Walz administration sued for withholding records on George Floyd riot response

SUMMARY

Public Record Media (PRM), a government transparency organization, has sued the Walz administration for allegedly withholding critical records related to Minnesota's handling of the 2020 George Floyd riots. The lawsuit targets the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) for failing to release key interviews and data used in a state-commissioned report assessing the government's response to the riots. Despite multiple requests over two years, PRM claims DPS has not provided access to these materials, including interviews with top state officials like Governor Tim Walz. PRM argues that under Minnesota law, DPS is required to maintain and disclose these records. The lawsuit, filed last week, seeks to enforce transparency by compelling the state to release the requested documents, and it calls for damages, injunctive relief, and a declaratory judgment against the state for its failure to comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.