeswoman for Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, said the Democratic congressman is planning to view the photos at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., either Wednesday or Thursday.

“He is interested and wants to see them,” Ms. Molino said.

Mr. Ruppersberger is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. All of that committee’s members are among the congressional representatives who have been offered a chance to view the photographs, Ms. Molino said.

Last week, Mr. Ruppersberger said he agreed with the White House’s decision not to publicly release photos of bin Laden’s body. Mr. Ruppersberger, who spoke at a retirement community on Friday about the raid in Pakistan that resulted in bin Laden’s death, said the photos could stoke anger among bin Laden’s supporters.

“Why enrage the rest of the world who don’t like us? And we don’t want them to rally behind his death to hurt us again,” Mr. Ruppersberger said last week.

He noted that the decision not to release the photographs publicly could be re-evaluated “down the road.”

“The purpose is, it’s endgame, to protect American lives,” Mr. Ruppersberger said.

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