SPOKANE, Wash. – The independent investigator found City leaders deliberately withheld information and public records until after Mayor David Condon was re-elected.
The report released by the investigator reads, "As of September 18, 2015, the City Attorney's Office, not the Clerk's office, controlled what documents were released to requestors and when."
When KREM 2’s Lindsay Nadrich did a story on December 1, 2015 about why there was a delay in documents requested regarding the investigation into Straub’s resignation, the City of Spokane had her interview City Clerk Terry Pfister. At the time, Pfister said to the best of her knowledge none of the documents were delayed until after the election.
According to the report, Pfister was telling the truth because City leaders not only withheld information from the public, they also withheld information from the City Clerk’s Office.
“We conclude that members of the administration intentionally withheld information from the City Clerk about the existence of documents at issue with the intent and purpose of delaying the production of those records until after the Mayor's election,” said City Council President Ben Stuckart on Wednesday as he read directly from the report.
The report also said former City Attorney Nancy Isserlis and Communications Director Brian Coddington were closely monitoring the Straub public records requests and release dates.
“I'm so disappointed that this may, if people read this, it may reflect poorly on the City Clerk's office,” City Council Member Karen Stratton said. “I want to say that is not the case and every page you read the City Clerk's office did whatever it could within the boundaries of what they were working in to get information to folks.”
Stuckart said he spoke to Pfister on Wednesday when the report was released
“Her eyes teared up,” Stuckart said. “She has been upset about this for six months and she is a wonderful employee and everybody in that office tries their hardest and does great work.”