Guckert Gets FOIA'd
Posted by jesselee
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 12:16 PM
From Conyers' office:
CONYERS AND SLAUGHTER SUBMIT FOIA REQUEST FOR HOMELAND SECURITY RECORDS RELATING TO JAMES D. GUCKERT A.K.A. JEFF GANNONCongressman John Conyers Jr., and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter sent the following letter today to Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for release of Homeland Security records relating to James D. Guckert and his access to the President:
February 15, 2005
Dear Secretary Ridge:
This letter constitutes a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. S 552 (FOIA). The request is submitted on behalf of the Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Recent news reports indicate that James D. Guckert, a Republican activist gained access to the White House press briefing room and Presidential press conferences in violation of standard security procedures and was allowed to work under the assumed name, "Jeff Gannon." News reports also indicate that Mr. Guckert would not be considered a bona fide journalist by his peers in the press corps, as most of his claims to legitimacy have already been discredited. Access to the President and his press corps is highly competitive, and many seasoned journalists have not had the honor of attending the events or enjoying the access Mr. Guckert has.
We are concerned that such an individual was allowed within a few feet of the President when the public is routinely disallowed any possible contact with either the President or the White House. We understand that your security policies are developed in conjunction with the White House and want to ascertain your respective roles in this decision as it appears to deviate significantly from heightened security measures you have employed recently. To the extent that White House policies were incorporated into the Secret Service's files and have been read by the Secret Service, we would also like records from the White House.
To determine what process you employ to clear individuals for attendance at events within a close proximity of the President, we seek the release of agency records as described in the numbered paragraphs below:
1. All records setting forth or discussing the standards the Secret Service or the White House impose on those who are granted access to the President and the White House Briefing Room. Please include all records discussing whether the Secret Service or the White House routinely allow guests to use false names.
2. All records setting forth or discussing policies, procedures or guidelines discussing clearance into the White House Briefing Room, as it was applied to Mr. Guckert. Please include all records indicating how any such policies, procedures or guidelines were communicated to Mr. Guckert.
3. The White House Press Secretary denied any responsibility for determining who is granted clearance into the White House Briefing Room. Please disclose what individual or agency is responsible for requesting that the Secret Service conduct a security clearance for individuals or members of the media who wish to enter the White House Briefing Room.
4. All records relating to security qualifications for granting "permanent" White House press corps credentials and how they differ from those of a simple day pass.
5. All records indicating or discussing whether and to what extent someone who is cleared for a daily pass is required to be cleared each time they return on subsequent visits to the White House Briefing Room, as in the case of Mr. Guckert, who returned frequently for up to two years.
6. All records relating to how many daily passes are issued for White House briefings and Presidential press conferences at one time. Please include all records indicating whether there is a limit in place for security or other reasons.7. All records setting forth or discussing who has the authority, if at all, to exempt an individual or member of the media from security clearance by the Secret Service in order to gain access to the White House Briefing Room.
8. All records indicating how many times and on what days Mr. Guckert was cleared by the Secret Service into the White House, and at whose request.
9. All records indicating what types of passes were issued for Mr. Guckert.
10. All records of communication between the Secret Service and Mr. Guckert. Please include all records, including telephone conversations, emails, or facsimile communications.
We request a waiver of fees on the grounds that disclosure of the requested records is in the public interest and because disclosure "is likely to contribute significantly to the public understanding of the activities or operations of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii).
The House Judiciary Committee and House Rules Committee publish newsletters, news briefings, and other materials that are disseminated to the public. These materials are widely available to everyone for no cost. The records requested are not sought for commercial use, and the requesters plan to disseminate the information disclosed as a result of this FOIA request through the channels described above.
As indicated above, numerous news articles reflect the significant public interest in the records we seek. Disclosure of the requested records will contribute significantly to the public's understanding of government conduct.
If our request is denied in whole or part, we ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the FOIA. We expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. We reserve the right to appeal a decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.
We look forward to your reply to the request within twenty (20) business days, as required under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i).
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention and response to this matter.
Louise Slaughter, Ranking Member, Committee on Rules
John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary
UPDATE: Dave Johnson comments, asking the ironic question, "They can't get this info as members of Congress, so how are they going to get it as members of the public using existing laws?" Sadly enough, it would not be the first time that a FOIA outperformed Congressional requests. Julia also provides some context.
UPDATE II: ntodd elaborates at length.
TrackBack (4)
|
|
|
|
|
You are not on the Stakeholder home page.
Click here to read more running commentary on the DCCC blog.
Comments
Anyone remember the gay "rent boy" scandal during Bush-the-slightly-smarter's administration? Since Bush-the-moron has rehabilitated many of the criminals from his father's regime, perhaps the same person was involved both times.
Then again, maybe it's the smirking chimp himself. The one who told Canadian senior strategist Scott Reid that he had a pretty face - better looking than Bush's Scott.
So the big questions are, does Gannon have a blue dress and whose semen stains are on it...
Posted by: Brian de Ford | February 16, 2005 6:12 PM
I was a consulting Engineer for Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) for one year as a conteractor. I have seen so many bad things, that I can report them, but I am afraid of doing that. I heard the Mr. Moore is going to look at the pharmacceuticalmanufacturers, and I would like to provide some inside information. I hope my email does not get me in trouble, but I thought it is my duty to report greed on the part of these companies.
if i can help, please let me know.
Regards,
Mac Mehta
(910)995-3095
Posted by: Mac Mehta | February 16, 2005 8:24 PM
What a freakshow - Bush has to pay people to lick his jackboots and smile.
Posted by: Collin Baber | February 17, 2005 12:09 AM
what an odd co-incidence!
I have just spent an incredibly enlightening weekend in london where i have been squatting for five years. I met an activist friend who i hadn't seen for 2 years. She is quite an intense lady who has always repeatedly claimed she was sexually abused by high ranking members of the british power elite.
We are both victims of trauma. Events in life have left us with an extremely changed perception of the actual, hence i have always kept an open mind with her, whilst at the same time lending an ear and a brain. On sunday we went back to her flat where she showed me 20 years of evidence she had collected, all suggesting that our western power elites have been repeatedly hurting and raping children as part of various trauma based mind control experiments and are just sitting around waiting to be exposed.
This explains many things about my friend that piece together to make me feel she is genuine, such as her years of constant phonecalls from other abusees and her edgey grimmace that doesn't sit right with the natural beauty of her face, as though she had endured great periods of sadness as her face took shape early on in childhood.
Now, if there is even a remote possibility that members of these 'power' elites (and remember democrats, they all play for the same team) are using male prostitutes (amongst whoever else?) to make themselves appear more powerful than they actually are, in some freaky fraternity ritualistic bollocks, then your fellow countrymen need to address ACTUALITY immediately. Your government clearly doesn't want to.
And while we're about it you might want to try checking out what these 'concentration camps' are all about. They appear to be springing up in each state, check out:
http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/pro-freedom.co.uk/concentration_camps.html
I wish this information hadn't reached me in such a rich and extensive way so i could laugh this off as paranoia, but now i no longer feel fear, just a calm livid intelligence.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO!!
Empower yourself and lets get on with it...
Posted by: daev | February 17, 2005 12:24 AM
Keep following this story, its only the tip of the iceberg. Bush was aware Gannon was a plant that McClellan would turn to when the questions got tough. Bush Knew. Keep peppering him with addition questions and don't let this story die. there is more.
Lets see now, we have a male hooker gay prostitute who, acting as a schill for the right wing is sitting in the family values white house; but the major story of the day in mainstream media is that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital because he caught a flu bug. Honest to god, I actually got an MSNBC "Breaking News Alert" that Michael Jackson didn't feel well. Keep on this story and you are on the road to bring down bush.
Posted by: Editor | February 17, 2005 10:31 AM
It's hard work but someone has to do it.how much does it take to make one lower their undees?Armstrong Williams (no child left behind) $240,000. Maggie Gallagher(marriage Initiative)$21,000. W/Journalist Jeff Gannon aka james Guckert and prostitute. $200.00.Now who is the bigger Whore?
Posted by: Ren Nurse | February 17, 2005 11:58 AM
It's hard work but someone has to do it.how much does it take to make one lower their undees?Armstrong Williams (no child left behind) $240,000. Maggie Gallagher(marriage Initiative)$21,000. W/Journalist Jeff Gannon aka james Guckert and prostitute. $200.00.Now who is the bigger Whore?
Posted by: Ren Nurse | February 17, 2005 11:59 AM
I have seen some people saying that this Gannon guy may not be gay. If you advertise on web sites that you sexually service other men, then YOU ARE GAY.
One writer was correct. This is a Rove operation. He is the real head of GOPUSA and the real head of the Repugnant Party.
Bush knew what was going on. He knows that he is surrounded by gays and the alcoholic president who sniffed cocaine, would not take a physical because a drug test was part of it, loves it. He agreed with Mehlman becoming the head of his party partly to show the south, who elected him, that he is the BOSS MAN.
Posted by: Paul in Mexico | February 18, 2005 5:34 PM
Anyone know if Slaughter & Conyers are aware of this detail?
"Video footage of a Feb. 28, 2003 White House press briefing shows Guckert, apparently unaffiliated with any news organization, asking former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer a question. It is unclear why Guckert was granted any pass at this time, since the Internet-based Talon News did not register its domain name until March 29, 2003"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/18/0748/71841
I don't want to be the gazillionth forward, y'know?
Posted by: jean | February 18, 2005 9:25 PM
to jesse: the line that kills me about the info regarding Gannon/Guckert is..."there is more to tell about this story than we are able to mention in good taste...". This is EXACTLY the reason the Dems lost the election. You are, of course referring to Guckert's several gay porn sites on the internet. Don't you people know what the jugular is? He is involved with the same people who promoted the so-called 'swift-boat' ads. You people NEED T REALIZE THAT YOU ARE AT WAR, and the other guys have all the big guns. FOR GOD'S SAKE WAKE UP. Tom Ohlund
Posted by: tom ohlund | February 19, 2005 10:00 AM
tom - Frankly, it was more than porn. But the bigger issue is that this needs to stay focused on why he was in the White House, and it needs to be clear that this is not some gay sex witchhunt. I'm not condemning the people that exposed his shenanigans, but as far as the Dem pursuit of this issue, it is about the White House, not Guckert himself.
Posted by: jesselee | February 19, 2005 10:11 AM
What are the Las Vegas odds that Gannon will be dead with tn a short pewriod of time
Posted by: William Royal | February 20, 2005 2:37 AM
I'd like in on any betting that Gannon "disappears". Didn't someone commit "suicide" during the investigation into the Clinton White House? (Rhetorical question)...
And not to distract us from this debate, but while we're at it, can we PLEASE find out who Cheney was meeting with regarding setting the nation's energy policy? I'd like to make sure I buy some stock in "their" companies as the price of gas escalates to $3 a gallon.
Posted by: Jeff | March 6, 2005 10:22 PM