Because the McAuliffe administration does not consider the post-Charlottesville task force on civil unrest a public body, the meetings haven’t been announced on official state calendars. Before the task force started its work, its members — almost all of whom are government officials — were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement saying they understood that the disclosure of certain information could cause “irreparable harm” to the governor’s office. If improper disclosures were to occur, the statement reads, the governor’s office “may seek legal remedies.”

Coy said the after-action report the task force will produce will be released to the public, but he said the task force was not created for a “public airing” of the events in Charlottesville.

“It is for experts to advise the governor on actions that he should take to keep the public safe,” Coy said.