Judge: White House Not Obligated To Comply With Freedom Of Information Act

June 16, 2008 2:55 p.m. EST

Kris Alingod - AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A federal judge has ruled that the White House does not have to disclose records about missing emails being sought by Congress in its investigation about the Bush administration's dismissal of nine federal prosecutors.

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said on Monday that the government's Office of Administration was not obliged to comply with the Freedom of Information Act since it was not an agency and did not possess substantial independent authority. An advocacy group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), filed a lawsuit May last year to have records about the missing email messages publicly disclosed.

"We are disappointed in the ruling and believe the judge reached the wrong legal conclusion. CREW has appealed the decision." CREW executive director Melanie Sloan said in a statement posted on the group's website. "The Bush administration is using the legal system to prevent the American people from discovering the truth about the millions of missing White House e-mails."

Congressional investigation of the alleged politically-motivated dismissals of nine federal prosecutors in 2006 led to the discovery of the lost email messages, some of which were sent using email accounts hosted by the Republican National Committee.

 

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011289339