DeSantis Critic Says Florida Has Become One Of 'The Least Transparent' In Last 4 Years

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being criticized by government accountability watchdogs for the lack of transparency in his administration amid his bid for the White House, NBC News reports.

Since DeSantis took office four years ago, his administration has frequently blocked the release of public records, approved numerous legal exceptions to keep more information private, and engaged in legal battles against open government advocates, the press, and other watchdogs, the critics allege.

DeSantis, a Harvard-educated lawyer and former U.S. attorney, is the only Florida governor known to use "executive privilege" to keep records hidden, according to NBC News. His travel records, previously scrutinized by the media, are now secret due to a new legal exemption.

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The governor has also fought to conceal information about significant events during his tenure, including withholding Covid infection data and blocking the release of records about the controversial relocation of dozens of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, according to NBC News.

DeSantis’ lack of transparency has alarmed open government advocates, especially as he could carry the same ethos into the White House, if he wins the 2024 presidential election.

Michael Barfield, director of public access for the Florida Center for Government Accountability, a nonprofit open government watchdog, told NBC News that the “amount of material that has been taken off the table” from Florida, typically considered the most transparent state, “is stunning.”

“We've quickly become one of the least transparent in the space of four years," he added.

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