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Private Emails Used By KS Governor

By Associated Press

05/17/2015

Governor Brownback

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Gov. Sam Brownback uses a private email address to communicate with staff, raising concerns about the availability of much of his communication under the state’s open records law.

The Wichita Eagle reports that email records show Brownback uses a private email address, while his staffers use official government emails. Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley confirmed Brownback’s use of private email.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, says private emails from public officials fall outside the bounds of the Kansas Open Records Act.

Brownback’s emails to staff would be public records if the staff member were on a government account. But a media outlet or a person could obtain those records only by knowing which staffer Brownback had emailed and when.

Schmidt has recommended changes to fix the private email loophole.

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