Haley says her office will not delete emails

Gov. Nikki Haley says her office will stop deleting staff emails as part of a new records retention policy.

In a news release, Haley said her office is working with the Department of Archives and History to come up with a new records retention policy, which will be finalized and released in January.

However, Haley's office noted that the new policy "will include retaining all records, including the governor’s and staff e-mail, which are of long-term and enduring value as required by law and defined by (the Department of Archives and History."

Last month,The State's Gina Smith reported Haley's staff would permanently delete emails among staff members, meaning they could not be disclosed through Freedom of Information Act requests.

And earlier this month, the (Charleston) Post and Courier reported Haley's staff deleted emails relating to a committee set up to decide how the state should implement changes in federal health care law.