Sun Sentinel by Skyler Swisher
December 15, 2017
President Trump is expected to head to his Winter White House in Palm Beach for the holidays, but records showing who will be rubbing elbows with the First Family at his Mar-a-Lago Club aren’t available to the public.
The Trump administration has swatted down attempts by government watchdog groups to obtain White House and Mar-a-Lago visitor logs through the Freedom of Information Act.
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to “drain the swamp” and rid Washington of lobbyists peddling back-room deals.
But in court, his administration has argued visitor logs fall under the Presidential Records Act, which means the information could be kept secret up to 12 years after Trump leaves office. The Obama administration initially fought efforts to make its White House visitor information public, but ultimately agreed to settle a lawsuit by turning over some of the records.