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Post# of 475016
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easymoney101

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Re: easymoney101 post# 25874

Monday, 01/24/2005 5:28:00 PM

Monday, January 24, 2005 5:28:00 PM

Post# of 475016
CREW Files 22 FOIAs Today to Uncover Government Agency Dealings with PR Firms; Armstrong Williams DOEd Contract May be Tip of the Iceberg

1/11/2005 10:40:00 AM

To: National Desk and Political Reporter

Contact: Naomi Seligman of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 202-588-5565 or press@citizensforethics.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In light of recent reports that conservative journalist and pundit Armstrong Williams received $240,000 from the Department of Education (DOE) through a contract with Ketchum Public Relations, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today has filed a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to 22 government agencies, including all cabinet agencies.

Last week, Williams admitted to supporting the "No Child Left Behind" program in his radio broadcasts, television appearances and columns in exchange for the large payment from DOE. The agreement is in violation of the Publicity and Propaganda clause included in annual appropriations bills for decades.

CREW has now filed FOIAs with 22 agencies requesting copies of all contracts with public relation firms, including Ketchum and Fleishman-Hillard. Both firms have contracted with the government resulting in similar controversies, and in violation of the Publicity and Propaganda clause. The Williams case is the fourth that has become public. Previously, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the Department of Health and Human Services for having Ketchum create fake news footage in support of the new Medicare Bill. GAO is also investigating another contract between Ketchum and DOE and a contract between the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Fleischman-Hillard.

"This type of covert propaganda has no place in a healthy democracy," Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today. "It is particularly outrageous that the government continues to engage in this sort of illegal activity despite the fact that the GAO has said that it is illegal."

Sloan continued," The question now is how extensively has the Administration used propaganda to shore up its controversial policies? Did it pay any commentators to speak out in support of the Patriot Act? Is it paying anyone now to convince the public that Social Security is in crisis? By filing these FOIAs, we hope to answer these questions. "

The following agencies were sent FOIAs today: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, Drug Enforcement Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Social Security Administration

Copies of the FOIAs filed by CREW are available at http://www.citizensforethics.org or by contacting Naomi Seligman by phone at 202-588-5565 or press@citizensforethics.org.

------

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit, progressive legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=41504

"All truth passes through three states," wrote Arthur Schopenhauer. "First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
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