Inquiring Minds …

The email we received from a source who would prefer to remain anonymous.

A Department of Justice (DOJ) letter gets mentioned during public comment by Penny Brock — one of those rare unicorns who both speaks at meetings and actually reads government documents.

Following Brock’s comment, someone somewhere inside the county apparently freaked out just enough to send out an internal email making it abundantly clear that the letter in question was sent to the Nevada Secretary of State — and definitely, absolutely, cross-your-heart-not-going-to-be-shared with Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald.

Wait… what?

You mean to tell us that there’s a DOJ letter out there — presumably about elections — and Washoe County’s top elections official isn’t allowed to read it? And seems not to want to read it. This is like a fire chief being told there's a fire... but don't worry, we sent the smoke report to the mayor. You just keep doing what you're doing, chief.

Even more hilarious? The email seems more concerned with managing appearances than addressing substance. Because God forbid anyone think the county isn’t fully in control of this situation — even if that situation involves selectively blindfolding key personnel.

We’re all for trusting the process — but come on. If you're responding to public comment about a federal letter, maybe at least ask to read the letter.

Or maybe the new strategy is "if we don't see it, we don't have to act on it."

Washoe County Logic™:

If a DOJ letter falls in the election forest and no one reads it… did it even exist?

So here's a suggestion for future protocol:
If a document is important enough to inspire an internal CYA email, it’s probably important enough for the person in charge of elections to read it.

And if not, can someone at least forward it to Penny Brock?
She’ll definitely read it.