Florida Ethics Commission finds probable cause in complaint against Andrew Gillum

Tallahassee Democrat

1:45 p.m.

Andrew Gillum's attorney, Barry Richard, said in documents filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics that the allegations against the former mayor "hang on a very slender thread."

"They rest on (1) an affidavit of dubious credibility signed by Adam Corey, who refused to submit to an interview by the commission's investigator or to be deposed and (2) a handful of documents that are more favorable than unfavorable to (Gillum)."

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1:15 p.m. update

An advocate for the Florida Commission on Ethics recommended the board find probable cause on five separate allegations involving trips former Mayor Andrew Gillum took in 2016 to Costa Rica and New York City, according to documents obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.

More:Timeline to trouble: How Andrew Gillum got mixed up in an FBI probe and ethics inquiry

The advocate, who acts as a prosecutor for the commission, recommended probable cause be found that Gillum accepted gifts and "things of value" during the trips when he knew or should have known they were given to influence his official action. The advocate also recommended probable cause be found that Gillum received gifts from lobbyists when he knew or "reasonably believed" the gifts were valued over $100.

Finally, the advocate recommended probable cause be found that Gillum failed to report gifts he received on the two trips.

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First post

The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause today that former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2018, violated state ethics laws when he allegedly accepted gifts during on out-of-town excursions with lobbyists and vendors and didn't report them.

The Ethics Commission’s vote happened behind closed doors. But the probable cause finding was confirmed by Gillum’s attorney, Barry Richard of Tallahassee, and Erwin Jackson, a local businessman who filed a state ethics complaint against Gillum in 2017.

Allegations of ethical improprieties over trips Gillum took while he was mayor to Costa Rica and New York City dogged him in the closing days of the general election. Depending on how the case shakes out, the allegations could further tarnish Gillum, whose political aspirations didn’t end with his defeat in the governor’s race to former GOP Congressman Ron DeSantis.

Gillum has the option of entering into a settlement with the Ethics Commission, which typically involves an admission of guilt, or contesting the allegations in a court-like administrative hearing.

What does the ethics complaint allege against Andrew Gillum?

Jackson’s ethics complaint alleged Gillum violated state law when he traveled to Costa Rica in May 2016 and New York City in August 2016. Both of the trips overlapped with with attempts by undercover FBI agents investigating public corruption to get close to Gillum.

From the campaign:Ron DeSantis slams Mayor Andrew Gillum about Hamilton tickets, FBI probe

During the Costa Rica trip, Corey, who later turned against Gillum, sent the mayor a calendar invitation for the two of them to meet with one of the undercover agents, who posed as a developer from Atlanta under the guise of Mike Miller. During the New York City trip, Gillum went on outings with Corey, Miller and at least one other undercover FBI agent, including a boat ride around Liberty Island and a performance of the Broadway hit “Hamilton.”

Gillum’s campaign released documents during the campaign that it said proved Gillum paid for all of his expenses on the Costa Rica trip. Gillum also said his brother, Marcus Gillum, gave him the ticket to “Hamilton” and that he stayed one night with his brother in a downtown hotel where Corey and the undercover agents also had rooms.

After Gillum publicly distanced himself from Corey, a central figure in the FBI’s investigation, their friendship ended in acrimony. Working with Chris Kise, a Tallahassee attorney, Corey released emails calculated to damage Gillum in the closing days of the general election campaign.

The Florida Commission on Ethics meets Friday at the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee.

In one email, Corey told Gillum that Miller and his “crew” had tickets for “Hamilton.” Gillum responded by saying, “awesome news.”

Under Florida statutes, officials are barred from accepting gifts to influence them or gifts over $100 from vendors or lobbyists that have done business with their agency. Officials also must disclose gifts over $100, though their are exceptions for family members. Gillum never reported gifts from either of the trips.

Gillum didn't know at the time of the trips that Miller and his cohorts were undercover FBI agents. He has long maintained that he met with the FBI in 2017 and was told he was not a focus of its investigation.

In December, Scott Maddox, one of Gillum's former colleagues on the City Commission, and Paige Carter-Smith, former executive director of the Downtown Improvement Authority, were indicted on numerous federal charges in the public corruption probe.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

Andrew Gillum and the FBI investigation:

Trips, tickets and fundraisers

The Adam Corey Connection

Gillum for governor: