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FDLE probe will continue, despite the death of alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell won’t affect the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into his lenient 2008 plea deal for soliciting minors and cushy work-release arrangement. Press aides in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office and the FDLE confirmed Tuesday that the preliminary probe will proceed as planned. “The FDLE investigation on […]
GOP Senate Campaign PAC channels big money to Jimmy Patronis’ fundraising arm
Contributions spiked during July for Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ Treasure Florida political committee, predominantly courtesy of a $120,000 gift from the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. That contribution, from a PAC chaired by Senate President Bill Galvano, was the largest to any single member of Florida’s independently elected state Cabinet, according to records […]
Democrat Gwen Graham unleashes Twitter barrage against Gov. DeSantis
Gwen Graham, the former congresswoman and Democratic candidate for governor, unloaded on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Twitter Monday, decrying the Republican’s policies on the environment, schools, gay rights and more, and attributing his popularity to “puppeteers.” “People don’t change. Unless the @GovRonDeSantis that I knew in Congress suddenly became an engaged political tactician, the […]
Gov. DeSantis removes Tallahassee commissioner from office after corruption pleas
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday removed Scott Maddox, a city commissioner in the state capital, from office following his guilty pleas to three federal corruption charges. The governor cited his authority under state law to remove “any person who pleads guilty” to a crime. DeSantis had suspended Maddox from the Tallahassee City Commission on Dec. […]
Gov. DeSantis warns of Internet’s ‘very, very sick, I think dark, recess’
As investigations continued into the weekend’s mass shootings, Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged the difficulty Thursday of probing the Internet’s dark recesses for early warning signs while protecting freedom of expression. “If you didn’t necessarily have places online to congregate, they would not have strength in numbers. Being able to go and trade these ideas in […]
High-tech counseling comes to storm-struck schools – ‘Think of FaceTime with a mental health provider’
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that 63 “telemental” health portals will be available to offer counseling to storm-traumatized students in the six Panhandle counties most damaged by Hurricane Michael when public schools reopen next week. “Think of FaceTime with a mental health provider,” DeSantis said during a news conference in a hallway at Bay […]
Gov. DeSantis continues to build up political cash
Contributions to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political committee slumped to $340,000 during July, according to records maintained by the Florida Department of State. Friends of Ron DeSantis had raised $713,000 during June, but that represented a bit of an outlier – the take has averaged around $272,000 since the beginning of the year. The committee has […]
Following horrific shootings, ‘I’m trying to focus on solutions,’ Gov. DeSantis says
Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected suggestions Wednesday that President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric bears any responsibility for the white nationalism-inspired shootings in El Paso. “I know the media – particularly the national folks – they want to blame him for everything,” the governor told reporters. “I have no interest in being part of people’s political narratives. I […]
Trump’s race rhetoric puts Republicans – including Gov. DeSantis – on the spot
Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to join other Republican officeholders in Florida in openly decrying white nationalism following a weekend marked by mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso – the latter by an avowed racist and immigration opponent. DeSantis hasn’t faced questioning from news reporters since the attacks. Aides did not respond when asked […]
FDLE to investigate irregularities in Jeffrey Epstein case in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis has assigned the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to take over the investigation into whether Palm Beach County authorities gave special treatment years ago to Jeffrey Epstein while he was being held on prostitution charges involving teen girls. The governor acted Tuesday on a request from Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. “Floridians […]
DeSantis picks Florida’s new climate change officer
Gov. Ron DeSantis has enlisted a bevy of climate change experts to vouch for Julia Nesheiwat – a veteran specialist in military affairs and diplomacy who the governor just picked to be Florida’s chief resiliency officer. The position, which DeSantis created, is intended to “prepare Florida for the environmental, physical and economic impacts of climate […]
DeSantis distances himself from Trump plan for FL immigration facility but praises partnership with Trump on prescription drug plan
Gov. Ron DeSantis seemed pleased this week to take credit for a Trump administration initiative to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. He washed his hands, however, of a Trump plan to house migrant children in Central Florida. “The shelters are basically regulated by the federal government. The state’s not involved in it. None of […]