Search Still On For Missing White House Emails

By TChris, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 05:30:41 PM EST
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Remember all those missing emails that the Bush administration claims an inability to find -- even though their preservation is required by the Presidential Records Act? Bush and his cronies were hoping to slink quietly out of the White House, leaving the emails in a state of permanent deletion. A ruling today in a lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics and the National Security Archives might make that more difficult for the departing regime.

U.S. District Judge Henry Kennedy today denied the administration's request to dismiss the lawsuit.

Meredith Fuchs, the National Security Archive's general counsel, said that because of the ruling, a court order directing the White House to preserve 65,000 computer backup tapes remains in place.

[more ...]

Fuchs said that when the Bush administration surrenders its records to the government on Jan. 20, the incoming administration of Barack Obama can "do the right thing here and clean up this mess by ensuring that any missing e-mails are restored from computer backup tapes." ...
Sheila Shadmand, a Washington lawyer representing the National Security Archive, said the ruling enables protection of records "before they get carted off or destroyed as the current administration packs its bags to leave."

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Search Still On For Missing White House Emails | 12 comments (12 topical)

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They have a lot to answer for (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by imhotep on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 07:49:45 PM EST

but if Pelosi wouldn't go for impeachment, she will say there's too much else to do than to take the time to hold Bushco accountable.
What about Meiers' and Rove's subpoenas? Nothing came of that.

Why oh why are we still carping about impeachment (none / 0) (#8)
by HenryFTP on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 04:24:11 AM EST

when the new Administration can commence criminal investigations at 12:01 pm on January 20, 2009?

Impeachment is a political process that would have generated far more heat than light. Given the immensity and breadth of the crimes that have been committed in our name, we need real investigations that reveal exactly what has occurred and that can lead to prosecutions that would bring real accountability (as opposed to a Capitol Hill Washington Media Circus).

We will never begin to cleanse the stain on our Nation's honor of the past eight years unless we take the care to bring all of these dark deeds into the light. There is even a clear choice of an individual to organize and lead the investigations -- Patrick Fitzgerald, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, who will be tendering his resignation (he is of course a Republican appointee).

[ Parent ]

: So, do you think they'll happen? (none / 0) (#12)
by sj on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 05:14:47 PM EST

The investigations, I mean. I don't think so. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.
And if you don't think so, then you'll understand why people keep "carping" about impeachment.

[ Parent ]

Prediction (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by mmc9431 on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:26:39 PM EST

I predict that we'll find Jimmy Hoffa before we find the e-mails! I also predict that no one in this administration will ever be held accountable for any of their criminal acts. Obama will want to shut it all down in his bipartisan schick.

: But (none / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:29:59 PM EST

We know where j hoffa is. End zone in the meadowlands is what I heard.

[ Parent ]

NO SHAME ! is this the value Repubicans (none / 0) (#1)
by thereyougo on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 06:09:46 PM EST

teach their kids?

I wish they were gone already.

It's the value (none / 0) (#4)
by cal1942 on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 10:41:37 PM EST

system at least some Repuiblicans teach their kids. The rule of law is fine when it applies to someone else, especially those poor unwashed masses. After all, they have to be kept in line.

When it applies to thee; there must be a way around the law.

Speaking from personal observation.

[ Parent ]

: Prediction: (none / 0) (#9)
by Wile ECoyote on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 08:57:18 AM EST

the billing records will be found in the private quarters area....never mind, wrong administration.

[ Parent ]

I don't trust George W. (none / 0) (#3)
by arguewithmydad com on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 09:33:14 PM EST

to protect those files. If he doesn't protect the records, can the Judge hold Bush in contempt? That would be sweet.

I wonder (none / 0) (#5)
by cal1942 on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 10:43:04 PM EST

if they burned the tapes as so many GOPers suggested to Nixon.

now wait just one darn minute! (none / 0) (#6)
by cpinva on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 11:28:25 PM EST

this administration most certainly does have values, as does the republican party as a whole. they are, after all, the "values voters" party.

they happen to be "sopranos family" values, but values nonetheless.

remember the infamous "18 minutes" of missing conversation, from the nixon tapes? if you find that, you'll find those missing emails.

What are you thinking? (none / 0) (#7)
by JeriKoll on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:02:35 AM EST

Does anyone here really believe that if anyone at the White House knew where any of those records still remained, that they wouldn't have been "flushed" (metaphorically) long, long ago.

Too much wishful thinking as been spent on some magical tapes somewhere.