Darrell Issa blasts Obama administration after discovering 'HHS exec destroyed emails'

Doug P. | 6:14 PM on August 07, 2014

Another day, another batch of “missing” emails, according to House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa. This time the problem is with the Department of Health & Human Services and revolves around emails pertaining to the implementation of Obamacare that supposedly can’t be recovered:

In each case, the loss wasn’t disclosed to the National Archives or Congress for months or years, in violation of federal law

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 7, 2014

Just this week, staff followed up with HHS, who has failed to comply with a subpoena from ten months ago.

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 7, 2014

Even at that point, the admin did not inform us of a problem with Ms. Tavenner’s email history.

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 7, 2014

Yet again we discover that this Admin will not be forthright with the American people unless cornered.

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 7, 2014

Full statement on destroyed Healthcare dot gov emails: http://t.co/XCGCppH9xD

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 7, 2014

Here’s Issa’s statement about these “destroyed” emails:

“Today’s news that a senior HHS executive destroyed emails relevant to a congressional investigation means that the Obama Administration has lost or destroyed emails for more than 20 witnesses, and in each case, the loss wasn’t disclosed to the National Archives or Congress for months or years, in violation of federal law,” said Chairman Issa. “It defies logic that so many senior Administration officials were found to have ignored federal recordkeeping requirements only after Congress asked to see their emails. Just this week, my staff followed up with HHS, who has failed to comply with a subpoena from ten months ago. Even at that point, the administration did not inform us that there was a problem with Ms. Tavenner’s email history. Yet again, we discover that this Administration will not be forthright with the American people unless cornered.”