Complex sentence: Shortly before leaving office, he had some of his Vermont papers sealed for at least the next decade, a time frame longer than most outgoing governors use, stating that he was protecting the privacy of many gay supporters who sent him personal letters about the issue.
Split into simpler sentences: Shortly before leaving office, he had some of his Vermont papers sealed for at least the next decade, a time frame longer than most outgoing governors use. He claimed he was protecting the privacy of many gay supporters who sent him personal letters about the issue.