Log publishing is better than log rolling

Getting into the White House used to be easy, even without an appointment. People could stroll around the grounds, walk right into the White House and, if their timing was right, even shake the president's hand and have a few words with him.

But security had to be made a whole lot tighter, and today the public is kept at more than arm's length. Even so, there's no reason for the list of people who visit the president to be concealed.

A coalition of open government groups is suing to get the visitor logs of the White House and President Trump's other homes. The suit accuses the Secret Service of breaking the law by ignoring several requests for those lists under the Freedom of Information Act.

Some of the groups also sued the Obama White House for its visitor logs. President Barack Obama's administration eventually released visitor names each month, with the eventual tally rising to 6 million.

This was an act of transparency by an administration otherwise defined by an arrogant secrecy. The Trump White House should also start publishing its visitor log immediately, with special exemptions for sensitive circumstances.