Utah Democrats are paying a $5,000 fee to obtain legislative records related to the state's redistricting process. Party Chairman Jim Dabakis says the records are needed to determine whether the party can file a lawsuit seeking to overturn the election maps approved in October.
Dabakis says the state shouldn't be charging fees for public records.
Democratic National Committee Member Joe Hatch, an attorney, says the party could appeal but it would mean a burdensome delay for their threatened redistricting lawsuit. Hatch says without the records, the party would be pursuing a speculative lawsuit. Party officials have been told there are thousands of emails, text messages, and other documents connected to redistricting.
At a press conference at the opening session of the legislature, Republican Representative Brad Dee says he and other lawmakers have nothing to hide.