TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will have to provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov.
Then-Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith sued after the Department of Health denied his public records request for COVID-19 data in 2021 and announced the settlement Monday.
“All Floridians have a constitutional right to public records and the right to receive critical public health data in a timely manner," Smith said.
“The Department lied about the existence of these public records in court and did everything to restrict information and downplay the threat of COVID."
Department spokesman Jae Williams III criticized Smith and the Florida Center for Government Accountability in an email, saying the lawsuit was a political stunt.
Persons:
Ron DeSantis, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Smith, Jae Williams, epidemiologists, ” Williams
Organizations:
Democratic, Republican Gov, Department of Health, Florida Center, Government, of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention
Locations:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Florida