TALLAHASSEE — Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Department of Investigations Chief Jeff Beasley said Tuesday he expects a “rapid end” to the investigation into Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum’s alleged misuse of city property, with a report being submitted to State Attorney Jack Campbell next week.
Beasley said his investigators are finished with the investigation and following a two- to three-day internal review, the report will be forwarded to Campbell.
“We realize this is a case of special interest to the community,” Beasley said.
He continued the timeline and any possible decisions whether to prosecute or not rests with the state attorney.
“Who knows what he’s going to do?” Beasley said.
On February 23, Tallahassee Reports broke the story that Gillum had allegedly spent approximately $5,000 in city funds to purchase software from democrat campaign vendor, NGP VAN. That software was allegedly used to generate campaign email for Gillum in which he mixed “Office of the Mayor” letterhead with his campaign correspondence.
Gillum later acknowledge the purchase and use of the email was a “mistake” and offered to repay the money for the software.
In early March Tallahassee Reports broke the news that an investigation into Gillum’s actions was launched by the LCSO following Campbell’s receipt of a complaint letter regarding Gillum’s alleged actions from a retired Jefferson County law enforcement officer, Paul Henry.
Gillum Investigation Coming to “Rapid End” added by Karen Murphy on
View all posts by Karen Murphy →
I hate to point out the obvious… btw, what about his hiring of individuals when no position exists… the same obvious…. jus glad I don’t live in Leon county
So if Gillum’s use of funds is wrong, then how is Fernandez accepting several thousands of dollars in discounts from the Edison any different? I mean isnt every Tallahassee taxpayer an owner too?
“So if Gillum’s use of funds is wrong, then how is Fernandez accepting several thousands of dollars in discounts from the Edison any different?”
The difference is that no tax dollars were expended by Mr. Fernandez in his use of that facility for a personal benefit. The complaint against Mayor Gillum involved two allegations of felony crimes:
1) Theft- for the direct use of tax dollars for a personal item (depriving the taxpayers of the use of those funds), and
2) Official misconduct- obtaining a benefit with corrupt intent.
I’ll preface the following by noting that I am 100% opposed to corporate welfare and a city has no business funding a restaurant or anything outside of what is listed in Article 7 section 10 of the FL Constitution.
Businesses compete in a quasi-free market and as such can offer competitive rates to attract business. Giving a discount in and of itself is not necessarily improper, but the circumstances may well be. In the prior TR story on that situation, they noted an apparent statutory ethics violation regarding Chapter 112. Unlike the above felony crimes, that is a non-criminal infraction (s.112.3148(9)). As with any other violation, unless someone files a complaint, nothing will be done.
Sooo…. if we steal money from our bank, then get caught, then we offer to pay it back … we then as citizens don’t expect to get a trial right ? I think not. But somehow Gillum will think that he is above the law and it will be fine
Expect the same old, same old.