The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. The law prohibits the Treasury Department from funding the political activities of high level presidential appointees, and OSC is responsible for enforcing that prohibition. Public Citizen is interested in Karl Rove's dual role as a government employee and political operative. Accordingly, in January 2009, Public Citizen submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to OSC requesting all records in OSC's possession created on or after January 20, 2001, that (1) were sent to or from Karl Rove; (2) concern Mr. Rove's rights and/or obligations under any statute, rule, regulation, policy, and/or program administered, overseen, or interpreted by OSC; or (3) mention Mr. Rove's name. FOIA requires agencies to respond to FOIA requests within 20 working days, but OSC has not responded to the request. This lawsuit seeks an order compelling OSC to produce the requested records. |
