Council hears request to pay for Melinda Griesemer’s private counsel; no payment approved
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Summary
Attorney Michelle Harder read a request that the council provide and reimburse legal representation for Councilmember Melinda Griesemer over alleged unauthorized deletion/manipulation of her county emails; council discussed but did not approve funding, citing lack of formal request scope and an active state police investigation.
At its Nov. 10 meeting the Johnson County Council opened a public discussion on a request that the county provide legal representation or reimbursement to Councilmember Melinda Griesemer for an ongoing investigation into alleged unauthorized access and deletion of her county emails.
Michelle Harder, an attorney who said she is offering to represent Griesemer as conflict counsel to protect Griesemer’s interests, read an email submitted to the council that outlined the request and asserted that she had spoken with Indiana State Police Detective Paul Baker and that the special prosecutor was expected to tender a final report. Harder said the representation was intended to facilitate resolution and potentially save taxpayer money. "These emails were deleted or manipulated around the time this council censored her regarding providing information to our attorney general," Harder read. "It is my understanding that both the prosecutor and the state police support my involvement." (Harder identified Detective Paul Baker and said Griesemer had spoken with the county prosecutor.)
Griesemer described a period of two to three months in which she said her concerns were not heard and said she sought outside counsel as a result.
Council members debated whether taxpayer funds should be used to pay for individual councilmembers’ private counsel. Council President (unnamed) said the council had received no formal request with scope of services or public‑purpose justification, that the council has no standing policy authorizing reimbursing private counsel for individual members, and that neither the county prosecutor nor the state police had advised the council that outside counsel for an individual member was necessary. "Until that investigation is complete, it would be both inappropriate and irresponsible for this council to allocate or approve any public funds connected to it," the council president said.
Council did not take a funding vote. Members said they would revisit the matter if formal documentation or an official recommendation is provided after the conclusion of the investigation. Harder said she would submit her invoice; Griesemer said she may return to the council when more information is available.