The city sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an effort to prevent the release of public records related to payments made to lawyers in lawsuits against the El Paso Police Department – a move an open government expert said looks like “a ploy” to avoid releasing the documents.
The City Council voted 7-1 out of executive session Monday to sue the attorney general for an Aug. 13 ruling that stated the city is required to release documents requested by El Paso Matters in May. City Rep. Josh Acevedo voted against the lawsuit.
The city filed the lawsuit Sept. 11 – one day after El Paso Matters made the city aware that the publication knew of the ruling and inquired when the city would release the records. The council vote authorizing the city to retain outside counsel and file the suit came days after it had already filed the suit…