Tong opposes transparency in PURA case. Seeks to block Gillett from answering simple question: Where is the op-ed “draft” she texted Steinberg she was finishing?

The Attorney General continues to block Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Chairperson Marissa Gillett from having to answer a simple but essential question: Where is the draft she was finishing and circulating to her staff on December 15, 2024? The one Gillett said by text message to state Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport) and state Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) she would send to them “hopefully later today.”

That “draft” was what Steinberg referred to as a “release/op-Ed” [sic] in his text exchange with Gillett. Tong’s office, representing PURA in a case brought by two gas utilities, has not been able to contain its exasperation in blocking the search for a simple truth: What was that release/op-ed and why has it not been produced for anyone who has sought it? No requests for documents from under the Freedom of Information Act to PURA, Steinberg and Needleman has produced the document.

An April discovery order by Superior Court Judge Matthew Budzik produced nothing of relevance from PURA, not even the text messages Gillett exchanged with Steinberg. For those, PURA produced a graphic from its op-ed target, The Hartford Courant.

If, as Steinberg and Needleman claimed last week in prepared statements to their colleagues, they “penned” or “authored” the screed that appeared under their names on the CT Mirror website on December 19th would be in their possession–and should have been produced in response to Freedom of Information requests. The duo was pleased indeed with their wild-eyed claims that Eversource had fixed a bond ratings service to make PURA look like it was making it difficult to conduct business in Connecticut. They also excoriated media coverage of PURA decisions.

Six months ago, Gillett and Steinberg exchanged delighted texts on the reaction to the December 19th op-ed. Today they seek to shutdown normal inquiry and transparency.

The case continues.

Published June 11, 2025.