Senate hires Gray Robinson’s legal representation during Jack Latvala probe

Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, speaks to reporters on the fourth floor rotunda after a press conference at the conclusion of the Special Session Friday, June 9, 2017 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Photo credit: Phil Sears

As the Senate investigates sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, Senate President Joe Negron has hired a legal team to represent him through the proceedings.

After the Senate General Counsel Dawn Roberts recused herself from the probe that is expected to stretch for about a month, Negron found itself in need of legal help and hired three attorneys from Gray Robinson.

Among those attorneys is George Meros who has worked in several high-profile cases, including then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential recount.

In the contract signed Nov. 9, the Senate has agreed to pay the attorneys — at taxpayers’ expense — on an hourly rate. Attorney Brian Bieber will earn $600 an hour; Meros will make $550 an hour; and Allison Mawhinney will charge $345 an hour, according to the contract.

Campaign finance records show that Gray Robinson gave $2,500 to Latvala’s political committee on Oct. 23. The contribution was nearly a week before POLITICO Florida first reported that six anonymous women in the legislative process had been sexually harassed and groped by the powerful Clearwater Republican.