If DHS Boss Has A Staffer Write Her Emails... Does It Count As Her Email Under A FOIA Request?
from the if-an-email-falls-in-a-forest... dept
In 2012, we pointed out how ridiculous it was that then Homeland Security boss Janet Napolitano, who self-described herself as a Luddite, admitted that she didn't use email at all. This seemed troubling, given that DHS was ostensibly in charge of cybersecurity, and you'd hope that the boss would understand the basics of email. Of course, she later admitted to the real reason why she didn't use email: it created a paper-trail that would make her too accountable.In the wake of the recent (and absolutely ridiculous) story about DHS inspector general Charles Edwards and his litany of misdeeds, Shawn Musgrave, over at Muckrock, decided to file some FOIA requests for any emails between Edwards and Napolitano. In response, DHS gave a "no responsive records" answer, noting that (as many had reported), Napolitano didn't use email.
There are two critical issues at play here. First is the guesswork this kind of email-by-proxy requires. Since emails like these didn't originate from an account assigned to Ms. Napolitano, watchdogs would have to skim through an indeterminate number of inboxes to ferret out misconduct by the Secretary.Allowing this kind of thing to happen without pushback will present an easy blueprint for other government officials to avoid having their own emails easily FOIA'd, and that would be a big problem.
But the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act and transparency also requires government officials to conduct a good faith search for documents responsive to a particular request. Since Napolitano's email aversion is common knowledge, particularly within DHS staff, a good faith search for emails "from" the Secretary requires more effort than reiterating that Napolitano declined to set up an email account during her tenure.
I have appealed the adequacy of DHS FOIA staff's search to that effect, and intend to continue pressing for release of documents that outline the extent of improper contact between Edwards and senior DHS officials.
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Filed Under: charles edwards, dhs, foia, homeland security, janet napolitano
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Just use the DOJ's argument
After all, if that kind of reasoning is good enough for the DOJ, I'm sure they've have no trouble at all having it applied to the DHS. /s
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Re: Just use the DOJ's argument
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She doesn't want a paper trail?
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Kind of like ...
This sort of setup not only creates an "air gap" -- it also provides a scapegoat to blame whenever something goes wrong.
Though these days the trend seems to be for agency bureaucrats -- like EPA boss Lisa Jackson -- to create fake aliases to send email from.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/12/epa-under-investigation-for-using-fake-emails-to-hide -info/
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Re: She doesn't want a paper trail?
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Wait!!!
Tell me I am wrong!
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This is a hoax
Janet Napolitano does not have any friends.
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History Repeating Itself
Watergate.
Someone, anyone, please tell me I'm imagining things.
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Re: History Repeating Itself
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Shyster move
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Agency
If the secretary sends email on Napolitano's behalf, then the secretary is her agent. So a request of that nature would require any secretary's messages to be produced as well.
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Re: Re: History Repeating Itself
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Re
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