Officials accused of breaking records laws.

• Position: OPEN RECORDS - Austin City Council - Brief article

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A lawsuit has been filed against the Austin, Texas, mayor and city council over whether public officials can use private e-mail accounts to hide communication about government affairs from the public, according to Reuters.

The suit accuses the Austin City Council of breaking the state's open records laws by failing to release private e-mails, texts, and instant messages related to city business.

The Austin Bulldog filed a public information request in January for copies of all written communication between Austin City Council members and the mayor in 2010. The city delivered some e-mails, but The Bulldog said it did not release all...