Threat of PETA Lawsuit Shakes George Mason University Into Complying With the Law: PETA Statement

For Immediate Release:
November 6, 2024

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement from Jeff Kerr, the PETA Foundation’s chief legal officer and a 1984 alum of George Mason University (GMU), regarding the school’s decision to release public records—relating to surgical experiments during which GMU gave animals expired antibiotics and pain medications in violation of federal animal welfare policies—eight months after PETA requested them under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and paid $700 for their delivery. The Virginia FOIA requires that public institutions respond to public records requests within 12 working days. Last week, PETA put the school on notice of potential legal action if it continued to fail in its obligation:

While PETA is, of course, pleased that George Mason University recognized that it is not above Virginia law, we’re deeply concerned that it took the threat of legal action for the school to produce records relating to invasive surgical experiments during which animals were given expired painkillers. Public institutions are accountable to the public—full stop. Not only does transparency matter, it’s also the law.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.