Maine Gov Says Inappropriate FOA Use Is Designed to Disrupt

Maine's Republican governor says misuse of public access law is designed to disrupt his administration and is costing the state "thousands of dollars."

According to the Associated Press, Gov. Paul LePage spoke out against what he calls inappropriate use of Maine's Freedom of Access Act during an appearance on a radio interview Thursday morning. He says he supports the law, but misuse of it by media members has resulted in "a foot thick of papers" related to FOA.

LePage's statements come in the wake of a Portland Press Herald story that relied on the access law to report that LePage, his staff and security spent more than $35,000 on luxury hotels and travel in Washington, D.C. last spring.

Press Herald deputy managing editor Dieter Bradbury says LePage's statements are "misleading and inaccurate" according to the Associated Press.