Not buying the recycling story

Re “White House recycled backup tapes of e-mails,” Jan. 17

I object to your use of the word “recycled,” which implies something benign or perhaps even thrifty. Does anyone seriously believe the White House, squandering untold billions of our tax money overseas, needs to recycle its backup tapes for e-mails? Why not call this what it probably is, destroying evidence? When is Congress going to grow a backbone and impeach these shameful rascals?

David Drum

Los Angeles

The White House’s explanation that the industry standard practice of recycling backup tapes destroyed the e-mails is profoundly unconvincing. It is absolutely not industry standard practice to recycle when data have to be preserved, as in this case.

There has to be a manager of information systems for the White House who provides technological support for the users in the White House in accord with any relevant law. It is absolutely inconceivable that this manager did not know of the statutory obligation to archive these materials or that destroying the tapes would destroy the data.

Peter Griffiths

Pacific Palisades