Get your Montana news from the source.

News apps are nice, but how many stories might you be missing? Sign up for our free daily newsletter to get unbiased, independent Montana news sent directly to you.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

Get Montana Free Press in your inbox every morning.

No shouting. No name calling. Just award-winning local journalism for the people, by the people.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted inPolitics

Judge denies Gianforte’s ‘executive privilege’ defense in record request lawsuit

A Helena judge has ordered Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte to release government records that spurred a prominent right to know lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought by Helena resident and Democratic political consultant Jayson O’Neill, who filed a request in May 2021 for agency bill monitoring forms, which contain communications between the governor’s office and state agency leaders regarding legislative bills expected to impact state government operations. In a Dec. 14 order, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley directed Gianforte to provide the material O’Neill seeks to the court so it can assess which contents the state may properly withhold based on individual privacy concerns or attorney-client privilege.