Millions of Bush Administration E-mails Found

The AP reports that computer technicians found 22 million missing White House e-mails from the George W. Bush administration as part of litigation brought against the Executive Office of the President in 2007 by two private groups - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the National Security Archive. The two groups alleged the Bush White House failed to install an electronic record-keeping system.

Before the emails are released to the public, the National Archives will have to process the records for release. The records won't be available until 2014 at the earliest.

For more details regarding the e-mail discovery, click here.

FBI receives worst FOIA performance award

The National Security Archive awarded the FBI its Rosemary Award for the worst FOIA performance by a federal agency, the AP reported. In the past four years, 66 percent of those requesting information were told that the FBI had found no responsive records. In 2008, only 0.5 percent of requesters received all data they asked for. The FBI doesn't check cross-reference names, the entire file or paper/field office records unless it is specifically asked to do so.

The FBI tells two out of every three Freedom of Information Act requesters that it can't find the records they asked for — a failure rate five times higher than other major federal agencies, a private study has found.

The FBI's performance results from an outdated and deliberately limited search process, according to the National Security Archive, a private group that publishes declassified government documents and files many FOIA requests.

The Archive awarded the FBI its Rosemary Award for the worst Freedom of Information Act performance by a federal agency. The award is named for former President Richard M. Nixon's secretary Rose Mary Woods, known for re-enacting her claim to have accidentally erased 18 1/2 minutes of a White House tape recording when she stretched to answer a phone. It's given annually around Sunshine Week, when journalism organizations promote open government and freedom of information.

More here.

Federal judge orders that Cheney's records will be public

The ruling hailed another victory for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which was concerned that Cheney's files would not make their way to the National Archives because of a narrow interpretation of the Presidential Records Act.

Vice President Dick Cheney must preserve a broad range of records from his time in office, a federal judge ordered Saturday, ruling in favor of a private watchdog group.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that the records are not excluded from preservation under Presidential Records Act, which gives the national archivist responsibility over the custody of and access to the records at the end of a president's final term.

The Bush administration had sought a narrow interpretation of the act to allow for fewer materials to be preserved by the National Archives.

More here.

A GREAT FOI Job....

THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE, an independent, non-profit research institute and library located at George Washington University, is seeking a full-time Freedom of Information Coordinator. The Coordinator manages the Archives FOIA Microsoft Access database; works with federal agencies on Archive FOIA requests and FOIA issues; counsels the public about the FOIA and conducts FOIA training; assists the Archive's legal staff with secrecy litigation and advocacy; and assists Archive analysts in crafting FOIA requests and appeals.

Applicants should have strong organizational skills and attention to detail; a demonstrated interest in current events, national security policy, foreign relations and other similar substantive areas; good interpersonal and negotiating skills; and writing experience. Applicants must have a master's degree or relevant work experience and computer literacy, including
experience with Microsoft Access and Microsoft Word. This is a full-time position. Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package available. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and list of references by July 25, 2008, via mail or e-mail to:

Sue Bechtel
The National Security Archive
2130 H St. NW, Suite 701
The Gelman Library
Washington, DC 20037
Email: sbechtel@gwu.edu