Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration did not comply with state public records laws, a judge ruled this Tuesday, October 25th. As reported by CNN, DeSantis was ordered to turn over records regarding flights taking illegal migrants from San Antonio, Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
The Florida Center for Government Accountability filed its lawsuit earlier this month, alleging the delay by the governor’s office to turn over records is unjustified.
DeSantis must turn over records on migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard. https://t.co/IA1mEcYFgW via @nbcnews
— Rosanna Girardi (@RosieGM8) October 26, 2022
The Controversial Plane Flights:
On September 14th, two planes picked up 48 migrants in San Antonio and then dropped them off in Martha’s Vineyard, and their arrival stirred controversy among locals, causing humanitarian aid to be provided along with assistance from Massachusetts state officials. The following day (September 15th), DeSantis’ office was called out by Democratic officials in both Florida and the White House after the governor’s administration acknowledged that it did indeed send the planes.
Florida judge orders DeSantis to hand over migrant flights records. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but lawyers representing the Florida Center for Government Accountability anticipate there would be an appeal.
https://t.co/a4n1UvAJnK— D.K.R. Boyd (@ReflectingMan) October 26, 2022
Judge J. Lee Marsh’s Opinion:
On Tuesday, Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh explained that DeSantis’ office did not show “any steps, direct steps taken to gather what this court finds are public records” that were requested by the Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA). The judge then gave the administration twenty days to provide the records, as reported by the Miami Herald.
The FLCGA tweeted soon after, “We’re very pleased to report that we were victorious in court today […] It’s a great day for the Public Records Act and the right to know what our government is doing!” On October 10th, the group filed a lawsuit seeking to urge the release of the public records (including texts, phone logs, other evidence of communication with the contractors who provided the flights, copies of waivers signed by migrants, etc).
The judge ordered the Governor to turn over additional records within 20 days. There’s still much work to be done in the companion case filed against FDOT and Vertol, the contractor. It’s a great day for the Public Records Act and the right to know what our government is doing!
— Florida Center for Government Accountability (@FLCTRGA) October 25, 2022
Michael Barfield, FLCGA’s public access program director, said in a news release at the time of the suit being filed, “We don’t believe the Governor’s Office responded in good faith to our records request. Not a single record that we actually requested has been produced.” He went on, adding, “The public’s right to know is more important than the Governor’s desire to dole out misinformation. The Governor has a constitutional duty to provide information to the citizens of the state of Florida.”
