Former AG Dann seeks public records from his former department

Ex-Attorney General Marc Dann, a vocal advocate of open records, is asking his former department to fill what is one of the largest public records requests sought by the office.

The request is essentially the 17-month history of Dann as the state’s top lawyer.

“It’s a monster” is how Jim Gravelle, an attorney general spokesman, described the records request from Dann, his former boss. “It was just about any correspondence he every made as attorney general.”

Among Dann’s requests are “all of the documents personal to me,” including schedules, e-mails and expense records, provided to others through records requests. He also wanted copies of all news clippings related to him or the offices accomplishments, and all the “talking points and speeches that I delivered.”

The office received Dann’s request July 7. The public records unit of the office’s constitutional law section is working on filling the request. It isn’t known when it will finish.

Why does Dann, who resigned under pressure as attorney general May 14, want all this information?

“I am trying to rebuild my life with my family and my legal practice,” he wrote in an e-mail today to The Vindicator. “These are all things that will be helpful to me in doing so.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.