Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonFebruary 1, 2015

It’s time we heard what Charlie Crist thinks about Rick Scott’s latest scandals. It might help us make better sense of the mess Scott made out of firing Gerald Bailey, longtime and widely respected commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), not to mention new whistleblower allegations that Scott ignored and covered up fatal failures of […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 30, 2015

Next week the Florida Cabinet meets in Tampa for the first time since they unanimously approved Rick Swearingen as the replacement for Gerald Bailey to lead the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement. Bailey announced his resignation in December, but told members of the media after Swearingen’s appointment in early January that in fact he had […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Governor Rick Scott was in Tampa this morning, touting his proposed cell phone and TV tax cut that is designed to reduce the average Floridians cable bill by approximately $43 a year. But that’s not what the press corps was interested in talking about of course, as Scott was besieged once again by questions surrounding […]

James CallJanuary 28, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi Wednesday suggested some palace intrigue was involved in the Bailey affair. Bondi, speaking at the annual AP pre-session briefing, said the Cabinet knew there was going to be changes made in Cabinet agencies but the former prosecutor suspects not the governor but his staff was behind the unceremonious dumping of the […]

James CallJanuary 28, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi Wednesday suggested some palace intrigue was involved in the Bailey affair. Bondi, speaking at the annual AP pre-session briefing, said the Cabinet knew there was going to be changes made in Cabinet agencies but the former prosecutor suspects not the governor but his staff was behind the unceremonious dumping of the […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 21, 2015

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has all the answers…if you know the right questions. Yet there remain few if any answers (that make sense) to questions from a persistent press corps doggedly digging deeper into “Baileygate” and the latest misdeeds and dysfunction of his scandalized administration. Intrepid reporters are still treated to the same evasive tactics […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2015

As more calls for an independent investigation regarding the sacking of former FDLE chief Gerald Bailey grow, Rick Scott tried to stay on message today during an appearance in Tampa. After making an announcement regarding new funding for STEM education at Chromalloy, a global technology company located in Tampa’s Sabal Park just east from the […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 20, 2015

Barely a month after Reubin Askew became governor in 1971, inmates at Florida’s largest prison began a series of sit-down and hunger strikes. Their keepers used excessive force – birdshot, bullets and beatings – to restore control. Askew took immediate ownership of the situation. He sent two aides to Raiford to investigate and overruled the […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 20, 2015

Barely a month after Reubin Askew became governor in 1971, inmates at Florida’s largest prison began a series of sit-down and hunger strikes. Their keepers used excessive force – birdshot, bullets and beatings – to restore control. Askew took immediate ownership of the situation. He sent two aides to Raiford to investigate and overruled the […]

Dan GelberJanuary 20, 2015

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Baileygate took a foul turn Sunday from bad political optics to something much more ominous. And the Florida Cabinet and Legislature need to respond accordingly. Longtime cop and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey was fired by Gov. Rick Scott staffers last month. Initially it was reported that during his reelection campaign, Scott political campaign staffers had […]

Tag: FDLE
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Daniel Tilson: Charlie Crist should weigh in on Gov. Scott's scandals

Jack Latvala blasts Cabinet members in Gerald Bailey affair

Rick Scott again says no Cabinet member objected to his desire to fire Gerald Bailey

AG Pam Bondi: Rick Scott didn't know about ouster of top cop

AG Pam Bondi: Rick Scott didn’t know about ouster of top cop

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott doubles down on bad government agenda

In Tampa, Rick Scott feels the heat as the Gerald Bailey controversy grows

Martin Dyckman: Aloof Scott lets prison crisis fester, worsen

Martin Dyckman: Aloof Scott lets prison crisis fester, worsen

Dan Gelber: Baileygate takes an ominous turn