White House: Old Computers Were Destroyed

Admin. Tells Judge Seeking Missing E-Mail Data That Hard Drives Were Removed For Physical Destruction

(CBS/AP)  Older White House computer hard drives have been destroyed, the White House disclosed to a federal court Friday in a controversy over millions of possibly missing e-mails from 2003 to 2005.

The White House revealed new information about how it handles its computers in an effort to persuade a federal magistrate it would be fruitless to undertake an e-mail recovery plan that the court proposed.

"When workstations are at the end of their lifecycle and retired ... the hard drives are generally sent offsite to another government entity for physical destruction," the Office of Administration's Chief Information Officer, Theresa Payton, said in a sworn declaration filed with U.S. Magistrate Judge John Facciola.

It has been the goal of a White House Office of Administration "refresh program" to replace one-third of its workstations every year in the Executive Office of the President, according to the declaration.

Some, but not necessarily all, of the data on old hard drives is moved to new computer hard drives, the declaration added.

In proposing an e-mail recovery plan Tuesday, Facciola expressed concern that a large volume of electronic messages may be missing from White House computer servers, as two private groups that are suing the White House allege.

Facciola proposed the drastic approach of going to individual workstations of White House computer users after the White House disclosed in January that it recycled its computer backup tapes before October 2003. Recycling - taping over existing data - raises the possibility that any missing e-mails may not be recoverable.

At a House committee hearing last month, a computer expert who previously worked at the White House called the e-mail system "primitive" and said it was set up in a way that created a high risk that data would be lost from White House servers where it was being archived.

Under pressure to provide details about its computer system, the White House told the congressional committee that it never completed work that began in 2003 on a planned records management and e-mail archiving system. The White House canceled the project in late 2006 and says it is still working on a new version.

In the absence of a permanent archiving system, the White House has been archiving e-mails on White House servers since early in the administration.

The White House says it does not know if any e-mails are missing, but is looking into the matter.

It would be costly and time-consuming for the White House to institute an e-mail retrieval program that entails pulling data off each individual workstation, the court papers filed Friday state.

The White House said the judge's request that forensic copies of hard drives in use during the period of March to October 2003 be made, with the goal of finding any existing e-mail data, would be "draconian" as it would require expensive and time-consuming steps that would need to be outsourced to a third party.

The government said that CREW and the National Security Archives, the plaintiffs in the case, "simply can't justify" that the Office of the Chief Information Officer and the EOP

"incur significant time and resource expense on the mere possibility (however unlikely) that some useful material may be restored. Because the allegation of missing e-mail from archives is unconfirmed, because the allegation of missing e-mails from back-up tapes is conjectural, and because the computer workstations are unlikely to house significant, if any, relevant material the costs of a forensic copy process would far outweigh any speculative benefits."

Read the White House's response.
Read Theresa Payton's affadavit.

[yongamerica]

This is a smoke screen. Anyone that runs an IT department even in a small company knows that email messages are stored in two places, the email server and possibly the workstation. Also known to IT professionals is that all corporate server data, especially email is backed up daily on tape or some other long term storage.

According to federal law all emails from the white house must be archived and a system is in place to archive every email generated by the white house.

[forthepeopl1]

BEFORE VOTING FOR THIS MAN know just who and what you are voting for... It is now time for Senator John McCain and his implementation of the John Boyden, Esq. plan to "disappear" the Navajo of Arizona, so as to profit from the sale of Coal under their land, to be brought to Justice for criminal violation of the United States own Human Rights Laws, in a pattern of behavior that mirrors that of NAZI GERMANY and it''''s Genocide of the Jews of Europe.. Along with him, officials of the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs who arranged to embezzle the licensing money paid in by Peabody Western Coal, supposedly for use to help the Navajo, but embezzled anyway, along with officials of the Bureau of Land Management and Mines, who manipulate the wildlife rights of American Indians every year, so as to reduce their number, concentration and ability to prosper by living off the land. In the most BRAZEN coordinated effort of Genocide in History, corrupt public officials are literally murdering the Navajo of Arizona and converting their lives and their lands into instant personal gain, by selling them off under the table to mining industry and the Power Industry. In Arizona, John McCain claims there is a "Range War" going on in the Black Mesa. please go to this site and find out what mcshame is www.Acsa.net/cain2004.org

[incog-nito]

They must be people are idiots. It''s not about old computers. It''s about RECORDS that can and should be backed up.

[neobrian-2009]

NOBODY Believes ANYTHING that comes from,
The Crooked House
These Dirty White Collar Criminals should be locked in a small house.With bill collectors ringing the phones incessantly and Jimi Hendrix `s rendition of'' The Star Spangled Banner'' playing loudly.
Eating only beans and cornbread and drinking tap water they should live this way for a month.
Then they can work two jobs for minimum wages
After a month,we`ll see if they are fit to be released to the Housing Project Board of Directors.

[tryhonesty]

I also have worked around IT for years, (by the way yongamerica knows, spot on)emails are stored in more than one place, government policy dictates email to be archived, period. Are any of us surprised by this BS? Shrub and Dicccky are corupt liars that occupy the White House and dishonor America. Please vote McSame and the RepubliCONs out of office this fall, and make a statement that it is "We the People" that own this country and will determine its future for Change. 1-20-09.

[hachidori]

yongamerica, yes they know that federal law requires the emails be archived, but they believe they are above the law. They were conducting lots of biz on RNC political computers because they cared more about covering their tracks than they did about national security

[stn_sage]

There''s some problems here:
First, the missing emails represent a violation of Federal law, this administration was REQUIRED to retain them! For whatever reason(s), they have not!

Second, the Office of Administration''s Chief Information Officer, Theresa Payton, says the hard drives are sent off-site for destruction---if so, WHY wasn''t this immediately rpted to begin with?! Could it be this destruction was contrived after-the-fact?! And now offered as explanation after-the-fact? I think so! Additionally, it still doesn''t justify violating known law!

Third, this explanation they canceled an upgrade in 2006 from 2003, but they''re still archiving on email servers...blah,blah,blah. Well, in that case, they should still be there, huh?! Produce them!!

Fourth, the proposition that it would be too costly or time-consuming to make copies of the hard drives in use during the time period involved, is absolutely ABSURD! This govt spends billions fighting an unprovoked war monthly, it can spend tens of thousands to examine HDs, it won''t break the bank!

Conclusion: In addition to having violated the records law, the White House is now engaged in obstruction of justice, and the courts should so note it! And bring this situation to an end before the judicial system has NO credibility left! :(

[erasmus6]

"It has been the goal of a White House Office of Administration "refresh program" to replace one-third of its workstations every year in the Executive Office of the President, according to the declaration."

I''ll just bet it is. Good excuse to get rid of all those damning emails.

[timdgrim]

The White House says to archive emails..."would be too costly and time consuming..." and would leave a trail to all the treasonous criminal activity..
Just another day in the Bush States of America.

[junogoose]

I guess Nixon should have ''recycled'' his tapes too.

[reel-crazy]

White House: Old Computers Were Destroyed

Of course they were destroyed.

I would expect nothing less out of this administration that has already destroyed the America we all once knew. Our infrastructure of economic stability and it''s values of morals to the rest of the civilized planet have vanished, so why is this such a surprise to anyone with any form of intelligence?

Once again, I apologize to America for voting for him the first time around....

[ringading3]

George W Bush beat Gore and Kerry like drums! George W Bush was elected to be our President of the United States of America for two four year terms! Get over it!

Now that the best the DemonCraps can do is to ask us to elect Hillary or maybe Osama, but Michigan and Florida can''t participate in that decision.

John McCain, a true Patriot, will be the next President of the United States of America. Rally true patriots to save our country, register and VOTE!

[samrensho]

Server backups are stored in secure off-site location and often in multiple copies and for a minimum of 10 years. If these backups don''t exist then there is clearly an intent to destroy information. That comes as no surprise given the clowns in the Whitehouse. What, me worry??

[lemonskink]

It''s not too costly to spy on Americans and that data is easily protected. You''ve been duped again by the biggest law breaking Mafia in the world...the Bush/Cheney cabal. What was destroyed in the so-called Cheney office fire...or did you forget that one too.

The criminals in the Whitehouse will continue their illegal ways until Congress steps up. How about now Congress?

[samrensho]

...until Congress steps up. How about now Congress?
Posted by splamco at 12:26 PM : Mar 22, 2008

Congress step up???? ROFLOL. That will never happen because 95% of them are on the take and the remaining 5% haven''t figured the system out yet.

[rowdytexan2]

OMG! This is just priceless! The White House who is mandated to save every scrap of information from an administration simply destroys it when it is most convenient. Wonder how many they''ve destroyed in the last year to get rid of information requested by these subpoenas. ROFL!

[ghostcommand]

Tell the Big Lie, the Little Lie, the Medium Sized Lie over and over and tell it to anybody and everybody-never tell the truth--just lie, lie, lie. Fascist''s- Fascist''s-Fascist''s--So Fascist!

[mcvet]

Congress step up???? ROFLOL. That will never happen because 95% of them are on the take and the remaining 5% haven''''t figured the system out yet.


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Posted by samrensho at 12:38 PM : Mar 22, 2008
+ report abuse

Oh come on! We all know that if it were possible that Democrats would have this guy hung by now. They can''t get anything through, they can''t get any law passed, no veto override is possible because the FORMER Majority and now just barely the minority is blocking EVERYTHING. Don''t blame the Democrats when it''s OUR fault... WE put the Republican''s in Power and now they are thumbing their nose''s at WE the People.

[reel-crazy]

Server backups are stored in secure off-site location and often in multiple copies and for a minimum of 10 years. Posted by samrensho at 12:20 PM : Mar 22, 2008

I have to agree with samrensho on his previous post.

I too am surprised that CBS, or a reliable news medium, hasn''t tried to find out exactly where the backups are. The drives are actually insignificant now.

Even I have offsite backups for bills, documents, and pictures so who has them for one of the largest powers on the planet? Uh, George? Uh?

The people of the USA would like to have some HONESTY for a change....

[mcvet]

George W Bush beat Gore and Kerry like drums! George W Bush was elected to be our President of the United States of America for two four year terms! Get over it!

Now that the best the DemonCraps can do is to ask us to elect Hillary or maybe Osama, but Michigan and Florida can''''t participate in that decision.

John McCain, a true Patriot, will be the next President of the United States of America. Rally true patriots to save our country, register and VOTE!


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Posted by RingADing3 at 12:17 PM : Mar 22, 2008
+ report abuse

You really need to take off a couple of those swastika''s Sparky!! What does YOUR post have to do with the ISSUE? It''s rediculous. YOU bootlickers come on here with this "I''m superior" and "We fooled you Twice so take it" mentality. But with each passing hour, with every tic of the clock, their time grows short. Remember Sparky WE the PEOPLE have the last word. I do NOT think you or the "party" is going to like that last word though. Sieg Heil Bush

[jerr11]

Congress step up???? ROFLOL. That will never happen because 95% of them are on the take and the remaining 5% haven''''t figured the system out yet.

Posted by samrensho at 12:38 PM : Mar 22, 2008



Especially that Bush Hoe from CA, Pelosi.

This grinning idiot needs to stop gallivanting round the world meeting with Dalai Lamas and get to work here.

Impeach these Bush criminals!

[duffyn]

Pelosi is awesome and has more honesty in her little finger than bush could ever have anywhere. That man is horrible - he looks so honest so trusworthy and is anything but! Impeach the whole bush admin now!!!!

[irliberal]

Who''s going to prison for this travesty? If the answer is "nobody" then SOMEBODY isnt doing their job!

[j-whitman]

Hard drives destroyed ??? I don''t think so -- They get turned in for reutilization or public government auctions -- They are probably in the hands of the Chinese or North Koreans by now.

[erasmus6]

"Oh come on! We all know that if it were possible that Democrats would have this guy hung by now. They can''''t get anything through, they can''''t get any law passed, no veto override is possible because the FORMER Majority and now just barely the minority is blocking EVERYTHING. Don''''t blame the Democrats when it''''s OUR fault... WE put the Republican''''s in Power and now they are thumbing their nose''''s at WE the People." Posted by MCVet

WOW! No obsessive Nazi drivel! No Seig Heil Bush. This must be a first. You better check your temperature, you must have a fever or something.

[donevis-2009]

"Evidents? Naw it wasn''t!! Cuz we destroyed it". "There was too much executive privilege information on those hard drives, besides it''s Whitehouse Policy, cuz we say so." "Now go and pay attention to The Barry Bonds thing, he lied to the Grand Jury you know". " Oh please just forget that Black Water Guy who lied to the same Jury, you don''t need to look there". "Quick look!!! Britney is getting ready to be released".
God Speed USA!!

[bm6005]

Posted by RingADing3


Sc rew you. Get over it!

[tbweb]

The break in at the Passport files of 3 U.S. Senators is the electronic version of the physical break in at the Watergate building! Former Pres. Nixon was forced out of office on that issue alone and this administration is in "overtime" when its comes to committing offenses, scandals and breaking Laws with more "lives" than a cat! It makes you wonder why the Bush administration is even requesting Laws to spy and snoop when it does it anyway without Laws! Even if government computer hard drives are destroyed there should still be a backup and archive copy of the data stored offline somewhere, who are they kidding? Finally if the American people want to get to the bottom of what the Bush administration has been up to the past 7 years and find out as best as possible what really went on they better elect a Democratic majority in Congress and a Democratic President or they will never know!

[ioweign]

White House: Old Computers Were Destroyed

Your local city government sells out-dated computers.

Your County government sells their out-dated computers.

Your State government sells their out-dated computers.

Your Federal Government sells and gives away out-dated naval vessels, air craft and weapons technologies.

Something doesn''t smell right here. They can update their workstations without destroying the old ones - were Capital Property ID tags attached to these computers for tracking...

[bm6005]

It makes you wonder why the Bush administration is even requesting Laws to spy and snoop when it does it anyway without Laws!.....
Posted by tbweb

Nope it doesn''t make me wonder at all!

a) It keeps us busy arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
b) It distracts us as to what these criminal b*stards have really been doing.

[ioweign]

They get turned in for reutilization or public government auctions

Posted by j-whitman at 01:07 PM : Mar 22, 2008

Exactly - I just purchased a 6 year old server on eBay from my local county. The harddrives were wiped and no OS installed...

Most Fed Agencies and Services have auctions for their old computers.

[j-whitman]

erasmus6,,,,, You had better watch out, we are going to liberate Canada next.

[barbaraf4]

I can''t imagine Moron in Chief letting them destroy all those emails. However will he fill the empty space in his library?

[randynason]

How utterly convenient for the White House. Let me get this straight: the computer experts don''t know how to upgrade a computer without salvaging the hard drive? You''re not LYING to me AGAIN, are you?

[j-whitman]

mocaIeo,,,, You are a Bush Lover, I doubt if you''ve ever served this country --- It''s what you republican folks do best, insult our military & it''s veterans

[ioweign]

Here''''s my immitation of a "tolerant" liberal
called sparky MCVet:

Seig Heil, Seig Heil, boot-licking Hillary sheeple
Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil - Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil - Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil - Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil - Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil - Nazi - Swastika - bootlickers - fascist - Gestapo - Sieg Heil


MCVet "claims" he was in Vietnam (I doubt it)
but, if it''''s true,
how did he get from the Soviet Union to here ???

.

Posted by mocaIeo at 01:29 PM : Mar 22, 2008


You just don''t have it.

And you don''t get it.

"Ain''t nothing like the real thing, baby..."

[erasmus6]

"erasmus6,,,,, You had better watch out, we are going to liberate Canada next." Posted by j-whitman

Hahaha, that is funny. We are free. I think it is your country that needs to be liberated.

[ioweign]

I can''''t imagine Moron in Chief letting them destroy all those emails. However will he fill the empty space in his library?

Posted by barbaraf4 at 01:32 PM : Mar 22, 2008

With copies of "My Pet Goat"

[j-whitman]

Randy,,,, Yep, they are lying agin

It''s time even republicans should stand up --- Unless they love the government calling them stupid for believing their constant lies

[j-whitman]

erasmus6,,,,, Nope, your not free unless we liberate Canada & give you freedom ------- Trust us, you''ll throw flowers

[rushlimpdrug]

"White House: Old Computers Were Destroyed"

So?
They''ve already destroyed:
the Justice Department
the State Department
the National Defense
the CIA
the FBI
the American Economy

about the only thing they haven''t destroyed is Dancing With The Stars.

[onemas]

This is just one of many blatant crimes from the Bush mafia. These Bush thugs should not only be impeached, bur should be tried for treason and pay with their lives for such arrogant lawlessness.

[yongamerica]

Federal Law requires the White House to archive ALL correspondence. Which means there is a criminal in the House. Many of them in fact.

[j-whitman]

Just another White House lie to our nation ---- They weren''t destroyed ---- They were turned in to Defense Reutilization & Marketing offices,, they were sold to the highest bidder

[erasmus6]

"erasmus6,,,,, Nope, your not free unless we liberate Canada & give you freedom ------- Trust us, you''''ll throw flowers" Posted by j-whitman

Hmmm, trust US. I think we could count on Russia to help us against you guys giving us our so called FREEDOM.:) Actually I think right about now we could count on just about any other country to help us against the good old U.S.A.

[rushlimpdrug]

This just in:
*** Cheney will compete in next season''''s Dancing with the Stars.
. . .
The Producers and Staff of Dancing with the Stars are scrambling now to find a partner with a strong enough stomach for old Dicky "Shooter" Cheney.
Posted by dragonwagon5 at 01:58 PM

Ok, I was wrong.
Gotta go to Walmart.
Hopefully that greeter position is still open.
How do you say "Welcome to Walmart" in chineeze?

[erasmus6]

j-whitman

To tell you the truth I don''t know if we will need any help. You are spread pretty thin in the money and military department. Before long it will be even worse.

[j-whitman]

erasmus6,,,,, All the more reason to invade Canada & liberate you ----- We need your resources

[stn_sage]

timdgrin - as you suggest, their emails would depict their illegal activity, and clearly show the public that the worst things we think about the Bush administration are true---and obcourse, that''s why the emails can''t be found, in all likelihood won''t be found, & why they may very well get away with it!

The courts won''t act to protect the public, Congress won''t act to protect the public---hey, those posters on this forum who suggest this govt is ''dead'', are constantly supplied with real life events that allow them to make a compelling argument! Sadly.