United States: CFWIJ condemns Attorney General Jeff Landry’s decision to sue reporter Andrea Gallo over public-records request

February 9, 2020, Baton Rouge: Louisiana Attorney General sued The Advocate reporter, Andrea Gallo, in response to a public-records request she filed with his office. The request was concerned with the sexual harassment inquiry that took place against Landry’s staff member.

The decision to sue Andrea Gallo came after the newspaper warned Landry that they will consider suing him if he does the provide the documents requested. The request was first filed on December 14, 2020, when complaints of sexual harassment came against Pat Magee, the head of the office’s criminal division. In response, Gallo filed a public records request for copies of the complaints registered. At the time, however, the Attorney General’s office denied the request claiming the sensitive nature of an ongoing investigation. 

On January 4, 2021, they assured the press that this was not a refusal to hand over the documents, but a delay and the request would be fulfilled after the verdict of the inquiry. Pat Magee was placed on administrative leave at the time. The inquiry eventually found Magee guilty, and Landry’s office ordered him to take a one-time $20,559 salary reduction and enroll in courses on workplace professionalism and conflict resolution. Despite this, however, Gallo’s request for the registered complaint documents has not been met.

On January 22, 2021, the Attorney General’s office said that the newspaper could have the records within the coming week, however, soon Landry’s lawyers refused to share the document publicly. They argued that they are doing this in a bid to protect Magee’s privacy. When the newspaper informed them that they are considering legal action, the Attorney General’s office sued Andrew Gallo pre-emptively. They asked the judge to issue a declaratory judgment denying the request and seal the proceedings.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the Attorney General’s attempt to withhold information from the press. Records about a public employee’s time at his office are available to the public, through their right to information. Using taxpayer money to intimidate journalists in order to discourage them from reporting on the mishaps in state offices is reprehensible behaviour.