The lawsuit seeks to prevent the U.S. government from targeting cleric Anwar al-Awlaki for assassination. The American cleric is believed to be living in Yemen, where U.S. authorities claim he is leading a branch of al-Qaida.
The Justice Department argued Saturday that a trial would require the United States to disclose highly-sensitive security information. Spokesman Matthew Miller said the lawsuit is asking a federal court to intervene in ongoing military action and to direct the president on how to manage that action, all on behalf of a leader of a foreign terrorist group.
Miller said Awlaki should surrender to authorities if he wants access to the U.S. legal system.
Civil liberties groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of the cleric's father, in part, to force the U.S. government to reveal how it determines which citizens should be targeted for assassination abroad.
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