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Court Asked If Threats To Ohio Governor Are Public Record

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The Ohio Supreme Court is ready to hear arguments in a legal dispute over the state's decision to withhold records from a political blogger documenting threats against Republican Gov. John Kasich.

Lawyers for Plunderbund and the Ohio Department of Public Safety address the court Tuesday.

Court documents indicate the Democratic-leaning political blog sought investigation files of any threats against Kasich or his staff in an August 2012 public-records request. The department refused to release the records to managing editor Joseph Mismas, citing security.

Plunderbund argues that Ohio's public records law doesn't allow for blanket security-related exemptions, but provides for partial release of the documents with sensitive parts blacked out.

The state counters that release of threat records would subject Kasich to "attack, interference, sabotage, and acts of terrorism."