White House Blocks Access To Visitor Logs

Secret Service Records Made Off-Limits After Watchdog Review Of Lobbyist Meetings

(AP)  The White House and the Secret Service quietly signed an agreement last spring in the midst of a major lobbying scandal declaring that records identifying visitors to the White House complex are not subject to public disclosure.

The Bush administration did not reveal the existence of the memorandum of understanding until last fall. The White House is using it to deal with a legal problem on a separate front — a ruling by a federal judge ordering the production of Secret Service logs identifying visitors to the office of Vice President Dick Cheney.

In a federal appeals court filing three weeks ago, the administration's lawyers used the memo in a legal argument aimed at overturning the judge's ruling. The Washington Post is suing for access to the Secret Service logs.

The five-page document dated May 17 declares that all entry and exit data on White House visitors belongs to the White House as presidential records rather than to the Secret Service as agency records. Therefore, the agreement states, the material is not subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

In the past, Secret Service logs have revealed the comings and goings of various White House visitors, including Monica Lewinsky and Clinton campaign donor Denise Rich, the wife of fugitive financier Marc Rich, who received a pardon in the closing hours of the Clinton administration.

The memo last spring was signed by the White House and Secret Service the day after a Washington-based group asked a federal judge to impose sanctions on the Secret Service in a dispute over White House visitor logs for Jack Abramoff, a once-powerful but now disgraced lobbyist.

The chief counsel to another Washington-based group suing to get Secret Service logs calls the creation of the memo "a political maneuver couched as a legal one."

"It appears the White House is actually manufacturing evidence to further its own agenda," Anne Weismann, a Justice Department lawyer for 19 years and now chief counsel to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said Friday.

The White House and the Secret Service declined to comment.

Last year in the Abramoff scandal, the Bush administration, in response to three lawsuits, provided an incomplete picture of how many visits Abramoff and his lobbying team made to the White House.

The task of digging out Abramoff-White House links fell to a House of Representatives committee that collected the lobbyist's billing records and e-mails. The House report found 485 lobbying contacts with presidential aides over three years, including 10 with top Bush administration aide Karl Rove.

As part of its security function of protecting the White House complex, the Secret Service uses the log information to conduct background checks on people prior to daily appointments and visits.

The memorandum of understanding is an unusual step because it deals with an unsettled area of law.

Federal courts will ultimately decide whether records identifying White House visitors and who they are going to see are under the legal control of the Secret Service or are presidential records publicly releasable solely at the discretion of the White House.

[bildooreilly]

What's that old saying... "If you have nothing to hide"....

[bildooreilly]

Funny the government wants to know every little thing about it's peasants then they operate in a shroud of corrupt secrecy themselves... This is called communism folks, this isn't democracy, this is exactly how the soviets used to work... Back in the USSA...

[tejasdemo]

Crooks and liars. That's all they really are.

[bildooreilly]

Also they had to hide how many times male prostitute Jeff Gannon has spent the night at the white house since he was exposed as a fake reporter.

[jagclt]

This is just the latest in a long, long series of things done in secret and called 'security'. I truly wonder how long, if ever, it will take to undue the damage done to civil rights, public access, FOIA requests, et al. by this administration.

I do know one thing. I joined the ACLU yesterday, and this is exactly why.

[jagclt]

This is just the latest in a long series of steps to imperialism the Bush administration by the Bush administration. I wonder if we will ever be able to undue the damage to our Constitutional freedoms, civil rights, and others issues caused by this administration.

One silver lining: stuff just like this caused me to join and contribute to the ACLU yesterday. No kidding.

[rharrin1]

property that in years past belonged to secret service bush decides it is white house property.
These lying sneak thieves have to be removed.

[cantshutup]

I would too if I had a prostitute-using, gay, meth abusing freak coming to my house every Monday!

[cantshutup]

...and just imagine the visitors we don't even know about!

[fryedbread]

I wish i could at least say I was surprised...




"You are the dead," repeated the iron voice.
"It was behind the picture," breathed Julia.
"It was behind the picture," said the voice. "Remain exactly where you are. Make no movement until you are ordered."

;)

[cantshutup]

actually I should have clarified that it's not that mr bush's monday visitor is gay, it's that he was a hypocrit by secretly being gay while at the same time preaching to his followers that being gay is wrong and also influencing white house policy...

[besscannon-2009]

Why in the world is Bush always trying to hide information? Criminals are always trying to hide information that might incriminate them, so, what does that make Bush? What does it take for the people to realize Bush is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time? We left him get away with arranging his own election, starting a useless war in Iraq and running our country's economy on the rocks, now, we continue you to allow him to send our young people to die in his useless war. Boy! Are we a bunch of wimps! If we continue this way, we deserve what happens to us. It is all so crazy what we allow George W. Bush to keep pulling off. And we impeached Clinton just for *** around. Nobody died for his folly.

[educates]

What on earth does Cheney and Bush have to hide. Go figure.
Impeach the Prez and the Veep.
ed u cates

Back in the USSA...
Posted by bildooreilly

Huh? USSA?

[webdepot]

Gee.... awfully quiet from the likes of One_UnAmerican and his friends..

Must be because Dubya and company used the "if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about" argument in defending his warrantless snooping... Kinda puts a clamp on their mouths when their idol makes it very apparent HE has something to hide.

IMPEACH

[bildooreilly]

Webdepot, this is the most secretive, us government ever. The visitors logs are the least of what they're hiding. The first thing Junior did after getting selected the first time was to lock up his daddys records for eternity... and it's been downhill ever since..


nccolsens, BACK IN THE USSA... if these people want to act like communists and run our government like communists then I'll call it like I see it.

[bildooreilly]

These guys are supposed to be public servants not some sort of american royalty... talk about a bunch of crooks.

[bildooreilly]

and the media they're no better for the most part, they aid and abet these criminals.

[historyman45]

So it is OK for the feds to open my mail and tap my phone without a warrant, but the visitor l;ogs to the White House are confidential? Sounds to me like W has forgotten his oath to defend the constitution instead opting to set himself apart from every other American.

[Renegade.Rivers]

The majority of the American people are total unaware of just how much of a criminal operation is being run out of the White House, and the majority of those whose who are, don't care, because they are getting their cut too. This includes most of the major news networks in the United States who are either happy to take the payoffs, or else daily threaten with fines, and loss of their licenses, if the don't play the game the way the White House wants it to be played. Why do you think that Dubua was so adamant about Al Jazeera news, it because they don't answer and depend on Washington, for their news broadcast information.

[bluestardad]

This House of Cards will fall!

[kphx]

White house visitor logs are not public business you know. The dumb Americans don't need to know who is comes to and goes out of white house and how many times. Because it is not public business. And don't ever question your Prez, you traitors. This is democracy that we practice here in the U.S.A, you un-patriots. Go to church and get groped, that's all you are entitled to.

Is it not enough that we had one watergate scandal ? Hail the Emperor and his coterie. This is democracy that we practice here.

[antoniof123]

Each time something new comes out it reminds me of the Nixon times. He tried the same thing until guess what he lost everything because as new information comes out some people get scared and talk. Then it all comes apart. So shall be the way of this group who has had it their way and now it is falling down around them. I can not say that I am sorry because things have gone backwards. The only good thing that comes out of this is that this will be know as the worst administration of all times. Nothing now can change that too many people agree with it. As history will show the whole family is a bunch of loser and nothing more what a legacy. Never trust the Republicans again they are what they are twice is enough.

[bobgee_1999]

Don't ever let it be said we learned nothing from the Nixon years, not mention the Reagan years. Bush saw those emamples of imperial presidency, and knows as long as he is arrogant enough and plays stupid the American people will raise their PBR cans and let rip a rebel yell of, "You tell 'em, Dubya!" And speaking of Nixon, are we about done pretending to mourn the guy who pardoned Tricky ***, the first president to openly show his contempt for the American public?

[rsnew13]

I was out yesterday when this article was posted. I agree with every comment made here.
It is strange that there are no comments defending the actions of this administration about this issue. Was it posted long? I had seen it on other news agencies web site and had to search for it here.
I feel comfortable posting here. I have a very hard time digesting FoxNews. I had tried to send some emails from their web site several times that were not in line with their "rose-tinted glasses" point of view and they "never" made to their destination. Needless to say, my computer encountered strange experiences afterwards. My comments were not threatening, but they pointed out how unbalanced the actions were coming from this administration. I questioned whose looking out for the American peoples interest here?
I questioned why are we always looking in someone else's back yard (Iraq) instead of dealing with our own issues (Hurricane Katrina's recovery along the Gulf Coast)?

[joshuah3]

I find it disturbing that cbs had to throw up a "Clinton" smokescreen, before getting to the real meat of this story which involves cheney visitors and abramhof visits. Is it fear, or allegience that keeps our major media outlets from using the agression necessary to expose the cancer currently rotting our democracy?

[frankly6]

Any Republicans care to explain why Bush and co. are hiding this information?

[lukebize]

I am just curious as to what authority allows the Secret Service to "negotiate a contract" with the White House?

What authority makes the Secret Service a sovereign entity that can negotiate contracts at all?

If the Secret Service is NOT authorized to negotiate contracts, then the contract is worthless and void.

If the Secret Service IS authorized to enter into such contracts without the participation of Congress, then all other agencies must also be so entitled. The various subdepartments in the DoD can negotiate with other agencies to continue its operations, the DOJ can go on strike and forget trying cases, and so on.

Sounds to me codified corruption. I expect little else from the Bush Administration anymore.

[victoriarum]

"Fear not the stupidity of idiotic human
language, as they fear thy self in human soul."

God Bless

[joesal698]

What are these neoconmen trying to hide again this time?

More evidence of war profiteering? Secret deals with the oil industry? Or perhaps with the pharmaceuticals?

The level of deceit in this White House is sickening!

[docpeter-2009]

"The five-page document dated May 17 declares that all entry and exit data on White House visitors belongs to the White House as presidential records rather than to the Secret Service as agency records. Therefore, the agreement states, the material is not subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act."

What a bunch of hogwash! The last time I checked GWB, or any president for that matter, doesn't own The White House. The American people/tax payers "own" The White house. I, for one being a tax payer and an American citizen all my life, want to know who, how and when whoever entered my house.

Wouldn't everyone want to know when someone comes in and leaves their private house? Why not your public house?

[macusweil]

What is the prepubescent criminal mind of Dubba trying to hide from the American people? He knows that's how they snagged "slick Willy" and his fishy cigar so what is this president hiding??

[hbevis]

I don't like the idea of the White House being able to hide records of any kind. It makes no sense that they should be able to do this at all. What makes the Secret Service think they have the power to make contracts with anyone to do with a matter like this.

hbevis

[peacethinker-2009]

I don't know why there's not more outrage at how the Bush crew seems to skirt or break the law in so many cases. It's almost as if the public can't even see it anymore. I feel sad for America and the world that this is the best we can do.

What the heck is George W Bush trying to hide?

I guess he's still covering up the tracks of the financial dealings of Cheney and those who have bought the Bush Administration.

Ahhh, the American Government - the "best" money can buy.

[condumism]

Jeff Gannon will soon be called to tystify under oath and with a lie detector strapped to his *** on why he visited the White house 163 times.

[condumism]

The Rove/Bush homosexual triangle with Jeff Gannon is the last thing these lying facsit Republicon want exposed to america.

[j-whitman]

Get these monsterous idiots out of our White House or paint it another color.

The Bush Administration is as corrupt as they come - this explains his need to hide the records of lobbyist visits to the Whitehouse from the American people.

What needs to happen before the majority of Americans wake up to this corrupt President and his corrupt henchmen and demand his impeachment?

While the President demands to be able to listen in on our telephone calls and read our letters, he is busy trying to hide his own records from the American people - the same folks who put him into power.

For g*ds sake people - wake up and demand that he be held accountable for his treasonous actions before it's too late.

[jimfinster]

There is no reason to restrict access to these logs unless they have something to hide.

The President should understand that he is a GUEST in the White House, not the OWNER. We the People are the owners!

[rharrin1]

It is time for everyone to contact their congress person and DEMAND that bush and cheney be removed from office.
Reading mail
eaves dropping
log at our white house
invasion of a sovereign country
lying to start invasion
killing thousands of people
bankruptcy of america
no bid contracts

When halburton over charged for fuel bush said they had to pay it back.

In corporate america a company that did that to a company would have been thrown out on its ear.

It is all about oil and profit.

We have been giving them all those profits at the pump.

Without Iraq oil would never have gone above fifty five dollars a barrel.

Time to run them out of town.

[j-whitman]

Tar & Feather the idiots,, kick them out of our country - Then paint the White House & clean the dog poop from the carpets

What we have here is a President and an administration that have something to hide. While they demand the right to listen in on telephone calls and read your mail, they are trying to hide their own corrupt dealings.

This is a President who has gone to far.

This is a President who is betraying the United States for his own profit.

This is a President who is not fit for his duties.

This is a President who should be impeached for his crimes against the American people.

[sjc_1]

The White House is the People's house and we have a right to know who visits. This started with the VP hiding who he met with about energy on government time, with government money and in a governement building. He claimed we had no right to know. We have a right to know if the VP for President are in collusion with the bad guys and are harming the country..you bet we do!

[jimesmith2]

When will the People finally have enough of this criminal activity. This is no "Presidency" -- it's looked at by this Administration as if it's a monarchy or dictatorship. Let's make the rules as we go and then let's make more rules to cover our tracks. 2 years left of this arrogant leader and counting down.

[jimesmith2]

Condumism --

"homosexual triangle". I'm no fan of Bush, but homosexual triangle??? Maybe you should check your Fruit Loops tomorrow morning for planted bugs to see if the government is listening in too?

[jimesmith2]

ainttaken

I'd love to see Bush pay for his lies and hubris, but I don't know if the democrats have the finesse to pull that off without bumbling it.

I think Bush will end his presidency with the lowest of poll numbers (except for those loving christian warmongers with their heads up their ***) and in complete shame. History will even be less kind to this war dodging, pious, silver spoon fed elitist. We will suffer for years due to this Administration's policies. Maybe, just maybe, we might be spared a Jeb Bush presidency now. Let's just hope that George W. and Pat Robertson resist most of the voices in their head.

[jimesmith2]

BTW --

I had my emails to Fox News returned also. Unless you probably kiss *** for O'Reilly or their point of view, they don't want to hear it. I think they will find themselves with the same ratings as this shameful president in due time. Look how long it took for people to start criticizing this president for fear of being labeled anti-American and being on the side of the terrorists -- and let's not forget throwing in something about 9/11 in there too. If my memory serves me, the only person ever to criticize anything remotely connected to 9/11 was the blonde bimbo Anne Coulter who called the widows greedy ***. Anne in a nutshell (or being a nutshell) represents the core mindset of fear and hatred exhibited by the 30% of misgided Americans still backing this president.

[jimesmith2]

SinginRick

Give me a _ _ _ _ ING BREAK! Here we go again with "Christianity under attack mentality.

But, in specific answer to your question. I don't think that simply because someone calls themselves a Christian that they actually "get" the principles of Christianity. Jesus wouldn't have been on TV hawking fake healing waters and he sure as hell wouldn't need Pat Robertson saying there's someone out in Des Moines who is feeling pain on the right side of their head and God is healing them -- now just send in your last pennies and let God know how appreciative you are. Jesus was for the poor, my friend. Not, the Christian leaders loading up their bank accounts and egos in his name. Isn't that called blasphemist anyway? I'm tired of politicians and Christian leaders hiding behind BS. It's easy to kiss babies, evoke the name of "Christ" and basically living a life of hypocrisy while calling up hookers to spank you while you're wife is at home with your kids. So, if you feel that is your brand of Christianity and it isn't subject to criticism because you're so ignorant to think that anything attaching itself to God is true, then yeah, you're right, I'm always that unkind to that kind of hypocrisy-based Christianity. Now, get a life or offer a real argument.

singinrick wrote:

"Are you always this kind to Christians?"

There are too many "fake" christians masquerading as christians.

It's time they stop "selecting" which aspects of christianity they wish to follow.