Attorney General Robert T. Torres yesterday said he would review the contracts and other documents pertaining to the appointments of policy consultant Adam B. Turner and special assistant for capital improvement projects Charles D. Jordan before they are sent to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Some documents are covered by the attorney-client privilege, Torres said.
The committee chairman, Rep. Stanley T. Torres, said he would subpoena all the documents from the Office of the Governor relating to the independent contracts of the two special assistants.
According to the attorney general, however, “the first question is what documents at the Office of the Governor constitute public records.”
He added, “The Open Government Act does not provide for a blanket disclosure or release—there are exemptions.”
The attorney general said some of the documents not subject to the act include internal memoranda from the governor, attorney-client privileged information, notes regarding contracts and medical information.
He said he will inform lawmakers about the specific documents he considers not covered by the Open Government Act.
“Ways and Means, of course, may exercise its subpoena power if it desires to conduct an oversight hearing (and) obtain those documents (not covered by) the Open Government Act,” the attorney general said.
