Justice Dept. Proposes New FOIA Rule Designed to Allow Lying and Hiding Existence of Records

The proposal, which “transparency experts” call “Orwellian” begs the question; what good is the FOIA if it allows a corrupt administration to lie, and conceal the very records being sought?

The Daily Caller’s C.J. Ciaramella has the scoop:

A proposed revision to Freedom of Information Act rules would allow federal agencies to lie to citizens and reporters seeking certain records, telling them the records don’t exist.

The Justice Department has proposed the change as part of a large revision of FOIA rules for federal agencies. Specifically, the rule would direct government agencies who are denying a request under an established FOIA exemption to “respond to the request as if the excluded records did not exist,” rather than citing the relevant exemption.

The proposed rule has alarmed government transparency advocates across the political spectrum, who’ve called it “Orwellian” and say it will “twist” public access to government.

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Conservative government watchdog Judicial Watch has also lambasted the proposed rules change. (RELATED: Obama admin. pulls references to Islam from terror training materials, official says)

The news is “not surprising, coming from the Obama administration,” said Christopher J. Farrell, director of investigations and research at Judicial Watch.

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Upon taking office, President Obama released a memorandum declaring his administration was “committed to operating with an unprecedented level of openness. Specifically, he pledged to bolster the strength of the FOIA act, callingit “the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open government.”

The FOIA revisions were first published back in March – right around the time a certain foul-smelling DOJ scandal started hitting the news “Fast and Furiously”, IYKWIMAITYD.

Mike Vanderboegh of Sipsey Street Irregulars says, If they can postpone answering Gunwalker Scandal requests until they get this rule in place, we will never find out the truth.

Call, email and write your Congresscritters NOW. If they adopt this rule, they must be defunded.

 

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