6 Investigates began looking into public funds awarded to developers of the Homewood Suites by Hilton in April after receiving an audio recording between Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni and a competing hotel owner.
KRIS 6 News was also given copies of text messages and emails between Zanoni and that hotelier.
They were exchanged on Zanoni’s personal phone and Gmail.
As part of the process to verify the authenticity of these documents, 6 Investigates filed a Public Information Request with the city on April 29.
On May 10, the city provided some of the requested documents, but not the text messages and emails that 6 Investigates already had.
Three weeks after the city turned over documents, KRIS 6 News asked Zanoni why these text messages and emails were not turned over.
At that time, he said he had not yet turned over his cell phone information to the City Attorney and wasn’t sure if the city was behind on this Public Information Request.
However, at the time the city complied with the request, it did not indicate that it was a partial response, or that 6 Investigates could expect any further documents.