Auditor responds to Open Records Act LICRAT lawsuit
By: Melinda Stotts, The Miami News-Record, January 19, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones has responded through his attorney to an Open Records Act (ORA) lawsuit regarding the Picher buyout filed by a Washington DC watchdog group Campaign for Accountability (CfA).
“The Auditor’s response completely vindicates our position and demonstrates why this audit should be released to the public immediately, ” CfA’s Executive Director Daniel Stevens said. “We still have to wait for the AG’s response, which should come in today or tomorrow. At that point, we’ll have to evaluate their filing and consider how to respond.”
CfA filed the lawsuit against Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter and Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones for failing to release copies of audits and documents related to corruption allegations associated with the management of the Tar Creek Reclamation site in the state.
CfA made the Open Records Act request on Nov. 9, 2017, and the Auditor explained that he wanted to release the records, but had been instructed not to do so by the AG’s office. CfA filed a request for the records directly with the AG’s office on Nov. 14, 2017, which denied the request.
Jones’ formal response to the Campaign for Accountability’s ORA lawsuit was filed Jan. 17 in the District Court of Oklahoma County in Oklahoma.