[ad_1]
A particular prosecutor has declined to press prices in reference to the deletion of late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s state electronic mail account days after his demise in 2022.
The deleted emails are half of a virtually 2-year-old controversy involving a constructing value overrun of over $1 million disclosed by Drew Wrigley, Stenehjem’s successor. The points, which occurred earlier than Wrigley’s tenure, rattled lawmakers, who tapped the state auditor to look into the matter. A Montana state investigator additionally probed the scenario and gave a prolonged report final yr.
FARGO LOSES CHALLENGE TO NORTH DAKOTA’S CRACKDOWN ON LOCAL GUN CONTROL LAWS
In July 2022, data Wrigley launched in response to media requests revealed that Stenehjem’s government assistant, Liz Brocker, had directed the deletion of his emails the day after he died, in addition to these of his chief deputy, Troy Seibel, after Seibel resigned months later. Brocker herself resigned across the time reporters discovered.
Photographed right here is the late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune by way of AP, File)
Mountrail County State’s Attorney Wade Enget outlined his determination in a memo Thursday to Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer, saying he cannot file a cost of tampering with public data as a result of North Dakota regulation did not clearly outline on the time that emails are a authorities report. A brand new state regulation for electronic mail retention has since taken impact.
Enget advised The Associated Press he’s nonetheless reviewing the Montana report concerning the transform and lease of the constructing, which homes divisions of the legal professional basic’s workplace. The value overrun occurred underneath Stenehjem.
Brocker’s legal professional, Tom Dickson, mentioned Enget made the right determination.
“When you looked at the law in effect in 2022 or during the time frame we’re talking about here, it wasn’t a violation, and I concluded that almost right away,” Dickson mentioned.
Brocker now works within the Burleigh County State’s Attorney’s Office.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Separate from Enget’s assessment, Republican state Rep. Jason Dockter, of Bismarck, who has an possession curiosity within the constructing, was charged with a misdemeanor for “voting on legislative bills appropriating money to pay for property he had acquired a pecuniary interest in,” in response to a criticism. He has pleaded not responsible; a trial is about for May.
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink