ACLU Files Sunshine Law Suit to Obtain FBI Audit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

ST. LOUIS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (ACLU of Missouri) filed a Sunshine Law suit today against St. Louis County because the County will not release an FBI audit regarding the embezzlement of county funds by Edward Mueth.

The ACLU of Missouri made a Sunshine Law request for the report, along with other related documents on July 2. On July 7, the ACLU received a letter from St. Louis County Counselor Patricia Redington denying the FBI audit report. Media reports later stated that the County asked the U.S. Attorney for permission to comply with the Sunshine Law.

"St. Louis County knows that if there is a question about whether or not records are public under Missouri’s Sunshine Law, the correct procedure is to file a state court proceeding, not ask the U.S. attorney," explains Tony Rothert, legal director for the ACLU of Missouri. "Failing to ask the Court for guidance is the County’s attempt to skirt the Sunshine Law."

"It is unfortunate that it is necessary for the ACLU to ask the Court to take action against St. Louis County for violating the Sunshine Law again, but the need for transparency is too important to ignore," said ACLU of Missouri Executive Director Jeffrey A. Mittman. "If it was important enough for the chief of police to request an outside audit by the federal government and for county officials to know the results of that audit, then the public also has a right to know."