Comer & Higgins Call on Inspector General to Probe Mayor Bowser’s WhatsApp Use

Mayor Bowser and D.C. employees have used encrypted technology to skirt public records laws

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), Representative Clay Higgins (R-La.), and Republican lawmakers called on the D.C. Office of the Inspector General to conduct a review of Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. employees’ use of technology to skirt public records laws.

“Committee on Oversight and Reform Republicans are concerned about District of Columbia government employees allegedly sending internal communications using cross-platform encrypted instant messaging services such as WhatsApp. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. employees are reportedly using this software to circumvent the preservation of records and District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. As such, we request the D.C. Office of the Inspector General conduct a review of these practices to learn what extent Mayor Bowser and D.C. employees are skirting public records laws,” wrote the Republican lawmakers.

According to a recent media report, Mayor Bowser, top aides, and high-level staff throughout the D.C. government are using WhatsApp or similar platforms to conduct D.C. business or communicate about official matters in order to shield official communications from FOIA requests. This problem is not new and has affected all levels of the D.C. government. After years of abuses by the D.C. government, the D.C. Council recently introduced an emergency measure to regulate government employees’ use of WhatsApp and similar messaging services, but it is unclear if this proposal will remedy the problem.

“Messages sent by city employees through private text messaging services like WhatsApp are not necessarily preserved and cannot be searched for to respond to corresponding FOIA requests and other legal demands. This is in direct violation of FOIA requirements,” continued the Republican lawmakers. “The lack of transparency regarding Mayor Bowser’s WhatsApp messages raises questions about why the Mayor is attempting to hide certain communications.”

The letter to Inspector General Daniel Lucas can be found here.