Florida’s attorney general has just sent a letter to the FBI and Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement requesting an investigation into Michael Bloomberg’s vote buying operation to pay for the fines of felons so they can vote .
CBS 12: Florida attorney general opens investigation into Michael Bloomberg's pledge to help felons pay debts
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) September 23, 2020
Here’s more from Washington Times:
Florida’s attorney general asked state and federal law enforcement on Wednesday to investigate possible election law violations after billionaire and former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg helped raise more than $16 million for Florida felons to pay their debts so they can vote in the presidential election.
Attorney General Ashley Moody sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI saying that further investigation is warranted. Gov. Ron DeSantis had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. DeSantis and Moody are both Republicans.
“I have instructed the Statewide Prosecutor to work with law enforcement and any Statewide Grand Jury that the Governor may call,” Moody said in a written statement.
Bloomberg announced this week that he raised more than $16 million to help pay off the financial obligations for felons so they can vote. While the coalition says it doesn’t target people based on their political affiliation, Moody is questioning whether the donation violates laws that prohibit giving people incentives to vote.
Jay O’Brien, a reporter for CBS 12, initially reported that the Florida AG ‘ordered’ an investigation:
BREAKING: Florida Attorney General orders investigation into @MikeBloomberg pledge to spend $16 million to allow convicted felons to vote in Florida. Comes after request from @GovRonDeSantis, a republican and Trump ally. #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/XgxGs53kut
— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) September 23, 2020
He then clarified saying “It looks like AG Moody opened her own review and then REQUESTED that both agencies open their own investigations after she concluded hers.”
To be clear, this note is addressed to two people: FDLE comissioner and FL FBI head.
It looks like AG Moody opened her own review and then REQUESTED that both agencies open their own investigations after she concluded hers.
— Jay O'Brien (@jayobtv) September 23, 2020
I don’t know if this means that an official investigation will be opened or not, since she’s ‘requesting’ it. It sounds like she’s requesting a third-party investigation over a potential conflict of interest since it deals with the election. I’ll update here when I get clarification.