Bob Skarphol Opens Up About College President’s Emails

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — State Rep. Bob Skarphol says he is one of the lawmakers responsible for anonymously made open records requests for North Dakota university and college presidents' emails.

The Tioga Republican told The Forum that other lawmakers also have made requests, but he didn't name them.

Skarphol says he and other legislators are focused on finding out what all went on leading to the ouster of University System Chancellor Hamid Shirvani after complaints about his leadership style.

The Legislative Council on behalf of unnamed lawmakers has made a dozen open records requests to the University System, including one which led to the discovery that about 40,000 emails had been deleted from North Dakota State University President Dean Bresciani's account. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is investigating whether they were deliberately deleted.