A special prosecutor has declined to file charges related to the 2022 deletion of late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s state email account days after his death.
The deleted emails are part of a nearly two-year dispute over more than $1 million in construction cost overruns revealed by Stenegem’s successor, Drew Wrigley. The issue, which occurred before Mr. Wrigley’s tenure, rattled lawmakers and asked the state auditor to investigate the matter. Investigators in Montana also looked into the situation and released a lengthy report last year.
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In July 2022, records released by Wrigley in response to a media request show that Liz Blocker, Stenehjem’s administrative assistant, released Stenehjem’s emails the day after his death and that Seibel resigned several months later. It was later revealed that he had instructed his chief of staff, Troy Seibel, to delete his emails. later. Mr. Blocker himself resigned around the time reporters found out.
Pictured is the late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenegem. (Tom Strom/Bismarck Tribune, Associated Press, File)
Mountrail County State’s Attorney Wade Engett outlined his decision Thursday in a memo to Burley County State’s Attorney Julie, stating that North Dakota law at the time included He said he could not be charged with falsifying public documents because it was not clearly defined. Government records. Then new state laws regarding email retention went into effect.
Engett told The Associated Press he was still reviewing Montana’s report on renovations and leasing of buildings that house departments of the attorney general’s office. Cost overruns occurred under Stenehjem’s administration.
Mr. Blocker’s lawyer, Tom Dixon, said Mr. Engett’s decision was correct.
“If you look at the laws that are going to go into effect in 2022, or the laws that are going to go into effect during the period that we’re discussing here, it wasn’t a violation. That’s what I concluded almost immediately,” Dixon said. Ta.
Mr. Blocker currently works for the Burleigh County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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Separate from Enget’s review, state Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, who owns the building, was charged with a misdemeanor for “voting for a bill appropriating the payment of property in which a monetary title was acquired.” . According to the complaint. He pleaded not guilty. A trial is scheduled for May.
