PRESS RELEASES from Democratic National Committee
For Immediate Release
November 17, 2011
 
Contact: DNC Press
 
 
Washington, DC – The Democratic National Committee submitted a formal public records request to the State of Massachusetts for copies of email correspondence from former Governor Mitt Romney’s administration today.  This morning, the Boston Globe reported that top aides purchased their state-issued computer hard drives and administration e-mails were wiped from their servers.  Americans deserve to know whether the Romney administration deliberately sought to delete public records in anticipation of requests regarding Governor Romney’s record on a range of issues – from abortion to healthcare – and how he reached policy decisions when in office.
 


 
November 17, 2011
 
Mark Reilly, Chief Legal Counsel
Executive Office of the Governor
State House
Room 280
Boston, MA 2133
 
RE: Massachusetts Public Records Request
 
Dear Mr. Reilly,
 
This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10).
I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records:
 
Ø  Any and all electronic correspondence (i.e., email) between January 2, 2003 and January 4, 2007 to or from Beth E. Myers, Peter G. Flaherty, or any of the other nine (9) officials of Governor W. Mitt Romney’s Administration as identified in the Boston Globe article of November 17, 2011 (“Before leaving office, Romney staff wiped records”), who purchased a computer hard drive from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, relating to a request for such a purchase, the purposes of such a purchase, or the legal authority pursuant to which such purchases were made.
 
Ø  Any and all Forms RCB-2 completed by Governor W. Mitt Romney or any employee of the Executive Office of the Governor between January 2, 2003 and January 4, 2007 and submitted to the Massachusetts Records Conservation Board that seek permission to destroy, take personal possession of, or remove from official premises, records, including a description of such records.
 
I recognize that you may charge reasonable costs for copies, as well as for personnel time needed to comply with this request.   As you may be aware, the Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 calendar days. 
 
Recognizing that it might require considerably more time, and involve more expense, we would also appreciate a fee estimate for locating and providing:
 
Ø  Any and all electronic correspondence (i.e., email) to or from Governor W. Mitt Romney or Romney Administration officials between January 2, 2003 and January 4, 2007 containing any of the following terms in either the subject line or the body of the message: “delete emails,” “destroy records,” “government transparency,” “president,” “presidential,” “campaign,” “flip-flop,” “political expediency,” “move to the right,” “more conservative,” “change position,” “abortion,” “stem cell,” “guns,” “assault weapons ban,” “Right to Bear Arms Day,”  “climate change,” “global warming,” “carbon dioxide emissions,” “CO2 emissions,” “Planned Parenthood,” “Massachusetts Right To Life,” “raise taxes and fees,” “ranked 47th in job creation,” and “Bush economic policies.” 
 
Title 950 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations §32.08(1) reads in relevant part, “the custodian, within ten days of the request for access, shall in writing set forth the reasons for such denial. The denial shall specifically include the exemption or exemptions in the definition of public records upon which the denial is based.”
 
If you cannot comply with my request, please specifically set forth the reasons as required by 950 C.M.R. §32.08(1).
 
Sincerely,
 
Laura Santucci
Democratic National Committee