Posted on 10/04/2005 11:32:33 AM PDT by wcdukenfield
BY FIRST CLASS MAIL AND FACSIMILE Fax: (512) 854-9695
October 4, 2005
Mr. Ronnie Earle District Attorney Travis County 509 W.11th St. Austin, TX 78701
APPLICATION FOR PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
Dear Mr. Earle:
This is an application for production of public information pursuant to Sec. 552.221 of the Texas Public Information Act.
Landmark Legal Foundation (“Landmark”) requests that that your office provide copies of requested material to Landmark’s Leesburg, Virginia address pursuant to Sec. 552.221(b)(2). The following information is sought from your office:
REQUESTED INFORMATION
1. For the time period January 1, 2000 to October 4, 2005: Any and all information in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office (“DA”) , or in the custody or control of any individual working for said office, which name or in any way reference the Democratic National Committee (“DNC”); any entity, campaign committee, employee, agent or consultant of the DNC; DNC Chairman Howard Dean; the Texas Democratic Party; any entity, campaign committee, employee, agent or consultant of the Texas Democratic Party; Texas Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting; any members of the Texas state legislature; Texas State Representative Pete Laney; and former Congressman Martin Frost.
The information must include, but is not limited to, calendars, agendas, schedules, notes, notations, letters, audio tapes, and/or video tapes. (For a more comprehensive definition of public information, see below.)
2. This request seeks all telephonic records (including but not limited to cell phone numbers) in the custody of the DA’s office, or in the custody of any individual working for said office, or to which the DA’s office has or can receive access, disclosing telephone calls to or from Mr. Earle for the time period August 1, 2005 to October 4, 2005. This request includes all information, regardless of format, including but not limited to bills or invoices disclosing telephonic communications.
3. This request seeks all telephone messages, logs, notes or notations prepared by anyone in the DA’s office for Mr. Earle, including but not limited to Mr. Earle’s secretary, receptionist and or office administrator or manager, for the time period August 1, 2005 to October 4, 2005.
4. This request seeks all telephone numbers (including but not limited to cell phone numbers) of Mr. Earle.
5. This request seeks all information in the custody of the DA’s office, or in the custody or control of any individual working for said office, which name or in any way reference Messrs. Mark Birnbaum, Jim Schermbeck, or their employees, agents or representatives, or the filming of their movie “The Big Buy” which cover the period of January 1, 2002 to October 4, 2005. This includes all telephonic records of communications involving Mr. Earle, the DA’s office, and Messrs. Birnbaum or Schermbeck.
6. This request seeks any copies of the film, or parts of the film The Big Buy, in whatever stage of production, in the possession of Mr. Earle, the DA’s office, or any employee of said office.
Pursuant to Sec. 552.002(a) public information means information that is collected, assembled, or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business: (1) by a governmental body; or (2) for a governmental body and the governmental body owns the information or has a right of access to it. Moreover, Sec. 552.002(b) provides that the media on which public information is recorded include: (1) paper; (2) film; (3) a magnetic, optical, or solid state device that can store an electronic signal; (4) tape; (5) Mylar; (6) linen; (7) silk; and (8) vellum. Furthermore, Sec. 552.002(c) provides that the general forms in which the media containing public information exist include a book, paper, letter, document, printout, photograph, film, tape, microfiche, microfilm, photostat, sound recording, map, and drawing and a voice, data, or video representation held in computer memory.
This request includes all information, regardless of format. Moreover, it includes information stored on back-up data files, including disks and recordings of electronic communications.
This request for information does not seek any information exempt from release pursuant to Sec. 552.108 in that such release would not impede legitimate law enforcement or prosecutorial activities. Moreover, information relating to improper or illegal conduct by the DA or any person acting on behalf of or in the employment of the DA’s office is not exempt from disclosure under any exemption set forth in Chapter 552.
In the event that the DA asserts an exemption in response to this application, Landmark will expect timely compliance with the DA’s duty pursuant to Sec. 552.301 to seek an Attorney General’s decision as to the legitimacy of the exemption asserted.
Landmark is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization and seeks this information for public dissemination and education. Landmark respectfully requests a waiver or reduction of charges for providing copies of the requested information pursuant to Sec. 552.267 as the information sought is “in the public interest because providing the cop[ies] . . . primarily benefits the general public.” Landmark will, in fact, make this information public upon receipt. If a fee waiver is refused Landmark agrees to pay reasonable duplication costs up to $1500.00, but requests a timely itemized estimate of charges prior to incurring those costs as provided in Sec. 552.2615 via facsimile to Landmark’s Leesburg, Virginia office at 703-554-6119. However, Landmark agrees that duplication and release of records may proceed up to the $1500.00 amount immediately.
Sec. 552.221(d) requires that you act “promptly [and] without delay” -- within the 10 days provided in. If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this request further, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Levin President
cc: Ms. Alicia Perez, Executive Manager Administrative Operations Travis County 314 W. 11th St. Austin, TX 78701
Yeah, that's the problem. Hence my comment about the shredders.
However, if a lot of documentation gets "lost", then that will prove something too - and it will be something they can't deny.
Since when has L.L.F. ever accomplished anything?
You rock.
The best defense is a good offense!
YeeeeeeHaaaawww! And just when I was having a bad day..that'll cheer a girl up!
Hope you're right.
I have doubts. The section leaves it up to the governmental body (Ronnie Earle) to determine whether or not the exemption will primarily benefit the general public.
I don't think Earle will find waiving and exempting charges will benefit the general public when doing so allows outsiders to poke around in his interests. I think he'll comply, but he won't make it easy or cheap.
From Texas Law:
Art. 19.05. [337] [388] [376] Kept free from intrusion
The jury commissioners shall be kept free from the intrusion of any
person during their session, and shall not separate without leave
of the court until they complete their duties.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.
Ronnie Earle may be in violation of this statute?
Rat Tracks: Post if you got a call about DeLay
Based on what has been reported by Freepers, I sure would look for connections to a group called "We the People" which, if it is the same one, is Jerry Brown's group out in California. I am pretty sure MoveOn has had their finger in this mess, too.
I sure would like to know who funded all those phone banks.
Yup. That's why they want copies of that movie.
I'd be asking some questions about the percentage of DemocRATs on the 6th grand jury also...and the 7th.
And as someone already said, get the movie makers and supoena their product to date....all of it!
Ronnie Earle - beware the Texas Rangers coming to pay you a visit (don't anyone write and say wrong govt branch, etc.) Let me have my fantasy.
I wonder if Levin checked with McCain, Hagel, Snowe, Chaffee and the others to make sure they wouldn't object to this FOI request.
Never mind...saw this after posting:
5. This request seeks all information in the custody of the DA’s office, or in the custody or control of any individual working for said office, which name or in any way reference Messrs. Mark Birnbaum, Jim Schermbeck, or their employees, agents or representatives, or the filming of their movie “The Big Buy” which cover the period of January 1, 2002 to October 4, 2005. This includes all telephonic records of communications involving Mr. Earle, the DA’s office, and Messrs. Birnbaum or Schermbeck.
4. This request seeks all telephone numbers (including but not limited to cell phone numbers) of Mr. Earle.
So glad that all the bases are covered with the inclusion of his home number. If we could just pull the cord on the shredding machine, this may prove an early Christmas gift.
Can Earle duck behind the "Continuing Investigation" smokescreen?
Hey thanks, got two within the past week or so from "We the People." I just commented about the calls on the thread to which you linked.
I looked around for "We the People" online and there are several. I'd love to know who is making the calls too.
bttt
I thought the holiday was Bombadan....
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