The Intercept, a news organization, has filed a lawsuit against Butler County in Pennsylvania to obtain the release of 911 recordings from the July rally where former President Donald Trump was injured in an apparent assassination attempt. The county has refused to hand over the recordings without a court order, citing concerns that their release could jeopardize ongoing investigations into the incident.
Questions have been raised about the timeline of law enforcement officials’ response and coordination during the rally, including when attendees first alerted them to the presence of a gunman on a nearby roof. In an effort to shed light on these issues, The Intercept, along with other news outlets, requested copies of the recorded 911 calls under Pennsylvania’s right-to-know law. However, Butler County denied all requests, citing a provision in the state’s public records statute that generally exempts 911 recordings from disclosure.
Melissa Bevan Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, argues that public access to these recordings is crucial for accountability and understanding what happened during the rally. She believes that the county should reverse its denial in order to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Pennsylvania attorney Joy Ramsingh, who is representing The Intercept in the lawsuit, emphasizes the importance of going straight to the source of authentic public records. She argues that obtaining filtered information through polished statements from public officials is not sufficient. Ramsingh is also representing Scripps News and NBC News in their lawsuits for the 911 records.
The Intercept’s lawsuit claims that Butler County’s refusal to release the recordings, despite having the discretion to do so if the public interest outweighs the interest in nondisclosure, constitutes “bad faith” under state law. The lawsuit argues that the public has a keen interest in learning more about the events that transpired at the rally and the government’s response to the assassination attempt.
In July, The Intercept appealed Butler County’s denial to the state Office of Open Records (OOR). However, the OOR sided with the county, stating that it lacked the authority to overrule Butler County’s decision to withhold the 911 tapes. The Intercept’s lawsuit challenges the OOR’s interpretation of its own authority.
David Bralow, The Intercept’s general counsel, emphasizes the importance of public accountability and the right of the nation to know how the government responded to the threat against a former president. The Intercept is committed to ensuring transparency and holding the government accountable for its actions.
In conclusion, The Intercept’s lawsuit against Butler County seeks to obtain the release of 911 recordings from the Trump rally shooting. The lawsuit argues that the public has a compelling interest in these materials and that their release is necessary for accountability and prevention of future attacks. The Intercept is joined by other news outlets in their pursuit of the authentic public records, challenging the county’s denial and the OOR’s interpretation of its authority.
