Rep. Rosendale presses the Secretary on reasons for delays in processing PPT’s FOIA requests

PPT filed transparency lawsuits against the Department of the Interior (DOI) over Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding communications between DOI Secretary Deb Haaland’s daughter, Somah, and Department leadership. Somah Haaland is among the leadership of an organization that participated in planning protests, one of which erupted into a riot at DOI headquarters in October 2021. The younger Haaland also lobbied officials in Washington, DC, on land-use issues that are under the authority of Secretary Haaland, creating the perception of a conflict of interest for the Secretary.

Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale declared in questioning of Secretary Haaland at the House Natural Resources Committee hearing, “Trust in government is paramount if our system is to work. Transparency is a main component of establishing that trust.” Rep. Rosendale then pressed the Secretary on the reason for delays in processing PPT’s FOIA requests.