Kobach E-mails With Wilbur Ross

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the The Kansas Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

The e-mail messages bwetween Ross from and Kris Kobach between 1/20/17 and the date this request is processed.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Matthew Hoppock

Ms. Becker,

Thank you for your response. To be clear, are you saying there are no such e-mails in any of Mr. Kobach's accounts? Or just his Secretary of State e-mail account. It was our understanding the e-mail messages may have been sent for a separate e-mail account but pretty clearly identify them as Secretary of State business.

As I'm sure your office is aware, "public records" include "[a]ny recorded information, regardless of … location, which is made, maintained or kept by or is in the possession of (A) Any public agency; or (B) any officer or employee of a public agency pursuant to the officer’s or employee’s official duties and which is related to the functions, activities, programs or operations of any public agency." K.S.A. 45-217(g).

The one e-mail messages that has been publicized opens with "Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach here" making clear the message was sent in Mr. Kobach's capacity as Kansas Secretary of State. It is located here for your reference: http://www.osec.doc.gov/opog/FOIA/Documents/AR%20-%20FINAL%20FILED%20-%20ALL%20DOCS%20%5bCERTIFICATION-INDEX-DOCUMENTS%5d%206.8.18.pdf#page=775

Please confirm that the State will search not just Mr. Kobach's official State of Kansas e-mail inbox both is other e-mail accounts as well. Thank you.