The federal government is opposing a Michigan man’s request to take the deposition of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in a lawsuit that challenges the bailout of American International Group Inc. A lawsuit was filed in 2008 on religious grounds, claiming the government should not have bailed out AIG because the insurance giant sold financial products specifically tailored to Islamic principles.

The plaintiff, Kevin Murray of Ypsilanti, is being represented by an Ann Arbor firm that takes cases on behalf of Christian causes. In a court filing last week, government attorneys called the deposition a “fishing expedition,” and said there are no extraordinary circumstances that would require Murray’s lawyers to interview Geithner for three hours.

“High-level government officials would be paralyzed from carrying out their extensive duties if they were subject to deposition in every civil action against their agency,” the Justice Department said.

The government said there are limits to unwinding the decision-making process of the executive branch. Government lawyers said thousands of documents have been made available, and other officials familiar with the bailout have already been deposed.

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