In response to reports regarding the clarity of emails related to the Amazon Data Center, Warrenton Town Attorney Martin Crim provided the following statement and spreadsheet to media outlets showing the various FOIA requests from CFFC. The spreadsheet outlines the initial requests and the subsequent clarifications made with Town Staff.
The Town of Warrenton is releasing this information to provide clarity to the request and increase the transparency of the response.
In a release Dated February 22, 2023.
Members of the Press:
Attached is a spreadsheet prepared by staff, showing the various FOIA requests from CFFC as that group initially made them and later clarified them in communication with Town staff. Please note that the 3,142 figure appears in cell H17, giving the number of exempted documents not released in response to CFFC’s October 14, 2022 FOIA request; that number was not the total number of documents covered by CFFC’s FOIA requests. CFFC used the 3,142 number repeatedly and inaccurately in its communication with the court and the press. When I told the court that the withheld documents included communications between Ms. Schaeffer and Amazon representatives, I was referring to the entire set of documents covered by the two FOIA requests, not simply the documents withheld in response to the second one.
--Martin Crim, Warrenton Town Attorney
CFFC FOIA Breakdown