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Rebekah JonesThe former COVID-19 data specialist from Florida surrendered to police after an arrest warrant was issued for her arrest for illegally using the state’s computer system, reports CBS Miami. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of Jones, 31, on Monday morning. The agency said she was charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices.
Court records show Jones posted a $ 2,500 bond following an initial appearance hearing in Tallahassee on Monday morning. Before surrendering, she posted on Twitter: “Censored by the state of Florida until further notice.”
Earlier, she wrote: “Insurgents are planning attacks across the country this week and Florida is jailing scientists for the crimes of knowing and speaking.”
In a statement to CBS News, Jones’ attorney said she tested positive for COVID-19 after giving herself up. The attorney said Florida officials previously threatened to arrest him in Washington and extradite him to Florida, which meant his decision to surrender voluntarily “saved the entire East Coast from exposure. to infection. ”
Jones tweeted she gave herself up to “protect” her family.
“To protect my family from continued police violence and to show that I’m ready to fight whatever they throw at me, I turn into police in Florida on Sunday night,” she tweeted. “The governor will not win his war on science and freedom of expression. He will not silence those who speak out,” she added.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials said Jones had been under investigation since early November after someone illegally accessed the state’s health alert system, warning employees to “speak up before 17,000 other people are dead. You know it’s wrong. You didn’t be a part of it. Be a hero.”
Federal authorities raided his home in December, seizing his computers and other IT equipment.
“Evidence from a Dec. 7 search warrant shows Jones illegally accessed the system by messaging approximately 1,750 people and downloaded confidential FDOH data and saved it on his devices,” according to the Florida Department. of Law Enforcement.
Right after the raid, she tweeted a video of agents entering her house and accused DeSantis of sending the “Gestapo” after her. She said they had pointed guns at her and her children.
She has since taken legal action on the search of his house.
The DeSantis administration fired Jones in May after accusing state health officials of manipulating data to suppress the number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths. After his dismissal, Jones set up a competing COVID-19 dashboard to display data on the virus.
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