Texas Senator Sues Safety Department for Withholding Uvalde Shooting Records

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Texas' Department of Public Safety (DPS) after being denied access to records related to last month’s Uvalde elementary school shooting.

Gutierrez said he filed a request on May 31 to access reports detailing law enforcement's response as well as police bodycam footage and 911 audio. The lawsuit argues that DPS is required by law to provide the documents within 10 days of the request. Gutierrez has criticized Texas for not providing Uvalde citizens with "truthful answers" to what happened on the day of the shooting.

Law enforcement officials in Texas have been scrutinized for their prolonged effort to take out the mass shooter and contradicting reports. After DPS Director Steven McCraw said on Tuesday that the Uvalde shooting was an "abject failure" by local police, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin criticized the agency for intentionally releasing "false leaks" to bolster its own agenda.

Reports across the spectrum similarly criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the shooting. Left-rated outlets were more likely to label Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) as another "culprit of misinformation," citing his contradictory statements. Some right-rated outlets emphasized how Texas law permits the DPS to hold records from the public under "certain circumstances" in which they interfere with an ongoing investigation of a crime.