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TALLAHASSEE — Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll announced her resignation Wednesday, a day after she was questioned by authorities investigating an Internet cafe company that she once represented.
Carroll's resignation letter to Gov. Rick Scott, dated Tuesday, offered no details about her reason for leaving. But Scott's chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, said she was interviewed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers Tuesday regarding her work with Allied Veterans of the World.
She resigned to ensure her ties to the company would not be a distraction for the administration, he said. Carroll, a Navy veteran, had owned a public relations firm that represented that company.
While serving as a state lawmaker, Carroll's ties to the company were also questioned when she proposed a bill that would benefit internet cafes.
Carroll's aides said they had no immediate comment Wednesday.
The owner of Allied Veterans was arrested Tuesday in Oklahoma on charges of racketeering. He is accused of making $290 million after supplying illegal gambling software in Florida and claiming the games' proceeds would benefit a veterans group. Oklahoma authorities say the group actually received only 1 percent of the money. Chase Egan Burns, 37, and his wife, 38-year-old Kristin Burns, both face extradition to Florida to face the charges. An attorney for Burns did not respond to a request for comment.
Chase Burns owns International Internet Technologies in Anadarko, about 60 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
He and his wife were arrested after an investigation that spanned several years and involved the Internal Revenue Service and various law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma and Florida, including the sheriff's office in Florida's Seminole County, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's office.
A telephone number listed for Allied Veterans in St. Augustine has been disconnected. Multiple emails sent by The Associated Press to an address listed on the group's website weren't returned Tuesday evening.
The former lieutenant governor — who is the mother of Miami Dolphins defensive back Nolan Carroll — has been named in previous scandals.
Carroll was embroiled in another scandal last year after a former aide, Carletha Cole, claimed to have found Carroll in a compromising position with a travel aide inside's Carroll's office.
Cole is charged with violating state law for allegedly giving a recording of a conversation with Carroll's chief of staff to a newspaper reporter.
Cole says she was ordered by Ramos to find adjoining hotel rooms for Carroll and Ramos when they traveled. Carroll has said previously the allegations are an attempt by Cole and her attorney to get the criminal charges against Cole dropped.
Carroll, a married mother of three, became the brunt of late-night talk show hosts when she defended herself against the allegations, telling a Tampa Bay area TV station that black women who look like her "don't engage in relationships like that." She later apologized for the remarks, which implied that black lesbians are not attractive.
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Comments » 90
angrytxpyr writes:
Oh boy and I thought the scandal was the one involving arson, lesbians, a hostile work environment and Ms. Carrol stupid comment about women like her don't do the girl on girl thing.
NOPE!!! It was a completely different scandal involving possible financial crimes.
Icky Rick Scott picked a real winner here, its testimony to the types of people he trusts and respects as well as the types he expects Florida residents to trust and respect.
Does he really deserve another four years?
thatjustme writes:
yes
kevinod77 writes:
Stupidity knows no bounds!
lb5361 writes:
Shocked! Shocked I tell ya! For Florida to elect a Governor who was the biggest Medicare fraudster in the country to select a Lt. Governor who now has to resign due to RACKATEERING charges is, well, no surprise to those of us who tried to scream "NO!!!" to this criminal in 2010 when the tea bag people put him on their shoulders and carried him to Tallahasse.
Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.
Could Florida get any more stupid? In 2014 vote out the tea people and their stupid candidates.
Klaatu writes:
Which is worse?
Doing consulting work for a scam non profit ?
Or
Actively defrauding Medicare out of billions ?
wentfishn writes:
They like to be thought of as stupid, its a good cover when your wheelin & dealin ! Thinkaboutit !
SeeFuture writes:
Got to stay squeaky clean when you hold office--even Republicans.
SunStar writes:
Coffee Annan also misused his position and power when he was the UN Secretary General. People lose mind and get greedy as they rise to the top?
swfljim writes:
And to think that she was one heartbeat away from being Governor.
Well, on second thought, I guess she would have been an improvement.
AmericasTrueRecoveryBeginsIn2016 writes:
When compared to the number and type of scandals and other "issues" that have plagued members of the current presidential administration over the last 4+ years, this really isn't much of a blip on the radar, is it?
One has to be careful tossing around statements about Scott and "the types of people he trusts and respects" if one also supports Obama and the choices he has made for posts within his administration.
And, Obama just got another four years, too, didn't he?
Just more of the blatant hypocrisy and dishonesty that are the hallmarks of the liberal left.
lb5361 writes:
As the former Senator Scott Brown from Massachussetts once drunk tweeted: "whtqntever"!!!
But thanks for the compliment anyway!
Liblover writes:
Just google "Reagan Administration Coruption" and then put your foot back in your mouth.
dayenunaples writes:
That's a hard one! Can you give me a hint what the correct answer is?
wentfishn writes:
Grow up ! They are all corrupt to some extent !
staghorn writes:
never trust a republican©
nosebreather writes:
Scott needs to do the right thing and resign. He's making it too easy for the lefties to swing people over to their side.
Naplestango writes:
any pictures?
Lemme writes:
Scott and his "posse" of corrupt officials. He's a crook and so is his cronies. The guy went into office with a "cloud" over his head and the knuckleheaded tea potty people voted him in. I can't wait until 2014 to boot him out!!!
NaplesTaco writes:
Why cant most people just admit and confront the problem rather than pointing out the failures of the other side?
It is lazy.
If your toilet broke and there is poo flowing in your house , a very bad reaction would be to say..
"well at least my room is still clean, the neighbors entire house is poop"
Then taking no steps to clean the poop.
Klaatu writes:
The questions were rhetorical.
Kinda like : How do you keep an idiot in suspense for 24 hrs?
I'll tell you tomorrow !
Liblover writes:
Agreed!......ALL RETHUGLICANS!
dayenunaples writes:
You don't have to get mean. I understood what you were implying by your post. My point was that each premise was just as dastardly as the other. Chill, brother.
willburgolf writes:
Will she be "BACK" for the big tea-party Rally??????????? Thank you NSTINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Klaatu writes:
She was tipped off !
Why would an innocent person resign so quickly?
NDN took this down within minutes:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/m...
http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/201...
So the Lt Governor gets tipped off resigns and not charged?
These places have been operating for several years right under FDLE nose, really doesn't say to much for there effectiveness or the County Sheriff's offices in which these scam places operated and were talking multi-County Sheriff's Offices.
Seems these places had influence all the way to the Governor's office.
Let's who sings and what tune for a plea deal.
muleman1 writes:
NOPE!
muleman1 writes:
MEDICAID FRAUD??????????
All over again.
Naplestango writes:
This is one big misunderstanding....
Exposer writes:
Nice CONFESSION! Now it can be told what Romney and the Tea Partiers really have up their sleeves, right?
Exposer writes:
She's safe. All she has to do is take the 5th.
BillyBob1 writes:
All of the haters are pooring out now. Just aweful for them to see a Black, Immigrant Woman succeed. Why don't we wait and see what her part in this really is, before we convict her.
F397 writes:
Ricky, seems like all the people you got to join you are same as you. Liers, cheaters and can not be trusted.
4_More_Years writes:
Another rightwing crook. This one from the Rick Scott administration (figures). I'm not in the least surprised. Are you?
justsaynoemore writes:
The most telling part of this story was its placement. I would have made it the top headline with a huge font. But, instead, it was buried, hoping nobody would notice. So who is covering up for whom here?
Quietcat writes:
For liberals it's always ideology first and everything else comes later. I've been attacked on this forum (and elsewhere) because I'm a woman and therefore should be a liberal. They're the most closed-minded, intolerant, controlling group of people who purport to be the exact opposite. Anyone who's been on the receiving end of their vitriol certainly can attest to it.
Quietcat writes:
I find it mildly amusing that people who want to force us to drive certain cars, use certain light bulbs, drink certain amounts of soda, control what and how much we eat, have certain health insurance, decide what and how much kids eat at school, etc., etc., are the party of "choice". You really have to tie yourself into an intellectual knot to make that work. They are the party of inconsistency, subjective outrage and want to replace right and wrong with legal and illegal.
Although I sometimes get weary I will never give up trying to expose their hypocrisy and lack of intellectual honesty.
SPEAKFORGOD writes:
What would losers like you and iwantastiffone be doing in a foxhole?.......
Quietcat writes:
Speaking of losers, I think you responded to the wrong post.
Magic81 writes:
Ah--the elitist egotism comes through loud and clear--and, like Romney's "47% ers" line, it reflects an attitude and set of values destined to continue being the losers----It is refreshing to see the negativism in your life that the majority need not endure. I sure hope that you are not a big enough of a hypocrite to make claims about being a patriot or believing in the 'American Dream".
The true glassy eyed is yourself after your stiff drinks.
Magic81 writes:
The group that you are attacking do not have a monopoly on being "closed minded" as you exhibit the same quality---People like you always use the loaded labels more than actual facts to state your case--we know why--You should be getting used to being in the minority and losing side of things--except in Collier Country where there are ample like minded elitists with whom you can find comfort and support. As a hypocrite, you rail against being judges "as a woman" and then go on to judge everyone who might exhibit ANY topic you don't like and put them into a category of your own--using the term "liberal" as though it were a pejorative term---Try referring to the specific topic and enter MAJORITY in place of LIBERAL.
It is clear to see that your fellow elitist posters here use terms like "liberty" and "individual rights" only when it fits issues you are not in the majority--but how many would join the ACLU???? How many truly believe in the concept known as DEMOCRACY and majority decisions??--instead of supporting actions of NULLIFICATION ???
True believers in DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES continue to support the principle even when their side loses. Sure, Bush gets criticized a lot (rightfully so) but when did you hear talk of impeachment, nullification, promoting unrestricted gun sales so as to to resist the Federal Government, etc. etc.--it's gone way beyond being just poor losers.
coolkraft writes:
another "crook" in Scott's camp..and how about accepting medicaid financing from the feds when he knew the legislature would not approve it..seems he wants more votes. good luck you need it
jeffmlorig writes:
First thing that came to mind----will the Gov Scott perform a "Full Pardon" before he leaves office----??
Magic81 writes:
Sure--we loved that TRIPLING of the National Debt under Reagan Voodoo Economics---while we pretend to really care about that issue now---
National Debt BEFORE Reagan------$1 Trillion
National Debt AFTER Reagan-------$2.9 Trillion
That equals just short of TRIPLING the total Debt---Ah, the "Good Old Days"
Get back to me when the Total Debt is TRIPLED from what it was in Jan. 2009
-----------------------------------------
"The data show that the growth of the debt in the last three decades certainly has been a bipartisan enterprise, with ONLY CLINTON reducing debt as a percentage of the U.S. economy.
----------------------------------------------
And do you like this Reagan idea??
"Obama’s push for an ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN hearkens to the original ban passed in 1994 that expired in 2004. At the time of that ban’s passage, REAGAN SUPPORTED IT."
-----So this is NOT a violation of the 2nd Amendment rights according to Reagan
Not only did Reagan support the ban, but so do MOST Americans, Obama said. Information from a Washington Post/ABC News poll supports the president’s statement.
On these two issues, we gave Obama a TRUE rating.---Source---PolitiFact.com
-------------------------------------------
And how about this Reagan input??
""Many Republicans in the 1980's DECRIED the USE OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE (SOUND FAMILIAR 2013??) to help offset any increase in national debt," Connolly said. "Apparently, they forgot that when faced with rising deficits, Ronald Reagan looked to revenue increases, broadening the tax base, closing loopholes and raising taxes. REAGAN RAISED TAXES in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987."
Source---PolitiFact.com
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These actions were NOT CORRUPTION --just displayed the COMMON SENSE lacking in today's Republicans. Don't distort the role of your "Hero"
Magic81 writes:
So aren't Romney, Ryan, Palin, Rubio, Boehner, Rick Perry, Rand Paul, etc. etc.
Magic81 writes:
I found a unique Florida Google site---I Florida Googled "Hypocrite" and the response was
hyp·o·crite (hp-krt)
n.
A. iwantastiffdrink
Wow---Dare I try "ignormus"
Hey--it IS easier to just throw insults around instead of facts-----I'm learning
unikornicopia writes:
Most AMERICANS support the 2nd ammendment and the Constitution. If you don't please please find a country that embraces Big Brother and the Nanny Status Quo - and move there post haste.
Therealist writes:
I see all the usual suspects are out in full force arguing over corrupt politicians and ridiculing the side they choose not to vote for.
How boring.
garnet1995 writes:
They will get 4 yrs ,,have six lawyers and placed all the stolen corrupt cash overseas ...Go Mitt lovers
SPEAKFORGOD writes:
Would someone throw iwantastiffone a bone?.........
Magic81 writes:
A typical response by people who have been continually beaten with facts and evidence--I understand/
THE_Aquaman writes:
Exposer disappears and poof Magic81 pops up. Hmmmm
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