August 8, 2007

The Honorable Donald L. Carcieri

222 State House

Providence, RI 02903

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request

Dear Governor Carcieri,

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

I request that a copy of the following documents be made available to me: Any financial contract and or agreement between your administration and attorney James Bopp, Jr. Such information should include, but not be limited to, how much Attorney Bopp has been paid for rendering legal services on behalf of you or your administration.

Rhode Island General Law 37-2-70 pertaining to procedures a state governmental entity must adhere to before procuring the services of an attorney states:

"The attorney shall enter into a letter of engagement with the state. The letter of engagement shall state the rate of compensation, the scope of the services to be performed for the compensation, and provision for the payment of expenses incurred in connection with legal services. The letter of engagement shall certify that the rate of compensation does not exceed the rate of compensation charged by counsel to his or her preferred public or private clients. A letter of engagement shall not be for more than one year."

As part of my request, I am seeking a copy of such letter that might exist between you and or a representative of your administration codifying your relationship with Attorney Bopp.

I also request itemized details of how much Attorney Bopp was paid to defend your campaign committee and the Rhode Island Republican Party against charges of violating Rhode Island campaign finance laws in the 2002 election cycle. In addition, I wish to explore what legal standing you or your administration holds in the case of Chambers v. Ormiston, in which the Rhode Island Supreme Court accepted briefs of amicus curiae from certain parties of interest.

Finally, your brief of amicus curiae does not clearly state whether the brief was filed on behalf of you, as in individual citizen, or within your role as the governor of the State of Rhode Island. Please specify the compelling reasons that lead you to engage the legal services of Attorney Bopp and the justification associated with his particular level of compensation.

In order to help to determine my status to assess fees, you should know that I am the chairman of the Democratic Party of Rhode Island.

Thank you for your consideration of this request, your prompt reply is both expected and appreciated.

Sincerely,

William Lynch, chairman

Democratic Party of Rhode Island

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