March 18, 2008

Contact: Naomi Seligman Steiner 202.408.5565 nseligman@citizensforethics.org

18 Mar 2008 // Today, in response to a request by the National Security Archive, which along with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has sued the White House challenging its failure to preserve millions of missing email, Magistrate Judge Facciola issued a show cause order in CREW, et al. v. EOP.

Judge Facciola's order requires the White House to show cause by close of business Friday, March 21, why it should not be ordered to create and preserve a forensic copy of any media that has been used or is being used by any former or current employee between March 2003 and October 2005, the period of time for which email is missing.

He entered the Order based at least in part on the White House's own admission that it did not preserve back-up tapes prior to October 2003.

The order is available on the right.