Governor claims 'executive privilege,' denies public records
BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI AND JONATHAN MATTISE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JANUARY 13, 2020 07:05 PM
FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks to the media during a tour of Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn. Lee's administration has invoked executive privilege multiple times to withhold documents from public records requests, even though such privilege is not defined in the state's law, nor mentioned in its constitution. CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS VIA AP, FILE
ROBIN RUDD
NASHVILLE, TENN.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's administration has invoked executive privilege multiple times to withhold documents from public records requests, even though such privilege is not defined in the state's law, nor mentioned in its constitution.
Officials in Lee's office say they are using it interchangeably with a separate protection when documents are deemed part of the executive office's decision-making process.
Supreme courts in a handful of states have upheld a governor's right to claim executive privilege in some circumstances.
According to documents provided by Lee's team, executive privilege was cited three times during 2019 the Republican's first year in office when denying certain documents from being released to the public.
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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article239254488.html
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)They should not be allowed to get by with that.