Investigative journalist sues Louisiana Department of Public Safety, alleges failure to provide public records [Video]

BATON ROUGE — An investigative reporter out of New Orleans sued the Louisiana Department of Public Safety on Monday, alleging it had failed to respond to public records requests.

Nick Chrastil, a journalist with nonprofit news outlet The Lens, sued after the agency would not disclose records associated with its hiring of a private law firm, WilmerHale, to provide legal services to the state in connection with consent decrees and the federal government, a statement from the Tulane University School of Law’s First Amendment Law Clinic said.

“This is about government accountability and transparency. The public has a right to understand how taxpayer money is being spent, what services are being provided, and whether decisions are made in the public interest,” said Melia Cerrato with the Tulane First Amendment Clinic.

Chrastil said he filed a public records request with the agency, which oversees the State Police, on March 13. DPS …