| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Star power — When Florida Democrats gathered two summers ago for their annual convention at Disney World, Andrew Gillum showed up to pump up the party faithful just days after it had been revealed that his unsuccessful 2018 campaign for governor had been hit with a subpoena. The rising Democratic politician was treated like a rock star. What's going on? — At the time, Gillum said he had "no clue" what federal authorities were looking at. He told reporters outside the reception room "we ran an open and honest campaign." That appearance came literally hours after the state ethics commission approved a settlement with Gillum to resolve accusations around trips the former Tallahassee mayor made to New York and Costa Rica. Here we are — Fast forward to a 100-degree plus day in downtown Tallahassee: Gillum rushed out of a federal courtroom after pleading not guilty to some 21 charges that he illegally solicited campaign contributions and other donations as part of a scheme where some of the money would eventually wind its way back to Gillum. Rationale — Gillum, who moments earlier had entered the courtroom in handcuffs, didn't talk to reporters but had earlier in the day put out a statement that stated the case against him was "political." (Let's note here the federal corruption investigation that eventually ensnared him began when President Barack Obama was in office and culminated under another Democratic president, Joe Biden.) Caveats — The indictment unsealed on Wednesday does not lay out a lot of evidence to prove the charges. Lawyers for Gillum maintained that the "government got it wrong." But there were question marks back in 2018. Yet Gillum's main rival for the Democratic nomination — Gwen Graham — did not publicly attack Gillum out of fear that it would hurt her in a general election. She expected the media to vet Gillum. Newsflash: They didn't. News organizations wrongly concluded Gillum couldn't win the primary so they didn't focus on it. The long wind-up — Gillum came close to winning the governor's mansion in 2018 and lost to eventual winner Ron DeSantis by slightly more than 30,000 votes. During that campaign the federal investigation loomed over Gillum and the DeSantis campaign hammered him. One mailer even read "Florida doesn't need an FBI raid of the governor's mansion." It turns out it wasn't just typical campaign hyperbole. The end of the line? — Gillum's future political career was already murky following a much-publicized incident in March 2020 where he was found in a Miami Beach hotel with a man suspected of a drug overdose. Gillum withdrew from public life at the time and ended a much-vaunted voter registration drive. Now he's battling to avoid jail time. And Democrats — including those aides and others who worked on his campaign — are left to ponder what happened. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official scheduled for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | FALLOUT — Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum indicted on federal charges , by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Arek Sarkissian: Former gubernatorial challenger and rising Democratic star Andrew Gillum is facing a 21-count federal indictment alleging that he illegally solicited campaign contributions between 2016 and 2019 and promised political favors in return for the financial support. The period of time he's alleged to have broken the law includes his failed 2018 bid against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. 'HE'S DOWN' — " Andrew Gillum, DeSantis's 2018 opponent, accused in indictment of wire fraud, false statements," by NBC News' Marc Caputo: "Two sources with whom Gillum spoke Tuesday said he began phoning friends frantically about the criminal case when he was informed that his indictment was imminent. Neither would speak on the record because they weren't authorized to speak on his behalf. … 'He's down. He's sad. He feels beat up,' one of the sources said." — "Andrew Gillum, DeSantis's 2018 rival, is charged with conspiracy and fraud," by The New York Times' Patricia Mazzei
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Daniel Ducassi/POLITICO | — "Inside the courtroom: Andrew Gillum shackled, mostly silent during first appearance in corruption case," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew
| | DRIVING THE DAY | | SCOTT A NO ON GUN BILL — Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who while governor signed a far-reaching gun control measure that imposed a mandatory three-day waiting period and raised the age to purchase a rifle to 21, is coming out this morning with a lengthy explanation on why he is opposed to the bipartisan gun measure now moving in the Senate. His P.O.V. — In his statement, Scott asserts that "over the last two weeks, I've seen many people compare the bill being considered in the Senate to what we did in Florida. These bills are not the same at all. One was the product of a collaborative, well-defined and transparent process. The other was the result of secret backroom dealings that did not include input from the majority of Republican members, committee hearings, nor opportunities for amendments, giving members barely an hour to read the bill before we were asked to vote on it." More of his rationale — Scott also said he was troubled that the legislation would give out incentives to states for what he calls "radical" red flag laws. (Scott previously said he was opposed, however, to the federal government passing a national red flag law and said it should be left up to the states.) He also maintains the new legislation would allow someone convicted of domestic abuse to get their guns back. Context — The backdrop of Scott's opposition comes of course as House Republicans and former President Donald Trump decry the gun legislation. Scott is also still in the mix as a possible presidential contender in 2024. Here's Scott's full statement.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | DESANTIS TIED WITH TRUMP IN KEY EARLY STATE — In yet another sign of his ascendancy among Republicans nationally, a new poll from New Hampshire shows that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump are statistically tied among GOP primary voters in the state. The Granite State poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that 39 percent back DeSantis and 37 percent back Trump. The poll of likely Republican voters had a margin of error of plus/minus 5.5 percent. DeSantis fares better against Biden — The poll also asked likely 2024 voters in New Hampshire about President Joe Biden taking on either DeSantis or Trump. Forty-seven percent of those polled said they would back DeSantis, while 46 percent said they would vote for Biden. Biden, however, has a lead over Trump. In a repeat matchup of the 2020 election, 50 percent said they vote for Biden compared to 43 percent who said they would vote for Trump. This part of the poll had a margin of error of plus/minus 3.5 percent. DIAZ WALKS THE LINE — On Tuesday, Florida Playbook reported that Florida Democratic Party chair Manny Diaz was included on a list of 18 potential nominees for lieutenant governor being considered by Rep. Charlie Crist. Diaz afterwards issued a statement that said he was said he was "honored" that Crist's campaign would consider him. Neutrality clause — But Diaz added that "I would be equally honored if Commissioner Nikki Fried included me on her list. To be clear, I have no interest in this position, I am not seeking the same and I am certainly not taking sides in this primary." Diaz then added that "my sole focus is to do everything within my power" to defeat DeSantis and elect either Fried or Crist governor. Let's note, however, Diaz did not say he would never consider the job. WEIGHING IN — "Scott: Texas GOP platform not 'inclusive' on homosexuality," by The Associated Press' Jill Colvin: "Florida Sen. Rick Scott, chair of the GOP's Senate elections committee, on Wednesday criticized the Texas Republican Party's new platform for not being 'inclusive' when it described homosexuality as 'an abnormal lifestyle choice.' Scott spoke to reporters at a breakfast just days after GOP delegates in the country's largest red state approved the new platform, which also falsely labels President Joe Biden an 'acting' commander-in-chief and says that Texas 'retains the right to secede from the United States.' 'My experience is, you know, the Republican Party is inclusive. And so I don't — I wouldn't have supported that, what they did,' Scott said when pressed on the homophobic language, which he said was not inclusive. He also reiterated that he accepts Biden's election." SCOTT NON-COMMITTAL ON TRUMP? — On another election matter, Sen. Rick Scott recently brushed aside a question about whether he'll support former President Donald Trump if Trump runs again in 2024. During the Road to Majority conference held in Nashville last week, Scott was caught on tape by the Democratic opposition research group American Bridge saying "there's going to be a lot of people who run. We'll see what happens." Scott said something similar when asked earlier this year about a Trump vs. DeSantis matchup. Keeping his options open? — " After DeSantis weighs in, Shawn Harrison withdraws from Tampa Senate race," by Tampa Bay Times' Romy Ellenbogen: — " Suit seeks Hillsborough election records on 2020 voter education spending," by Tampa Bay Times' C.T. Bowen — "Mark Lombardo says Matt Gaetz can 'no longer get the job done' in CD 1, " by Florida Politics' Drew Wilson
| | | | JOIN TUESDAY FOR WOMEN RULE TALK ON THE ECONOMY: The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing down after a period of robust growth last year. How would an economic slowdown affect women's economic security across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic lines? Join POLITICO's Women Rule for a conversation on what's ahead for the U.S. economy and how it will impact women's livelihoods and economic well-being. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION — "Ronny and Nancy of Tallahassee," by Puck's Tina Nguyen : "While they have been deliberately telegraphing their ambitions on the national stage, Casey [DeSantis] and Ron [DeSantis] have also maintained an unusually leak-proof operation that ensures that few people ever find out exactly what they plan to do before they do it. Their message discipline is so stringent that even their internal emails reflect their talking points, and their inner circle is so tight that not even seasoned Florida insiders can tell who's inside the DeSantis sanctum at any given moment. Indeed, multiple sources that I spoke to for this story told me that job applicants were required to sign an N.D.A. even before discussing the possibility of employment." THERE'S GOLD IN MOUNT TALLAHASSEE — American influence has a new address on State Street, by POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs: "The more that there's gridlock in Washington, the more the states become the place where people feel they can make progress on issues no matter what the issue is and what side of it they're on," [Greenberg Trarig's Harold] Iselin said. In fact, according to the OpenSecrets report, the top state lobbying firm, by spending, has no current registered federal business in Washington, D.C. The Southern Group focuses on the southern states and reported $22 million in spending. Additionally, Capital City Consulting, another top firm, reported $17 million and only has offices in Florida. TO COURT — "Activist sues Gov. DeSantis for surveilling him, barring him from press conferences," by Miami New Times' Joshua Ceballos: "Now, in a June 15 complaint filed in federal court against DeSantis, the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and FDLE Acting Commissioner Mark Glass, [Thomas] Kennedy alleges that the government violated his constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection under the law by placing him on a 'situational awareness' and barring him from press conferences. Kennedy is asking for nominal damages and primarily seeking declaratory relief." | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | PARTY LINE — "Florida Senator Rick Scott calls Jan. 6 hearings 'reality TV' and 'irrelevant,'" by McClatchy D.C.'s Alex Roarty: Republican Sen. Rick Scott dismissed the importance of the ongoing Jan. 6 congressional hearings on Wednesday, comparing them to low-brow entertainment and arguing it will fail to prevent another attack. "I think it's irrelevant," Scott said during a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. "It's reality TV." Told that the first televised hearing earlier this month had 20 million viewers, the senator said he remained unimpressed. PUSHED BACK — Judge delays Proud Boys trial amid Jan. 6 committee uncertainty, by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney, Nicholas Wu and Kelly Hooper: The trial for five Proud Boys leaders — facing seditious conspiracy charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol — will be postponed until at least December, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, citing the ongoing publicity and uncertainty surrounding the Jan. 6 select committee. Judge Tim Kelly, with the backing of several of the Proud Boys defendants and the Justice Department, said he would "reluctantly" set Dec. 12 as the new date to begin selecting a jury for the trial, which prosecutors anticipate lasting four to six weeks. — Jan. 6 panel revises hearing schedule, citing new evidence, by POLITICO's Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | FOR YOUR RADAR — "Publix won't give COVID vaccine to children under 5," by Tampa Bay Times' Christopher O'Donnell and Ian Hodgson: "Since COVID-19 vaccines first became available, Publix has played a major role in tackling the public health emergency in Florida by offering vaccines to adults and, later, children as young as 5. But the Lakeland grocery company says it will not offer the vaccine approved for children ages 4 and under 'at this time.' Spokesperson Hannah Herring said Tuesday that Publix will not release a statement explaining its decision." — " Nikki Fried goes on offensive after DeSantis rebukes COVID shots for young kids," by USA Today Network-Florida's Jason Delgado
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | THE NEXT WAVE — "Bigger than Mariel: 140,000 Cubans have arrived at U.S. borders since October," by El Nuevo Herald's Nora Gámez Torres: "The number of Cubans fleeing poverty and oppression on the island surpassed the Mariel exodus of 1980, as U.S. government data reveals that more than 140,000 Cubans have been detained at U.S. borders between October last year and May. The staggering figure surpasses the 125,000 Cubans who departed from the Port of Mariel near Havana between April and October 1980, also fleeing the deteriorating economic conditions and the lack of freedoms after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959." 'YOU CANNOT FORGET' — "' I'm a mess.' Surfside survivors struggle to reclaim their lives after tower collapsed," by Miami Herald's Linda Robertson: "'I hear them dying,' [Raysa] Rodriguez said, matching names to unit numbers and describing personalities. 'Dying in the wreckage of our homes. And I couldn't save them. It haunts me.' Survivors of the Surfside condominium collapse say they are suffering even more today than they did on June 24, 2021, when two-thirds of the 12-story oceanfront building fell, one floor pancaking on top of another at 1:22 a.m. that Thursday, killing 98 people." CHARGED — " Heads of Collier County charity that honors slain cops arrested; found arrested with embezzlement," by Florida Center for Government Accountability News' Francisco Alvarado: "A husband-and-wife team steering a Naples-based non-profit organization formed to benefit the families of fallen police officers has been hit with felony criminal charges related to the charity. On Tuesday, Rosemary Zore, president of the Robert L. Zore Foundation, was charged with embezzling from the non-profit she formed in 2018 and named for her father, a Miami-Dade police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1983, when she was seven-years-old." — " Sarasota judge to rule within a week on injunction barring Herald-Tribune from ID'ing deputies," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Gabriela Szymanowska — " School shooter's jury selection enters final stretch," by The Associated Press' Terry Spencer — "Broward sheriff makes first public comments about the prospect of no longer being a certified cop ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash — "Florida team hauls in 18-foot, 215-pound Burmese python," by The Associated Press — "Fried won't commit to dismantling Free Fall tower as Tyre Sampson probe continues," by Orlando Sentinel's Katie Rice
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Casey DeSantis is 'fit to fight,' visits NWFL to announce child protective services program," by Northwest Florida Daily News' Tom McLaughlin: "Casey DeSantis declared herself "fit to fight" Wednesday at the Air Force Armament Museum, where she announced an initiative to recruit former military, their spouses and law enforcement into the field of child protection. Florida's first lady, who is transitioning back into public life following a battle with breast cancer, came to Eglin Air Force Base to announce a state initiative called Continue the Mission." BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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