Turns out the guy just wanted privacy:
Well, since Richter’s September 3 motion, a copy of which you’ll find below, was denied yesterday, his divorce filings remain open to the public. And a TSG review of the 98-page file shows that the Palins are only mentioned in Richter’s sealing request. According to the filing, Richter wanted the documents deemed confidential in a bid to cloak details about his home, workplace, and phone numbers because “reporters and news agencies” were using that information to contact him. Richter, a 39-year-old contractor, noted that he is “friends and land owners in a remote cabin” with the Palins and, as a result, journalists were intruding on the “cabin life and private life” of him and his 11-year-old son. The petition to dissolve the marriage was filed jointly last July by Richter and his ex-wife, who were not represented by lawyers. A judge granted the dissolution less than two months after the couple filed to end their marriage. (2 pages)
The thing is–property records and the sort are also public records (I have all of the above except the phone number for Obama from the Rezko stuff) and could provide the same information. The only real thing you can do is change your phone number, but otherwise the information is public record.
We will be hearing more about the Richters with Todd Palin’s role in the administration.
Unfortunately for this private fellow the National Enquirer has had a string of two stories with kernels of truth to them (if two can be considered a “string”) so when wind of the latest Enquirer story was swirling and he made this sudden court appearance folks got hot and bothered and started jumping to conclusions (and partisan apologists for the other side started going just as far over the top in their opposing defenses).
Sometimes even enquiring minds just oughtta know better…