Judicial Watch Files Suit to Obtain Michelle Obama's Vacation Records

At it again, the conservative watchdog group "Judicial Watch" has filed a lawsuit against the United States Air Force to obtain the records of Michelle Obama's controversial trip to Spain.  According to Tom Fitton, a member of the organization:

That this lavish trip may be a source of embarrassment for the Obamas is not a sufficient reason to stonewall the release of records.  Evidently, American taxpayers were stuck with a sizable bill so Mrs. Obama could tour around Spain with her family and friends.  This administration, as a supposed steward of taxpayer dollars, has an obligation to disclose the full costs of the Obama family’s luxury trip.

Specifically, Judicial Watch is requesting information on taxpayer costs associated with the vacation, and any indication of official business conducted by the First Lady while in the country.  Their website recalls the event:

In August 2010, Michelle Obama and one of her daughters embarked on what the press described as a “whirlwind tour of Spain,” which included visits to coastal towns, shopping and a lunch date with the country’s King and Queen. The Obamas reportedly stayed in the luxury Hotel Villa Padierna during the vacation. As reported by The New York Times, also accompanying Mrs. Obama on the trip were “two friends and four of their daughters, as well as a couple of aides and a couple of advance staff members.”

First Lady Michelle Obama has been roundly criticized for taking such a lavish vacation when the economy had just lost 131,000 jobs, but Robert Gibbs maintained at the time that "the First Lady is on a private trip."  Records will reveal whether the trip was also privately-funded, and if so, how many "associated fees" the taxpayer picked up.