Food paid for by FBI agent, documents reveal

The pamphlet announced that the event of April 11, 2016 would honor Gillum and, in an email, Barnes described it as the "first launch event" of his campaign. About 40 prominent people from Tallahassee attended, including philanthropist Rick Kearney, CEO of Mainline Information Systems, apartment developer Gordon Thames, salon owner Dan Gilbertson and lobbyist attorney Sean Pittman.

"We have some cleaning to do, but I think for the first event, we're on the right track," Barnes wrote to Corey. "Thank you again for all your hard work to make this event a success last night."

The minimum donation for dinner was $ 5,000. But Corey has introduced an alternative gift for Miller. "Instead, it helps cover the cost of the meals and drinks we've enjoyed," Corey wrote to Barnes.

An undercover FBI agent, Mike Miller, likely paid the bill for food and beverages during the fundraising for the launch of the CAP, which would become the warlord of Andrew Gillum's governor. (Photo: special for the democrat)

In an email, Corey thanked Miller for his help.

"Here is the invoice for the dinner that you so graciously offered to sponsor," wrote Corey. "As mentioned, it was a bit higher than expected due to the presence of some last-minute attendees, so let me know what you want to cover and I'll do the rest."

The bill – billed to "Forward Florida Honoring Andrew Gillum" – described a dinner for 40 guests consisting of filet mignon, baked sweet potatoes, salmon mousse canapés, broccoli and carrots and a shortbread with strawberries in the south for 2,800 dollars. The bar cost $ 1200 for beer, wine and alcoholic beverages.

The addition of 20% service charge and sales tax reduced the bill to $ 5,160, but a rebate from the owner brought the remaining balance to $ 4,386.

In another exchange, Corey asked Barnes if Gillum was in contact with "Mike Miller, thanking him for co-sponsoring the food."

Barnes confirmed that Gillum had sent Miller a "personal note".

According to the state's campaign archives, Forward Florida did not report Miller's contribution. Gillum's campaign indicated that he had received no contributions from the alleged developer.

Under Florida law, contributions include "a gift, a subscription, a transfer, a deposit, a loan, a payment, a cash distribution or anything of value, including contributions in kind with an attributable monetary value". in any form whatsoever made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election or election communication. "

Failure to report a contribution is a first degree offense punishable by up to one year.

TAMPA TRIP

One year before the announcement of his candidacy and two months before the fundraising, Gillum and Daniels traveled to Tampa on February 12, 2016 to meet Leach, senior vice president of Southport Financial Services, developer of affordable housing and democratic fundraising.

Corey ordered them to take private plane from Leach. Gillum spokesman Jamie Van Pelt told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was meeting Leach to discuss affordable housing ideas in Tallahassee.

"The Mayor was invited by Peter Leach to a meeting in his office to learn about the work he was doing to improve overall social services in schools and housing," Van Pelt told the Democrat in a statement. August 2017 report. "During his visit to Tampa, the mayor also met with local political leaders before returning to Tallahassee."

But a series of email exchanges between Corey and Leach indicates that the meeting was more political in nature than originally described – and that Gillum's campaign was well under way one year before its official announcement.

From the beginning, Leach wanted to know the mayor's calendar in order to organize a meeting with senior politicians Alex Sink and Charlie Crist.

"Adam, I'm waiting to have Alex Sink, some of his cohorts and maybe Charlie Crist gathered for that date – I've proposed a lunch, I should have this company by Friday." , wrote Leach.

Corey replied, "All the people mentioned are great people that Andrew would be well served to meet.I know he already knows some, which is a good thing."

Leach also asked if Corey wanted to use his private plane to "get you off and back guys?"

On January 26, 2016, Leach announced that he had booked the Bay Street Room at the Capital Grill from 1:30 pm to 4 pm. "for a food and beverage bill required of at least $ 600."

Leach asked if the event, now called Mayor's "Mayor's Meeting-Mayor Gillum", should be on behalf of Ruth's List, a political action committee dedicated to electing pro-choice Democrat candidates.

"Adam, can I assume that we will need a bill for this trip to Gillum's campaign for the cost of the RT ticket in effect for TLH to Tampa International?" Leach asked Corey in an exchange.

Gillum and Daniels ended up paying $ 400 to Southport Financial Services for the cost of the flight. Current non-stop roundtrip flights between Tallahassee and Tampa booked a week in advance start at $ 168, according to an internet search.

The mayor paid the Tampa trip out of his account, which can only be used for official business related to his office. Under Florida law, office accounts are created with unused campaign money and can only be used "for legitimate expenses related to the candidate's public service".

The misuse of the office account is an offense punishable by up to one year in prison, the statutes said.

To date, Leach and Southport Financial Strategies have donated nearly $ 50,000 to the Gillum campaign and PAC.

ATLANTA, TAPAS AND THE REST

After the Forward Florida fundraiser, Corey continued to contact Miller to arrange meetings and trips for Gillum. At the same time, municipal and county commissioners were considering expanding the Frenchtown / Southside redevelopment district.

The Community Redevelopment Agency, which at the time was composed of city and county commissioners, voted in favor of the staff recommendation to expand the borders on June 23, in the ### Gillum's absence.

But Gillum was present on July 13 when the city commission voted unanimously to expand the boundaries as part of a consent program.

Two days later, according to Gillum's town hall calendar, he took a personal leave for the weekend. City archives show that Gillum took one hour 15:40 Delta flight between Tallahassee and Atlanta on July 15th. His chief of staff did not send an e-mail asking why Gillum had gone to Atlanta.

Atlanta was home to Miller's fictional development company, Southern Pines.

Records released by Kise on Friday featured a series of emails between Gillum and Corey from late June to mid-July, when Corey booked rooms for himself, Gillum and two others at W Atlanta – Midtown for weekend of 15-17 July.

"I'm going to add your name and I should be able to have the upgrades manage in advance," Corey said. "I'm going to make him brother."

"You are the man!" Answered Gillum.

The hotel stated that none of the "wonderful" and "fantastic" suites were available, but that they could get one of the "best rooms on the highest floors" – $ 966 for two rooms " fabulous "offering a panoramic view of the park. and the city.

Gillum noted that each room had to have two queen beds because "there are two men in each room". The identity of the other two men was not revealed during the exchange.

On July 19, Miller sent Corey an email asking him how to thank Gillum for "last week".