Group files FOIA suit for emails of Schuette, staffers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Attorney General Bill Schuette is being sued after his office rejected a public-records request for his and other staffers' private emails that a liberal advocacy group says were used to conduct government business.

Progress Michigan sued in the Court of Claims Tuesday. It says state employees who use personal email accounts to perform official functions are creating public records subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.

Schuette's office largely denied the request that sought such records over a six-year period, saying it didn't possess them. It did provide one email.

Progress Michigan wants to know how common it is for Schuette and staff to use personal email. In prior FOIA requests, the group uncovered emails sent or received to private accounts.

Schuette's spokeswoman couldn't be immediately reached for comment.