Justice Dep‘t Abandons FOIA Changes That Would Have Permitted Gov’t Lying
- Posted on November 3, 2011 at 6:07pm by
Billy Hallowell
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President Barack Obama built his 2008 presidential campaign on “transparency” and “openness.”
Thus, the notion that the Justice Department was considering a proposal that would have allowed federal law enforcement agencies to tell people seeking information under the Freedom of Information Act that the government has no records on a subject, when it actually does, was a bit curious.
But now, following intense controversy, it seems the federal government is changing course. In a letter to Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the department said it is taking a fresh look to see if other options are available to avoid revealing sensitive law enforcement information.
Attorney General Eric Holder (AP)
Last week, the Blaze’s Liz Klimas wrote, “FOIA requests can be made by citizens and reporters to disclose information controlled by the government.” She went on to explain what the new, revised section governing this policy would read:
When a component applies an exclusion to exclude record from the requirements of the FOIA pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(C), the component utilizing the exclusion will respond to the request as if the excluded records did not exist.
Numerous groups weighed in during the public comment phase, saying that the measure would “dramatically undermine government integrity.” It seems officials may have actually heeded the groups’ advice.
The department says the proposed measure will not be included when the department issues final regulations. The department also says it wants to preserve the integrity of law enforcement records while preserving a commitment to being as open as possible about the FOIA process.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Gary P
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 2:27pmWhat a bunch of disgusting slime balls. We have to vote out the entrenched group of professional corrupt politicial mafia that are running our country. They are totally flushing us down the tubes. They have no regard for We the People and seem to have no knowledge of history.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:14pmBet it don’t stop them from lying though.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
B-Neil
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:50pmThe Government does not lie. I know this becouse they told me so. CARRY ON McDUFF
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:19pmThey’ll still do it, but disguise it as something else. Who, in America actually, truly, trusts our government, especially our own prez??????
Report Post »bigbear_awake
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:20amhttp://www.wnd.com/?pageId=363221
Report Post »All American Woman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:33pmGreat video. I wish I could be there, I will be making phone calls. Thanks for posting.
Report Post »Drakkhanlord
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:31pmme and mine will be in DC on 11/11/11…
all Americans should join us…
it is time to take the Country back.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:18amFunny how these commies hate the Freedom of Information Act. Their Financial Reform bill destroyed FOIA pertaining to the SEC. How is that supposed to help the American people? We are loosing our freedoms every day and we don’t hear about the half of it.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:35am“Dramatically undermine government integrity”
WAYY too late for that.
They’re all corrupt.
Report Post »a_lady_patriot
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:00amI think they are lying.
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:05amMy first thought also! Maybe they are lying about being able to lie, how would we know????
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:23amI think the fact that Holder and the D.O.J. even considred this speak volumes about their idea of “JUSTICE”. IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Report Post »Those who have been entrusted to protect and defend our freedom are the ones destroying the soveriernity,freedom,and economic success of our nation. And now they are trying to insulate themselve for the fall out as Americans are waking up in record numbers. The gaint that is our citizenry will crush the buearcratic bohemoth that is Washington D.C.
It’s time to strip all powers not specificly given from the capital and return them to the states. End the Federal Reserve, end the U.N. POLICIES OF USING OUR DEFENSE AS NATION BUILDERS.
NHABE64
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:15amBarack Obama does not know the meaning of the word transparency and truth. Eric Holder is yet another of Obama’s cockroaches that will soon resign in shame. Disgusting and despicable!
Report Post »chasbronson
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:06amLying bastards
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:34amHa ha! Not that’s funny. Nothing stops them now from lying. The federal, state and most local gov’s are nothing other than criminal racketts. They are nothing BUT a bunch of liars and thieves and sellouts. Nowadays cops are more interested in lining their pockets and protecting the rackett than getting drug dealers and thugs. It is all about hiding and lying in wait for some hapless working stiff to fall prey to a radar gun or red light camera.
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 7:59am“Government integrity” is an oxymoron.
Report Post »hud
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 9:21amPOOR——And has been for many tears.
Report Post »desertspeaks
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:16amThe FOIA requests will be ignored as they have been doing anyway, or classified so as to be out of reach.
Report Post »Song and dance with a little misdirection, we are being played. Although they have officially backed off from implementing their plan, it will take place anyway. Just under the radar, not unlike fast and furious.. Hopefully, it will backfire just as bad if not worse than fast and furious.
UPSETVET
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 6:41amThis is another holder scam. Remember, the right hand needs to watch what the left hand is doing at all times. This was an attempt to take the pressure off of Holder and others employed by the DOJ in the midst of the “Fast & Furious” scandal. I’m wondering, “Why the change in direction?”
I have no confidence in the DOJ, ATF or Homeland Security personel and my confidence in the FBI is much less today than it was a few years ago. It seems that those who have been intrusted to protect and serve the American citizens have been transformed into our enemies who are NOT to be trusted.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:10am“Undermine Government Integrity” – How do you undermine something that most of us do not believe exists. The DOJ and the Atty Gen are so corrupt that they have no integrity and they lie to the american public as a matter of course.
OMG
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 4:02amI was laughing so hard at the headlie on the main page a bout “government Integrity” that i put my cig out in the cactus darn i hat e it when people move stuff .
Report Post »prage2001
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:30amAm I living in the Twilight Zone? How does a rational American come to the conclusion that this, in any way, would further the betterment of the USA? It concerns me that someone actually thought this would pass through Congress. I am just……wow!
Report Post »wbalzley
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:53amYES! Our government has not gone COMPLETELY mad. There is yet HOPE!
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:34amThis was a bad idea from the start. Of course, I’ve come to expect this kind of thing from a lying, corrupted, incompetent criminal government.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:55amOnce it got out it would be hard to justify. This is the kind of act that opens allot of peoples eyes and makes them see the direction the progressives are taking this country. It is just like how they all of a sudden stopped referring to themselves as progressives. Allot of folks did not know what that was until Beck educated his viewers. When people started to understand what a progressive is the progressives had to cover their tracks. I will continue to call them progressives because that is what they truely are. They might be trying to hide this from America but you have to call a spade a spade, right?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:15amThese people are preparing for their Imperial Rule!
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