Attorney general files lawsuit against Missouri School Boards’ Association
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri's attorney general is suing the Missouri School Boards' Association for not fulfilling an open records request.
Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Missouri School Boards' Association for allegedly knowingly concealing documents requested under the state's Sunshine Law.
Schmitt's office requested documents related to a letter sent by the White House to the National School Boards' Association that implored the FBI to investigate some parents as "domestic terrorists" for their actions at school board meetings in October. Documents related to critical race theory and mask guidance were also requested.
Missouri Sunshine Law states that “any record, whether written or electronically stored, retained by or of any public governmental body including any report, survey, memorandum, or other document or study prepared for the public governmental body by a consultant or other professional service paid for in whole or in part by public funds, including records created or maintained by private contractors under an agreement with a public governmental body or on behalf of a public governmental body.”
Schmitt's lawsuit states that the MSBA should abide by the Sunshine Law because it receives public funding.
In an interview with ABC 17 News, Schmitt said he believes the association knew about the letter before it was sent out.
"We sent a request for information to the Missouri School Boards' Association, and they've stonewalled us," Schmitt said. "But we also know that they know a lot more about what happened and refuse to give us information. So we filed a lawsuit today to uncover the truth."
Melissa Randol, executive director of the MSBA, called the lawsuit "frivolous" and a "political stunt."
"MSBA is a not-for-profit organization that supports school boards in their efforts to ensure students succeed and, in doing so, following the law," Randol said. "This lawsuit is a political stunt by candidate Schmitt and, as citizens of Missouri, it's discouraging to see his state office being turned into an extension of his campaign."
The attorney representing MSBA, Chuck Hatfield, said not-for-profits should be "terrified" of the precedent set by this lawsuit.
"In the history of the Attorney General's office, no Attorney General has ever sued a not-for-profit entity for violating the sunshine law," Hatfield said. "And a review of the lawsuit shows it is not the result of any complaint or important governmental policy, but rather to advance a particular political agenda."
