Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosDecember 20, 2017

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The state’s law enforcement agency is reviewing sexual misconduct allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala outlined in two Florida Senate investigations that concluded he may have violated state corruption laws by offering to support legislation in exchange of “a sexual encounter.” The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday it is conducting a “preliminary review” of […]

Ana CeballosDecember 20, 2017

UPDATE – JACK LATVLA HAS RESIGNED. That story is here. Updates before the resignation: — A second investigation into sexual harassment claims against Jack Latvala, prompted by a POLITICO Florida story, has turned up a witness who bolsters an allegation that the senator would offer to trade sex for favorable votes on legislation. That story is developing. […]

Ana CeballosDecember 20, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 15, 2017

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No one should lose their driver’s license over an infraction that isn’t related to driving. That’s the premise of a bill (SB 1270) filed Friday by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. “It is time to address the growing problem of non-driving related license suspensions,” Brandes said in a press release announcing the bill. “Stop the […]

Ana CeballosDecember 12, 2017

The Senate has spent nearly $25,000 in taxpayer money on outside attorneys in connection to the sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, according to Senate records. In mid-November, Senate President Joe Negron hired a trio of attorneys from the GrayRobinson law firm to help him navigate the investigation into sexual harassment and groping allegations […]

Ana CeballosDecember 11, 2017

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz thinks the Senate sexual harassment investigation into Sen. Jack Latvala is a “sham” and refused to speak to the attorney leading the investigation, according to a POLITICO Florida report. “The Florida Senate’s ‘investigation’ into Senator Latvala is a sham. I will not validate it by participating,” Gaetz wrote in a letter […]

Peter SchorschDecember 11, 2017

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you may have wondered how much holiday eggnog I had to drink Friday night after I launched a series of tweets directed at Republican political consultant Brian Hughes. I ain’t even gonna lie. @GoMeteoric snitched to @FLPressCorps about @FredPiccoloJr moonlighting for me. Hughes thinks that would […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2017

While the Florida Democratic Party has called for Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater to step down in the wake of accusations of sexual harassment, only two of the 15 Democratic senators have followed suit. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum says that may be because of the institutional structure and the nature of relationships in the […]

Scott PowersDecember 7, 2017

State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo has launched a powerful and alarming promotion of her bill to create a new Florida-based project to take care of babies born to opioid-addicted mothers. Passidomo, a Republican from Naples, posted social-media advertising featuring a video produced with Golisano Children’s Hospital of Fort Myers, talking about babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Law enforcement reviewing Jack Latvala sexual misconduct case

Jack Latvala sexual harassment probe could lead to criminal charges

Adam Putnam says ‘it is time’ for Jack Latvala to resign

Jack Latvala won’t allow sexual harassment report ruin holidays

Bill seeks to prevent driver’s license suspensions in non-driving offenses

Senate spends $25K on outside attorneys for Jack Latvala probe

Congressman says Jack Latvala Senate investigation is a ‘sham’

Brian Hughes drops a dime

Andrew Gillum questions Senate Democrats’ silence on Jack Latvala

Kathleen Passidomo backs SB 434 push with video of addicted babies