News
April 14, 2017

Statement on White House Decision to Keep Visitor Logs Secret

“The president doesn’t own the White House — it’s the people’s house and the American public deserves to know who is doing business there."

Washington, DC – Earlier today, TIME’s Zeke Miller published a report that the Trump White House will break with the precedent set by the Obama administration and keep White House visitors’ logs secret.

In response, Austin Evers, Executive Director of American Oversight released the following statement:

“The president doesn’t own the White House — it’s the people’s house and the American public deserves to know who is doing business there.

“Transparency is not a partisan issue.  Indeed, conservative groups historically have advocated for even greater transparency in White House visitor logs.  But time and again, from his tax returns to today’s decision to keep his dealings as president secret, President Trump chooses obfuscation over transparency. Secrecy is at the heart of the “rigged system” the president campaigned against.

“Now more than ever, given the myriad conflicts of interest in this White House, including the outside business interests of the Trump family and others close to the president, Americans deserve to know exactly who is getting White House access. American Oversight calls on President Trump to reverse course immediately and release White House visitor logs.”