FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
October 22, 2013
Contact: Sam Inglot, sam@progressmichigan.org, 616-916-0574
Progress Michigan Executive Director’s Statement on Judge Oxholm’s Ruling to Not Release Documents for Detroit Emergency Manager
DETROIT — Today, Wayne County Circuit Judge Maria Oxholm ruled that Gov. Rick Snyder’s emails regarding the selection of the Detroit’s emergency manager are protected by executive privilege. This comes after activist Robert Davis filed a lawsuit against the state Treasury Department to obtain emails and documents exchanged with the governor’s administration during discussions to hire Detroit’s emergency manager.
“We’re disappointed in Judge Oxholm’s decision, but we’re even more disappointed in Gov. Snyder’s failed promises of transparency and Attorney General Bill Schuette’s playing both sides of the field for political gain,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “There was a clear conflict of interest with Schuette representing both Snyder and the retirees of Detroit. Retirees deserve to know how EM Kevin Orr was selected. This is another campaign promise Snyder made and has broken, proving he’s not a nerd, but just your run of the mill politician. And yet another example of how Snyder doesn’t believe he should be accountable to anyone — especially working Michiganders.”
###