Coming up, @LMPD interim chief Robert Schroeder and Metro Chief of Public Safety Amy Hess will testify as part of Metro Council's investigation into the Fischer administration's response to #BreonnaTaylor, #DavidMcAtee and protests. Background: wfpl.org/committee-will…
@LMPD Watch here: louisville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph…
Read the order describing the investigation here: louisville.legistar.com/LegislationDet…
The focus for now will be response to protests that began on May 28. While the committee wants to investigate the cases of #BreonnaTaylor and #DavidMcAtee, they've been asked to hold off due to the FBI and KY AG investigations.
The government oversight and accountability committee is conducting this hearing. Here's who they are:
This is the suit: wfpl.org/aclu-naacp-sue…
Attorney for the administration says the topics of the hearing today overlap with the topics in the lawsuit. He says if the committee wants to have a hearing today, it will have to be in closed session. Minutes ago, Chair Ackerson said all hearings would be public.
Attorney for the council says the other attorney's interpretation of the law is too broad.
Chair Ackerson: "You've not been subpoenaed here today. You've chosen to show up as employees of this Metro Goverment." If Hess and Schroeder refuse to testify, Ackerson says the body will need to revisit subpoenas.
When attorneys say "with all due respect," sometimes I think they don't mean it.
Ackerson: "We're not going into executive session. There will be nothing hidden from the public regarding this matter. ... If you're not going to proceed, there's the door."
Hess and Schroeder will not participate. Ackerson calls on @louisvillemayor to come across the street and talk to council.
Committee members do not seem happy with how Ackerson is not sharing information, from letters from earlier that indicated Hess and Schroeder would not testify to members not seeing the questions submitted by other members.
Ackerson lays out the key question that's emerged from this hearing-turned-legal-debate: "Should a civil lawsuit against this city prevent this body from seeking to get the information out there?"
Again, this is the suit: wfpl.org/aclu-naacp-sue…
.@votegreen14 says council should subpoena Hess and Schroeder.
Now @CouncilmanJames chimes in to say issuing subpoenas is the right next step. That will lead to a judge making a ruling, assuming the administration challenges the subpoenas.
.@CMPiagentini moves to subpoena Hess and Schroeder. Councilwoman Donna Purvis seconds.
In case you didn't know... The council voted to authorize subpoenas but not to issue any specific ones prior to today. The idea was to invite members of the administration to testify under oath as a first step before turning to subpoenas.
The motion passes, 10-1, to subpoena Hess and Schroeder. @BillHollander voted no because he wants to review the legal issue at hand before issuing subpoenas.
@BillHollander Legal Question Interrupts Council Investigation Of Fischer Administration; Subpoenas To Come wfpl.org/legal-question…
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