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FOIA News: Defense Secretary's emails targeted by FOIA request

FOIA News (2015-2023)Allan BlutsteinComment

Non-profit files FOIA for Carter emails

Carten Cordell, Federal Times, December 22, 2015

Defense Secretary Ash Carter admitted last week that he used a private email account to conduct official business, and now a government accountability nonprofit wants to see the emails.

Cause for Action, an organization focused on regulatory and fiscal transparency, has filed a Freedom of Information Act-request for all of Carter’s correspondence from the account, in addition to other messages.

The D.C.-based nonprofit claims that by using a private account, Carter may have violated provisions of the Federal Records Act, which governs the preservation of official government documents.

Amendments made to the FRA in 2014 forbid government workers to use private email addresses for official business unless the emails are copied to an authorized federal email account.

Read more here.