The Florida official who set up a vaccination site for wealthy zip codes and created a VIP list is under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

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The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said it opened the investigation after a citizens’ watchdog filed a complaint about County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who admitted last week that she chose postal codes herself and had also selected certain people for the vaccination list, so that she and others could access it. the Covid-19 vaccine.

In a complaint to the sheriff’s office, Michael Barfield, a paralegal consultant and resident of neighboring Sarasota County, said Baugh, who chairs the commission, may have violated three statutory provisions, including hijacking his public position.

“When Baugh inserted individuals and herself on a Covid-19 vaccine distribution list, she acted against the adopted vaccine reserve pool and used her official position to gain privilege, advantage or a special exemption for herself and others, “which could constitute a misuse of her government position, Barfield, who is also chairman of the executive committee of the Florida ACLU board of directors, wrote in the complaint.

The sheriff’s office is reviewing the complaint line by line, Public Information Officer Randy Warren told CNN.

CNN contacted Baugh’s office on Wednesday about the investigation and has had no response.

Baugh said DeSantis requested the collection of vaccines

Baugh, chairman of the county commissioners’ council and a staunch supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the “pop-up” vaccination campaign was started by the Republican governor after speaking with Rex Jensen, a real estate developer and CEO of the parent company from Lakewood Ranch, the community where the vaccine collection was organized.

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The commissioner said at a meeting last week that it was “(her) idea” to pick the two county zip codes whose residents were allowed to be vaccinated during vaccine collection, although she did not explain its rationale.

The governor has been criticized for the “pop-up” vaccination sites he has organized throughout the state. At a press conference on Tuesday, he called the criticism an “attack” on him for “vaccinating the elderly.”

“When we visit these communities where we have been able to do so, they are so grateful,” DeSantis said.

Baugh apologized last week for organizing the campaign, but then said she would “do exactly what she did this time” if given the same opportunity.

The so-called VIP list was mentioned in Baugh’s emails obtained by CNN and the Bradenton Herald was the first to report it. The few members who were on the list were qualified to receive the vaccine, but by joining the list, Baugh guaranteed they would skip the line, CNN reported last week.

Manatee County had previously been praised by DeSantis for its effectiveness in vaccinating people and running one of the first drive-thru vaccination programs in the United States. The governor last week threatened withholding additional doses from the county after criticizing Baugh. He did not criticize Baugh or his methodology in organizing his vaccine collection.

Indignant residents call his actions shameful

Residents of Manatee County have angry at Baugh for his actions and some have called for his resignation in emails to the official, obtained by CNN through a request for public records.

“My blood has boiled because of this elitist vaccine event,” wrote a resident in an email dated February 18. “We appreciate any additional vaccines, but choosing 2 zip codes to receive them smacks of politics, favoritism, elitism and racism. This is the problem. “

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Baugh responded to at least one of the residents who emailed him.

In an email dated February 17, a county resident wrote, “So since I live in the wrong zip code, I have to wait for a vaccine. SHAME ON YOU.”

“I am not ashamed!” Baugh responded. “Quite the contrary, the manatee registry has been reduced by 3,000 people and the manatee is calling to fill 5,200 places for the vaccine … It’s a victory for the manatee thanks to the DeSantis government …”

A resident, who said he lived in one of two zip codes selected by Baugh for the ride, thanked Baugh in an email and said she “did her job.”

Amid calls for his resignation, Baugh made a statement Monday to CNN Sarasota WWSB affiliate.

“I have apologized to my constituents and colleagues for an error in judgment,” she wrote, according to WWSB. “These little partisan political appeals are nothing more than the politics of division our nation must shy away from. I will continue to work to bring more vaccines to Manatee County and guide us through this pandemic.”

The county committee, by a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, rejected a motion asking Baugh to step down as chairman.

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