Jacob Ogles
Republican congressional candidate Randy Fine wants his Democratic opponent arrested.
Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, called for the action days after a third-party contracted worker was arrested while handing out campaign flyers for Democrat Josh Weil on a stolen bike. While Weil’s campaign distanced themselves from the individual, Fine said that’s not enough as the campaign continues to keep on its campaign vendor.
“In the past few days, we learned that ‘Jihad Josh’ Weil hired a dangerous felon — who had been convicted of three gun crimes, including aggravated assault with a gun and burglary with a gun — to stalk and intimidate voters as part of his campaign,” Fine said.
“In response to his employee’s arrest, Weil admitted that he did no background vetting on those he hired and it appears he is so desperate to intimidate voters that he did not care.”
Fine and Weil face each other in an April 1 Special Election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District. The Democrat and Republican won respective Primaries in January. The winner of the Special Election will succeed former U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, now President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser.
Weil’s campaign did fire the worker, Arlecia Darnae Brown, following the arrest
“This individual was hired by and worked for a third party contractor,” said Wendy Garcia, Weil’s Campaign Manager. “This is an unacceptable incident and we support the justice system working to deliver accountability. The individual is no longer authorized to do any work on behalf of our campaign.”
But since the Democrat’s campaign has not fired its vendor, Fine, a current state Senator, suggested that the public has no assurance more felons aren’t going door-to-door handing out Weil campaign material. Weil’s campaign has said it has 150 paid staffers on the ground.
“As potentially unvetted criminals blanket our neighborhoods on the Weil payroll, we need the Florida Office of Election Crimes to step in,” Fine said. “Voters are scared and some feel intimidated. I call on law enforcement to immediately arrest ‘Jihad Josh’ Weil for voter intimidation and suppression. He may take his cues from Hamas, but he isn’t in Gaza anymore.”
Fine has attacked Weil’s faith repeatedly. Weil previously has discussed his “embrace” is Islam and has spoken out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. While running for U.S. Senate in 2021, Weil posted on Facebook that he would “condemn Israel’s state sanctioned violence against Palestinians” and ask then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken to intervene and end military aid to Israel.
Fine since Brown’s arrest has also repeatedly pointed out that the campaign worker identifies as a transgender man, according to arrest reports.
12 comments
PeterH
March 14, 2025 at 1:21 pm
I’m glad that Florida Politics continues to expose the incredible hypocrisy within the Florida GQP.
Michael K
March 14, 2025 at 2:17 pm
Funny how Fine has no problem with the convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser, with multiple bankruptcies, scam artist, and con-man occupying the White House.
Russia is well known for arresting political opponents.
Anthony P
March 14, 2025 at 11:55 pm
Isn’t this pot, kettle? Why doesn’t the FL office of election crimes arrest Randy for his collaboration with his psycho political consultant to hack everyday citizens? That’s not stealing a bike, it’s criminal conspiracy and RICO.. Randy should be immediately indicted and face federal prosecution.
Emily Matthews
March 15, 2025 at 8:37 am
I sure hope the voters kick Randy Fine to the curb. He’s an obnoxious, bloviating loudmouth and bully who ought to be learning basic manners instead of holding a public office.
MH/Duuuval
March 15, 2025 at 6:18 pm
If Weil were looking for some real muscle, he should borrow our next Governor’s sidekick.
Jean
March 16, 2025 at 7:36 pm
If voters continue to listen to these mud slinging, name calling, slanderous, candidates like Randy Fine, we will continue to have actual felons in office!
They’re all taking a page out of Trump’s play book, in the GOP. Flood the zone.
They’ve ruined a good party!
Signed,
Former Republican
Linwood Norman
March 16, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I am supporting Josh Weill because he is a credible candidate and the best one for the job.
I am astounded by the BS coming from the Trump joker who foams at the mouth.
Timeotek
March 18, 2025 at 4:37 pm
When you have no qualifications, sling mud at your opponent!
Standard GOP strategy #1….
The USA is in desperate need of some politicians with morals, and Fine does not pass the test.
Bob N.
March 18, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Fine has.no business calling for the arrest of his political opponent. Talk about weaponizing the legal system. This is a tactic authoritarian governments use to cancel their opponents.
Mark S. Lester
March 19, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Brown was not “delivering flyers on a stolen bike”, he allegedly had moved the bike to a vacant lot next door, but to this day there has been no ACTUAL evidence tying Brown to the theft, only that security cameras had “placed him at the scene”. Of course Fine in his unscrupulousness had to jump on this and then hyperbolically escalate this into “Weil is a Jihadist who hires felons to intimidate Florida residents.” All this is doing is painting Fine as the bottom-feeding showboater he is, and will backfire magnificently.
Annette Nedeljkovic
March 22, 2025 at 8:23 am
Fine made a post threatening Ilan Omar and Rashida Talib. Threatening violence against women is terrible! I hope Fine loses and Weil wins. We need Congress to check this reckless president. He has cut funding to cancer research, medical research, veterans jobs and benefits, education. He is already cutting Social Security offices- so people won’t be able to access their social security!!
kronikdenny
March 28, 2025 at 11:23 am
Randy Fine is the American version of ZioNazi terrorist Itamar Ben Gvir, in Wasrael. They’re both loudmouth A-holes, and they’re both aggressively fascist.
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