The discussion centers on the use of non-governmental email domains by RNC officials to distance themselves from the White House email system, potentially violating the Presidential Records Act of 1978. The act mandates that all official communications be documented within the White House system. The conversation highlights the case of Susan Ralston, who used "georgewbush.com" and "rnchq.org" email accounts to communicate with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, suggesting a deliberate effort to evade legal scrutiny. This practice raises serious legal and ethical questions regarding executive privilege and accountability.
PREREQUISITESPolitical analysts, legal scholars, historians, and anyone interested in the intersection of law and political communications will benefit from this discussion.
When I worked in the Clinton White House, people brought in their personal computers if they were engaged in any campaign work, but all official transactions had to be done within the White House system as stipulated by the Presidential Records Act of 1978. (The PRA requires that "the President shall take all such steps as may be necessary to assure that the activities, deliberations, decisions, and policies that reflect the performance of his constitutional, statutory, or other official or ceremonial duties are adequately documented and that such records are maintained as Presidential records.") Having forsaken the use of Executive Office of the President e-mail, executive privilege has been sacrificed. Moreover, Rove's and the others' practice may not be legal.
The revelation of the gwb43 e-mails illuminates the widespread exploitation of nongovernmental e-mail by Bush White House officials, which initially surfaced in the investigations and trial of convicted Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Susan Ralston, Abramoff's former personal assistant and then executive assistant to Rove, who served as the liaison between the two men in their constant dealings, used "georgewbush.com" and "rnchq.org" e-mail accounts to communicate with Abramoff between 2001 and 2003. In one of her e-mails, Ralston cautioned that "it is better to not put this stuff in writing in [the White House] ... email system because it might actually limit what they can do to help us, especially since there could be lawsuits, etc." Abramoff replied: "Dammit. It was sent to Susan on her rnc pager and was not supposed to go into the WH system."
Gokul43201 said:This is getting scummier and scummier...
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/w...gin&adxnnlx=1176469273-QsdBJamy861PnnyoBTKA5Q