Small businessman Scott Milne made the following statement today regarding Sen. Patrick Leahy’s refusal to release his official correspondence regarding the EB-5 program:
“Like the lifetime politician that he is, Sen. Leahy is speaking out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to transparency in government. Today, he claims privacy rights should shield him from scrutiny regarding the EB-5 scandal. But just two months ago, Leahy was celebrating ‘Sunshine Week,’ declaring, ‘Our very democracy is built on the idea that our government should not operate in secret.’ Most disgustingly, Leahy is hiding behind the privacy rights of battered women as an excuse for not releasing his communications related to the EB-5 scandal. This sort of stonewalling, double-speak and lack of accountability is exactly why Vermonters and all Americans are fed up with Washington politicians like Leahy.”
BACKGROUND
Today, Leahy Claims The Privacy Rights Of Battered Women And Others As An Excuse For Not Releasing His EB-5 Correspondence. “Leahy said he will not release the emails in question because he is a privacy advocate. ‘We don’t release emails,’ Leahy said. ‘I’ve been the privacy champion in the Senate. We get emails from battered spouses, people with adoption, immigration problems. I tell everybody, everybody with emails, “I will keep your emails private. If you want to release my emails back to you, you’re free to do that.” That’s guided our standard for 40 years, started with mail and email.”
But In March, Leahy Celebrated Sunshine Week Stating, “Our Very Democracy Is Built On The Idea That Our Government Should Not Operate In Secret” And Said “The Public’s Right To Know” Is “One Of Our Nation’s Most Basic Values.” “Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate one of our nation’s most basic values—the public’s right to know. Our very democracy is built on the idea that our government should not operate in secret. James Madison, a staunch defender of open government and whose birthday we celebrate each year during Sunshine Week, wisely noted that for our democracy to succeed, people ‘must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.’ It is only through transparency and access to information that the American people can arm themselves with the information they need to hold our government accountable.”