Commentary: The senior lawmaker from California wrote that disposing of the recordings would "reflect badly on the agency." Though existence of the letter had been reported but its release had been held up until it had been declassified by the CIA. In her letter,Harman's notes, "Even if the videotape does not constitute an official record that must be preserved under the law, the videotape would be the best proof that the written record is accurate, if such record is called into question in the future." The release of the letter appeared to be bad news for the White House as under federal law it is considered obstruction of justice to destroy evidence that could be relevant to a future investigation.