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This is not the GSA website.
The letter is also named differently.
GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf
https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2020/11/GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf
The letter is also named differently.
GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf
https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2020/11/GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf
When I search for just the name of the document (the third name) and restrict it to the past 24 hours, it takes me to this page. The top two results are the Daily Kos and MSNBC.
https://www.google.com/search?q=GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf&newwindow=1&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk00hpwpZX6Gq3UQIUyJj0Y12OCbtkA:1606186482188&source=lnt&tbs=qdr:d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjay9r1lprtAhWhVTABHWx2D2QQpwV6BAgJECE&biw=2560&bih=1297&dpr=0.75
https://www.google.com/search?q=GSA-biden-transition-letter-11.23.20.pdf&newwindow=1&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk00hpwpZX6Gq3UQIUyJj0Y12OCbtkA:1606186482188&source=lnt&tbs=qdr:d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjay9r1lprtAhWhVTABHWx2D2QQpwV6BAgJECE&biw=2560&bih=1297&dpr=0.75
When I search Whois for that domain, this is what I see.
https://www.whois.com/whois
I tried ICANN lookup and it said "the domain name entered is not valid."
https://lookup.icann.org/lookup
https://www.whois.com/whois
I tried ICANN lookup and it said "the domain name entered is not valid."
https://lookup.icann.org/lookup
But according to the media (search Google for "GSA Biden"), Emily W. Murphy, the head of the GSA, just authorized Biden to get transition funding, legitimizing him as the President-elect.
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk02AHfswezSlZOSkS7ychl5FiK5afw%3A1606186910049&ei=nne8X4fOAqXhxgHIzouYDQ&q=gsa+letter+to+biden&oq=gsa+letter+to+biden&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQA1CYDli6EGDtFGgAcAB4AIABZ4gBpwKSAQMxLjKYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6wAEB&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiHld3BmJrtAhWlsDEKHUjnAtMQ4dUDCA0&uact=5
https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk02AHfswezSlZOSkS7ychl5FiK5afw%3A1606186910049&ei=nne8X4fOAqXhxgHIzouYDQ&q=gsa+letter+to+biden&oq=gsa+letter+to+biden&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQA1CYDli6EGDtFGgAcAB4AIABZ4gBpwKSAQMxLjKYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6wAEB&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiHld3BmJrtAhWlsDEKHUjnAtMQ4dUDCA0&uact=5
Before ending this thread I just want to point out a couple of anomalies in the letter itself.
Before doing that - look at the GSA Presidential Transition Page: "Last Reviewed: 2020-09-30"
That's months ago.
Do you notice also that their dating convention is different than the one "signed" by Murphy?
https://www.gsa.gov/governmentwide-initiatives/presidential-transition-directory
That's months ago.
Do you notice also that their dating convention is different than the one "signed" by Murphy?
https://www.gsa.gov/governmentwide-initiatives/presidential-transition-directory
Also if she "signed" a letter, it would be named the same way, consistently, wherever it appeared.
The GSA logo is not the same logo as the one on the letter.
The logo on the letter is not in use by the GSA for its website or its letters.
Here is the official GSA branding guide, which shows how GSA stationery is supposed to look. You can see that the standard logo appears on the upper left, and "General Services Administration" appears on the upper right.
Not "The Administrator."
https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/insite/Strengthening_Our_Brand_FINAL_%28508_Complient%29_01-27-2015.pdf
Not "The Administrator."
https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/insite/Strengthening_Our_Brand_FINAL_%28508_Complient%29_01-27-2015.pdf
"By featuring the GSA Monogram as a part of the Star Mark, we clearly identify ourselves."
"The GSA Star Mark is the official and sole identifying mark for the agency and all agency programs."
"The official elements are fixed and should never be redrawn or altered in any way."
"The GSA Star Mark is the official and sole identifying mark for the agency and all agency programs."
"The official elements are fixed and should never be redrawn or altered in any way."
Here is an official GSA letter from April 2018 (response to a FOIA request). You can see that the official GSA logo is used. The name of the office does appear on the upper right.
https://www.governmentattic.org/33docs/GSAsPPRB-CAR_2009-2015.pdf
https://www.governmentattic.org/33docs/GSAsPPRB-CAR_2009-2015.pdf
Within the letter itself:
"I have dedicated much of my adult life to public service, and I have always strived to do what is right."
The whole sentence is odd. In correspondence, government officials just state their business. They don't write manifestos.
"I have dedicated much of my adult life to public service, and I have always strived to do what is right."
The whole sentence is odd. In correspondence, government officials just state their business. They don't write manifestos.
It would never occur to a government official to say they were not being held hostage.
"Please know that I came to my decision independently....I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official....To be clear, I did not receive any direction"
"Please know that I came to my decision independently....I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official....To be clear, I did not receive any direction"
Compare with the dry FOIA letter, which is standard - "This letter is in response to...Under the law we are doing XYZ."
As the Administrator of the GSA, Ms. Murphy absolutely can consult with Counsel before sending a letter. It would be very odd indeed if she did not. Why is she talking about looking up the law herself? Does any Cabinet official do that? She doesn't operate as an individual.
Can you imagine the Presidentially appointed head of any agency talking about their pets?
"I did, however, receive threats... directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets"
It's like the language was intended to make this believable.
"I did, however, receive threats... directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets"
It's like the language was intended to make this believable.
Lobbying for change to the law? To Congress?
"I do not think that an agency charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process. I strongly urge Congress to consider amendments to the Act."
"I do not think that an agency charged with improving federal procurement and property management should place itself above the constitutionally-based election process. I strongly urge Congress to consider amendments to the Act."
This doesn't make sense either. Nobody knows the status of the legal disputes. How would she decide that they are irrelevant?
"As stated, because of recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results,
I have determined that you may access..."
"As stated, because of recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results,
I have determined that you may access..."
Now there are some things to review with respect to deviations from the GSA Style Guide.
References here.
Sample letter
https://www.governmentattic.org/33docs/GSA-OIG-JIwklySums_2017-2018.pdf
Online style guidance
https://www.usa.gov/style-guide/style-guidance
Old fashioned style guide
https://www.governmentattic.org/12docs/GSAstyleManual_1992.pdf
Sample letter
https://www.governmentattic.org/33docs/GSA-OIG-JIwklySums_2017-2018.pdf
Online style guidance
https://www.usa.gov/style-guide/style-guidance
Old fashioned style guide
https://www.governmentattic.org/12docs/GSAstyleManual_1992.pdf
Most current https://digital.gov/style-guide/
It's "NW," not "N.W."
The most current guidance is not to put periods in "DC."
The most current guidance is not to put periods in "DC."
U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Guide (2016), p. 222 - periods go inside the parenthesis, not outside.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/pdf/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016.pdf
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/pdf/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016.pdf
These things do matter, and we get graded every month for our adherence to the standards. (Please note that all opinions here are always my own unless otherwise indicated. I do not speak for my employer.)
On looking this up, Ms. Mary D. Gibert is the Federal Transition Coordinator at the GSA in addition to being the Associate Administrator for the Office of Civil Rights.
https://www.cre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Gibert_Mary-bio.pdf
https://www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GSA-FOIA-Presidential-Transition-2020.11.10.pdf
https://www.cre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Gibert_Mary-bio.pdf
https://www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GSA-FOIA-Presidential-Transition-2020.11.10.pdf
(End.)
FOR THE END OF FAKE NEWS
AND THE BEGINNING OF BASED OSINT
AND THE BEGINNING OF BASED OSINT
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