The city has delayed releasing records regarding payments made to lawyers in lawsuits against the El Paso Police Department, even though the Texas Attorney General’s Office ruled last month that the records cannot be withheld.
The issue involves an open records request filed by El Paso Matters in May, which sought copies of legal billings from private law firms hired by the city for six lawsuits brought against the city, the Police Department and individual officers. The lawsuits alleged a variety of misconduct by police officers.
The city asked the Texas Attorney General’s Office for authorization to withhold the records, saying they were protected by attorney-client privilege…