Gov. Scott's First Big Challenge of New Term: FDLE Legal Scandal
Posted January 26, 2015 08:47 am
TALLAHASSEE,
FL – Just months after being elected to a second term,
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is embroiled in a controversy
surrounding his handling of the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement (FDLE).
A nonpartisan, government watchdog group, Integrity
Florida, is asking for an investigation, claiming Scott
improperly used the FDLE to do some political dirty
work.
Integrity Florida's executive director, Dan Krassner,
explained why the governor and his advisers are being
accused of federal civil rights violations.
"Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Commissioner Gerald Bailey alleged that Gov. Rick Scott
and his top advisers conspired to falsely name Colleen
Reilly, who was then acting Clerk of Courts in Orange
County, the target of a criminal inquiry," Krassner
explained.
Reilly had been in the spotlight after two prison
inmates escaped in 2013 with forged papers allegedly
from her office.
Scott responded "absolutely not" when asked if his
office had conspired to make Reilly look bad, and has
denied any wrongdoing.
Allegations of improper oversight of the state policing
agency surfaced after Bailey, FDLE's longtime
commissioner, was ousted last month.
Bailey has publicly called Scott a liar and says his
December resignation wasn't voluntary, but political
retribution for refusing to help fund-raise for the
governor's reelection campaign last year.
The Florida Constitution requires an FDLE commissioner's
removal be approved by the entire state cabinet, but
Krassner said Scott acted on his own.
"A political agenda should never interfere with the
authority and responsibility of FDLE to protect and
serve the public trust," Krassner stressed. "And
Floridians deserve answers about whether Gov. Scott and
his top aides attempted to abuse the authority of FDLE."
The State Attorney's office said it sees no need for a
state level investigation, but Krassner said that
doesn't rule out a federal probe.
Photos/graphics and links added by the Observer | FDLE graphic by the Observer
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