A Florida ethics panel found probable cause that Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried violated state financial disclosure laws for failing to properly report more than $400,000 in income on her financial forms when she was a lobbyist for medical marijuana in 2017 and 2018.
Fried is hoping to be the Democrat nominee for governor of Florida in next year’s election.
"Consistent with the administration’s regular practice of feeding false information to its subordinate agencies, Commissioner Fried is being attacked for following the law and showing transparency, exactly the opposite of what Republican Ron DeSantis and his cohorts do every day," said her campaign spokesperson, Drew Godinich.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ team blasted the comments.
"Fried’s spokesman has offered no examples or evidence of this serious, baseless, and dishonest allegation. Making such an inflammatory accusation without providing any supporting facts is unprofessional and unethical," said Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ press secretary.
Fried is expected to ask an administrative judge to dismiss the complaint.
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