Court rules in favor of releasing info on funding, Qatar's influence over Texas A&M campus

A Texas county court has ruled in favor of releasing information about Qatar's potential influence over Texas A&M University through funding and by hosting one of the school's campuses in the Gulf State. 

The decision from Travis County Judge Amy Clark Meachum last week came after the non-profit watchdog Judicial Watch filed a petition on behalf of the antisemitism advocacy group Zachor Legal Institute.

Zachor attempted to obtain information in 2018 about the campus in Qatar, which was established without the involvement of the Texas Legislature.

Qatar filed a lawsuit that year in response to prevent its funding information from being disclosed. And Texas A&M argued that publicizing the records would reveal private donor information.

Judicial Watch argued that only private donors are protected under the law, not governments or their entities.

Zachor President Marc Greendorfer thanked Judicial Watch and said: "We now look forward to receiving the records that Qatar has spent the last four-plus years blocking from public review."