Newly published emails show the top spokeswoman at the U.S. Justice  Department regularly collaborating with the liberal advocacy group Media Matters  on stories that slam the administration's critics.

The emails, obtained through a Freedom of  Information Actrequest and published by The Daily Caller, often show department public affairs  chief Tracy Schmaler communicating with Media Matters bloggers. Sometimes, the  emails were in response to inquiries. Other times, Schmaler was pitching ideas,  according to the Caller.

In a January 2012 email chain, Schmaler sent a Media Matters writer lines from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa's comments at a recent hearing. She reportedly underlined passages where the California Republican tries to explain the difference between Operation Fast and Furious and other anti-gunrunning operations under former President George W. Bush.

Hours later, an article appeared on Media Matters' site titled "Rep. Issa Ties Himself in Fast and Furious Knots."

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