White House reused e-mail tapes

White House Tape Recycling Raises Possibility That Some E-Mails Are Gone

PETE YOST, AP News
Jan 16, 2008 13:31 EST

The White House has acknowledged recycling its backup computer tapes of e-mail before October 2003, raising the possibility that many electronic messages — including those pertaining to the CIA leak case — have been taped over and are gone forever.

The disclosure came minutes before midnight Tuesday under a court-ordered deadline that forced the White House to reveal information it has previously refused to provide.