Review: Christie Administration Paid $441K To Fight Public Records Requests Since 2012

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration has paid out several hundred thousand dollars to reimburse plaintiffs' attorneys fees while fighting public records requests since 2012.

An Associated Press review found the state paid more than $441,000 over 23 cases fighting denials of public records requests from January 2012 through Aug. 7 of this year.

The state can be forced to cover legal fees when a judge determines documents were unlawfully denied.

Attorneys representing media organizations and government watchdogs have complained that Christie's administration routinely stonewalls even the most basic records requests.

A spokesman for Christie declined to comment.

The AP reviewed records obtained through the state's Open Public Records Act. The sum does not include other costs to the state, such as government lawyers' time.

In May, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey sued the Christie administration for allegedly denying open public records requests stemming from the controversial George Washington Bridge lane closures.

The ACLU is challenging the decision by nine state agencies, including Christie's office, to deny a request from a community activist in southern New Jersey who sought records of all the Open Public Records Act requests others had made regarding the lane closures.

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