White House meddling in records requests? Suit claims agencies locked down documents

[Valin]

Fox News:

August 19, 2014

 

A government watchdog group has sued 12 federal agencies for allegedly withholding emails and other documents, in the latest episode in which the Obama administration is being challenged over its transparency.

 

The conservative-leaning Cause of Action wants the documents in order to see whether agencies are being forced to channel basic public-information requests through the White House, so that politically sensitive material can be screened. The group filed the suit Monday in a District of Columbia federal court.

 

The lawsuit says the agencies "stonewalled" the organization -- and claims the White House is "influencing" their response to record requests.

 

“Accountable and transparent government does not involve instructing agencies to send politically sensitive records to the White House for review,” said Dan Epstein, Cause of Action’s executive director.

 

(Snip)

 

 

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Cause of Action