LANSING – Progress Michigan learned today that the Michigan Department of Community Health has illegally purged department head communications from its databases.
Three departments within Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration are using stall tactics, illegal maneuvers and unnecessary staff reviews to keep communications between department directors and top officials in the Governor’s office secret.
The Department of Community Health at first denied an August 21 FOIA request for emails between Gov. Snyder’s Chief of Staff Dennis Muchmore and DCH Director Jim Haveman on September 25 and stated that records being sought by Progress Michigan did not exist. Progress Michigan filed an appeal on October 16 with the department that included copies of emails between Haveman and Muchmore that had been obtained through separate FOIA requests. Continue>>>