Bush Changes the Rules: DNC Sends Second FOIA to Get Records of Abramoff’s White House Visits

Yesterday, the Democratic National Committee made a second FOIA request to receive the Worker and Visitor Entrance (WAVE) System records which document how many times Jack Abramoff entered the White House and with whom Abramoff met. In January, the DNC filed an initial request to receive the full WAVE records documenting Abramoff's White House visits. After a lawsuit was filed by Judicial Watch, the Secret Service handed over incomplete records, which indicated that only two visits had taken place. It was later learned that the Bush Administration changed the rules shortly after entering office and had ordered the Secret Service to give the White House the full WAVE records after 30 days without keeping copies -- thus giving the White House exclusive control of these records. This change in policy was reversed in October 2004 at the request of the National Archives and Records Administration. As a result, the Secret Service only has WAVE records dating back to October 2004, while the records documenting Abramoff's visits from the beginning of the Bush Administration until late 2004 remain in the possession of the White House. The DNC is asking the White House to turn over those records.

This most recent FOIA request also asks for records documenting the White House visits made by Abramoff's cronies, including Michael Scanlon, Grover Norquist, Patrick Pizzella, Ralph Reed and David Safavian.

"The Bush Administration continues to stonewall and avoid being truthful with the American people," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "As the White House's chief procurement officer stands trial for conspiring with convicted former GOP superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, the White House still refuses to tell the American people how often Abramoff and his cronies entered the White House and with whom they met. The very fact that the White House changed a long-held policy for keeping records of the comings and goings of people into the White House raises new concerns about what else they're hiding and what tactics they are using to do so. Democrats will put an end to the Republican culture of corruption and stonewalling that continues to plague this Administration and Republicans in Congress."

To view the FOIA request sent by Chairman Dean, click HERE.

Former White House Spokesman Scott McClellan: Abramoff Went To White House Meetings And Also Attended White House Holiday Receptions.

Mr. McClellan: "Yes, I said it's possible that they would have met at a holiday reception or some other widely attended gathering. The President does not know him, nor does the President recall ever meeting him." [White House Briefing, 1/4/06]

Mr. McClellan: "I think it's very few times that he's been here, in addition to any holiday receptions." [White House Briefing, 1/4/06]

Mr. McClellan: "Again, there were -- I checked on this. What I was asked is to go and check on this, and I did. And there were only a couple of holiday receptions that he attended, then a few staff- level meetings on top of that. And that's the way I would describe it." [White House Briefing, 1/17/06]

Mr. McClellan: "Well, I did do a check, and I indicated to you exactly what I just told you. I indicated to you that there were a few staff-level meetings that he attended at least -- he attended two holiday receptions, in 2001 and 2002. There are some 400 to 500 people at each of those gatherings. And of course there's a photo line at those holiday receptions. The President has participated in tens upon thousands of photo lines or pictures in photo lines over the course of the last five years. He's taken pictures with many of you. But like I said, we're just not going to get into a fishing expedition that has nothing to do with the investigation. Though we have been very straightforward about that, when asked about it." [White House Briefing, 1/23/06]

Photograph Shows Bush At Meeting With His Clients, Bush, And Rove At The White House. "Now, finally, the first such photo has come to light. It shows a bearded Abramoff in the background as Bush greets an Abramoff client, Raul Garza, who was then the chairman of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Bush senior advisor Karl Rove looks on. The photograph was provided to TIME by Mr. Garza. The meeting took place in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House on May 9, 2001." [Time Magazine, 2/11/06]

No Records Of Abramoff Attending Meeting He Was Pictured In, White House Did Not Know How Abramoff Got Into White House. "Mr. McClellan said that Mr. Abramoff's name had not appeared on the invitation list of the May 2001 meeting and that it was unclear how the lobbyist had entered the White House grounds. A spokesman for Mr. Abramoff had no comment on the photograph or on his contacts with Mr. Garza." [New York Times, 2/12/06]