Peter Schorsch
Rick Scott’s Baileygate scandal isn’t going quietly into the night, despite what some conservative media outlets say. A political advocacy group is delivering 10,000 petition signatures from Floridians urging U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh and State Attorney Willie Meggs to launch an investigation into Gov. Rick Scott’s controversial termination of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
The liberal advocacy organization Progress Florida will deliver the petitions to the Leon County Courthouse in Tallahassee at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and to the U.S. Attorney’s office nearby at 11 a.m.
Progress Florida notes that the FDLE is charged with “investigating political corruption in our state and must remain free from political influence and meddling.” Those critical of Scott’s move argue he violated both state and federal law by firing Bailey.
“The former is a violation of Florida’s Sunshine Laws which require policy and personnel discussions among our governor and Cabinet to be in a public forum. The latter is a violation of our state Constitution which requires at least one other Cabinet member approve the firing of our state’s chief law enforcement officer,” Progress Florida executive director Mark Ferrulo said. “So where’s the investigation? That’s the question more than 10,000 concerned citizens want answered.”
Ferrulo points out that only one of two things could have happened: Either Scott received approval from someone in the Cabinet to fire Bailey or he did so illegally on his own.
The issue gained near immediate controversy after Bailey was released from his duties during a hurried move in December. Bailey has accused Scott of a series of meddling incidents, including hiring political allies for state positions, naming people targets in investigations and interfering with an investigation of someone Scott was considering for a gubernatorial appointment.
