Freedom Foundation: Court Loss For Minnesota AG Is A Win For Accountability, Transparency

Critics frustrated by the lack of transparency involving Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s lawsuit against oil companies are praising a recent Minnesota Court of Appeals decision requiring the AG to release concealed communications between his office and other states’ attorneys general, according to a report in Legal Newsline. 

“This is a tremendous victory for all Minnesotans but especially for those of us who seek greater accountability and transparency by elected officials,” Annette Meeks, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Freedom Foundation of Minnesota told Legal Newsline. “Our attorney general has not been forthcoming in answering basic questions about the operations of that office and the work they have been doing with other state’s attorneys general.”

The ruling said that the “common interest doctrine,” which allows states to withhold documents involving discussions with other states, is not valid in Minnesota.