ASNE Urges White House to Release Visitor Logs

19 Jun 2009 // NEW YORK American Society of News Editors President Martin Kaiser has called on the White House to release records identifying all visitors since Inauguration Day.

In a letter to President Obama sent Thursday, Kaiser -- editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- followed up on a report earlier this week by msnbc.com, which revealed the Web site had been denied a request for such records.

Kaiser's letter urges the Obama administration to live up to its early promises for open government, ASNE stated.

"Disclosing the records sought by MSNBC and the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington poses no direct harm of any kind," the letter states, in part. "To the extent that the records would implicate any national security or privacy concerns, would truly reveal presidential communications, or be covered by any other exemption to FOIA, then the offending information can be redacted -- but only if the required harm exists or disclosure is actually prohibited. There is no evidence of either, nor could a blanket decision to withhold all visitor logs fulfill these criteria."

ASNE's announcement of the letter adds that the organization "intends to remain active on this important open government issue and others. We will continue to speak out, not only in the executive branch, but also the legislative and judicial fronts, in opposition to any governmental action that adversely impacts the public's right to know."