The Fitial administration, for its part, expressed satisfaction with Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman’s decision that the engagement letter, billing statements and records of payments made to Jenner & Block and other attorneys involved in the lawsuit currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia remain sealed.
“We are satisfied with Judge Wiseman’s ruling. We think it is fair and we will comply. We look forward to the quick resolution of this case,” said Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.
The judge ordered Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Finance Secretary Eloy Inos to release within seven days from April 14 all documents related to the administration’s dealings with Jenner & Block, except records relevant to payments and billings.
Sablan, who represented herself during the court hearings, said she respects Wiseman’s decision.
“While it is certainly true that the engagement letter, billing statements, and amounts paid to attorneys thus far constituted a very significant part of my Open Government Act request, and while I am disappointed that those particular records will not be released right away, I respect the judge’s decision to reserve judgment on those records until he can review them further and determine whether they should be withheld. In other words, he has not ruled out disclosure of those records at all; they may still indeed be released at a later time,” she said.
Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, also expressed hope that the court will eventually be persuaded to give her access to the privilege file log, which the court ordered to be filed within 10 days from April 14.
“I am also quite pleased with the judge’s order to release all other records,” she said.
“Other records that I have asked for include retainer agreements, fee agreements, contracts, sources of funding (whether private or public), amounts reprogrammed from other public agencies or departments to support this lawsuit, and any other records containing the words ‘Jenner’ and ‘Block.’ I expect all these records to be released within 7 days, and I am very hopeful that the rest of the records I am seeking will be released shortly thereafter,” she added.
The governor sued the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor on Sept. 12 to stop the implementation of the law federalizing the islands’ immigration system this year.
The Legislature was earlier informed that Jenner & Block would be paid a monthly retainer of $50,000. But the Senate and the House of Representatives rejected the administration’s request to appropriate public funds to pay the law firm.
Acting Attorney General Gregory Baka earlier said that public funds were used to pay Jenner & Block but he declined to elaborate.
