A former state Supreme Court judge determined Monday that a GOP consulting firm did not have to turn over records as part of a lawsuit over the Florida’s redistricting.
Justice Major Harding said the documents from DataTargeting amounted to “trade secrets” it would have a “chilling effect” on the company’s business.
League of Women Voter Florida, as one of the plaintiffs, requested documents from the Gainesville-based firm, although they are not in the lawsuit. Subpoenas came only after documents showed the company communicated with legislators about redistricting, writes Matt Dixon in the PolitiJax political blog.
DataTargeting did turn over some documents, but they claim the additional 2,000 requested by the court should not become public. Judge Terry Lewis charged three company officials with contempt, after ruling twice to make the documents public.
Plaintiffs asked for the release of all documents since emails already show DataTargeting communicated with staff and lawmakers tasked with redistricting. PolitiJax reports one email showing incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner asking DataTargeting what redistricting would “do to my district?”
Lewis appointed Harding to view all the documents and determine if they should be released. Harding returned Monday saying the disclosure would hurt DataTargeting’s “economic well-being.”
Other emails showed political participation, writes Dixon. For example, one said to “scoop as many Jews out of Tamarac and Sunrise as they can” to modify the region of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chairs the Democratic National Committee.
