Tuesday, August 16th, 2005
http://www.conyersblog.us/Blogged by JC on 08.16.05 @ 11:46 AM ET
Latest on Downing Street Investigation
Administration Blows off FOIA Request
Lest you think we are neglecting the core Downing Street investigation, we have not. As regular readers know, on June 30, more than 51 Members and I submitted a comprehensive Freedom of Information Act request to the White House and various Agencies, to give us the information to get to the bottom of the charges inherent in the Downing Street Minutes.
Well, the time deadline for an intial reponse has lapsed, and the Administration has largely ignored us. While the Pentagon did contact my office and suggested modifications to narrow the request (which we did), we heard nothing from the White House or State Department. As a result, I submitted an appeal late last request to the White House and the State Department. Afterdowningstreet.org has a copy of the letter. I will be closely monitoring this situation in the days and weeks to come, and further legal actions may be necessary.
Conyers' Freedom of Information Act request -
http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000155.htmToday, 51 Members and I took the Downing Street Investigation to the next level by filing a Freedom of Information Act request with the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department. We also made a formal request for hearings with the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, International Relations, Armed Services, and Intelligence. Raw Story has a copy of both letters.
The FOIA request is critical because a response by the Administration is mandatory under the law. They may try to claim some of the requested material is exempt or subject to redaction, but at the end of the day they will have to say something. And whatever they say, it will help advance our investigation.
The letter to the Committee Chairs is also important. This is the first formal request for hearings in the House on the DSM. While the Chairs may choose do deny, or ignore, our requests, by doing so there will at least be some political accountability. That is to say, by denying the request they will be telling the world that they don’t think charges that the Administration went to war under false pretenses are worth investigating.
more....
White House and State Department Illegally Ignore FOIA Request
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1383August 11, 2005
Mr. Brett Gerry Ms. Margaret P. Grafeld
Associate Counsel Information and Privacy Coordinator
Office of Counsel to the President Office of Information Programs & Services
The White House A/RPS/IPS/RL
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. U.S. Department of State, SA-2
Washington, D.C. 20502 Washington, D.C. 20522-6001
Re: Freedom of Information Act Request
Dear Sir and Madam:
On June 30, 2005, I and 51 other Members of Congress requested access to “all agency records, including but not limited to handwritten notes, formal correspondence, electronic mail messages, intelligence reports and other memoranda,‿ as described in five enumerated paragraphs. A copy of the request letter is enclosed.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires your office to respond to a FOIA request within twenty business days from the date of receipt of such a request. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i). The deadline has now elapsed without any response from your office. Because the leaked memoranda from Great Britain raise serious questions over when important war-related decisions were made, time is of the essence.
I and the other Members of Congress do not wish to resort to litigation because, at this point, a cooperative approach is better suited to resolving the situation. I am available to assist your office in any way possible to facilitate the prompt release of the requested documents. If you need clarification of the request or have any questions, please contact Stacey Dansky of the House Judiciary staff at 202-225-6906.
Sincerely,
CONGRESSMAN JOHN CONYERS
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