Ron DeSantis slams Andrew Gillum about a Broadway date

Gillum returned fire with a demand that DeSantis release his Congressional travel records, which Gillum charged would reveal the Republican billed taxpayers for trips to appear on cable news channels.

Both the FBI and travel storylines were first reported by the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida and have become central issues in the campaign.

Back story: Candidate DeSantis won’t disclose details of taxpayer-funded travel while in Congress

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The text messages contradict previous statements by Gillum about tickets to the Broadway show “Hamilton.” They also shed further light on a trip to Costa Rica with lobbyists who had business before the city.

Twice debate moderator Todd McDermott reminded the two candidates no one could hear them when they talked over each other.

When the travel-related skirmishes first broke out, McDermott gave the candidates leeway to exceed time limits for their answers. But as the bickering continued and grew more contentious with all three men talking at the same time, McDermott advised the candidates he would no longer extend the time.

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One is backed by President Donald Trump, the other has Sen. Bernie Sanders’ support.
Nate Chute, IndyStar

The first scuffle occurred seven minutes into the hour-long debate when DeSantis brought up the text messages while he discussed what he described as Gillum’s lack of support for law enforcement.

“He got the junket he didn’t pay for in Costa Rica, about $1,000. They had business before the city these lobbyists. Guess what? Andrew was getting things he shouldn’t have gotten and they got a $2 million contract from the City of Tallahbadee. That is what corruption is, when you get something you should not have,” said DeSantis. “He has not told the truth of any of that.” 

Gillum fired back that DeSantis misrepresented the facts about the Broadway show and a vacation he took with his wife and friends he has known since the couple was in college. He said his GOP rival wants to talk about anything else because he lacks a set of policy proposals to lead Florida.

“The issues confronting the people of this state are health care accessibility, affordable housing and paying teachers what they are worth,” said Gillum. “They all are being sucked up by the first however minutes of this debate by lies by this gentleman.”

In the documents that DeSantis used to mount the attack, Corey, a city lobbyist and one-time friend of the Mayor, told Gillum the Hamilton tickets came from a “Mike Miller,” an undercover FBI agent who posed as a developer with business before the city.

“Awesome news,” was Gillum’s response.

Last year, Gillum declined to answer questions from the Tallahbadee Democrat about that trip. Later he told the Washington Post he got the theater ticket from his brother, Marcus, whom he badumed had paid for it.

DeSantis used the newly revealed information to call Gillum a liar and declare the Mayor unfit for office.

“He wouldn’t accept responsibility for getting a $1,000 ticket from an undercover FBI agent last debate. We now know he lied about that,” said DeSantis, revisiting the incident 30 minutes later into Wednesday’s event produced by WPBF-TV and the Florida Press Association. 

“At some point, you have to accept responsibility for what you’ve done and demonstrate leadership,” DeSantis chided Gillum.

As he has done since the FBI probe of City Hall was revealed more than a year ago, Gillum said he is not the subject of the investigation and, like in the previous debate, in which he said DeSantis told more than 20 lies, that his opponent is not telling the truth. 

“I am not the subject of an FBI investigation, neither is my city. There is no proof to substantiate that. But my opponent goes out of his way to make that case,” said Gillum. “I receive my ticket from my brother. The problem that I have is I should have asked more questions to make sure that everything that had transpired was above board.”

The FBI Tallahbadee public corruption investigation has become the main GOP talking point in the campaign’s final two weeks. It has become intertwined with a Florida Ethics Commission probe of Gillum’s record of traveling as Mayor.

The Republican Party of Florida has hammered away at Gillum in television commercials that link him to an FBI investigation that appears focused on the dealings of a city commissioner and a local redevelopment authority.

The ethics’ commission investigation was sparked by a frequent City Hall critic. It had subpoenaed documents that include Gillum’s Broadway outing and a trip,  a Costa Rica vacation with Corey and Gillum long-time ally and lobbyist Sean Pittman

The complaint charged Gillum violated the state’s prohibition on gifts of $100 while on out-of-town trips with lobbyists and vendors. The subpoenaed documents were released Tuesday by Corey’s attorney, Chris Kise, a former member of Gov. Rick Scott’s transition team.

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Democratic candidate for Governor, Andrew Gillum attends the FAMU homecoming game at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. (Photo: Alicia Devine/Democrat)

DeSantis has repeatedly brought up the newly-released information in his talking points on the campaign trail and in his responses during Wednesday’s debate. When asked about whether he would release all his travel receipts from his six years in Congress, DeSantis drew a comparison with Gillum.

“Both Andrew and I have received money from the federal government. The difference is I received my money legally and through my Congressional office to travel to Florida and back again for six years twice a week. Andrew got travel money from the federal government because it was an undercover FBI investigation,” said DeSantis.

“Release the receipts,” fired back Gillum. “Mine have been made public.”

Three polls released this week give Gillum the lead. A Quinnipiac University survey has him up by 6 points. Florida Atlantic University pegged the margin at 5 and Survey USA weighed in with a 7-point lead for the Tallahbadee Mayor.

The lead in all three polls was greater than the margin of error.

The state ethics commission is not expected to wrap up its investigation until after the election. It is unclear when the FBI probe of City Hall and a redevelopment agency will conclude.