US purges Osama's files from Pentagon computers to ensure secrecy

U.S. President Barack Obama had asked a top Navy officer to remove military files on Navy SEAL's raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout from the Pentagon computers.

Obama asked Navy Vice Admiral, William H. McRaven, to send these files to the CIA in order to shield them from getting public.

The New York Daily News reports that the records transfer was part of an effort by McRaven to protect the names of the personnel involved in the raid.

A draft report by the Pentagon on secretly transferring the records mentioned that it appears to have sidestepped federal rules and perhaps also the Freedom of Information Act.

The CIA said that the SEALs were effectively assigned to work temporarily for them, which has presidential authority to conduct covert operations.

CIA spokesman Preston Golson said the records were handled in a manner consistent with the fact that the operation was conducted under the direction of the CIA director.