Governor says that e-mails between him and ex-girlfriend not subject to open records laws

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS/704060331

Corzine orders ethics review of his conduct
Governor says that e-mails between him and ex-girlfriend not subject to open records laws.

By GREGORY J. VOLPE
Gannett State Bureau

TRENTON -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration has asked the governor's Advisory Ethics Panel to review whether his former relationship with union boss Carla Katz affected contract negotiations with the Communications Workers of America.

The administration released the request, which was dated Monday, hours after denying requests to media outlets seeking copies of e-mail correspondence between Corzine and Katz, his former girlfriend who is president of CWA Local 1034, while a new pact for state workers was being crafted.

The records denial to Gannett New Jersey newspapers says Corzine did not discuss contract talks from his state e-mail account and that personal e-mail correspondence is not subject to the state Open Public Records Act "consistent with the long-recognized judicial protection afforded non-public communications between senior public officials and those with whom they communicate."

When Corzine was running for governor in 2005, it was revealed he forgave a $470,000 loan to Katz to buy a Hunterdon County farmhouse.

He also paid a $160,000 gift tax. Corzine has repeatedly said the relationship and financial connections have been ended, but recent news reports suggest gifts have continued as Katz has began a large expansion of the farmhouse in Alexandria Township, bought a $1.1 million condominium, apparently without a mortgage, and sends her children to a private school in Pennsylvania.

Neither side will say how Katz, who earns $102,000 annually from the union, can afford all of that without help from the wealthy governor. Katz didn't return phone calls on the issue Thursday.

Tom Wilson, state chairman of the Republican Party, who first requested the e-mails looking to see whether the two communicated as the Corzine administration negotiated with the CWA, said his group would likely appeal the denial in court.

"If the governor is using a private e-mail address to discuss state business like a contract negotiation or the fate of any legislative effort to alter benefit or pension structure in the state, that is covered under OPRA," Wilson said. "Just as e-mails between Bush administration figures like Alberto Gonzalez or Karl Rove were covered under the federal Freedom of Information Act."

FULL story at link.

[shance]

1. Once again, it goes to show, power is indeed party blind.

that can be taken literally,

figuratively,

or both.

[LiberalFighter]

2. If he used any form of communication whether private or government paid

he should be subject to disclosure.

If he used any form of government paid communication for government or personal use it should be disclosed.