Thompson, Thanedar Ask Archives to Investigate DHS for Compliance with Federal Recordkeeping Laws
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, & Accountability Subcommittee, sent a letter to Acting Archivist Marco Rubio asking him to investigate whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior DHS officials may have violated Federal law by willfully destroying Federal records and not reporting the destruction to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Recently it was reported that, in response to a FOIA request, DHS indicated it was no longer maintaining text message records. It later backtracked this statement, creating more confusion.
“Given the contradictory statements made by DHS, we ask that NARA open an investigation into this matter,” the Ranking Members wrote. “After reviewing the reports and documents referenced herein, and other relevant information that NARA obtains, we request that NARA consult with the Department of Justice if the evidence confirms that Secretary Noem or other DHS officials failed to notify NARA about unlawful destruction of Federal records, in violation of the law.”
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