Judge in FOIA whistleblower case orders 2 city cellphones turned over to her SAMUEL B. PARKER Richmond Times-Dispatch Aug 26, 2025 Aug 26, 2025 Updated Mar 4, 2026 0 × Tuckahoe volunteer EMT to retire; RTD sports staff predictions; Chesterfield County Fair in full swing Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save An attorney for the city of Richmond doesn’t want former City Hall FOIA officer Connie Clay to get her old work cellphone back.kAmsFC:?8 |@?52J’D 76:DEJ AC6\EC:2= 962C:?8 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60c6a33`4b\da_g\c25_\g542\e62`5c33a3f5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr=2J’D HC@?87F= E6C>:?2E:@? =2HDF:E 282:?DE E96 4:EJk^2m[ 2EE@C?6JD DA2CC65 @G6C H96E96C E96 4:EJ 925 EFC?65 @G6C 2== C6=6G2?E E6IE >6DD286D[ 6>2:=D 2?5 @E96C 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 36EH66? r=2J 2?5 96C 7@C>6C 3@DD[ !6EF=2 qFC<D]k^Am kAm$2C29 #@33[ r=2J’D 2EE@C?6J[ H2D 252>2?E E92E E96J 925 ?@E]k^Am People are also reading… Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life Meet Smyth County's Pet of the Week: Sable U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps State education leaders bring listening tour to SWVA Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County 5 things to know about legalizing marijuana in Virginia Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Chilhowie reports on water quality, looks at system growth Virginia's redistricting battle started in Texas | Special Report kAm“%96C6 2C6 82AD[” #@33 D2:5 @7 E96 E6IE >6DD286D 96C E62> 925 C646:G65 5FC:?8 5:D4@G6CJ] “%96C6 2C6 E6IE >6DD286D H6 <?@H 6I:DE]”k^AmkAmy:>>J #@3:?D@? yC][ 2? 2EE@C?6J H:E9 ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D H9@ :D C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 4:EJ[ H2D 6BF2==J 252>2?E E92E[ H9:=6 @77:4:2=D 925 H:E996=5 E6IE >6DD286D E96J 5:5?’E 566> C6=6G2?E E@ E96 42D6[ E96J 925 >6E E96:C @3=:82E:@? E@ DFCC6?56C 2?J 2?5 2== A6CE:?6?E 4@>>F?:42E:@?D E@ #@33 2?5 r=2J]k^Am kAm“(6 AC@G:565 E96> H:E9 2== E6IE >6DD286D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 2?J @7 E96 DEF77 E96J AC@G:565 E@ FD[” #@3:?D@? D2:5] “x7 D96 <?@HD `__T E92E E96C6 2C6 >:DD:?8 E6IE >6DD286D[ A=62D6 E6== FD H96? E9@D6 2C6 D@ E92E H6 42? 8@ 324< 2?5 7:8FC6 E96> @FE]”k^Am kAm#@33 =:DE65 D6G6C2= :?DE2?46D H96C6 C6=6G2?E >6DD286D H6C6 6:E96C 4FE @77[ 4@?E2:?65 ?@ 52E6 2?5 H6C6 >:DD:?8 4@?E6IE]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^c6a33`4b\da_g\c25_\g542\e62`5c33a3f5Qms@4F>6?EDi r:EJ 92D DA6?E Sab_z 5676?5:?8 Sad_z H9:DE=63=@H6C =2HDF:Ek^2mk^Am kAm%96 5:D4@G6CJ :DDF6D 92G6 2AA62C65 E@ 36 2 DE2=6>2E6 7@C >@?E9D] ~? |@?52J[ yF586 r=2:C6 r2C5H6== H@C<65 92C5 E@ 3C62< :E[ DF886DE:?8 E92E E96 4:EJ C6EFC? r=2J’D H@C< A9@?6 E@ 96C D@ E92E D96 2?5 96C 2EE@C?6JD 4@F=5 C6G:6H :E 7@C E96>D6=G6D] #@3:?D@? @3;64E65 E@ E92E]k^AmkAm“xE’D E96 4:EJ’D AC@A6CEJ[ J@FC 9@?@C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmpD 2 4@>AC@>:D6[ r2C5H6== @C56C65 E92E 3@E9 r=2J’D 2?5 qFC<D’ H@C< A9@?6D 36 8:G6? E@ 96C D@ E92E D96 4@F=5 C6G:6H E96> 96CD6=7 2?5 564:56 H96E96C E96 4:EJ 925 AC@A6C=J 5:D4=@D65 E96:C 4@?E6?ED]k^Am kAmr=2J[ H9@ H2D 5:D>:DD65 3J qFC<D :? a_ac[ :D D66<:?8 Sad_[___ :? 52>286D 2?5 C6:?DE2E6>6?E E@ 96C A@D:E:@?] %96 EC:2= :D D6E E@ 368:? $6A] ab]k^Am Clay k9am(6C6 E6IE >6DD286D 56=6E65nk^9amkAm|@?52J’D 5632E6 46?E6C65 =2C86=J 2C@F?5 4@?7FD:@? @G6C H9@ E6IE65 H9@> H92E[ 2?5 7C@> H9:49 A9@?6] r=2J 2?5 qFC<D 3@E9 E6IE65 6249 @E96C 7C@> EH@ A9@?6D — 2 A6CD@?2= 2?5 2 H@C< 46== — 2?5 H@F=5 DH:E49 324< 2?5 7@CE9 36EH66? E96>]k^Am kAmqFE H96? r=2J H2D 7:C65[ D96 925 E@ =62G6 96C H@C< A9@?6 2?5 2== @7 :ED 4@?E6?ED 2E r:EJ w2==]k^Am kAm$@ H9:=6 r=2J 2?5 96C 2EE@C?6JD 92G6 2446DD E@ E6IED 6I492?865 36EH66? r=2J’D 2?5 qFC<D’ A6CD@?2= 56G:46D 2?5 36EH66? r=2J’D A6CD@?2= A9@?6 2?5 qFC<D’ H@C< A9@?6[ #@33 D2:5 E96C6 2C6 6I492?86D 36EH66? E96 EH@ H@C< A9@?6D E96J DE:== 92G6?’E D66? =6DD E92? 2 >@?E9 367@C6 EC:2=]k^AmkAm%9@D6 6I492?86D H6C6 566>65 :CC6=6G2?E 3J E96 4:EJ 2?5 :ED 2EE@C?6JD[ #@33 D2:5]k^AmkAmqFE H96E96C E96 =24< @7 5:D4=@DFC6 :D 3642FD6 >6DD286D H6C6 56=6E65 :? G:@=2E:@? @7 DE2E6 C64@C5D C6E6?E:@? =2H :D DE:== ?@E 4=62C] #@33 :?D:DE65 E92E r=2J 2?5 qFC<D 4@CC6DA@?565 52:=J[ 3FE D2:5 5:D4@G6CJ 925?’E 4@>6 324< H:E9 52:=J >6DD286D 36EH66? E96>]k^Am kAmqFC<D AC6G:@FD=J E@=5 E96 4:EJ’D 2EE@C?6JD E92E D96 925 ?@E 6C2D65 2?J >6DD286D[ 2?5 56?:65 r=2J’D 4@?E6?E:@? E92E E96J E6IE65 6G6CJ 52J[ #@3:?D@? D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 |@?52J 962C:?8] w6 2C8F65 E92E E96 “49C@?@=@8J” @7 E96 A2:C’D 6I492?86D DFAA@CE65 qFC<D’ 4=2:>D]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_6b6_24d\da53\c5b4\32b2\635_d75d26a`Qmr:EJVD 2EE@C?6JD 2D< ;F586 E@ 3=@4< u~xp C6BF6DED 7C@> 4:EJVD 7@C>6C u~xp @77:46Ck^2mk^AmkAm“x7 J@F 56=6E65 D@>6E9:?8[ E96 49C@?@=@8J H@F=5’G6 366? :?E6CCFAE65[” 96 D2:5] “xE H2D?’E E92E E96 E6IE >6DD286D DE2CE65 :?[ =:<6[ D2J yF?6 @7 E92E J62C … 2?5 D@ E96 AC6G:@FD E6IE >6DD286D H@F=5 92G6 366? 6C2D65] xE H2D E6IE >6DD286D E9C@F89@FE E96 E6?FC6 @7 |D] r=2J’D 6>A=@J>6?E H:E9 E96 4:EJ[ DF49 E92E E96C6 H2D 2 56E6C>:?2E:@? E92E E96D6 H6C6 2== @7 E96>]”k^Am kAmr2C5H6== D66>65 D<6AE:42=]k^AmkAm“x’> ?@E DFC6 x F?56CDE2?5 J@FC 6IA=2?2E:@? @7 9@H J@F 56E6C>:?6 ?@E9:?8 925 366? 56=6E65 36J@?5 96C D2J:?8 D96 925 ?@E 56=6E65 2?JE9:?8[” D96 D2:5] “u@=<D 4@F=5 6:E96C ?@E C6>6>36C[ @C ?@E H2?E E@ D2J] p?5 E92E’D H9J A6@A=6 =:<6 5:D4@G6CJ 5@4F>6?ED[ 3642FD6 E96J D@>6E:>6D AC@G6 E9:?8D E92E A6@A=6 H@F=5?’E <?@H]”k^Amk9amyF586i E6IED ‘23D@=FE6=J’ C6=6G2?E E@ r=2J’D 42D6k^9amkAm#@3:?D@? 2=D@ 2C8F65 E92E E96 5:D4@G6CJ 7:89E H2D 2 “C65 96CC:?8” E92E 925 ?@ 362C:?8 @? H96E96C r=2J BF2=:7:65 2D 2 H9:DE=63=@H6C]k^Am kAm&?56C DE2E6 =2H[ H9:DE=63=@H6CD 2C6 AC@E64E65 7C@> C6E2=:2E@CJ 7:C:?8D] r=2J 4@?E6?5D 96C E6C>:?2E:@? H2D 2 C6DF=E @7 4@?7=:4E H:E9 qFC<D @G6C u~xp 4@>A=:2?46]k^AmkAm“x F?56CDE2?5 WE96 E6IEDX 2C6 5:D4@G6C23=6 J@FC 9@?@C[ … 3FE :E 92D ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 F?56C=J:?8 :DDF6D :? E9:D 42D6 @7 H96E96C @C ?@E Wr=2JX H2D E6C>:?2E65 7@C D@>6 C6A@CE:?8[” #@3:?D@? D2:5] “$96 42?’E A@:?E E@ 2?J EJA6 @7 H9:DE=63=@H6C 24E:G:EJ E92E D96 D2:5 H2D 4@?E2:?65 :? E96D6 E6IE >6DD286D]”k^AmkAmr2C5H6== C6;64E65 E92E 2C8F>6?E E@@] $96 C625 2=@F5 2 E6IE >6DD286 7C@> r=2J E@ qFC<D :? H9:49 r=2J HC@E6 “‘E96 23FD6 7C@> 4:EJ 6>A=@J66D 7C@> E96 >2J@C’D @77:46 @? 5@H? :D 364@>:?8 :?E@=6C23=6]’”k^Am kAm“%92E 46CE2:?=J 4@CC@3@C2E6D E96 4=2:> E92E D96 H2D 7:C65 :? C6E2=:2E:@?[” r2C5H6== D2:5] “%96C6’D D@>6 5:D4@C5 8@:?8 @? 96C6]”k^AmkAm&=E:>2E6=J[ H96E96C E96 >6DD286D DF3DE2?E:2E6 r=2J’D 42D6 :D 2 “>2EE6C @7 2C8F>6?E[” r2C5H6== D2:5[ H9:49 :D E96 H9@=6 A@:?E @7 2 EC:2=]k^AmkAm“|J A@:?E :D[ :E’D C6=6G2?E E@ E96 C6=2E:@?D9:A E92E’D 8@:?8 @? 96C6[” E96 ;F586 D2:5] “|2J36 :E’D 8@@5 7@C E96>[ >2J36 :E’D 8@@5 7@C J@F[ x 5@?’E <?@H] qFE E96D6 2C6 E9:?8D E92E 23D@=FE6=J 2 ;FCJ D9@F=5 962C :? E6C>D @7 56E6C>:?:?8 H92E’D 8@:?8 @? :? E9:D C6=2E:@?D9:A]”k^Am k9amr2C5H6== 2=D@ @C56CD 5:D4=@DFC6 @7 qFC<D’ D6G6C2?46 5@4F>6?EDk^9am kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 A9@?6D[ r2C5H6== @C56C65 E92E E96 4:EJ AC@5F46 :ED D6A2C2E:@? 28C66>6?E H:E9 qFC<D] $96 42==65 E96 A2J>6?E C6=6G2?E :? 56E6C>:?:?8 H96E96C E96C6 :D 2 “BF:5 AC@ BF@” 36EH66? qFC<D 2?5 E96 4:EJ E92E 4@F=5 :>A24E qFC<D’ 4C65:3:=:EJ :? 7C@?E @7 2 ;FCJ 2?5 4@F=5 DA62< E@ A@DD:3=6 3:2D]k^AmkAm%96 %:>6D\s:DA2E49 AC6G:@FD=J C6A@CE65 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60bf`5ga6c\cgbb\``67\g6dg\_b4eb3f2h2_f]9E>=QmqFC<D C646:G65 C@F89=J S`c[___ :? D6G6C2?46 FA@? 96C yF=J a_ac 56A2CEFC6 7C@> 96C 4:EJ A@DEk^2m[ H9:49 42>6 2>:5 BF6DE:@?D C682C5:?8 96C FD6 @7 96C 4:EJ 4C65:E 42C5 2E 4@>A2?:6D 4@??64E65 E@ 96C 7@C>6C 3FD:?6DD A2CE?6C]k^Am kAm#@3:?D@? @? |@?52J D66>65 DFCAC:D65 E@ 962C 23@FE E96 D6A2C2E:@? 28C66>6?E]k^Am kAm“$96 C6D:8?65[ J@FC 9@?@C[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm“(6==[ E96C6’D 366? C676C6?46 E@ 2 D6G6C2?46 28C66>6?E[” r2C5H6== D2:5]k^AmkAm“qJ H9@n” #@3:?D@? D2:5] “(6 AC@G:565 H92E E96 4:EJ AC@G:565 E@ FD] (6’C6 E96 4:EJ’D 4@F?D6=[ H6 2D<65 7@C E96 A6CD@??6= 7:=6[ H6 AC@G:565 E96 5@4F>6?ED H6 C646:G65 7C@> E96 4:EJ]”k^Am kAm#@33 C676C6?465 C6A@CE:?8 E92E @77:4:2=D 92G6 C6A62E65=J 564=:?65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 D6G6C2?46 28C66>6?ED :? C6DA@?D6 E@ u~xp C6BF6DED 7C@> E96 >65:2] #@3:?D@? 42==65 E92E 2 “32D6=6DD C6AC6D6?E2E:@?]”k^AmkAm“|C] #@3:?D@?[ J@F’C6 2 8@@5 EC:2= =2HJ6C[” r2C5H6== D2:5] “p?5 x 2> DFC6[ :7 J@F 8@E 29@=5 @7 2 5@4F>6?E E92E 2 H:E?6DD >256 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 2 4@\5676?52?E[ 2?5 E92E H@F=5 6:E96C >2<6 E96> 3:2D65 @C F?3:2D65[ E92E J@F H@F=5 46CE2:?=J 2C8F6 E92E :E H2D 5:D4@G6C23=6]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7354adfa\36a3\``67\36da\63e32acb4hffQmp?@E96C 7@C>6C #:49>@?5 6>A=@J66 7:=6D H9:DE=63=@H6C DF:E 2==68:?8 C6E2=:2E:@?k^2mk^Am Samuel B. Parker (804) 649-6462sparker@timesdispatch.com 0 Comments Locations Virginia Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Richmond judge says evidence was destroyed in a whistleblower suit. How did we get here? This stems from the missing cellphone of ex-city spokesperson Petula Burks, who fired Connie Clay, the city’s former Freedom of Information Ac… A1 Minute! August 26, 2025: Tuckahoe volunteer EMT to retire; RTD sports staff predictions; Chesterfield County Fair in full swing Tuckahoe volunteer EMT to retire; RTD sports staff predictions; Chesterfield County Fair in full swing City's attorneys ask judge to block FOIA requests from city's former FOIA officer In a filing, attorneys for the city suggest Connie Clay's FOIA requests are intended to "embarrass" the city. Clay since June has received nea… Watch Now: Related Video Indiana TSA agent turns to food bank as paycheck stops during government shutdown - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War - Trump’s Approval Rating Falls To Record Low Amid Iran War Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan AP Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan Savannah Guthrie Set for 'Today' Show Return 'Within Weeks' Amid Desperate Hunt For Her Missing Mom Savannah Guthrie Set for 'Today' Show Return 'Within Weeks' Amid Desperate Hunt For Her Missing Mom
Richmond judge says evidence was destroyed in a whistleblower suit. How did we get here? This stems from the missing cellphone of ex-city spokesperson Petula Burks, who fired Connie Clay, the city’s former Freedom of Information Ac…
A1 Minute! August 26, 2025: Tuckahoe volunteer EMT to retire; RTD sports staff predictions; Chesterfield County Fair in full swing Tuckahoe volunteer EMT to retire; RTD sports staff predictions; Chesterfield County Fair in full swing
City's attorneys ask judge to block FOIA requests from city's former FOIA officer In a filing, attorneys for the city suggest Connie Clay's FOIA requests are intended to "embarrass" the city. Clay since June has received nea…
Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan
AP Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan
