RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – The office investigating corruption in Richmond’s government hasn’t posted a report online in nearly five years – even though attorneys say city code requires them to be “electronically published for public review.”
In 2019, the Richmond City Attorney’s Office gave Inspector General James Osuna legal guidance to be cautious when posting his office’s reports to help protect whistleblowers and create an environment where they feel comfortable coming forward, City Council President Kristen M. Nye told 8News.
The City Council gave Osuna “discretion” to publish the reports online, Nye said, after he informally addressed this legal advice with members. Nye said it wasn’t an official council decision or ordinance but also that no one member unilaterally made the decision.
Under his discretion, Osuna’s office has only published his first two reports from 2019.
As the city’s administration faces questions – and a lawsuit — over its compliance with transparency laws, the City Council-appointed inspector general has kept the corruption and misconduct claims his office has investigated over the last five years and his findings offline.