By America First Leagal News Staff at America First Legal
Today, based on newly obtained documents from an investigation into the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), America First Legal (AFL) released a report for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate concerning explosive new discoveries about the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) flawed and unlawful background investigation (BI) process for nominees to positions that require Senate confirmation.
AFL previously released evidence that candidates for presidential appointments are subject to repeated violations of the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act, among other laws, during the FBI background investigation process.
Today’s investigative report reveals that Senate Judiciary Committee staff appear to have shared FBI background reports and personal financial information in breach of Senate security protocols. Worse, the Department of Justice appears to have shared encrypted information electronically, breaching privacy protections subject to its agreement with the White House.
The improper handling of BI investigation materials is of critical importance because BIs can be weaponized against future nominees of any administration. The current practice violates the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, the MOU between the White House and DOJ, as well as plain federal law prohibiting the breach of executive branch orders through the disclosure of sensitive information.
Discoveries from AFL’s investigation include the following highlights:…
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