Renzo Downey
Four Democratic lawmakers are calling on Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate Florida Power & Light (FPL) following repeated scandals involving the utility company, Florida’s largest.
Reps. Anna V. Eskamani, Joy Goff-Marcil, Yvonne Hayes Hinson and Carlos Guillermo Smith said recent reports have exposed ample evidence of malfeasance at FPL.
The scandals began after the 2020 election with three spoiler candidates. But according to reports, FPL agents have attempted to bribe a Jacksonville City Council member, directed campaign contributions from dark-money nonprofits, bankrolled a right-wing news organization and operated a secret bar in Tallahassee.
“The corruption, influence peddling, and breaches of the public trust by FPL and its senior executives should be of grave concern,” the quartet wrote.
“It raises significant questions about the potential of FPL using ratepayer funds to influence elections and undermine democracy through fake candidate schemes, astroturfing, and attempted bribes. It also exposes FPL’s tactics to intimidate and smear journalists, elected officials, and members of the public who dare critique their practices.”
The four question how FPL could sell liquor from its secret bar since it doesn’t have a liquor license. Additionally, the story sparked questions about violations of Florida’s legislative gift ban.
“FPL ratepayers deserve to know whether the money they are forced to send the utility every month to pay their bills was used to influence elections and undermine our democracy through fake candidates and other schemes — and whether FPL broke any laws in its quest for total political control of our state,” they wrote.
The scandals followed reporting by the Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel and Florida Times-Union that began with three spoiler candidates funded by “Grow United,” which has been linked to FPL consultants.
Moody’s Press Secretary, Kylie Mason, told Florida Politics the letter has been referred to the Department of law Enforcement.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Daniel Uhlfelder has slammed Moody for contributions made to her political committee that he linked back to FPL. Uhlfelder has also said he would investigate FPL on his first day in office.
7 comments
Elliott Offen
August 11, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Empty suit politicians bought off by companies and the capitalist extremist mentality of the GOP will just continue to facilitate society being ripped off by unelected crooks. Ancient Roman plutocracy will be the result. Thank you GOP.
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Sandy Stephens
August 12, 2022 at 8:52 am
Moody will never do this. Way too many of her ‘friends’ would go to jail. Instead, they will gather round at the FPL private bar, laugh, and toast. Meanwhile, Mr. Jones will wire millions of dollars that no one knows from where it came, who ordered it moved, and for what reasons. Amazing, millions of dollars and “nobody knows anything”.
Eric Silagy's Bartender
August 12, 2022 at 10:04 am
Er…haven’t seen the details on the alleged “bribe,” but the other issues they are accused of are all 100 percent legal:
1) “directed campaign contributions from dark-money nonprofits”?
Totally legal. Every company does it to protect their business.
2) “bankrolled a right-wing news organization”?
So they paid for ads to get favorable coverage? legal
3) “operated a secret bar in Tallahassee”? Literally the stupidest accusation of all time. Who cares? They didn’t charge a cover or sell liquor there. literally a waste of everyone’s time
Eric's handmaid
August 12, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Sure bro, sure.
Some people are going to jail.
It's Complicated
August 12, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Don’t know about the recent accusations against this particular power company, but many of the lobby corps around 30-40-years ago (when Democrats still ran State Government, BTW) will recall hearing of a nefarious party house in Indian Head Acres run by a power company, with booze and college girls as the draw for legislators. Distasteful stuff. I doubt there are many, if any, members of the Florida Legislature that would be dumb enough to go to a place like that, today. The only real implication of a “secret” watering hole, today, is that it violates state law for a lobbyist to buy a legislator, a staffer, or state employee a drink.
Peter alennedois
August 12, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Stafford Jones and his son are going to jail. Buckle up.
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