While the attention nationally has been on the server of Hillary Clinton and the ongoing investigation, there is a new development in the effort to acquire another set of emails that should cause public outcry. Two years ago, the State Department officially stated that there were no emails responsive to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request about a close Hillary Clinton adviser’s contact with the media. Now, after the intervention of a federal judge, the Department has admitted that it has located 17,855 emails that appear to match the criteria. From 0 to 17,855 and no one seems particularly bothered by the false statement of the State Department in its early response to the lawful request under FOIA. No one is under review at the State Department for possible termination or even discipline. No one is being transferred or retrained. The government first says that there were no emails and then is forced to admit that there are potentially thousands. It is being treated as just another day in the life of our government.
The website Gawker filed a FOIA request in 2012 seeking any emails between Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Reines (a top Hillary Clinton adviser) and a list of 33 major media outlets. Reines was involved in an angry email exchange with journalist Michael Hastings where he lost his temper and told Hastings to “f-ck off.”
In July of 2013, the State Department responded to Gawker’s request with a letter which stated, “After a thorough search . . . no records responsive to your request were located.” Zero. Gawker then went to court. It has become all too predictable for agencies to deny everything and wait to see if they are forced to fess up to the truth on such evidence. This occurs because no one in government is held accountable by the courts.
The truth came out in a “court-ordered status report” where the State Department has admitted to having located 81,159 emails belonging to Reines and estimated that 22 percent may be responsive to the FOIA request made back in 2012. Indeed, three are so many relevant emails that the Department is requesting more time to “conduct a line-by-line review of an estimated 17,855 emails for applicable FOIA exemptions.”
It would seem reasonable to expect a show cause order for the State Department to explain the slight discrepancy from zero to thousands of emails. Otherwise, it appears that Reines’ answer to Hastings reflects a general response of the entire Department to the American people in using FOIA.
I just saw a clip on TV of Hillary @ a rally yesterday. A nice, blue collar female supporter, who volunteers for Hillary, asked Hillary for a hug. Hillary gave that phony laugh, told the nice woman to sit down, and said she would give her a hug after the rally. Incredible!
Nick – Hillary does not touch the hoi poli
EconIsEasy, it was on February 14 2003. Obama: “This is the Most Transparent Administration in History.”
Jonathan Turley – “Obama Administration Moves To Sharply Curtail Authority Of Government Watchdogs” July 28, 2015 http://wp.me/p6sYP-nZn
In his inaugural address in 2009, President Obama stated, “Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency”
I believed Obama. I’ve been ripped off. Time and time again. No more. And no more Hillary.
When will the people realize that it is time to fire the government and start over based upon the U.S. Constitution minus all the Amendments after X.
Swarthmoremom, he sure could run as an independent. If he’s not given respect from the Republican Party he said he would, I think he will when he doesn’t get the nomination.
When filing a FOIA request the most important thing is to get a “name” of the Chief FOIA Officer or person in charge of FOIA’s. Local governments may refer you to their government attorney, some local police departments refer you to their Internal Affairs division.
Also ask to obtain several “records” from that agency, not just one record. In addition to what you are looking for add some softball requests as well (ex: annual budget for that agency – not a great secret).
If the agency isn’t meeting your request to your satisfaction or denies your FOIA altogether – without an attorney you can easily summon that official to appear in court. The court clerk can guide you how to do it but can’t give you actual legal advice. You can also learn eadily online how to file FOIAs.
Once in front of a judge that official has to explain to a judge why they didn’t provide the information required by statute. If you included softball requests (ex: annual budget – not supersecret info) that official is in clear violation of the statute and loses credibility with the judge. You can also petition for the official to reimburse all of your legal fees using their personal funds (not taxpayer funds). If your request also serves the public interest you can have that agency waive all or most of the legal fees. For federal agencies you can cite federal statute: Title 5 US Code 552 (A) (4) (A) (iii) which waives all fees if it serves the public interest. Contact your state ACLU affiliate for assistance.
If you take an non-compliant agency to court one time, they are more likely to comply with the FOIA law in the future since they know you will summon them to court.
Good post hskiprob!
ah, same old “lets hide the truth” or as jack Nicolson said “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!!!!” 🙂 people have been lied to since day one….you might want to read more about the “god old days”…
Trump could still run as an independent. lol
You all need to really trust authority more. We cannot tolerate such dissention. So Trump, Bush or Clinton. That’s my choices? I’d rather shoot myself. Have we not had 50 years of dems and repubs telling us that they are going to fix all the problems? Not only do we have the exact same problems, they’re even worse.
The libertarians told you over 40 years ago now, “if” you were paying attention, that we would be in the current socio-economic shape we are in, if we did not change to a much greater free market economic system. Instead you said, the libertarians aren’t correct, only republicans and democrats are. We even gave you a 5 year plan in which to achieve the results called the Program. A program that if followed would have guided up to the desired platforms, those of liberty through the protection of individual rights.
There is only one fix people and obviously the Dems and Repubs are not going to be a party to this. So you should keep voting for the lessor of two evils because it has worked so well.
Article II, Section 4
“The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
1. Obstruction of Justice
2. Destruction of Evidence
3. Conspiracy
4. Perjury
5. Subversion
6. Treason
Start with the impeachment of the Extreme Court then move over to State, including the former Secretary. How’s that IRS working with it’s star protagonist, Lois Lerner?
The Constitution has been shredded since Lincoln’s unconstitutional “Reign of Terror,” including his egregiously unconstitutional “Reconstruction Amendments” which were ratified without a quorum, through coercion and under the duress of war
(Lincoln was informed by Chief Justice Taney that Lincoln had no constitutional, or otherwise, authority to suspend Habeas Corpus – If Lincoln had a quorum for amendments, the Confederate States successfully seceded; if the Confederate States did not secede, Lincoln did not have a quorum).
Roll out the metaphorical “guillotines” of the French Revolution.
Let’s get this show on the road.
SWM, I love making predictions on politics like you do. But for me, it’s way too crazy right now to make any. We are seeing just how fed up people are w/ DC. My general prediction is, the less you are a Beltway person, the better your chances.
This would be a superb time to give people the option on the ballot, “None of the above.” That “candidate” would have a strong chance of getting the most votes. The way to gut the duopoly is to get “None of the above” on the ballot. People who normally don’t vote, and many who are involved voters, will turn out happily and push that chad. “None of the above” is the first step in getting us citizens more choices. “There is no freedom w/o choice.”
Nick – the current polls do have an Undecided.
nick, And that is why Biden would most likely beat Bush. Clinton is losing to Bush in these new swing state polls, but she does beat Trump. If Trump is the nominee, the latino and asian populations will turnout and defeat him.
does not “want another Bush or Clinton.
SWM, I hope, and tend to think, you’re wrong about Jeb. But, who the hell knows @ this point? The country does not another Bush or Clinton.
http://www.businessinsider.com/polls-biden-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-jeb-bush-2015-8 Think in the end it won’t be Trump but it will be Jeb Bush. Biden will match up well against him.
Squeek and her crew must be on vacation on Martha’s Vineyard w/ the Obama’s.
I see Batman is a Clintonista troll. Saw an interesting documentary on Adam West. He had high hopes for his career but the quick bucks playing Batman killed it.
“It is drip, drip, drip for Hillary.”
Sounds like the start of a cheer.
Where’s Squeeky? We need a cheer or a poem.
Can individuals or groups take action against the state department for failing to meet a FOIA request or should all FOIA requests go through the courts?
This is all going to drag into the elections. It is drip, drip, drip for Hillary. She has started short changing her staff and volunteers. The times they are a changin’.