Barack Obama sets new record in nontransparency

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration set a new record again for more often than ever censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

The government took longer to turn over files when it provided any, said more regularly that it couldn’t find documents, and refused a record number of times to turn over files quickly that might be especially newsworthy.

FLASHBACK: In 2013, Barack Obama set a record for using the Espionage Act to prosecute whistleblowers to journalists more than all previous administrations combined. (CNN LINK)

It also acknowledged in nearly 1 in 3 cases that its initial decisions to withhold or censor records were improper under the law — but only when it was challenged… (Full story)

[Only the grey area of the pie chart, below, represents files released by the Gov’t last year without censorship.]

Gov’t source: http://www.foia.gov/index.html