Judge rejects Emanuel assertion that emails are exempt from disclosure

A Cook County judge ruled in favor of the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday by declaring that Mayor Rahm Emanuel's emails, texts and other communications are not exempt from disclosure simply because they are transmitted over private devices.

The judge denied Emanuel's motion to dismiss the Tribune's lawsuit, which alleges the mayor violated the state's open records laws by refusing to release private emails and text messages about city business.

The Tribune asked a judge to order the mayor's office to comply with a state Freedom of Information request and produce the documents. The lawsuit, filed in September, also seeks to have Emanuel declared in violation of the Illinois Local Records Act if he failed to preserve emails and texts he sent or received relating to city business.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-tribune-emanuel-email-lawsuit-met-20160531-story.html