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Staff ReportsJuly 2, 2018

The capital area’s top prosecutor on Monday said a decision whether to press charges in the Jack Latvala investigation won’t come till next week at the earliest. A spokesperson for State Attorney Jack Campbell said Friday a decision could have come as early as this week. Campbell called Florida Politics Monday morning to say he was […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 27, 2018

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Friday it’s now conducting an “active” criminal investigation into former Sen. Jack Latvala‘s sexual misconduct. “Regarding Senator Latvala, FDLE’s Office of Executive Investigations is now conducting an active investigation,” the state agency’s spokeswoman Jessica Cary said. Cary said she could not provide additional details on the investigation. The […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 16, 2018

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Former Sen. Jack Latvala sent sexually explicit text messages and groped a Senate legislative aide with whom he had a 20-year relationship with, according to a Miami Herald report published Tuesday. Laura McLeod, an aide to Sen. Lauren Book, is the latest to publicly accuse Latvala of sexual misconduct. Her interactions with the Republican is […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

Nearly three-quarters of Florida voters say they could not vote for a candidate who has been accused of sexual misconduct, according to a new statewide public opinion poll conducted by Gravis Marketing of Winter Springs. Gravis found almost widespread agreement on that position. Voters in nearly all age groups, genders, religious affiliations, races, and education […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2017

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz filed legislation Wednesday that would require congressional sexual harassment cases to automatically be referred to the House Ethics Committee. The “Me Too Congressional Ethics Act,” co-sponsored by Wasserman Schultz’s fellow Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, is aimed at lifting the shroud of secrecy cloaking sexual harassment lawsuit settlements involving […]

Jim RosicaDecember 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 […]

Ana CeballosDecember 11, 2017

If Chris King becomes governor, he wants committee weeks to be held throughout the state — and not exclusively at the Capitol. The Democratic gubernatorial candidate says he will champion legislation that would mandate committee weeks be held in “as many regions as possible” across the state to give constituents better access to state government. […]

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

Declaring again that it’s time to “change the toxic culture in Tallahassee,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King on Thursday laid out a plan to address sexual misconduct allegations including the creation of a victims’ advocacy program. In a video he launched on his campaign’s Facebook page Thursday, King declared it is time to end “the […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2017

Contending that too much sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in Congress may be hidden forever by secret settlements with non-disclosure agreements, Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis is leading a bipartisan effort to end such practices. “What does it say about the sincerity of Congress in combating harassment when members and staff can have taxpayers cover […]

Tag: sexual misconduct

Jack Latvala prosecution decision will likely come next week

FDLE: Jack Latvala criminal investigation is now ‘active’

Jack Latvala’s latest accuser remembers thinking: ‘I’m trapped again’

No surprise: Poll shows Floridians don’t like sexual misconduct by candidates

Debbie Wasserman Schultz files ‘#MeToo’ sexual misconduct ethics bill

Attorney: Jack Latvala was blindsided by bribery allegation

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King wants to reform committee week meetings

Andrew Gillum questions Senate Democrats’ silence on Jack Latvala

Chris King calls for sexual misconduct victims’ advocacy in ethics office

Ron DeSantis seeks to end secret sex suit settlements in Congress