Montana News
Justice department orders news site to remove highway patrol survey responses
A Montana newspaper refuses to comply with a state justice department demand to remove an internal document from a recent article. On August 16th the Daily Montanan published a redacted copy of a nearly 400-page survey. It detailed employees’ concerns about Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s management of the highway patrol as well distrust within upper levels of the agency.
- Duration:
- 1m
- Broadcast on:
- 03 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
With Montana News, I'm Elinor Smith. A Montana newspaper refuses to comply with the State Justice Department demand to remove an internal document from a recent article. The department argues the internal Montana Highway Patrol Employee Survey violates workers' privacy. MTPR's Edward O'Brien reports. In a press release issued Friday, daily Montana editor-in-chief, Darryl Erlick is quoted as saying, "We will not be intimidated." Erlick was responding to a recent cease and desist letter from the Montana Attorney General's office. On August 16, the online newspaper published a redacted copy of a nearly 400-page survey. It detailed employees' concerns about Attorney General Austin Knudson's management of the Highway Patrol as well as distrust within upper levels of the agency. Within days, Knudson's office demanded the document be scrubbed from the website. The AG's office asserted publishing the survey violated employee privacy rights. The department offered to provide the daily Montana with a document containing what it says is identical information to the survey, but without the individual comments. Upper Seven Law responded on behalf of the daily Montana. It notes all information about employees is redacted and says there are no privacy concerns. Upper Seven says publishing the report is legal under the Montana Constitution's right to no guarantee and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. When asked for a comment on the daily Montana's decision, a spokesperson for the Montana Attorney General's office told MTPR, quote, "We are not going to comment on a document that the daily Montana blog illegitimately obtained." Reporting from Missoula, I'm Edward O'Brien.