Staff Reports
A recent legal victory for America First Legal (AFL) stands as a stark reminder of the lengths to which the Biden administration may go to hide its questionable practices. The Trump-aligned organization, spearheaded by former White House adviser Stephen Miller, has scored a point against the federal government that is sure to raise eyebrows—especially among those who believe transparency should be a priority.
The whole debacle centers around a little something called “LGBTQ Inclusivity in Schools: A Self-Assessment Tool,” courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AFL was digging into the inner workings of this document and discovered that the CDC has a rather charming policy regarding the deletion of emails from former employees: poof, they vanish 90 days after the employee leaves. It’s as if someone hit the Self-Destruct button on accountability.
NEW: A federal judge ruled today that the CDC has likely been illegally deleting lower-level employees’ emails, in violation of federal record keeping law.
He has approved a preliminary injunction to end the practice.
w/ @joshgerstein https://t.co/jt3SKF63tA pic.twitter.com/jhldhkrYN4
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 9, 2024
This neat trick was justified through the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) Capstone policy, which, ironically, was supposed to ensure records could be kept secure elsewhere. But here’s where it gets juicy. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras pointed out that even if the CDC thought it got the green light from NARA for this decision, it had no actual proof that NARA agreed to anything other than the less shifty General Records Schedule (GRS) 6.1. Naturally, not retaining crucial emails for three years isn’t exactly a shining example of good governance.
Judge Contreras didn’t pull any punches, declaring that the CDC’s email deletion practices were “likely unlawful.” He generously instructed the CDC to retrieve any of those emails that might still be lurking in the digital ether. One can almost hear the collective groans from the left, as their favorite bureaucracy is forced to play by the rules like the rest of us.
Executive director Gene Hamilton wasted no time celebrating the court’s ruling, asserting that the Biden administration’s actions constituted an outright violation of the law. This ruling signifies that the legal nets are tightening around those who believe they can operate above the law and brush aside public records—an arena where accountability is long overdue. Hamilton’s words were almost triumphant, as he promised to continue putting the pressure on the Biden administration for their less-than-compliant antics.
Stephen Miller, known for his fiery commitment to America First policies, joined in on the victory lap following the ruling. He characterized the decision as another triumph over “government corruption,” reinforcing the notion that the legal system can indeed serve justice when it is not swept under the rug. As the nation grapples with the implications of this ruling, it serves as a reminder that government accountability should not just be an afterthought in the age of progressive policies.
