Appeals Court: DeSantis Can’t Hide His Public Records

June 12, 2024 Politics, Republicans

A Florida appeals court on Wednesday refused to go along with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ argument that he can shield public records due to executive privilege — a right that had not been recognized previously under state law that could have drastically expanded the governor’s ability to keep records from the public. The decision by the three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal was a stinging setback for both DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody.

An anonymous person sought records that would identify the names of “six or seven pretty big legal conservative heavyweights” that DeSantis told radio host Hugh Hewitt in 2022 had assisted him in making appointments to the state Supreme Court. The governor’s office declined to hand over any records that would identify the people helping the governor, which sparked the lawsuit.

Read the full article. There’s more womp womp.

BREAKING: A Florida appeals court just refused to go along with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ argument that he can shield public records due to executive privilege.

That’s a win for transparency. https://t.co/Grn2ZWN4TA

— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) June 12, 2024