Contradicts other states, none of whose AG claimed applications for Bloomberg group resources are privileged; Sides with OAG claim that lawyers paid six figures by activist donor to work in OAG are ‘Pro Bono’
Open records productions have shown these applications stated how the donor’s resources would be used. For example, Virginia’s OAG vowed “to advance the agenda represented by” the Bloomberg group; NY OAG said it needed more lawyers if it was to go after energy companies for “climate” offenses and, like MA OAG’s application, pointed to one company in particular. In Maryland that kind of offer is apparently considered privileged from public inspection.
CLW chronicled the background, and respective efforts to obtain/hide the documents here. Readers may recall Frosh, picked out of a crowded primary by Michael Bloomberg, was the Bloomberg Center’s first AG recruiter, apparently on his GMail despite it being in his capacity as AG.
Records produced by MD OAG indicate Frosh has received a record three “Special Assistant Attorneys General”.
The case was Government Accountability & Oversight vs. Brian Frosh. GAO has not yet decided whether to appeal.
This post originally mis-styled the case.