FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
January 8, 2019
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Presents Transparency Case at Michigan Supreme Court
Case stems from former AG Schuette’s use of private emails for public business
LANSING — On Wednesday, Progress Michigan went to the Michigan Supreme Court seeking transparency and accountability in a long running legal battle regarding former Attorney General Bill Schuette’s use of private emails for public business.
“Our goal has always been to get to the bottom of this situation, and we were happy to argue the case before the Court to have final resolution to this critical issue,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The people of Michigan deserve transparent, accountable government. Our state has a long way to go in achieving that label and we believe this case is an important step in that journey.”
In December, the Michigan Supreme Court denied a joint motion by Progress Michigan and the Michigan Attorney General’s office to vacate a Court of Appeals decision related to former Attorney General Bill Schuette’s use of private emails for public business as part of a settlement of this long-running case.
Progress Michigan’s quest for transparency began in 2016 after it was discovered that Bill Schuette and his staff were using private email addresses to conduct public business. Schuette denied the practice despite Progress Michigan having such records in its possession. Progress Michigan filed suit in 2017 and the case has been in the Michigan courts ever since.
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