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 For Immediate Release
Oct 20, 2003 Contact: Press Office
202-646-5188


DEAN’S “AMBITION” CITED AS REASON FOR GUBERNATORIAL RECORDS SEAL

Dean’s Seal Request Termed “Extreme” By Vermont Deputy Secretary of State


(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that Vermont State archivist documents concerning the negotiations and decision to seal former Vermont Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean’s records show Dean’s personal political ambitions for the presidency were the reason Dean wanted his gubernatorial records sealed for an unprecedented 24 years. Ultimately, they were sealed for 10 years. Vermont State Archivist Gregory Sanford specifically cited “ambition” as not being sufficient grounds for exempting records from disclosure. Vermont Deputy Secretary of State William A. Dalton stated in a September 4, 2002 e-mail that, with respect to Dean’s request, “. . . even eight years seems extreme.”

Dean’s Legal Counsel, David Rocchio, also sought a memorandum of understanding (also unprecedented in Vermont) with the Secretary of State that would further seal Dean’s records beyond established limits, “In the event Governor Dean is President or a presidential candidate. . .”

Archivist Sanford reminded Mr. Rocchio in a letterhead memorandum, dated August 21, 2002, that: “The open records law (1 V.S.A. '315) declares ‘it is in the public interest to enable any person to review and criticize [the officers of the government] decisions even though such examination may cause inconvenience or embarrassment.’ So the scenario we were discussing – use of the gubernatorial records to embarrass a national campaign – is not one recognized by Vermont law.”

These and other documents are available for public inspection at Judicial Watch’s Internet site at www.JudicialWatch.org.

“Dean’s personal political ambitions and apparent obsession with keeping his public record secret are not consistent with Vermont law, nor are they compatible with principles of transparency and accountability in government. Dean obviously has something to hide,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

To view a copy of the documents,
click here (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).



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