Florida Public Records Law | Memory Hole Blog

Orlando Countersues Associated Press on Behalf of Feds

Associated Press/Toledo Blade
(June 23, 3016)

dyer-scott — Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer reads details of the shootings at Pulse nightclub during a media briefing June 13. Gov. Rick Scott at right. Chris O’Meara AP

ORLANDO, Fla. — About two dozen media organizations including the Associated Press, CNN and The New York Times filed a lawsuit today seeking disclosure of city of Orlando phone recordings stemming from the Pulse nightclub shooting.

The city, meanwhile, claimed in its own court filing that the recordings are exempt under Florida public records law and that the FBI insists releasing them may disrupt the ongoing investigation.

The media lawsuit contends city officials are wrongly withholding recordings of dozens of 911 calls as well as communications between gunman Omar Mateen and the Orlando Police Department. Mateen was killed by police early June 12 after a lengthy standoff in a mass shooting that killed 49 people and wounded 53 others.

Continue reading Orlando Mass Shooting: News Orgs File Lawsuit to Access Crucial Public Records →