Cleveland orders outside investigation into handling of city records

CLEVELAND (WJW) - The FOX 8 I-Team is tracking a firestorm at Cleveland City Hall over the handling of public records.

The mayor's office has now asked for an outside investigation to look into whether one city council employee is seeing more of those records than he should.

Council president Blaine Griffin, however, said the employee did nothing wrong and he was provided access to the public records portal as part of his job. He said the employee gathers information for council members.

City spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said the employee downloaded records that contained private information, such as social security numbers, so the city wants to make sure no laws were violated.

"That's what we are trying to figure out," Sinclair said. "So we are referring it to outside counsel."

Griffi