One day after Tallahassee Reports published an investigative report on Nikki Fried’s connections to a cannabis related businesses created by her fiancé, Jake Bergmann, Bergmann filed paperwork to remove a principal of Iconoclast, Inc. that Fried appointed to a medical marijuana advisory board she created.
According to state records, Jake Bergmann removed Zachary Kobrin as a Director of Iconoclast Inc. effective March 4, 2021, one day after Tallahassee revealed the relationship in an investigative report.
The media covering state-wide elected officials has ignored the report, which details Fried’s connections to Bergmann’s cannabis business partners. These business partners include a prominent cannabis attorney, Fried’s father and a Florida legislator’s wife.
Fried, Kobrin, & Bergmann
On January 9, 2020 Iconoclast Inc. was registered in Florida as a not-for-profit corporation. The directors listed were Robert J. Bergmann, Elizabeth A. Bergmann, and Zachary Kobrin.
The business is listed as a non-profit with a principle address of 5307 Pimlico Drive Tallahassee, FL 32309. The principle address is the home Bergmann shares with Fried.
Six months earlier, it was announced on June 10, 2019, that Kobrin was one of Fried’s appointments to the Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee that Fried created to “collaborate with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to help improve the state’s medical marijuana policies.”
According to the Akerman website, Kobrin has served as General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for a multinational cannabis company and currently advises cannabis and hemp industry clients on legal, regulatory and business development issues.
He is also listed as a team member of the Akerman Cannabis Practice that boasts the practice is ranked nationally as one of the top firms in Cannabis Law by Chambers USA.
According to their website, Akerman’s cannabis related clients include cannabis investment funds, cultivators, processors, dispensers and distributors, and suppliers of ancillary products and services.
When contacted by TR, Kobrin said he was Mr. Bergmann’s lawyer and declined to discuss their business relationship. This revelation means that Fried appointed her fiancee’s lawyer to the medical marijuana advisory committee she created.
No TR reports in the days we had a any government corruption governor who had to take the fifth amendment multiple times concerning medicare fraud...TR pure kabuki.theatre
Won't see this article anywhere in Tallahassee democrat (lc intentional). They ignore the ones they back.
There is no shame in Fried's game.
The misuse of a public office for personal gain is a crime in Florida and a violation of the state ethics law.
Word on the street is she is starting a NIKKI FRIED CHICKEN francize
She's about as corrupt as they come. Just look at her...she's right out of central casting, a vituperative little loudmouth with a drug problem, no wonder she wants to investigate DeSantis, all sociopaths think everyone else is as depraved as they are.
Hey Stoners - Governor just raised $3.2M in February and another $1.2M in first five days of March,
clear and blatant corruption so thick in Tallahassee.
Textbook definition of... say it with me Nikki... "Conflict of Interest" and "Public Corruption". But I'm guessing you forgot that... you know, short term memory loss and all.
NaziCrats are synonymous with corruption. They lie, cheat, steal, and rig elections with reckless abandon... it's what they do; it's all they know; it's who they are.
... say goodnight Gracie
Fried has major problems ahead. Gwen Graham is also hoping she becomes irreparably damaged in the coming months by this and other conflicts of interest. Gillum is making rumblings about running against DeSantis now that he is out and no longer needs to lie about it. Fried had some promise, but too much corruption around her.
Nikki and the TD (and most other liberal news outlets in Florida) have been calling for an investigation into DeSantis politicizing vaccine signups. A relatively minor blogger in South Florida discovered evidence of Democrat politicos in Broward County doing the exact thing Nikki is complaining about (https://redbroward.com/2021/03/08/fl-state-rep-anika-omphroy-reserved-50-covid-19-vaccination-appointments-for-lauderhill-mayor-city-commissioners/). Yet Nikki hasn't called for an investigation into her Democrat colleagues ...
The Lawyer wasn't the problem. The Problem IS, Your HUSBAN owns several Cannabis related businesses and YOU and your JOB are pushing Hot & Heavy FOR Cannabis. That is extremely Unethical no matter how you look at it. YOU need to resign your Post NOW and hope for the best. YOU need to be fully Investigated.
This makes me laugh! Especially since Fried's been calling for investigations into the Governor.
Great breaking news Tallahassee Reports!
Lets sit back and watch for the Republican response to what was revealed by TR.
Or lets sit back and watch for the lack of a Republican response which will silently give the public a clue on the level of Republican investment in Fried's specific company.