“Orwellian”: Justice Department proposes lying about records under new FOIA rule
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.
In a public comment regarding the rule change, the ACLU, along with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and OpenTheGovernment.org, said the move “will dramatically undermine government integrity by allowing a law designed to provide public access to government information to be twisted to permit federal law enforcement agencies to actively lie to the American people.”
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Fast & Furious? We’ve never heard of it.
dont taze me bro on October 25, 2011 at 2:06 PM
You know, at some point Congress is going to have to push back at the bureaucrats rewriting legislation or going beyond its intended purpose or there is no real reason for Congress, just declare him “King Obama I”.
AcidReflux on October 25, 2011 at 2:10 PM
I was wondering if anyone in bho’s team was working on anything like this? Sure will make holder’s mess harder for Issa and Grassley to get information? And the wh visitors logs also?
L
letget on October 25, 2011 at 2:10 PM
I was wondering if anyone in bho’s team was working on anything like this? Sure will make holder’s mess harder for Issa and Grassley to get information? And the wh visitors logs also?
L
letget on October 25, 2011 at 2:10 PM
However, Issa has subpoenaed the documents, which is different than a FOIA request.
AcidReflux on October 25, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Look at the bright side – everyone will know they are lying now, because it’s in the rules.
Vashta.Nerada on October 25, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Liars lie. I’m shocked… that they’ve waited this long to try this.
CantCureStupid on October 25, 2011 at 2:13 PM
They told me if I voted for Sarah Palin (and her running mate) we’d have a government that lies to us. And they were right.
rbj on October 25, 2011 at 2:13 PM
I bet Orwell would be outraged, he never imagined it would be taken this far.
the_nile on October 25, 2011 at 2:15 PM
“I Approve!”
crr6
Del Dolemonte on October 25, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Unstinkingbelievable, just when you think that can’t sink any lower…..
Where is the outrage lsm?
If a gop doj even THOUGHT about doing something, the spittle you would be spewing
cmsinaz on October 25, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Thanks for the clarification.
L
letget on October 25, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Orwell was warning about the future, not giving ideas.
lorien1973 on October 25, 2011 at 2:18 PM
There are lies; there are damned lies; and there is the Memory Hole.
The only thing shocking about this is that so many liberals still haven’t read their own Bible. You can bet your ass Obama’s inner circle know it cover-to-cover.
logis on October 25, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Change.
visions on October 25, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Yeah, but this is only for the current administration. As soon as there is a Republican administration then we’ll go back to the old FOIA…
yubley on October 25, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !
petefrt on October 25, 2011 at 2:32 PM
Such a stink needs to be made over this that DoJ drops it like a hot potato. Get busy, GOP. Put the spotlight on it.
petefrt on October 25, 2011 at 2:36 PM
What if who did it? Nevermind.
Christien on October 25, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Are you kidding? The average moonbat, gleefully taking a dump in the street right now, doesn’t have a care in the world about this.
“Oh, don’t worry.” [Wink, wink.] “Of course Obama will always tell US the truth. Sure, he and his administration have officially implemented a standing order of constantly, massively and systematically lying about their own policies and actions; but they’re only doing it to all those evil conservatives out there.”
logis on October 25, 2011 at 2:44 PM
It’s the double standard logis…..you know tingles and the rest of his pals would be crying foul if this guy had an R next to his name
It’s infuriating!
cmsinaz on October 25, 2011 at 2:48 PM
WOW.
This should be the # 1 top News story on every single channel, everywhere across this country.
Just wow.
bridgetown on October 25, 2011 at 2:50 PM
They’re just lying to the infidels…so it’s perfectly acceptable to their “religion of power”.
Left Coast Right Mind on October 25, 2011 at 2:52 PM
I’m sure that won’t cause ANY problems…
Maybe Obama’s DOJ needs to consider how this could be used by evil reThUGicans bent on ruling the world with their rich banker buddies who donate to Obama.
hawksruleva on October 25, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Related story: FOIA exposes Democrat Murtha’s corruption:
More:
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_47/FBI-Saw-Dark-Side-of-Rep-John-Murtha-209736-1.html?pos=hftxt
Del Dolemonte on October 25, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Once again reality mirrors fiction.
Oldnuke on October 25, 2011 at 3:25 PM
They do not have a right to privacy, when they are being paid by the tax payers…and should be accountable. If there is corruption, bribes, money laundering, paid for political favors, then we have EVERY right to know. Living or dead!!!
capejasmine on October 25, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Maybe this can be extended down to the state level, as well.
“Birth certificate? Sorry, doesn’t exist.”
Oh, wait, that might not help…
malclave on October 25, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Democrats are Above the Law. Bill Clinton proved it.
And remember, the US Navy is naming a ship after Murtha too. What a Country!
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=52834
Del Dolemonte on October 25, 2011 at 4:26 PM