On September 24, The Alliance joined the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press in an amicus brief seeking records from the Seattle Police Department. The Seattle Police Department is investigating six police officers for their potential involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. The officers, whose identities are currently concealed, moved to seal the records because there is no legitimate public interest in the investigation unless the allegations are substantiated. The brief argues that the records “will enable the news media to meaningfully report on the results of the OPA’s investigation, thus allowing the public to evaluate the effectiveness of the investigatory process, the evidence collected, and the reasoning behind the OPA’s conclusions.” The Alliance continues to advocate for journalists’ access to public records in order to foster government accountability and transparency.
Members of the News/Media Alliance staff have contributed to this post.
