COMMERCE SECRETARY GINA RAIMONDO WON’T DISCLOSE WHETHER SHE MET WITH BIG TECH, WATCHDOGS SAY

A coalition called on the Judiciary Committee to investigate, as Democrats consider pivotal antitrust initiatives.

By Sara Sirota, The Intercept, Apr. 12, 2022

FOR MONTHS, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has ignored calls to reveal whether she’s meeting with Big Tech representatives, while criticizing groundbreaking antitrust regulations in the European Union to rein in technology giants, according to a coalition of watchdogs. They’re calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the Commerce Department’s refusal to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request, alleging its inaction stands “to further erode Americans’ trust in their elected officials.”

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s adamant and ongoing refusal to release her calendar records, a simple and routine task expected of federal officeholders, is one recent example of conduct that warrants full attention from the Senate Judiciary Committee given your ongoing concern over FOIA practice and administration,” the coalition of 14 watchdogs, including Public Citizen and Revolving Door Project, said in a letter obtained by The Intercept.

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