Former Republicker lawmaker's records kept secret

[Ian David]

Dan Kane, Staff Writer
A legislative official declined Friday to release e-mail messages and other electronic records from the computer of a former House member who resigned this week after an unspecified personnel allegation was made against him.

George Hall, the legislature's chief administrative officer, cited a legislative "policy statement" that says it's up to the lawmaker whether to release such records.

"Because legislative immunity may shield some of the documents received or made by a member of the General Assembly and contained in the General Assembly's computer system, the member shall be the custodian of documents that are made or received by the member or the personnel in the member's office ... " the memo reads.

The News & Observer requested the electronic records after Rep. David Almond, a Stanly County Republican, abruptly resigned from the legislature. He left shortly after closed-door meetings among lawmakers to discuss a complaint made against him.

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http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/637041.html