‘What Happened to This Transparency Idea?’: AP Reporter Burns State Dept Over Keystone Secrecy

AP reporter Matt Lee, scourge of the State Department briefing room, was on his game during a press briefing on Tuesday, slamming the department’s unnecessary secrecy over the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The department had set a mandatory February 2 deadline for reports on Keystone from eight separate federal agencies, including the EPA, Commerce and Homeland Security. 

“Can you tell us what’s going on with that?” Lee asked spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “What’s the next step?”

Psaki refused to give any details, calling it an “inter-agency process.” 

“Did all eight actually submit?” Lee continued.

“We’re not going to confirm,” Psaki said. “We treat them as internal recommendations.”

Incredulous, Lee wondered why the State Department “can’t say all eight submitted them or not?”

“Because they’re internal recommendations,” Psaki replied, “and I’m not going to confirm whether or not we received them.”

“What happened to this transparency idea?” Lee said. “I don’t get it. I’m not asking what’s in the report.”

“When you say ‘internal process,’ that really means ’secret and nontransparent,’ correct?” Lee later asked. “I’m not asking if all eight agencies submitted a report . . . The whole question of this administration’s transparency, I mean, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t even say if you’ve got eight reports or you got five. I don’t see how that compromises anything.”

“I’ve registered your question, I’ll let you know if we’re going to confirm it,” Psaki said.