5 thoughts on “We investigated ourselves, and we’re not guilty”
I know this is a joke, but it’s also a good teachable moment. As part of my job I fulfill public records requests from courts and police for reporters.
We have strict rules – governed by laws – around what we MUST redact. There aren’t a ton of topics that require redaction, and most of them are related to protecting personal information like Social Security Numbers, bank account info, passwords, etc.
Incidents referring to the sexual abuse of minors is a huge redaction issue, because we aren’t legally allowed to release any information about specific abuse, any information about the victims, any information that could lead to the victim’s identity, etc. For these records, we end up with page after page of black squares because we basically have to redact everything.
Not everything that looks odd is due to a conspiracy or cover-up. Sometimes it is what is legally required.
True, for your job.
For bureaucrats and politicians, it is more to keep from embarrassing themselves.
The only proof that those in the files are embarrassed enough is when they resign their positions or say they are not going to run again to “Spend more time with my family.”
It seems that all Prince Andrew got is he can’t come to all the parties anymore or dress up like the big kids. And in the U.S. we carry on those English traditions.
except in this case the law specifically limited what was allowed to be redacted and DOJ failed to comply
Buzz, he can’t call himself Prince, either.
He’s just plain Mister now.
I know this is a joke, but it’s also a good teachable moment. As part of my job I fulfill public records requests from courts and police for reporters.
We have strict rules – governed by laws – around what we MUST redact. There aren’t a ton of topics that require redaction, and most of them are related to protecting personal information like Social Security Numbers, bank account info, passwords, etc.
Incidents referring to the sexual abuse of minors is a huge redaction issue, because we aren’t legally allowed to release any information about specific abuse, any information about the victims, any information that could lead to the victim’s identity, etc. For these records, we end up with page after page of black squares because we basically have to redact everything.
Not everything that looks odd is due to a conspiracy or cover-up. Sometimes it is what is legally required.
True, for your job.
For bureaucrats and politicians, it is more to keep from embarrassing themselves.
The only proof that those in the files are embarrassed enough is when they resign their positions or say they are not going to run again to “Spend more time with my family.”
It seems that all Prince Andrew got is he can’t come to all the parties anymore or dress up like the big kids. And in the U.S. we carry on those English traditions.
except in this case the law specifically limited what was allowed to be redacted and DOJ failed to comply
Buzz, he can’t call himself Prince, either.
He’s just plain Mister now.