Progress Florida, a group that often aligns with pro-Democratic positions, will deliver a petition with 10,000 signatures to the state attorney and U.S. attorney in Tallahassee urging them to investigate the forced resignation of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
The group says the petitions that will be delivered Wednesday morning to U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh and State Attorney Willie Meggs urge for an independent investigation that so far hasn’t occurred to uncover why Bailey was forced out and whether Sunshine Laws or other state laws were violated in the process.
Progress Florida has been using its website to gain supporters for the petition.
Here is more from a media advisory:
Because the FDLE is charged with investigating political corruption in our state and must remain free from political influence and meddling, but it appears Gov. Scott may have violated both state and federal law in his politically motivated firing of FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
One of two things happened, either Rick Scott got approval from his fellow Cabinet members to fire Commissioner Bailey, or Rick Scott fired Bailey unilaterally.
“The former is a violation of Florida’s Sunshine Laws which require policy and personnel discussions among our governor and Cabinet to be in a public forum. The latter is a violation of our state Constitution which requires at least one other Cabinet member approve the firing of our state’s chief law enforcement officer,” said Progress Florida executive director Mark Ferrulo. “So where’s the investigation? That’s the question more than 10,000 concerned citizens want answered.”
Original article here.