Wisconsin state senator criticized for email archiving policy

Contributed by Debbie Howlett (Lundi, 20 décembre 2010) | Category : Email archiving

Wisconsin state senator Jim Holperin has recently come under fire for regularly deleting emails his office receives.

The email archiving policy was revealed when Holperin told the Lakeland Times he and his staff delete emails they deem aren't substantive. The state senator said he does not retain messages because he's not required to by law.

The newspaper asked the Office of the State Attorney General for a legal opinion on the policy, but the AG declined, saying the office has no jurisdiction to render an opinion. However, assistant attorney general Lewis Beilin did say all lawmakers should be transparent with their email archiving policies.

"We do believe it is sound policy for all public officials to take steps to promote transparency, even if laws do not require them to do so,” Beilin said.

Lame duck Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell has also been criticized for an email retention policy. Earlier this year, her administration received approval for a retention policy that calls for 161 million emails to be destroyed 60 days after she leaves office. Governor-elect Dan Malloy has said he won't allow the policy to take effect.