A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday in Jacksonville, CFO Jimmy Patronis fielded questions about his office’s handling of a harassment complaint against suspended Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Commissioner Ronald Rubin.
Specific and detailed answers, however, may be the province of the judiciary.
The complainant’s attorney, Tiffany Cruz of Tallahassee, asserted that Patronis’ office violated confidentiality by providing a “poorly redacted” copy of the complaint to media.
Rubin denies the allegation and will not resign, despite Patronis’ urgings. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said action will occur swiftly once the ongoing inspector general investigation is completed.
Rubin also requested that Attorney General Ashley Moody investigate Patronis as part of a lawsuit filed last month by Rubin’s lawyer.
The issues revolving around this case festered over the Independence Day weekend.
The Tampa Bay Times asked “what in the world is going on with the chief financial officer and his agency … Somehow, Patronis managed to get Rubin and the woman who is accusing him of harassment to agree that Patronis broke the law.”
Media outcry notwithstanding, the CFO is keeping quiet about the Rubin case, specifically including the decision to release confidential information, intentionally or negligently.
“The redacted document has been sent over to the Inspector General’s office,” Patronis told reporters. “Any other commentary regarding what’s taking place, because there is a pending lawsuit, would be really inappropriate.”
Patronis added, when asked specifically about the media firestorm, “I don’t want to taint any of the process taking place.”
The CFO was in Jacksonville in more of a Fire Marshal role, to highlight his disaster preparedness initiative, Prepare Florida.
Of special note: urban search and rescue teams, of the sort Jacksonville needed in the height of post-Irma flood waters. Surrounded by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, the CFO was a world away from the ongoing back and forth about the Rubin case, which has occupied headlines for months.
