Posted on 04/05/2007 3:05:15 PM PDT by Kaslin
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) has asked the Republican National Committee to provide his committee with copies of all the e-mails sent by administration officials “for partisan political purposes.”
Waxman, who is traveling in the Middle East this week with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), sent a letter to RNC Chairman Mike Duncan on Wednesday requesting his political committee to provide the government reform panel with e-mails that are still stored on RNC servers.
The government reform chairman is following up on revelations that surfaced during a hearing last week that White House political aide J. Scott Jennings delivered a 28-page PowerPoint presentation to political appointees at the General Services Administration about the GOP’s top federal and state targets for the current election cycle.
Committee members grilled GSA Administrator Lurita A. Doan about the presentation last week, and Waxman is investigating whether Doan or any of the approximately 40 GSA employees who attended the briefing violated the Hatch Act, which prevents federal employees from participating in partisan activities on government time.
Waxman is requesting any electronic messages sent or received by Jennings, top White House political adviser Karl Rove or any other White House officials using RNC email accounts regarding:
(1) the January 26, 2007, PowerPoint presentation at GSA (2) the presentation of any similar political briefings at other federal agencies or to other federal employees, or (3) the use of federal agencies or resources to help Republican candidates
This is the second such letter Waxman has sent to the RNC.
"We are going to respond appropriately" to the request, said Lisa C. Miller, the RNC communications director.
White House officials often maintain e-mail accounts through the RNC on which to send politically sensitive messages prohibited under the Hatch Act.
To read the entire letter, click on the link below.
April 4, 2007
Mike Duncan Chairman Republican National Committee 310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
Dear Mr. Duncan:
I am writing to request e-mail communications stored on Republican National Committee servers that relate to the use of federal agencies and federal resources for partisan political purposes.
Last week, the Committee held a hearing into allegations of misconduct at the General Services Administration. One of the issues examined at the hearing involved a partisan political presentation that White House Deputy Director of Political Affairs, J. Scott Jennings, made to the GSA Administrator, Lurita A. Doan, and approximately 40 GSA appointees in the GSA headquarters building on January 26, 2007. At this event, Mr. Jennings presented a 28-page PowerPoint briefing that reviewed the 2006 election results and identified the Republican party's top electoral targets in upcoming federal and state elections. Following the presentation, Ms. Doan asked her staff to consider how GSA resources could be used to help "our candidates" in the next election.
Serious questions were raised at the hearing about the legality and propriety of Mr. Jennings's presentation and the discussion that followed it. In addition, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service issued a report finding that the presentation itself and Ms. Doan's comments could be violations of the federal Hatch Act. According to a White House spokesperson, however: "This is regular communication from the White House to political appointees throughout the administration."
In communicating with GSA about the presentation, Mr. Jennings and his assistant used "gwb43.com" e-mail accounts maintained by the RNC rather than their official White House e-mail accounts. In their e-mails, they described the presentation as a "close hold" and said that "we're not supposed to be emailing it around."
To assist the Committee in its investigation of these issues, I request that you provide any electronic messages sent or received by Karl Rove, J. Scott Jennings, or any other White House officials using accounts maintained by the RNC that relate to (1) the January 26, 2007, PowerPoint presentation at GSA, (2) the presentation of any similar political briefings at other federal agencies or to other federal employees, or (3) the use of federal agencies or resources to help Republican candidates.
The Committee requests that you produce these documents on or before April 18, 2007.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee in the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set forth in House Rule X. An attachment to this letter provides additional information about how to respond to the Committee's request.
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Chairman
cc: Tom Davis
Ranking Minority Member
I hope Mike Duncan just ignores that request
This is the sick arrogance and partisan attack dogs that the spineless Repubs have allowed to develop due to their total lack of FIGHT -— they should publicly tell Waxman to shove it and then tell him to do something to earn his taxpayer-provided paycheck.
But watch — how long before we hear groveling from the gutless Repubs??
Tell this primate to FOAD.
One thing I’ll say, though, is, if I, personally, were either and appointed or elected government official, the last thing I would do is use an RNC email account for anything. If a non work account is desired for certain things, use Yahoo. Beyond that, and anonymous handle is a good idea. Don’t represent yourself as yourself if its anything you may regret later. And even then, the PTB might still force you to reveal even those cases.
Nixon could have saved himself a world of trouble if he had simply asked like Waxone. LOL
I hope they provide WaxMan with their middle finger!
Here comes the "thanks to all you cut-and-run conservatives for staying home" GOP bootlickers.
I request a proctological scope be used to inspect what documents he may be hiding up his nasal nares.
“Waxman is investigating whether Doan or any of the approximately 40 GSA employees who attended the briefing violated the Hatch Act”
Meanwhile, Waxman is overseas violating the Logan Act.
Screw you Waxman. How about the fact that you are usurping constitutional powers from both the President AND the Senate. See Article 2, Section 2.
He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur
Note that the HOUSE is not included in that.
How about the fact that you (Waxman) and Pelosi are violating the Logan Act, and should be JAILED:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
That's just from your trip to Syria. Don't even get me started on the entire "There's a new congress in town" speech about Bush's Veto powers.
You and your ilk are traitors to the Constitution.
Where do these arrogant bastards find the time? On the other hand, we were warned.
Thanks, all you stay-at-homers.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
This should be the entire response...
Tell Henry that Leaky Leahy has a message from the Vice President for him.
It's a tag team match in this corrupt "Two-Party Cartel". While you watch this they just stole another 50 Billion for you to pay.
Is that a real picture of Bush?
Waxman is too ugly to be let out in public.
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