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Florida Gov. Scott Paying To Defend Himself

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is dipping into his own pocket to pay for lawyers he hired in an ongoing public records lawsuit.

Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews wants information on private Google email accounts that he says were used by the Scott administration to sidestep state law. A Florida judge sided with Andrews, but now Scott has hired lawyers to fight the request in California.

Scott's office initially hired an outside law firm and signed two state contracts worth $110,000.

Yet the law firm of Dean Mead is also now representing Scott and two former aides in the legal battle.

A Scott spokesman said that Scott's private attorney is responsible for handling his "private affairs." Initially the governor's office refused to say who was paying Scott's legal bills.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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