Ex-worker defends her role in Beaufort files release as investigation continues
Nearly a year after 9,000 sensitive unredacted documents were mistakenly released to a Beaufort couple by the city, a former public information officer is defending her role in the situation.
In a June 17 Facebook post, former Beaufort Public Information officer Ashley Brandon said she would not be a “scapegoat” for the August 2025 release of the documents, which contained social security numbers, information regarding city litigation and records on police investigations, along with other sensitive information.
The post comes as a third-party investigation into the release of the documents moves along. On Monday, Beaufort City Council held a special closed door, executive session meeting for an update on the investigation.
Brandon said she was unaware that the redactions she put onto the files did not save, and learned about the issue only after they were released.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I would never release sensitive information, I am a military veteran,” Brandon wrote. “I had a secret security clearance and just as a human being with integrity, I would NEVER do that.”
The Island Packet previously reported that the unredacted file release came a week after the city announced a new FOIA management platform meant to enhance security and ease staff usage.
Who we know received the documents
The files were originally released to the Beaufort couple, and were later sent to Councilman Josh Scallate. Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall confirmed to the Island Packet that he was also copied on the email to Councilman Scallate, but did not read the files.
On Thursday, Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall declined to comment about Brandon’s post, citing the active investigation into the case. Scallate has previously said he stopped reading the files once he realized they contained sensitive information.
Previously, at a Feb. 10, 2026 council meeting, Marshall, when asked about the documents by a citizen, said the email was sent only to one party. Marshall clarified that the city only originally distributed the files to the FOIA requestor, and the city did not provide them to any third party, other than city officials.
Marshall said he has not reviewed any files from that FOIA.
Marshall also said that, to his knowledge, no public blame has been placed on Brandon by the city. Scallate felt similarly.
“Ashley Brandon served the City of Beaufort in many meaningful ways, and I believe it is important that her contributions and the good she did for the City not be lost in the current discussion.” Scallate told the Island Packet in a June 26 text. He hopes the eventual conclusion of the investigation provides a clearer picture to the incident and identifies what safeguards need to be implemented to prevent something like this happening in the future.
Concerns over special session
The special session meeting wasn’t advertised on the city’s social media accounts at least 24 hours before, as required by the Beaufort City Council Standard Operating Procedures Manual.
The agenda for the special session meeting was available on the city’s website by at least June 18, but it was not posted on social media accounts at least 24 hours in advance. Marshall told the Island Packet that not posting about the meeting on social media was “an oversight.”
In August 2025, at least 9,000 sensitive documents were released to Beaufort resident Autumn Hollis, who received them in response to a FOIA request regarding a February 2025 police search for her missing daughter. Her daughter was found a few days after she went missing, but Hollis was unhappy with how the police handled the case, prompting the FOIA request.
The Hollis’ contend that their daughter was taken to Florida by a 16-year-old boy and that the city did not react with enough urgency. The city has defended it’s handling of the case.
Some of those records also included Department of Social Services records, forensic evidence and medical information about her daughter, Hollis previously told the Island Packet.
After the documents were released, the city started an internal investigation led by Marshall before deciding to bring in a third party. Charleston-based law firm Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd was hired to investigate, along with attorney Ross Appel of McCullough Khan Appel law firm.