Summary

GAO was asked to review an investigative report prepared by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of State regarding the retrieval of files on Bush Administration political appointees. The OIG report concluded that the Clinton Administration staff in the State Department White House Liaison Office had retrieved and reviewed files containing information on Bush Administration political appointees and that the release of information about these files appeared to violate the Privacy Act. Two officials were fired as a result. GAO's review generally agrees with the OIG's findings and conclusions and supplements the information the OIG developed. The one area where GAO obtained information that the OIG investigation did not address concerned the adequacy of records management at State and other agencies. OIG's investigation focused on determining whether any wrongdoing occurred by Department employees. Although the OIG concluded that State's information management officials did not violate current regulations when they provided records of Bush appointees to the Clinton appointees, GAO believes that weaknesses in records management and controls led to the retrieval and release of information to the press.

GAO found that: (1) the OIG findings and conclusions are generally accurate; (2) it obtained information that OIG did not address concerning the adequacy of records management at State and other agencies; (3) the OIG investigation focused on determining whether any wrongdoing occurred by State Department employees; (4) although OIG concluded that State's information management officials did not violate current regulations when they provided records of Bush appointees to the Clinton appointees, weaknesses in records management and controls led to the retrieval and release of information to the press.