GETTY Barack Obama campaigned his Government would be the most transparent administration ever

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During his 2008 presidential campaign, former Illinois senator Barack Obama promised to the most transparent and accountable administration in history. And then when entering his second-term, Mr Obama claimed his administration was meeting his campaign pledge. He said: “This is the most transparent administration in history.”

GETTY Around 77 per cent of FOI requests were partially or fully edited before being handed over

But a new transparency report by the Associated Press had found that Obama’s Government received over 788,000 freedom of information requests in 2016. A staggering 77 percent of cases ended with the recipient only receiving partly or fully edited files. This is a significant increase on the 65 per cent of files censored during Obama’s first year as President in 2009.

Barack Obama in pictures Thu, November 24, 2016 Barack Obama, President of the United States in pictures Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 130 U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama serve Thanksgiving dinner to residents of AFRH in Washington

This is the most transparent administration in history Barack Obama in 2013

Under America’s Freedom of Information Act, the US Government is suppose to hand over any requested files unless the disclosure could harm national security, violate personal privacy or expose confidential decision-making. But according to this latest report, the US Department of Justice spent the most on legal fees to keep its files from the public with $12 million (£9.8 million). This was followed by the Department of Homeland Security with $6.3 million (£5.1 million) and the Pentagon with $4.8 million (£3.9 million).

GETTY In 2013 during his second-term Mr Obama claimed his 'transparency' campaign pledge was being met