By JOEL THURTELL
I asked Democratic Wayne County prosecutor candidate Victoria Burton-Harris if she would investigate and prosecute public officials who illegally withhold records.
She replied:
Good afternoon, Joel.
Yes, I would.
This is simple and a part of my commitment to hold ALL people accountable.
Thank you.
Victoria
Here is my letter to her:
If a citizen were denied access to public records, and requested that you enforce Michigan’s 1931 Penal Code provision that government officials be prosecuted for withholding public records, and if you were Wayne County prosecutor, what would you do?”
Let me tell you how the current Wayne County prosecutor responded.
Oh, excuse me. My error. Kym Worthy did not respond to my request that she enforce the Penal Code when her fellow Democrat and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan lied about records and refused to release them to Wayne State University students in my Spring 2015 Investigative Reporting class.
I have lived in Wayne County for 35 years. I have owned a house and paid taxes in Wayne County for that amount of time. The prosecuting attorney could not spare postage to respond to my emails and letter asking her to investigate the matter.
The students were investigating a land swap deal between the city engineered by Mayor Duggan and billionaire Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun. Duggan or people in his office sought to stymie the reporters. My hope was that Prosecutor Worthy would make sure the mayor followed the law by disclosing the description of the deal.
The document was leaked by a city council member to the students. But that is not how it is supposed to work.
So I ask: If you become Wayne County prosecutor, would you stand up to Mayor Duggan or other public officials if they illegally refused to disclose public records? Would you, if need be, investigate and yes, even prosecute Mayor Duggan or other officials for denying citizens their rightful access to public information?
Thank you for your attention.
Yours truly,
Joel Thurtell
