Florida commission finds probable cause that Democrat Andrew Gillum committed ethical violations

Allegedly accepted and didn’t report gifts valued at over $100

Source:

An ethics complaint against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2018, is moving forward. The Florida Ethics Commission on Friday found probable cause that Gillum allegedly accepted gifts during on out-of-town trips with lobbyists and vendors and failed to report them, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

What are the allegations?

Gillum is accused of soliciting and accepting gifts, according to his attorney Barry Richard. The gifts related to “including rental accommodations in Costa Rica, a boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty and tickets to see the Broadway musical ‘Hamilton’ in 2016,” CNN reported. Gillum traveled to Costa Rica in May 2016 and New York City in August 2016.

Florida law bans state officials from accepting gifts worth more than $100.

Gillum’s attorney maintains there is conflicting testimony regarding what happened. He also said the allegations hang “on a very thin thread.”

In October 2017, Tallahassee businessman Erwin Jackson named Gillum in his effort to “expose corrupt state politicians.”

“I am relieved that with the help of the FBI these politicians will be held accountable for their self-serving and criminal actions,” he wrote in an email to CNN.

Gillum was also subject to an FBI investigation during his campaign for governor. Republican Ron DeSantis won that race in November.

The FBI investigation was concerned with whether out-of-town developers influenced city planning projects. According to Gillum, the FBI has informed him that he is not considered the focus of the investigation.

Gillum did not attend Friday’s hearing, but “will definitely be attending the evidentiary hearing and he will be testifying at it,” Richard reportedly said.

What’s next?

An initial announcement about the hearing’s findings is expected Wednesday. Then, Richard plans to request a public evidentiary hearing. Gillum is not considering a settlement, his attorney said.

“He will not settle,” Richard told CNN. “He actually welcomes the public hearing.”

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson ‘arrested in Germany’

(BBC)   The founder of US-based anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, has been arrested in Germany, the group says.

In a statement, it said Mr Watson was detained in Frankfurt and now faces extradition to Costa Rica.

It quotes German police as saying the arrest relates to a confrontation over shark finning in 2002.

Sea Shepherd is a controversial direct action group best known for disrupting Japan’s annual whale hunt.

In the past there have been collisions between its vessels and the whaling fleet, and its activists have also boarded Japanese vessels.

Mr Watson tweeted late on Sunday: “I am currently being held in Frankfurt on charges from Costa Rica. Court appearance in the morning.”
Attempted murder claim

The German warrant related to an “alleged violation of ships traffic” which took place in Guatemalan waters in 2002, the group said, when it “encountered an illegal shark finning operation” – referring to the practice of catching sharks, slicing off their valuable fins and returning the shark to the water where it will usually die.

On order of the Guatemalan authorities, the group says, it instructed the crew of the Costa Rican vessel in question, the Varadero, to head back to port to be prosecuted.

“While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew,” the statement claims.

“The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherd of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy.

“To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.”

Media cite Costa Rican reports as saying Mr Watson also faces an outstanding warrant for attempted murder stemming from the same incident.

According to Sea Shepherd, Mr Watson is being assisted in jail by European deputies Daniel Cohn Bendit and Jose Bove.

“Our hope is that these two honorable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further,” Sea Shepherd says.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18055030

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