PORT HURON, MI — A city-commissioned investigation found no evidence that Port Huron City Manager James Freed accessed Mayor Anita Ashford’s city or private email accounts, according to a report unanimously released by the City Council on July 13.
The council voted 7-0 Monday to receive the investigative report, waive attorney-client privilege and direct city administration to make the report available to the public. Council members did not discuss the resolution before voting.
The investigation, conducted by attorneys Gary Fletcher and Todd Shoudy of Fletcher Fealko Shoudy & Francis, P.C., was initiated by Freed on May 3, 2026, after Ashford alleged Freed had monitored her email communications, sent emails in her name and deleted messages from her accounts.
Investigators interviewed Freed, Ashford, City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck, former IT Director Bruce Fiedler and other witnesses, reviewed email records and examined seven examples Ashford submitted as evidence that Freed had accessed her emails.
“Based upon the information available to us, and provided by Mayor Ashford, we were unable to discover any evidence to support Mayor Ashford’s assertion that City Manager James Freed had accessed her City of Port Huron email account, or any of Mayor Ashford’s private email accounts,” the report concluded.
The examples included email exchanges with council members, city staff and outside organizations, a blank email sent from Ashford’s personal iPhone and a standard City of Port Huron information technology disclaimer.
Investigators concluded none of the examples supported Ashford’s allegation that Freed had accessed or monitored her email accounts.
Investigators also addressed additional allegations made during their interview with Ashford, including claims that former IT Director Bruce Fiedler and City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck had assisted Freed in accessing her accounts.
The report states investigators requested evidence supporting those claims but were provided “primarily vague assertions” and concluded they found no evidence supporting the allegations.
The report also notes technical limitations in the city’s email system prevented investigators from reviewing detailed login and audit records showing every login, IP address or device used to access Ashford’s email account.
However, investigators said the available records, witness interviews and other evidence found no indication Freed possessed or requested Ashford’s passwords or accessed her accounts.
Investigators wrote that had they found evidence Freed accessed or used Ashford’s email account, they would have recommended his discharge.
Following the council meeting, Freed said he appreciated the investigation.
“I appreciate the due diligence of our legal team on this matter,” Freed said. “The findings are both shocking and very sad. I encourage every resident to read the entire report.”
Ashford said she welcomed the investigation but believes the matter is not over.
“I welcome the investigation, but it’s not over yet because I haven’t had my investigation yet,” Ashford said after Monday’s meeting. She said she plans to pursue additional action through her attorney, adding, “We will be taking the next steps.”
The Port Huron City Council holds regular meetings at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month, except in July, Aug. and Dec., the second meeting is not held.
Meetings are held in the Municipal Office Center, 100 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron and are live streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Report finds no evidence Freed accessed Mayor Ashford’s email accounts
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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By Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
