Greenpeace files public records request as Duke Energy neighbors demand answers on possible coal ash coverup

Press release from Greenpeace:

After Gov. McCrory’s office called a last-minute press conference to accuse state toxicologist Ken Rudo of lying under oath — with absolutely no evidence supporting their claim — Duke Energy neighbors joined Greenpeace in Charlotte on Friday to file a public records request for documents concerning the governor’s latest attempt to sweep his former employer’s coal ash pollution under the rug.

The Freedom of Information Act request was submitted by Michael Zytkow of Greenpeace, who joined Catawba Riverkeeper Sam Perkins and Duke Energy neighbors outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center on Friday morning to formally deliver the request to Gov. McCrory’s Charlotte office.

“It’s very troubling that Gov. McCrory accused a 30-year state employee of lying under oath without showing any evidence,” said Zytkow. “We’re simply asking the governor to release public records from the day of the meeting that could either prove or disprove his accusations.”

“Ken Rudo is one of the few people who has been looking out for families affected by Duke Energy’s coal ash pollution, and Gov. McCrory is trying to throw him under the bus,” said Amy Brown of Belmont, who has been living off bottled water for over a year. “It’s not right for Gov. McCrory to call Dr. Rudo a liar, and we demand answers about this latest coal ash coverup.”

Questions surrounding Gov. McCrory’s alleged phone meeting with Ken Rudo include:

1. Where was the governor and what was he doing during the time of the meeting? The governor should release all records of his whereabouts and activities on the date of April 2nd, 2015, including calendars, schedules, and cell phone records of both him and his communications director Josh Ellis to corroborate their claim the governor never called into a meeting with Dr. Rudo.

2. Who called the meeting? The governor’s office doesn’t know of any existing records of the meeting in question. The governor’s office should release all records, including schedules, calendars, emails and phone records between their office and Davies, Gerlach and Rudo.

3. Will the governor and his chief of staff back up their allegations with proof? The governor and his chief of staff have accused Dr. Rudo of perjury, a class F felony punishable by up to 59 months in prison. Do they have any proof of their allegation or should we just “trust them?”