Statement on behalf of former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Former Mayor Kasim Reed (left) and his then-press secretary, Jenna Garland (right), in 2015. Garland’s text messages instructing another city employee to delay an open records are the subject of a GBI criminal investigation. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Former Mayor Kasim Reed (left) and his then-press secretary, Jenna Garland (right), in 2015. Garland’s text messages instructing another city employee to delay an open records are the subject of a GBI criminal investigation. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Statement from Jeff Dickerson on behalf of former Mayor Kasim Reed:

“This allegation is a complete mischaracterization of the events which took place surrounding this Open Records Request. Jenna Garland worked tirelessly to respond to open records requests and media inquiries in good faith each and every day. There are no circumstances under which the City would refuse to comply with a valid Open Records Request. The City was responding to numerous records requests from WSBTV and the AJC in the days surrounding this particular request and were speaking regularly about the status of all such requests. Had the City truly ignored this request as WSBTV now alleges some 15 months later, WSBTV would have taken measures to follow-up on the request or enforce the release of this public information. WSBTV did not do so. In fact, WSBTV filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office over three (3) weeks ago alleging specific violations of the Georgia Open Records Act by the City, yet WSBTV never mentioned this allegation. This is nothing more than an attempt to garner further headlines and attack the reputation of a fine public servant.”