In a recent development in the legal battle over the accessibility of Governor Ron DeSantis’ travel records, a Florida judge has ruled to block attorneys from the Washington Post from questioning several current and former aides. The decision also involves dropping Governor DeSantis as a defendant in the case, while the main lawsuit against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will proceed.
Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh deemed the Post’s effort to question top aides as a “fishing expedition,” asserting that the internal deliberations surrounding FDLE’s refusal to hand over records were not integral to the legal proceedings. The lawsuit stemmed from the Post’s public record requests last summer, which included requests for records related to DeSantis’ publicly-funded travel and his reelection victory party.
The court documents revealed internal turmoil within FDLE, including a heated discussion between agency employees and the governor’s office over a new law shielding DeSantis’ travel records. Despite this, the judge deemed the details of these internal discussions irrelevant to the legal battle.
The Post sought to depose aides involved in the dispute to examine the pressure and influence exerted by the governor’s office on FDLE’s decision to deny the records. However, lawyers representing DeSantis and FDLE argued against the depositions, characterizing the Post’s efforts as aimed at generating “salacious news articles.”
The ruling comes amidst heightened scrutiny over transparency in government actions and access to public records, particularly concerning high-profile officials like Governor DeSantis. The outcome of this case could have implications for the balance between government transparency and executive privilege in Florida.
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