The FBI has agreed to settle litigation with The Tennessee Star and other plaintiffs demanding the release of the manifesto written by Audrey Elizabeth Hale, the individual responsible for the March 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville. The shooter, a female who identified as male, killed six people—three children and three staff members—before being fatally shot by police.
The agency had previously denied public access to the manifesto during the Biden administration, prompting The Tennessee Star and others to file suit. Settlement talks reportedly began after FBI Director Kash Patel assumed leadership of the agency. The case was brought by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), which secured the release of 120 pages of Hale’s writings in April.
As part of the settlement, the FBI will pay $86,000 in legal fees to the plaintiffs’ attorneys. The release of the manifesto followed growing demands from parents, journalists, and lawmakers seeking to understand the motivations behind the targeted attack on the Christian school.
Michael Patrick Leahy, CEO of Star News Digital Media, which owns The Tennessee Star, criticized the Biden administration’s handling of public records. “We appreciate WILL for taking our case and fighting back against the Biden administration’s reckless and dangerous record retention policies,” Leahy stated.
Dan Lennington, deputy counsel for WILL, called the outcome “a win for government transparency,” applauding journalists’ efforts to ensure accountability.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about government secrecy and selective transparency, particularly when politically sensitive content is involved. The manifesto’s delayed release drew criticism from those who accused federal authorities of suppressing information due to the shooter’s transgender identity and the religious nature of the victims’ institution.
Investigative reporter Matt Kittle of The Federalist, another plaintiff in the lawsuit, emphasized the significance of the victory for independent journalism and public oversight.
