WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that White House visitor logs for the president and most of the White House staff are not public information.
The 3-0 decision would keep the visitor records confidential for up to 12 years after President Barack Obama leaves office.
The appeals court ruling deals a defeat to a private group that asked the Secret Service for all White House visitor logs from Obama’s first seven months in office.
The appeals court says Congress made clear that it did not want documents like the appointment calendars of the president and his close advisers to be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
A conservative-oriented watchdog group that sought the records says it is considering an appeal.
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