GOP consultants want to delay release of documents

A Gainesville-based political consultant is asking the Florida Supreme Court to delay the release of emails and documents that could expose the role that Republican consultants played in drawing new congressional districts.

Lawyers for Pat Bainter and his firm Data Targeting told the high court Tuesday that they are considering whether to appeal their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, the state Supreme Court ruled that 538 pages of documents and emails dealing with redistricting must be publicly released.

The state Supreme Court said that Bainter had engaged in “gamesmanship” to keep the documents secret. The court plans to put the documents online later this month.

Bainter’s lawyers said that the documents should remain sealed until at least February when the time for an appeal has passed.