
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
The FOIA Productions of Wilbur Ross' private email concluded.
We will be updating this page with the productions.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross used his personal email account to communicate with foreign officials, private citizens with interests before the Commerce Department, and white supremacist Charles “Chuck” Johnson. FOIA records revealed that, over the course of a year and a half, Ross used a private email account to send or receive hundreds of work-related emails. These emails have included:
- Correspondence with numerous domestic and foreign corporations with business before the Department of Commerce
- Discussions of meetings with numerous foreign officials, lobbyists, and CEOs
- Correspondence with Holocaust denier Chuck Johnson
- Correspondence with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich about a Republican Party donor interested in investment opportunities
- Emails from Ambassador — and later Acting Director of National Intelligence — Richard Grenell about meetings with foreign manufacturers
The Federal Records Act requires all federal officers to copy or forward to their official account every government-related email they send from private email accounts. But after our FOIA lawsuit revealed Secretary Ross complied with the law only one-third of the time, the Commerce Department refused to search Ross’ personal email account for additional relevant records.
Unsurprisingly, Ross is currently under federal investigation by the National Archives and Records Administration for his use of personal email accounts. In opening its probe, NARA cited a September 2019 Washington Post profile of Ross that relied on records obtained via our lawsuit.
Because it was clear Secretary Ross had used private email to conduct agency business, we demanded a thorough search of Ross’ private email accounts. We filed suit on February 2nd, 2018. On July 22nd, 2020, the federal court ruled that the Department’s refusal to conduct a thorough search of Ross’ private emails was unjustified.
To Investigate Risk of Cronyism In Trump’s Infrastructure Plans, Democracy Forward Seeks Release Of Wilbur Ross’ Personal Emails
Read the ReleaseIn the News
Don’t sleep on Wilbur Ross
The Washington Post / September 30, 2019
National Archives probes Wilbur Ross’ use of private email
Politico / October 24, 2019
2017
We submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Commerce
Our request sought records of private email use for government business by Secretary Ross.
February 2018
We filed suit when the Dept. of Commerce failed to comply with its legal obligations
Learn MoreOctober 2019
The National Archives and Records Administration launched an investigation into Ross’ private email accounts
In its letter, NARA specified records we obtained that were cited in the Washington Post.
Learn MoreNovember 2019
We opposed the administration’s refusal to search Ross’ nongovernmental accounts
The Commerce Dept. dragged its feet in producing documents and refused to search private email accounts containing agency information in violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
Learn MoreJuly 2020
The Federal Court rejected the Trump administration’s effort to shield Secretary Ross’ illicit use of personal email to conduct agency business
Federal court ruled that the Commerce Department was unjustified in refusing to search the private email account Secretary Wilbur Ross used for government work. This decision is a victory for transparency and accountability in government after Commerce dragged its feet for 2 years and unreasonably refused to comply with their Freedom of Information Act obligation to search the private accounts Sec. Ross used for agency work.
Learn MoreJeffrey Dubner
Deputy Legal DirectorLitigating challenges to unlawful actions, abuses of power, and threats to democracy on behalf of those who are harmed.
Read the Bio