{"id":1104179,"date":"2021-12-09T21:28:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T02:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1104179"},"modified":"2021-12-09T21:28:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T02:28:59","slug":"michigan-media-sue-redistricting-commission-for-refusing-to-release-documents-its-an-unconstitutional-slide-towards-secrecy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-media-sue-redistricting-commission-for-refusing-to-release-documents-its-an-unconstitutional-slide-towards-secrecy\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Media Sue Redistricting Commission for Refusing to Release Documents: It&#039;s an \u2018Unconstitutional Slide Towards Secrecy\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmichigan-media-sue-redistricting-commission-for-refusing-to-release-documents-its-an-unconstitutional-slide-towards-secrecy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1104179&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/AP21328840598825-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">The Michigan Press Association and three media outlets filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in response to the Michigan redistricting commission\u2019s refusal to release records from a meeting it had in October, as well as legal documents the commission claims are protected by \u201cattorney-client privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The press association and the three outlets \u2014 the&nbsp;<em>Detroit News<\/em>, the&nbsp;<em>Detroit Free Press<\/em>, and Bridge Michigan \u2014 argue in their suit, filed as an emergency complaint with the Michigan Supreme Court, that they are entitled to the information that the&nbsp;Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is currently keeping confidential.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The media entities are specifically&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" title=\"This external link will open in a new window\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2021\/12\/07\/michigan-newspapers-sue-access-redistricting-memos-meeting-recording\/8889291002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">seeking<\/a>&nbsp;a recording of a closed-door meeting that happened on October 27 and copies of legal memos, which the commission discussed in the meeting, according to the&nbsp;<em>Detroit News<\/em>. The memos were titled \u201cVoting Rights Act\u201d and \u201cThe History of Discrimination in the State of Michigan and Its Influence on Voting,\u201d and the involved outlets have all expressed in their reporting that concerns exist that the commission may break up majority minority districts, which historically vote Democrat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The lawsuit states, according to the&nbsp;<em>Detroit News<\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Michigan voters went to great lengths to ensure transparency and meaningful public participation in the redistricting&nbsp;process. Accordingly, plaintiffs, as members of the public, have the necessary clear legal right to public disclosure of the redistricting materials.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The commission is comprised of four Democrats, four Republicans, and five who say they are independent, although an&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" title=\"This external link will open in a new window\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/opinion\/columnists\/ingrid-jacques\/2021\/09\/10\/jacques-michigans-not-so-independent-redistricting-commission\/8258049002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">op-ed<\/a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<em>Detroit News<\/em>&nbsp;made the case that two self-proclaimed independents have \u201cstrong ties to Democrats or liberal causes.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Last week, the commission voted 7\u20135 to keep the media outlets\u2019 requested documents confidential.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Now, in response to the lawsuit, the commission says it \u201clooks forward to asserting its right to attorney-client privilege in court\u201d and noted it has published 133 meetings on YouTube and Facebook.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"9.5307917888563\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Corrected Statement<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Michigan Independent Citizens RedisItricting Commission looks forward to asserting its right to attorney-client privilege in court. We are not surprised or distracted by this lawsuit and will continue our mission to draw fair maps through public\u20261\/2<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Redistricting Michigan (@RedistrictingMI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RedistrictingMI\/status\/1468657876931682304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 8, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.47619047619\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u2026engagement openly and transparently. By visiting the MICRC YouTube Channel or Facebook Page, you can witness the 133 regular meetings and public hearings held by the Commission. The MICRC will have no further comment on this lawsuit now that we are in litigation.\u201d 2\/2<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Redistricting Michigan (@RedistrictingMI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RedistrictingMI\/status\/1468658058545057798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 8, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The conservative research group Michigan Rising Action agreed with the media outlets in a press statement, saying that the move to keep the documents confidential \u201cerodes\u201d public trust and violates the Michigan constitution.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe secrecy of the Commission has unquestionably tainted their work and any map they produce,\u201d the group\u2019s executive director, Eric Ventimiglia, said. \u201cThe state Constitution is clear that \u2018[T]he commission shall conduct all of its business at open meetings.\u2019 This body has failed to uphold that duty and failed the people of Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The National Republican Redistricting PAC also weighed in on the lawsuit, saying, \u201c3 strikes for the MI Redistricting Commission\u201d and noting the issue has gained bipartisan attention as Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) even issued an opinion that the commission should not have operated in secrecy.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.579831932773\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">3 strikes for the MI Redistricting Commission:<\/p>\n<p>\u274cHeld a secret meeting &amp; refused to release a recording<br \/>\u274cRefused to release 2 legal memos<br \/>\u274cIgnored the Democratic AG\u2019s legal opinion<\/p>\n<p>Now they\u2019re being sued by media outlets for their lack of transparency<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FPRWwioIEB\">https:\/\/t.co\/FPRWwioIEB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 National Republican Redistricting PAC (@GOPRedistrict) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GOPRedistrict\/status\/1469010321029357568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 9, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Detroit News<\/em>&nbsp;editor Gary Miles&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" title=\"This external link will open in a new window\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/opinion\/2021\/12\/08\/why-detroit-news-media-sued-michigan-independent-redistricting-commission\/6432504001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>&nbsp;in an op-ed published Wednesday of his paper\u2019s reason for joining the lawsuit, \u201cTo allow an unconstitutional&nbsp;slide towards secrecy is to sow&nbsp;more seeds of distrust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The redistricting commission is slated to vote on a final redistricted map proposal at the end of December.<\/p>\n<p><em>Write to Ashley Oliver at <a href=\"mailto:aoliver@breitbart.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aoliver@breitbart.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter at <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/asholiver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@asholiver<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Michigan Press Association and three media outlets filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in response to the Michigan redistricting commission\u2019s refusal to release records from a meeting it had in &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1104179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1104179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1104179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1104179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1104179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}