Evidence that University Shredded Documents Showing Expenses for Sarah Palin Speech
Written by David GreenwaldWednesday, 14 April 2010 05:49
A controversy has arisen involving Sarah Palin's speech at CSU-Stanislaus and university efforts to avoid disclosure of documents showing how much money they spent to bring the controversial former Vice Presidential Candidate to their campus.
In an effort to get disclosure, Senator Leland Yee asked that the university disclose all documents related to the Sarah Palin event. CSU-Stanislaus responded that they had no documents related to that request.
However, two days after the Senator and Californians Aware were denied their request for public information, several students found in the dumpster documents including pages 4-12 of Sarah Palin's contract. According to the students, these documents which were intact were mixed in with other documents that apparently had been shredded on a furlough Friday by University Officials. As a result, Senator Yee has now referred the case to Attorney General Jerry Brown's office for investigation.
“The university’s claim of no documentation was inconceivable and now there is a smoking gun,” said Senator Yee last week. “What other documents and correspondence are they hiding? I am immediately requesting the Attorney General to investigate this violation of the public trust.”
On Tuesday, Senator Yee held a press conference at the state capitol along with two students who found the documents and Terry Francke, executive director of Californians Aware.
The Senator called this "a dark day" for the CSU-Stanislaus campus. "I never thought that I would have to re-live Watergate again," he said. "This is an issue of accountability and transparency. It is an issue that is very fundamental to our democracy."
Several weeks ago the Senator said they found out that Sarah Palin was going to visit the CSU-Stanislaus campus for the sole purpose of raising money for scholarships. He said that these were laudable goals. However, the Senator said that they wanted to know what the terms and conditions were of this speaking appearance. "The response that we got from the CSU Foundation was that it was none of your business."
As a result they put in a California Public Records Act request for information. "The response," the Senator said, "was that we don't have any info on that particular issue. CSU said that they had no information whatsoever."
However, on furlough Friday, the Senator heard from the two ladies in attendance, Ashli Briggs and Alicia Lewis that in fact not only were individuals around, but they were shredding and throwing away documents that the unversity claimed
“The university’s claim of no documentation was inconceivable and now there is a smoking gun,” said Senator Yee last week. “What other documents and correspondence are they hiding? I am immediately requesting the Attorney General to investigate this violation of the public trust.”
On Tuesday, Senator Yee held a press conference at the state capitol along with two students who found the documents and Terry Francke, executive director of Californians Aware.
The Senator called this "a dark day" for the CSU-Stanislaus campus. "I never thought that I would have to re-live Watergate again," he said. "This is an issue of accountability and transparency. It is an issue that is very fundamental to our democracy."
Several weeks ago the Senator said they found out that Sarah Palin was going to visit the CSU-Stanislaus campus for the sole purpose of raising money for scholarships. He said that these were laudable goals. However, the Senator said that they wanted to know what the terms and conditions were of this speaking appearance. "The response that we got from the CSU Foundation was that it was none of your business."
As a result they put in a California Public Records Act request for information. "The response," the Senator said, "was that we don't have any info on that particular issue. CSU said that they had no information whatsoever."
However, on furlough Friday, the Senator heard from the two ladies in attendance, Ashli Briggs and Alicia Lewis that in fact not only were individuals around, but they were shredding and throwing away documents that the unversity claimed