The RNC Tries to Hide Its Hatch Act Violations

by emptywheel

So apparently Robert Kelner, who otherwise was very forthcoming about the massive disappearances of RNC emails, apparently saw the same thing I saw in Henry Waxman's request for RNC emails relating to violations of the Hatch Act. Here was the operative request:

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.

That is, in addition to requesting emails relating to the known instances of possible Hatch Act Violations (that is, the PowerPoint presentation on targeted Republican seats), Waxman asked for any other emails pertaining to "the use of federal agencies or resources to help Republican candidates." In a letter sent Friday giving Kelner the extension he asked for (May 9 for the PowerPoint presentation emails and May 30 for the more general Federal Agencies emails), Waxman noted the following:

I recognize that the RNC has concerns about the breadth of the Committee's April 4, 2007 request for e-mails relating to "the use of federal agencies or resources to help Republican candidates."

Concerns, huh? Like maybe the RNC wanted to keep some of its illegal political activities under wraps? Or maybe Kelner fears that this would require turning over a large proportion of RNC emails? In any case, Waxman doesn't appear to be too sympathetic:

My staff is available with you to discuss with you how the RNC can best respond to this portion of our requests.

Shorter Henry: tough shit. We're asking for emails that are evidence of potentially illegal activity. You don't get to hide those emails just because there are so damn many of them.

Comments

[DemFromCT]

Shorter Henry: tough shit. We're asking for emails that are evidence of potentially illegal activity. You don't get to hide those emails just because there are so damn many of them.

Exactly so.

[P J Evans]

There shouldn't be that many e-mails to turn over, unless they're violating the Hatch Act (and probably others as well).

Go, Henry, go!

[freepatriot]

the Hatch Act is gonna burn a lot of repuglicans. the poor doan woman is meat on the plate for a special prosecutor

is being an immunized witness in a criminal trial a reason for disbarment ???

and on another topic, did gonzo cough up the documents yet ???

I bet gonzo is gonna say "I didn't know congress was open for business on mondays" or some other batshit insane excuse

any takers ???

[m]

"the use of federal agencies or resources to help Republican candidates."

That include DOJ. So the RNC must provide mails from any accounts they run for DOJ staffers. That is separate from the calls for RNC mails from WH staffers, eh?

[William Ockham]

m,

There is no evidence that DOJ staffers got RNC email accounts. They got stuck using yahoo (Tasia Scolinas) or gmail (Michael Beck).

[Veritas78]

Only the high-class White House criminals get to use RNC email accounts. It's a status thing.

[Jodi]

William Ockham
Veritas78,

well the highest class guy of all Mr Rove had his own domain as well.

... just like me, and many others, the internet astutes.

:)