Court Upholds Confidentiality Of Travel Expenses Of Governor’s Security Detail

I have previously reported on a lawsuit challenging the denial by the Governor’s Office of an OPRA request for the credit card statements that show the specific charges made by the State Police officers who protect the Governor during his trips. The trial judge recently ruled that the expense details must be kept confidential, because disclosing them would compromise the ability of the State Police to protect the Governor and other officials.

The judge based her decision on a certification by the head of the State Police’s Executive Protection Unit, which explained that the Governor would be at risk if the expense information. were to be released. The judge looked at this evidence in camera, in accordance with the settled law, recently reaffirmed by the Appellate Division in the Lyndhurst opinion, that in OPRA cases sensitive law enforcement information should be submitted ex parte for the court’s confidential review.

It appears that the judge did not issue a written opinion in this matter. Despite the absence of an opinion, the ruling nevertheless is significant, because it upheld the State Police’s longstanding position–which has existed since OPRA was enacted– that detailed trooper travel expense information cannot be disclosed.

 

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