"If the subpoena battle ends up in court, it would set the clock back many months," Mr. Aftergood said. "There would be all kinds of procedural motions that will take a long time, while the FOIA cases are already before a judge. It is more likely those cases will be more productive at this point."
Redactions next Mueller report battle for Democrats →
Steven Aftergood, a government secrecy specialist with the Federation of American Scientists, said the breaches at the NSA are a reminder that keeping secrets is a tricky task, particularly now as technological advances allow large amounts of information to be stored inside routine devices.
Ex-NSA contractor pleads guilty in theft of secret documents →
