CREW questions Obama staff's offsite meetings.

• Position: GOVERNMENT RECORDS - Citizens for responsibility and ethics in washington - Barack Obama - Presidential Records Act of 1978 - Federal Records Act of 1950 - Brief article

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

In response to a New York Times report, watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is urging a House committee to investigate the Obama administration's reported communication and meetings with lobbyists outside the White House.

According to The Times, Obama officials have met "hundreds of times" over the past 18 months with lobbyists at offsite coffee shops and have used private e-mail accounts to communicate with them.

CREW said this may violate the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and the Federal Records Act (FRA) and wants the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to investigate.

"Because the discussions are not taking place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they are not subject to disclosure on the visitors' log that the White House releases as part of its pledge to be the 'most transparent presidential administration in history,"' The Times reported.

The Times also reported that lobbyists said they "routinely" receive e-mails from White House staff members' personal accounts, not their White House accounts, which...