Today, Gov. Matt Blunt’s office announced that it “is seeking e-mails and e-mail backup tapes from a state representative who has purported to be a champion of Missouri’s Sunshine Act.”

That legislator is state Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia and one of three Democrats vying for Missouri attorney general.

In what could be seen as a gift to Harris as he courts the Democratic base (which is no fan of the Republican governor),   Blunt’s office said it had filed a Sunshine request seeking Harris’ e-mails and other related documents.

  “Representative Harris has claimed to be a strong advocate for the Sunshine Act and open government so we hope and expect he will demonstrate this commitment by providing the information we have requested in this open records request,” said Blunt chief of staff Trish Vincent.

Here’s the formal request:

“Pursuant to Chapter 610, RSMo., the governor’s office is requesting copies or the opportunity to inspect the following:

• “Every e-mail sent to or from the e-mail address “jeff.harris@house.mo.gov” since January 2003;
• “Copies of all e-mail back-up tapes or other storage mechanism for the e-mail address “jeff.harris@house.mo.gov” since January 2003;
• “Every document created on a state of Missouri owned computer assigned to Rep. Jeff Harris or a member of his staff since January 2003; and 
• “Every document received by Rep. Jeff Harris or a member of his staff pursuant to law or in connection with their official duties since January 2003. 
             
• ” In the open records request, Ms. Vincent noted that some members of the Missouri House of Representatives may have taken the position that the Sunshine Act does not apply to them.  

   “ ‘I am confident that you will agree the act applies to you,” Vincent wrote to Harris.  “I hope I can count on you to take every necessary step to ensure that this request is met with a full and complete response.”

UPDATE:

Harris just responded with an e-release that accuses of the governor’s office of engaging in a “shameless political ploy” to divert attention from Blunt’s own legal problems over office e-mails.

“I have always been willing to stand up to this Governor when important principles are at stake,” said Harris. “I will continue to call for him to be held accountable for his alleged illegal actions in ordering the destruction of public records after a Sunshine law request had been filed with his office.”

Harris noted that he has sponsored the Sunshine Law Electronic Upgrade Act, “which made clear that electronic records like emails fell under the Sunshine Law.”

“During this session, Harris has sponsored HB 2177 that would make it easier to prove Sunshine Law violations and would have expanded the scope of the law to include emails sent on wireless devices, campaign accounts, and other private accounts that directly pertained to public business. Harris has also pledged to create a Sunshine Law Enforcement Unit when he is elected Attorney General.”

Harris added that he “will comply with Blunt’s request, but he questioned obvious political motives behind the request.

“Blunt’s request came just one day after Harris, in a speech on the House floor, commended two state employees for standing up to the governor, whose office investigators allege made an illegal request to destroy public documents,” Harris noted.

UPDATE UPDATE:

Harris called later to say that he was proud of being targeted by Blunt.

 ”They clearly don’t want me to be the next attorney general,” Harris said, “And I consider that a badge of honor.”