House Republicans question EPA over secret email accounts

By Brendan Sasso - 11/17/12 04:08 PM ET

Republicans on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee have launched a probe into whether Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson has been conducting official business using secret email accounts.

The lawmakers said the practice may violate transparency and record-keeping laws.

Chris Horner, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and vocal critical of the administration's environmental policies, claimed earlier this month that, while researching a book, he discovered evidence that Jackson was using alias email accounts, including one under the name "Richard Windsor."

"The use of these accounts could seriously impair records collection, preservation, and access, therefore compromising transparency and oversight," the Republicans wrote in a letter to Jackson.

The lawmakers demanded that Jackson turn over all records related to "Richard Windsor" and all other aliases used by senior EPA officials.

They also sent letters to other top officials demanding information about the administration's record-keeping policies. They gave Jackson and the other officials until the end of the month to respond.

The letters were signed by GOP Reps. Ralph Hall (Texas), Jim Sensenbrenner (Wis.), Lamar Smith (Texas), Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), Paul Broun (Ga.) and Andy Harris (Md.).

The EPA did not return a request to comment.