Emails: Pentagon Colludes with Congressional Offices before Releasing Documents on Congressional Military Travel

Documents Uncovered by Judicial Watch

WASHINGTON, July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judicial  Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government  corruption, announced today that it has uncovered emails from the Department of  Defense (DOD) that indicate the Pentagon worked hand-in-hand with congressional  offices prior to releasing documents regarding congressional military travel  under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  These "heads up" emails involved FOIA  requests filed by Judicial Watch, The  Wall Street Journal, Congressional  Quarterly and Roll Call, among  other organizations, related to the use of military aircraft by a number of  congressional members, including House Speaker Nancy  Pelosi.

The  Pentagon emails uncovered by Judicial Watch provided advanced notification to  congressional offices regarding which organizations issued FOIA requests, when  documents would be released and, in many cases, the emails included the actual  documents to be released as attachments.   Moreover, the emails, primarily sent from the DOD's Office of General  Counsel, also indicate that Pentagon staff contacted congressional offices by phone.

The  following is an excerpt from a November 17, 2009, Pentagon email to Wyndee Parker, National Security Advisor to Speaker Pelosi,  related to a Judicial Watch FOIA request:

Subject: Judicial Watch FOIA to DoD re: Speaker Travel

Hey Wyndee,

We are preparing a release responsive to the Judicial Watch FOIA request attached.

I have put all Speaker Pelosi related travel docs on a CD and will send this in the LA [Legislative Affairs] run today or tomorrow

The package will be under your name and will go to H232 if that works.  Please let me  know.

As always, the documents are for your office use only as there may be additional  redactions made.

Please call if you have any questions.

In some cases,  the Pentagon provided assurances to congressional staffers regarding whether or  not the documents released contained sensitive information.  For example, in a December 9, 2009, email to Mark Lopez, Chief of Staff for Congressman  Peter Visclosky (D-IN), the DOD staffer writes:  "CQ appears to be trolling for something  to write re: your boss.  I do not see much here, but I don't know the reporter's agenda.  There will be additional releases on this request.  I will give you a  heads up on those too."  Another Pentagon staffer notes in a November 9, 2009, email to the House  Foreign Affairs Committee, "I don't find any of the documents especially newsworthy, but wanted you to have them before they go out."

Additional email  correspondence from senior staff with the House Intelligence Committee voiced  objections to the Pentagon's refusal to redact the names of congressional  staffers from documents released and requested the opportunity to review  redacted material before release.   It looks as if, in some cases, documents on military junkets were  released to individual members of Congress months before they were released to  the public.

"Why is the  Pentagon colluding with congressional offices on FOIA requests?  There is absolutely no reason why  politicians should have the ability to preview FOIA documents before they are  released to the American people.   These insider notification emails to Congress are inappropriate and  should be stopped immediately," stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Judicial Watch obtained  these Pentagon emails as part of its comprehensive investigation of  congressional military travel.  Previously, Judicial Watch uncovered internal Pentagon email  correspondence detailing attempts by Pentagon staff to accommodate Pelosi's  numerous requests for military escorts and military aircraft as well as the  speaker's last minute cancellations and changes. Judicial Watch also uncovered  documents indicating that House Speaker Pelosi's military travel cost the United  States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period, including $101,429 for  in-flight expenses.

Visit www.JudicialWatch.org to access the Pentagon  documents uncovered by Judicial Watch.

SOURCE Judicial Watch