Cheney Claims Exemption from Classified Data Rules

Cheney Claims Exemption from Classified
Data Rules


June 22, 2007


VP Dick Cheney's office has refused to comply with an executive order governing the handling of classified information for the past four years, and recently tried to abolish the office at the National Archives and Records Administration that sought to enforce those rules, according to documents released by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA).

During his 6 and a half years tenure, Cheney has rejected any attempt to peer into the inner workings of his office, hiding information such as the industry executives who advised his energy task force, details about his privately funded travel and Secret Service logs showing who visits his official residence. The fight about classified information regulations shows that Cheney has resisted oversight not only from the public generally, but even by the parts of the administration officially charged to do so. Cheney's office argued that it is exempt from the rules because it is not an "entity within the executive branch."

As described in a letter from Rep. Waxman to the Vice President, the National Archives protested the Vice President's position in letters written in June 2006 and August 2006. When these letters were ignored, the National Archives wrote to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in January 2007 to seek a resolution of the impasse. The Vice President's staff responded by seeking to abolish the agency within the Archives that is responsible for implementing the President's executive order.

In his letter to the Vice President, Rep. Waxman writes: "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions... [I]t would appear particularly irresponsible to give an office with your history of security breaches an exemption from the safeguards that apply to all other executive branch officials."

"He's saying he's above the law," said Rep. Waxman to the Washington Post. "It just seems to me this is arrogant and shows bad judgment," he added.

The Justice Department confirmed that it is looking into the issue. "This matter is currently under review in the department," said spokesman Erik Ablin, who declined to elaborate.