Republican Gov. Sam Brownback says he has been using private email and cell phones for official business since he was a U.S. senator.

Brownback said during a news conference Monday that he began the practice while serving in the U.S. Senate from 1996 through 2010. He said there were situations where it was unclear whether the communication was private or official. He said he can also be reached through his state email.

The disclosure that the governor uses private phones and email has raised concerns because documents related to them aren’t accessible under the Kansas Open Records Act.

Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt recommended recently that lawmakers fix the private email loophole in the records law.

Democratic Rep. Jim Ward of Wichita called the practice indefensible.