Little Rock, AR– Blogger and Attorney Matthew Campbell has filed a suit against the Arkansas State Police Department after using the FOIA to get information on Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ travels and how ASP officials secured the governor.

In a suit 18 pages-long, Matthew Campbell, Blue Hog Blogger alleges that the Arkansas State Police Dept. used law that didn’t apply to the information he was requesting to not give him the information requested.

Information Requested:

  • a. All communications regarding ASP security for Bryan C. Sanders, requested June 23, 2023;
  • b. All documents regarding expenditures and costs associated with ASP security for Bryan C. Sanders, requested June 23, 2023;
  • c. All communications regarding ASP security for Sarah H. Sanders, requested June 23, 2023;
  • d. All documents regarding expenditures and costs associated with ASP security for Sarah H. Sanders, requested June 23, 2023
  • e. All flight logs for any plane owned or operated by the ASP from 1/1/23 to present, requested August 14, 2023;
  • f. All communications regarding ASP airplanes from 1/1/23 to present;
  • g. All flight manifests and passenger lists for any flights on ASP planes from 1/1/23 to present;
  • h. All records related to any ASP expenditures incurred in sending any ASP personnel to Europe in 2023;
  • i. All records related to any reimbursements made to ASP personnel for expenses incurred while in or traveling to Europe in 2023;
  • j. All documentation regarding airline tickets and hotel rooms purchased as part of ASP personnel travel to or from Europe in 2023.

The information requested through Arkansas’ FOIA by Campbell was through 3 different entities.

In the first entity, Cambpell requested a-d (listed above) when Arkansas State Police Attorney Jesi Feld mentioned four Arkansas laws that would prohibit them from providing the said information.

“We cannot release the information you requested. After
careful review, the documents you requested are exempt
under A.C.A. § 25-19-105(b)(6), A.C.A. § 25-19-105(b)(7),
A.C.A. § 25-19-105(b)(12), A.C.A. § 12-8-108, and would
unconstitutionally violate the safety and security of the
Governor, her family, and the protective detail.”

-Writing to Plaintiff about 1st Request using AFOIA from ASP Attorney Jessi Feld (via: court documents)

The plaintiff claims some of the laws mentioned in Feld’s response are not related to the information asked for.

When the second request for information under the AFOIA went through, for e-g(listed above).

The suit claims the only information given was invoices from private pilots hired by ASP to fly ASP planes both for the Governor and otherwise, as well as fuel-purchase logs for the ASP planes. Attorney Jesi Feld, handling each request said more information was to come.

The third having to do with a trip the Governor and First Gentlemen took to Europe with ASP officials request for information was not given by the Arkansas State Police Department.

“It is not accurate to say ASP did not provide him with any requested information and documents. ASP did not provide requested information that would violate ASP’s statutory obligation to ensure the safety and security of the Governor and the First Family.”

– Comment from Cindy Murphy, Communications Director at ASP

Sarah Huckabee- Sanders, Governor of Arkansas called a special session on Friday, and one those bills legislators are set to discuss on is Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act.

The proposed law also would effectively make it more difficult for an attorney or individual winning a claim for a FOIA violation to recover attorney fees and other reasonable expenses.

The Special Session will begin on Monday at 11AM, and run through Wednesday, September 11, 2023.