Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the state IT manager who leaked thousands of her predecessor's emails should not be prosecuted.
Michael Rodgers said recently that he's the person who turned over the emails to the Willamette Week newspaper. That action came after aides to then-Governor John Kitzhaber asked that the emails be deleted from state servers.
Brown said in a recorded statement that there's no public interest in prosecuting Rodgers.
"Instead of wasting public time and resources pursuing charges in this case, I would rather focus on rebuilding trust and accountability in state government,” the governor said.
The decision is ultimately in the hands of the Marion County District Attorney's office. Rodgers is currently on paid administrative leave. Kitzhaber resigned in February amid a criminal ethics investigation, which is still ongoing.