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Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

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The Senate has retained the Jackson Lewis law firm for its investigation into sexual harassment and groping allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, a top Republican in the chamber. Tampa-based attorney Gail Holtzman will be the lead attorney in the investigation, and Senate President Joe Negron said individuals who want to come forward with complaints against […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

A rules complaint was filed Wednesday against Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who is under investigation by the Senate after six unnamed women accused him of sexually harassing and groping them. Because the complaint is initially confidential, the details about what it pertains are unclear. Republican Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, who chairs the Rules Committee […]

Drew WilsonNovember 7, 2017

A pair of Republican state lawmakers filed bills Tuesday to strengthen a 2016 law capping contracts between Florida governments and companies that support the anti-Israel “Boycott, Divestiture, and Sanctions” movement. Current law allows Florida municipal governments to do up to $1 million of business each year with anti-Israel companies, but the 2018 measures, HB 545 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 6, 2017

Janet Cruz has no idea whether sensational sexual harassment charges leveled over the weekend against state Sen. Jack Latvala are true. But the House Democratic Leader from Tampa says some of the passages she read in the POLITICO Florida story made her skin crawl. “I was heartbroken when that girl just sat there and cried and then when (former […]

Jim RosicaNovember 6, 2017

Sen. Jack Latvala on Monday asked to be relieved of his chairmanship of the chamber’s Appropriations Committee, a request that Senate President Joe Negron quickly obliged. Until further notice, Fleming Island Republican Rob Bradley is Senate budget chief. Bradley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I understand that you are in the […]

Ana CeballosNovember 6, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott addressed the sexual allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala for the first time on Monday and said they were “disgusting” and that if anybody engages in such behavior they should “get out of office.” “I can’t imagine this, I can’t believe (this),” Scott told reporters in Fort Myers. “Hopefully this is not happening. […]

Ana CeballosNovember 5, 2017

After six women anonymously accused Sen. Jack Latvala of sexually harassing and groping them, at least five women who have worked closely with the powerful senator have come to his defense. The allegations against Latvala, a Republican candidate for governor who turned 66 Friday, range from him grabbing a female lobbyist’s buttocks to making unsolicited […]

Peter SchorschNovember 4, 2017

Senate General Counsel Dawn Roberts is recusing herself from the sexual harassment investigation of budget chief Jack Latvala, citing years of a professional relationship with the Clearwater Republican Senate President Joe Negron ordered an investigation Friday evening into allegations published by POLITICO Florida that Latvala sexually harassed or groped six unnamed women staffers and Senate […]

Peter SchorschNovember 4, 2017

Dear Senator Latvala: Undoubtedly if I could not sleep last night, I am sure you could not either. What kept turning over in my head is the possibility that I may have witnessed your last speech as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee/candidate for Governor. Your remarks to the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists were […]

Ana CeballosNovember 3, 2017

Hours after POLITICO Florida reported that powerful state Sen. Jack Latvala had sexually harassed six women who work in the legislative process, the Clearwater Republican said in a Friday night statement that he “unequivocally den(ied) the allegations.” But the news dealt a stunning blow to the powerful Appropriations Committee chairman and Republican gubernatorial candidate, with House Speaker Richard […]

Tag: Joe Negron

Senate hires Tampa attorney for Jack Latvala investigation

Complaint filed with Senate Rules Committee against Jack Latvala

Jeff Brandes, Randy Fine file bills to slash state contracts with anti-Israel companies

Janet Cruz ‘horrified’ reading allegations of sexual harassment in capital

Jack Latvala out as Senate Appropriations chair, Rob Bradley in

Rick Scott calls Jack Latvala sexual allegations ‘disgusting’

Jack Latvala allies come to his defense after sexual harassment claims

Senate Counsel to recuse from Jack Latvala investigation, calls for 3rd party

Advice for Jack Latvala

Jack Latvala denies sexual harassment, says he’ll ‘clear my name’