Secret files missing at National Archives

The Washington Times ^ | May 1, 2012 | Jim McElhatton

[Free ThinkerNY]

The National Archives and Records Administration has lost track of dozens of boxes of confidential and secret government files at its records center just outside of Washington, the latest in a series of such incidents spanning more than a decade.

The missing classified materials include four boxes of top-secret restricted files from the Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as records from several U.S. Navy offices, documents obtained by The Washington Times show.

The problems came to light after a three-year investigation by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office of Inspector General. While the investigation ended last year, officials recently provided a copy of the report on their findings in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

It’s not the first time the inspector general's office has raised concerns about missing files at the Washington National Records Center. According to the report, the office conducted previous inventories of classified materials in 1998 and 2004, concluding that boxes were missing during both of those searches.

“According to those staffers that can recall, minimal corrective actions were taken,” the inspector general's office noted in the report on its most recent investigation.

NARA officials say they cooperated with investigators and insist there is no indication that any of the boxes were stolen. Instead, they blame the problems on “bad data” for a tiny fraction of the millions of boxes stored in the Washington National Records Center, where 250,000 boxes enter the Suitland facility each year.

Joe Newman, a spokesman for the nonpartisan watchdog group Project on Government Oversight (POGO), said the inspector general’s report raised troubling but not unexpected questions.

[DManA]

When when when are they going to start checking in democrats’ pants when they leave that place?

[cripplecreek]

Check the International Crisis group. That’s where Sandy Berger works for Soros with the rest of the high security lefty former govt officials.

[Proud_texan]

Okay, haul in Berger....

[bgill]

Sandypants stikes again?

[dfwgator]

Check Sandy Berger’s pants.

[Freestate316]

They need to have TSA agents stationed at the door!

[Izzy Dunne]

They need to have TSA agents stationed at the door!

No, all they can find is iPods.

[Paine in the Neck]

Start the search in John Deutch’s study and then check Sandy Berger’s sock drawer.

[Triple]

I bet this contains the boxes that house the video tapes from the White House and WH parking lot on the day Foster died, and the tapes from the multiple cameras that filmed the bombing of the Murrah federal building in OKC.

They sure as hell are never going to see the light of day...

[Political Junkie Too]

Have they looked behind the copy machine?

-PJ

[TLI]

Go look in Hillery's bedroom...

.

[Steamburg]

Campaign research!

[JrsyJack]

Does this mean we will never see John Kerry’s service files?

[NonValueAdded]

Let me guess, Kerry’s original DD-214 was in the box, right?

[Mr. K]

Travel records from Kenya around the time Obambi was born?

[petitfour]

Sounds related to Jonathan Pollard. That’s my initial thought. Could be anything.

[FreeAtlanta]

[philman_36]

@OIG Semiannual Report to Congress OCTOBER 1, 2010 to MARCH 31, 2011Mishandling of Classified Documents Continuing security violations at the Washington National Records Center (WNRC) prompted the Office of Inspector General to initiate an investigation in the interest of National Security. Pursuant to the completion of an inventory at NARA’s Suitland facility of Top Secret and/or Restricted Data materials, 81 boxes of this material remain missing. This investigation was closed subject to continuing updates regarding the recovery of remaining material.

@OIG Semiannual Report to Congress APRIL 1, 2011 to SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Mishandling of Classified Materials Continuing security violations at the Washington National Records Center (WNRC) prompted the OIG to initiate an investigation in the interest of National Security. Pursuant to the completion of an inventory at NARA’s Suitland facility of Top Secret (TS) and Restricted Data (RD) materials, 80 boxes of TS/RD material remain missing. This investigation was closed subject to continuing updates regarding the recovery of remaining material. NARA stated they have been working diligently since 2006 to correct issues associated with decades of records transfers in and out of the WNRC which lacked documentation needed for adequate identification and control of classified National Security Information. An OIG audit is now being conducted at this facility. During the audit, alleged threats were made to OIG audit staff and several security incidents have been reported.

Isn't that an interesting statement. Who made the threats?

Nothing after that...
@Current Semi-Annual Report to Congress

There seem to be lots of problems at NARA as the reports detail.

[mo]

The employees of We the People in DC seem ever more confused about their job descriptions.