Obama Administration Defends Secret Email Accounts for Agency Heads

Claims it's about avoid being inundated with emails

A White House spokesman said Tuesday there's nothing secret about the secret email accounts held by administration officials, and defended the practice as sensible time management.

Asked about revelations that some Obama Cabinet officials including former EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson have used secret alias email addresses, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the subterfuge "makes eminent sense" because those officials would otherwise be swamped with unwanted messages. He said other administrations also have used the secret — or in his words, "alternate" — email accounts.

"There's nothing secret," Mr. Carney said. "It's about having a public email address as well as … one for internal, you know, workings."

While at EPA, Ms. Jackson used the email address "[e-mail]" for important business. The agency even awarded the fictional staffer's email account certificates proving that he had mastered all of the EPA's technology training.