Jun 20, 2006 4:56 pm US/Central
Duluth Mayor Bergson Will Be Investigated
Duluth, Minn. (AP) ―
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Herb Bergson
Courtesy City Of Duluth
Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson will be investigated by the Minneapolis city attorney's office for allegedly violating the state's Data Practices Act.
Bergson is accused of illegally passing a draft report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor to the Duluth News Tribune. If the evidence supports it, the city attorney has the authority to file misdemeanor charges.
The draft report said the nonprofit Minnesota Council on Compulsive Gambling had charged the city for services not allowed under its city and state contracts, among other things.
Bergson has said he gave the News Tribune the report seeking advice and didn't think the newspaper to publish its findings. News Tribune Publisher and President Marti Buscaglia has said there was a misunderstanding about when the draft was to be made public.
Both Buscaglia and Bergson have apologized for the leak.
Duluth city purchasing agent Claudie Washington said he believed Minneapolis city attorney Jay Heffern had agreed to take the case for little or no fee.
Before that, Duluth City Attorney Bryan Brown said he had trouble finding someone to take on the case.
Almost a month ago, Duluth city councilors voted 5-4 to hire a prosecutor.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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