Judicial Watch sues Justice Department for records in art theft

The right-wing activist group Judicial Watch, known for using public records to investigate alleged wrongdoing by government officials, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department seeking records in an unsolved $1.5 million art theft in 1969 in Sarasota, Florida.

In February, Judicial Watch sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the Justice Department for FBI records related to the investigation of artwork stolen in April 1969 from the Museum of the Cross in Sarasota. The works have not been recovered.

“Such records shall include, but not be limited to, investigative reports, witness summaries (Forms 1023), letterhead memoranda, agents’ handwritten notes, communications in any form, crime scene photographs, fingerprints, evidence logs, and any other records,” Judicial Watch had written in the request.

The stolen artworks—14 paintings collectively titled The Way of the Cross, each measuring 6 feet by 9 feet—were created by artist and illustrator Ben Stahl, who was commissioned by the Catholic Press. The works depict the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life as described in the Bible, and the theft was documented in the hit series Unsolved Mysteries.

Judicial Watch said the request went unanswered, in violation of FOIA deadlines. By law, the Justice Department was required to make a determination regarding the release of the records by March 18.

The group announced the lawsuit in a news release earlier this month alongside notices for other litigation, including requests for “Biden FBI” records tied to the 2021 raid on Rudy Giuliani’s home and office and records related to COVID-19 origins.

Judicial Watch’s involvement in the decades-old art theft case is unusual for the group, which typically focuses on alleged government misconduct and political controversies.

The group said its request was filed after Stahl’s son, David Stahl, submitted a FOIA request to the Justice Department and received 12 fully redacted pages.

Judicial Watch noted that David Stahl believes the investigation was “mishandled” by local police and the FBI, citing irregularities like reportedly lost files due to floods and fires. The Sarasota Police Department reopened the case in 2013 but no new leads have emerged.

“This should be a straightforward search for records,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “After more than five decades, the FBI should be able to find and release these records. The public deserves answers.”

Urgent Matter has also experienced unprecedented delays in recent federal records requests.

On Tuesday, Urgent Matter received a response from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding a request filed on December 11, 2025, in which the agency warned that it “may encounter some delay in processing your request.”

Other requests remain outstanding.

Follow along with other art crime stories at Urgent Matter’s art crime tracker.