About 2,000 emails belonging to the late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem have been released by his successor, Drew Wrigley, with redactions. The release of these emails comes after controversy surrounding the deletion of Stenehjem’s emails, which were ordered by his executive assistant, Liz Brocker, after his death. Stenehjem’s emails were instrumental in a case against former state Sen. Ray Holmberg and were previously thought to be lost forever. Wrigley still has another 6,000 emails and an unknown number of text messages awaiting review and release.
Stenehjem’s emails are now part of an investigation into Holmberg, who is facing charges related to traveling to Europe with the intent of paying for sex with a minor and receiving images depicting child sexual abuse. Stenehjem and Holmberg were longtime friends and colleagues in the Legislature. However, Stenehjem did not recuse himself from the Holmberg case, and he was viewed as a witness in the investigation. Stenehjem himself was not accused of any crimes in connection with Holmberg.
The released emails include routine staff messages and office meetings, covering a period from 2021 to 2022. It was also discovered that Stenehjem conducted state business on a private email account, which is legal but must still comply with open records provisions. Wrigley’s office was able to recover the emails from a backup of Stenehjem’s personal cellphone, which was extracted soon after his death as investigators prepared for Holmberg’s trial.
The discovery of the deleted emails and the cost overrun of over $1 million incurred under Stenehjem raised concerns among lawmakers and government watchdogs. Reporters’ requests for Stenehjem’s emails led to the revelation of their deletion, as well as the deletion of his deputy’s emails after he resigned. Brocker, who had directed the deletion of the emails, resigned around the time this information came to light. Despite this, a special prosecutor declined to press charges in connection with the deleted emails earlier this year.
Wrigley has stated that the released emails are being reviewed in conjunction with records requests, the Holmberg case, and the cost overrun. The remaining 6,000 emails and undisclosed text messages are still awaiting review and release. The case involving the deletion of Stenehjem’s emails will not be prosecuted. The controversy surrounding the handling of Stenehjem’s emails has shed light on the need for transparency and accountability in government operations, particularly in cases involving public officials and high-profile legal proceedings.
