Republican Hypocrites Who Want To Subpoena Hillary Clinton Don't Have To Save Their Own Emails

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The same House Republicans who want to subpoena Hillary Clinton’s emails have made sure that they aren’t required to save their own emails.

The AP reported:

Congress makes its own rules, and has never subjected itself to open records laws that force agencies such as the State Department to maintain records and turn them over to the public when asked.

There’s also no requirement for members of Congress to use official email accounts, or to retain, archive or store their emails, while in office or after. That’s in contrast to the White House and the rest of the executive branch. Official emails there are supposed to be retained, though the controversy over Clinton’s use of a personal email account while secretary of state has exposed vague and inconsistent requirements from one agency to another.

But if the rules at federal agencies are unclear, at least there are rules. On Capitol Hill, there are almost none. That means that the same House Republicans who are subpoenaing Clinton’s emails as part of their inquiry into the Benghazi, Libya, attacks are not required to retain emails of their own for future inspection by anyone.

House Republicans are contemplating no less than three investigations into Hillary Clinton’s emails. Some in the House have gone as far as to suggest that the full House could subpoena the Clinton email server. The news that House Republicans have exempted themselves from the same standard that they are trying to hold Hillary Clinton has pushed this story from being ridiculous to absurdity.

How can anyone take the Republican angst over Clinton’s emails seriously when they took steps to exempt themselves from having to save any of their own emails? Republicans suggest that they are different and that the public doesn’t need to see their emails. In other words, Boehner’s House is telling the American people to trust them.

If there is one thing that Americans have learned since Republicans took control of the House, it is that they should never be trusted. The Republican hypocrisy is par for the course for the party of do as I say, not as I do. In the coming days and months, House Republicans are going to try to make a mountain out of the Clinton email molehill, but every time they mention emails, Boehner and company should be asked why they keep their emails hidden from the public.

Playing the email game is destined to backfire on the Republican Party.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association

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