Within two weeks of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden , the head of U.S. special forces issued orders that all photos of the body be either turned in or destroyed , a newly released document shows . In an e-mail dated May 13 , 2011 , then-Vice Adm. William McRaven wrote the following : `` One particular item that I want to emphasize is photos ; particularly UBLs remains . At this point -- all photos should have been turned over to the CIA ; if you still have them destroy them immediately or get them to the [ redacted . ] '' The e-mail was obtained by the conservative activist group Judicial Watch , which has called for the public release of photos of the raid in Pakistan that killed the al Qaeda leader . The e-mail , which was almost entirely redacted , was released under a Freedom of Information Act request . See a PDF of the redacted e-mail . Days before McRaven 's instructions , Judicial Watch had filed a FOIA request for such photos , and hours before , they filed a lawsuit , according to the group 's president , Tom Fitton . `` Despite there being multiple requests for this information , and a lawsuit for this information , there was a directive that was sent out , to who knows who , to destroy records , '' he said . `` It may have been in violation of the law , '' he said . It is not clear whether any photos of bin Laden 's remains were actually destroyed . Through a spokesman , McRaven declined to comment . Retired Gen. James `` Spider '' Marks , a CNN military analyst , says if McRaven ordered photos deleted , he may have been trying to protect operational secrets , sources and methods and trying to make sure no commandos kept any photos or video of the covert raid that they were not authorized to keep . `` It would n't be surprising if they shook them down , and they said 'OK , I want to make sure you do n't have something that 's hidden away someplace , ' `` he said . In the days after the raid , President Barack Obama said he would not authorize the release of any images of bin Laden 's corpse , saying it would create a security risk . Osama bin Laden : The fast facts . `` It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence , as a propaganda tool , '' the president told CBS news magazine `` 60 Minutes . '' Former FBI Assistant Director Tom Fuentes said he would have similar concerns if photos of the terrorist 's body were made public . `` You would see those images forever on television , '' he said . `` That could lead to more recruitment of future al Qaeda members , making him a martyr . '' Fitton is not persuaded by that argument . `` Americans ' right to know about what their government is up to should be circumscribed because we do n't want to offend terrorists and their sympathizers ? That to me is unbelievable , '' he said . `` This is a historic raid . People have a right to this information . '' But so far , the courts have not sided with Judicial Watch on that question , and the Supreme Court declined to hear the organization 's appeal . The U.S. raid on bin Laden 's compound in Abbottabad , Pakistan , was conducted on May 2 , 2011 . What the U.S. planned if the raid in Pakistan had not worked . 'Nightmare ' at home for SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden .
Then - Vice Adm. William McRaven sent an e - mail dated January 13 , 2011 . Questions were high about the possible destruction of photos of the bin Laden 's family . His orders : ` ` If you still have them destroy them immediately or get them to the [ redacted . ] '' The conservative activist group Judicial Watch obtained the e - mail .