Issa Statement on “Troubling Evidence” that EPA’s Lisa Jackson Used Unofficial E-mail for Government Business

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) made the following statement in response to allegations that Lisa Jackson, the former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator who resigned late last year, violated federal transparency laws by using her personal email to conduct official business.

“The Committee has continued to uncover troubling evidence that administration officials have engaged in an intentional and systemic practice of violating federal transparency laws to communicate with lobbyists and other private interests using non-official or alias email accounts,” said Issa. “This practice runs afoul of the President’s promise to run the most transparent Administration in history and creates an undeniable impression that officials are engaging in inappropriate behavior. The Committee, in partnership with Senator Vitter and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Republicans, continues to conduct ongoing oversight of email practices at the EPA and other agencies.”

U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Chairman Issa are investigating the Administration’s flawed record keeping practices and lack of transparency. Triggered by Jackson’s use of an e-mail alias, “Richard Windsor,” to conduct official business, the investigation has revealed a pattern of inappropriate and opaque record keeping. Jackson resigned in December 2012 amid questions about the Administration’s transparency.