U.S. federal copyright law can, in some cases, prevent the release of copyrighted writings and other authored materials under state public records laws.
October 30, 2025
high
legal
Courts have interpreted federal copyright protections as a potential basis to withhold authored materials from disclosure under state public records statutes.
Document disclosures in congressional investigations may include Justice Department records, files held by a subject's estate, emails, and transcripts of interviews with former government officials.
January 01, 2025
high
procedural
Types of materials that are commonly produced or released as part of congressional document releases in investigations.