Guide Note:

In 2007, during a Congressional investigation into the reasons behind the White House's firing of eight United States Attorneys, it was revealed that White House staffers had been using e-mail accounts provided by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to discuss official business. Emails sent by staffers concerning official business are required to be kept and archived; many of the emails sent on RNC accounts were reportedly deleted, a possible violation of the Presidential Records Act.

Fast Facts:

1. Brought to attention of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
2. CREW claims that over 5 million emails destroyed between 2003 and 2005
3. Pre-2004 RNC policy was to delete emails after 30 days
4. Staffers had been using private internet domain provided by RNC, gwb43.com
5. Using non-governmental email accounts for official business is a possible violation of the Presidential Records Act and the Hatch Act

Key Dates

• March, 2007: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asks Representative Henry Waxman to investigate improper use of outside email accounts by White House staffers
• March 26, 2007: Waxman asks RNC to preserve emails
• April 12, 2007: White House announces that until 2004, RNC deleted emails after 30 days
• April, 2007: White House acknowledges that staffers improperly used outside email accounts