Louisville mayor to Metro Council: I can't turn over docs related to Breonna Taylor's case

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, in a response to Metro Council members who demanded he turn over all documents related to the Breonna Taylor case, said he could not accommodate the request. 

"While I take your requests in good faith, I must misunderstand your request for the release of 'all documents that relate to the Breonna Taylor case' given the fact that your request would include the investigative materials currently being reviewed by the FBI, the Department of Justice and the Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution," Fischer wrote in a letter dated Sunday.

"You are aware of this fact and have been for some time," he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Courier Journal. "Obviously, and for the reasons that I have stated for several weeks, your requests cannot be honored at this time."

On Monday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron defended Fischer's decision to withhold documents related to the Taylor investigation from the Metro Council . 

"I think the mayor's assessment is correct," Cameron said. "I think if you look at any investigation, in order not to compromise that investigation, it's better that information stay internal so that can be conducted in a fair and uncompromised manner."

Last week, the Metro Council wrote that if the mayor didn't release all documents from the case, including recent allegations that her death was tied to gentrification, there would be "clear and decisive action by the Metro Council."

"The trust between Louisville Metro and the people we serve is eroding at a pace that may soon pass the point of restoration," the Metro Council's letter from last week stated. "Rather than taking exact and quick action to seek outside investigation and acknowledge problems, this administration has delayed and obfuscated the truth in the hopes that this, like other problems, would go away." 

In Sunday's letter, Fischer wrote: "I share your concerns about the healing of our community given the events surrounding Ms. Taylor’s death. I have and continue to meet with many of the protesters, police and community to hear their concerns, address what is possible at this time while investigations are ongoing and begin to chart a path forward together for our community."

The mayor also wrote he would be "happy to provide in great detail" documents related to the Elliott Avenue work, which lawyers for Taylor's family recently alleged was tied to her death.

Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency room technician who was shot and killed by police serving a search warrant as a part of a narcotics investigation in her South End apartment on March 13. 

Council Response Letter 7.12.20 | Politics | Government

Reach breaking news reporter Sarah Ladd at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.