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portlander23

(2,078 posts)
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 12:36 PM Jun 2016

Judge rejects Emanuel assertion that emails are exempt from disclosure (FOIA runs in the family ...)

Judge rejects Emanuel assertion that emails are exempt from disclosure
Patrick M. O'Connell
Chicago Tribune

A Cook County judge ruled in favor of the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday by declaring that Mayor Rahm Emanuel's emails, texts and other communications are not exempt from disclosure simply because they are transmitted over private devices.

The judge denied Emanuel's motion to dismiss the Tribune's lawsuit, which alleges the mayor violated the state's open records laws by refusing to release private emails and text messages about city business.

The ruling comes down as the issue of personal email use by government officials remains at the forefront of the presidential campaign. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has continued to face questions about her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state. Last week, the State Department's inspector general found Clinton broke department rules when she used private email for government business, concluding she created a security risk and violated transparency and disclosure policies.

"There is no merit to defendants' argument that the mere storage of communications pertaining to the transaction of public business on personal electronic devices (or in personal email accounts) categorically shields those communications from the FOIA," Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen M. Pantle wrote.

She ruled the FOIA law does not distinguish between records kept on publicly funded devices and private ones.

"It's wrong for a government official to claim that if they conduct business on one phone and email account it's a public document, but if they use another phone or account to conduct the same business it is a private matter," Bruce Dold, the Tribune's publisher and editor-in-chief, said in a statement. "We are committed to pursuing this case to the end."

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Judge rejects Emanuel assertion that emails are exempt from disclosure (FOIA runs in the family ...) (Original Post) portlander23 Jun 2016 OP
Good! flor-de-jasmim Jun 2016 #1
Makes you wonder what he hid from the public while in the Obama administration. JimDandy Jun 2016 #2
Yes Yes Yes!!!!!! Faux pas Jun 2016 #3
Makes you wonder if he shared this theory about private devices not subject to FOIA with Hillary. GoneFishin Jun 2016 #4
What is it with these people? Wilms Jun 2016 #5
they get the votes no matter what they do MisterP Jun 2016 #7
Good. I'd like evidence he stalled the Laquan McDonald video release riderinthestorm Jun 2016 #6
Indeed it would... truebrit71 Jun 2016 #8
I am glad Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #9

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
2. Makes you wonder what he hid from the public while in the Obama administration.
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 12:40 PM
Jun 2016

Maybe we should be looking for a lot more private servers.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
6. Good. I'd like evidence he stalled the Laquan McDonald video release
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 01:19 PM
Jun 2016

and protected killer cops.

I'd also like evidence he knew about Humboldt Park's torture site.

We "know" he's guilty of these and more but it would be epic to have solid proof.


Else You Are Mad

(3,040 posts)
9. I am glad
Wed Jun 1, 2016, 02:56 PM
Jun 2016

That these judges are pushing back against those politicians that assume they are invulnerable and are not accountable to the people. One of the reasons we have FOIA requests is to prevent illegal and corrupt practices of government.

And any politician that fights a FOIA request is suspect in my book and needs further -- and independent -- investigations.

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