Posted September 3, 2004.

Democrats Question Justice Department’s Documents Destruction Order

In an August 24 letter, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.)—ranking members of the judiciary committees of the Senate and House, respectively—called on Attorney General John D. Ashcroft to explain why the Justice Department recently requested federal depository libraries to withdraw and destroy five documents that were considered for internal use only.

“While the Department later rescinded the request, we are confused about why these materials, some of which were federal laws, were to be removed,” Leahy and Conyers wrote. “It defies logic that federal statutes could be considered solely internal to the Department’s deliberations and not useful for any other purpose.”

The Democrats specifically asked Ashcroft to address why the materials were considered sensitive, who ultimately issued the order to the Superintendent of Documents, and whether the department had ever sought the destruction of depository materials before.

“Given the Administration’s penchant for secrecy, we fear that this action was yet another attempt to erode the public’s right to know,” the letter said.

Posted September 3, 2004.