Progress Iowa To Intervene In Open Records Court Case

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Progress Iowa today will file a motion to intervene in the case of Randy Danniel, Iowa Logistics Development Company, Inc., vs. Iowa Economic Development Authority & State of Iowa.

“We intend to make sure Governor Branstad can’t hide the truth from his constituents,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “The court deserves to hear from someone who actually believes in transparent and open government. Mr. Danniel has no interest in making these records public, and Governor Branstad appears to agree, or his administration wouldn’t have tipped Mr. Danniel off to our request, preventing their release. We will argue on behalf of all Iowans, who deserve to know the business of their Governor and his administration.”

A different lawsuit, brought by 11 Iowans who invested in Mr. Danniel’s company, claims that Danniel embezzled $1.2 million of their money. Progress Iowa’s open records request was filed to determine what communication Mr. Danniel had with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Office of Governor Terry Branstad. Both requests for public records were brought to a halt by Mr. Danniel filing his injunction, after he was tipped off by the Branstad administration. According to news reports, this is the second time in recent months that the state has tipped off a developer that was the subject of an open records request, thereby preventing the records from being released to the public.

WHAT: Progress Iowa to file motion to intervene in open records case
WHEN: TODAY, Wednesday, September 3rd at 10:30 AM
WHERE: Polk County Courthouse; 500 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, IA
WHO: Matt Sinovic, Executive Director of Progress Iowa

Copies of the Progress Iowa motion to intervene will be made available at the courthouse, or upon request.

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Background:

Des Moines Register: State alerted developer to records request
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/08/19/branstad-administration-alerts-developer-open-records-request/14271577/