A powerful state senator accused of sexual harassment is accused of interfering in the investigation while former Congresswoman Corrine Brown is sentenced and there’s a changing of the guard as the top college football teams in Florida are not in the usual places.
Sexual Harassment And Politics In Florida
This week in Tallahassee, State Senator Jack Latvala continued defending himself in public against accusations of sexual harassment by a half dozen women. Latvala has denied the allegations and said he won’t resign.
A fellow senator, Democrat Lauren Book from Broward County, filed a separate complaint with the Senate Rules Committee this week, accusing Latvala of interfering with the investigation.
Latvala released more than 200 text messages from one named accuser.
The head of that Rules Committee is Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto, who this week said an appointee to the state’s utility regulatory board made”vulgar and inappropriate gestures” toward her in public.
That appointee, former state representative Ritch Workman, then resigned from the Public Service Commission.
Alexandra Glorioso from Politico Florida joined us to discuss the developments.
Brown Ordered To Report To Federal Prison
After 24 years in Congress, former Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown has been sentenced to five years in federal prison. In May she was convicted of using money donated to a bogus charity for personal expenses. Two others were also sentenced for their roles in the scam.
Brown’s attorney James Smith expects to appeal the five year sentence.
The Florida Times-Union’s Nate Monroe broke this story several years ago and has followed it throughout to Corrine Brown’s sentencing. He joined us alongside WJCT reporter Ryan Benk, who has also covered the case.
UCF, USF Are On A Roll While FSU, UF Flounder
Florida’s two national football powerhouses, UF and FSU, had terrible seasons. The Seminoles went 6 and 6. The Gators were just 4 and 7.
On the other hand, the UCF Golden Knights and the USF Bulls are both on a roll. The football underdogs in the state are having strong seasons.
Miami Herald sportswriter John Device and WJCT Sports Analyst Cole Pepper broke it all down for us.
