It is not coincidentally that Freedom of Information Day in the United States falls on the birthday of James Madison. Madison, along with being the fourth U.S. President, is known as “the Father of the U.S. Constitution.” He earned that moniker for his part in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution.)

President Madison was born 275 years ago today on March 16, 1751.

The Freedom of Information Day was designated by the U.S. Congress in 1986 on the 20^th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Freedom of Information Act gave citizens (and the press) permission to see government records. It encourages us to hold our government accountable and to seek and share information.

As the methods of gathering and storing information continually evolve, the FOIA and its interpretation will, no doubt, evolve. After all, in 1966 at the creation of the Freedom of Information Act, technological capabilities like artificial intelligence were things of science fiction.

Codified at 5 U.S.C.§ 552, the Freedom of Information Act spells out the types of records that can be accessed, as well as the procedure for requesting access along with nine exemptions to protect sensitive information. Those nine exemptions include things like national security, personal privacy, and matters of a law enforcement nature.

It is thanks to the Freedom of Information Act that journalists and news agency are guaranteed access to certain government papers and documents so on this Freedom of Information Day do not take that for granted.

It is thanks to the Freedom of Information Act that the heavily redacted Epstein files have been partially released. I hope the Freedom of Information Act will soon make it possible for the files to be released with only the names of the victims redacted. Somehow, these men must be held accountable for their pedophilia.

Janet

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.