The latest missing-emails
saga in the Obama administration centers on the disastrous Obamacare exchange
rollout in October, with Michigan’s Rep. Fred Upton leading the way to sort it
all out.
saga in the Obama administration centers on the disastrous Obamacare exchange
rollout in October, with Michigan’s Rep. Fred Upton leading the way to sort it
all out.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has
acknowledged that some emails sought by GOP lawmakers may have been lost or deleted
but has said its general policy was to keep emails. It blamed an
overwhelming number of emails coming in at the time of Obamacare’s launch for
the deletion of any emails, according to The Hill.
acknowledged that some emails sought by GOP lawmakers may have been lost or deleted
but has said its general policy was to keep emails. It blamed an
overwhelming number of emails coming in at the time of Obamacare’s launch for
the deletion of any emails, according to The Hill.
But the release of an Oct. 5, 2013, email that appears to show CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner instructing
subordinates to delete an email could bolster the GOP’s case that the
administration was seeking to hide emails created during Obamacare’s launch, the Hill reported.
subordinates to delete an email could bolster the GOP’s case that the
administration was seeking to hide emails created during Obamacare’s launch, the Hill reported.
“Time and again, the self-proclaimed ‘most transparent
administration’ has been anything but,” Upton said in a statement.
“And now we know that when HealthCare.gov was crashing, those in charge
were hitting the delete button behind the scenes. What was the Obama
administration trying to hide?”
administration’ has been anything but,” Upton said in a statement.
“And now we know that when HealthCare.gov was crashing, those in charge
were hitting the delete button behind the scenes. What was the Obama
administration trying to hide?”
House Republicans have previously
charged that former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner intentionally
wiped her computer hard drive in order to avoid scrutiny over the agency’s
targeting of conservative groups.
The IRS says the
hard drive crashed on its own, resulting in a loss of the data.
charged that former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner intentionally
wiped her computer hard drive in order to avoid scrutiny over the agency’s
targeting of conservative groups.
The IRS says the
hard drive crashed on its own, resulting in a loss of the data.
Meanwhile, it appears that maybe this email deletion/destruction stuff is all a
Democrat thing.
ProPublica reports that New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has
installed an odd IT system that deletes any emails more than
90 days old that users hadn’t specifically saved — a much more aggressive
stance than many other states. The policy shift was first reported by the Albany
Times Union.
installed an odd IT system that deletes any emails more than
90 days old that users hadn’t specifically saved — a much more aggressive
stance than many other states. The policy shift was first reported by the Albany
Times Union.
Here is a portion of ProPublica’s reporting:
“A previously unpublished memo outlining
the policy raises new questions about the state’s stated rationale for its
deletions policy. What’s more, the rules on which emails must be retained are
bewilderingly complex – they fill 118 pages – leading to further concern that
emails may not be saved at all.
the policy raises new questions about the state’s stated rationale for its
deletions policy. What’s more, the rules on which emails must be retained are
bewilderingly complex – they fill 118 pages – leading to further concern that
emails may not be saved at all.
“‘If you’re aggressively destroying your email, it looks like you’re
trying to hide something,’ said Benjamin Wright, a Dallas lawyer who has
advised companies and government agencies on records retention.
trying to hide something,’ said Benjamin Wright, a Dallas lawyer who has
advised companies and government agencies on records retention.
“The state implemented the policy as part of a move to Microsoft’s
Office 365 email system, which offers 50 gigabytes of space per email user —
enough to store hundreds of thousands or even millions of emails for each state
worker. The state’s version of Office 365 also offers unlimited email
archiving.”
Office 365 email system, which offers 50 gigabytes of space per email user —
enough to store hundreds of thousands or even millions of emails for each state
worker. The state’s version of Office 365 also offers unlimited email
archiving.”
