cityXtra Magazine

Is this why Rick Scott is skipping a deposition on Friday

Miami Herald reporter Mary Ellen Klas is reporting that Florida Governor Rick Scott is not going to give a scheduled deposition Friday in a lawsuit he initiated.

From the Herald:

Gov. Rick Scott is planning to be a no-show Friday for a deposition in a lawsuit he filed in California to block the release of information about Google email accounts used by him and his executive staff. 

Attorney Steven R. Andrews was prepared to put the governor under oath in Tallahassee but Scott’s communications director, Frank Collins, said Thursday “there is not going to be a deposition tomorrow.” He could not immediately answer whether Scott's lawyers are asking the judge to have the event postponed or if they plan to ignore it entirely. 

However, if the governor is a no-show for a deposition in a case he initiated, it may not be without consequences. According to the rules of civil procedure, if Scott fails to submit to the deposition, the judge could dismiss his lawsuit, order the governor to appear at a later date, or sanction him for refusing to cooperate.

Read more from the Herald here.

Here is one reason Scott might be skipping the deposition - he has a major fundraiser tomorrow with big wigs from the sugar industry, FPL, and other major political donors.

From Tuesday's Crowley Political Report:

Some of Florida's most interesting political donors are hosting an event Friday to raise money for Governor Rick Scott's reelection campaign and the Florida Republican Party.

"You are cordially invited to an afternoon with Governor Rick Scott along with special guests Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Marco Rubio (and)  Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera."

The event is at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - a glorious place where Bush has his private office mere steps from the golf course.

The gathering begins at 11:30 with a "lunch reception" costing $250 per person or $500 per couple.

The big money event begins at 12:45. It is the "Event Chair Luncheon" for those who have either given or raised $25,000.

The event chairs include:

Pepe Fanjul, Sr., and Pepe Fanjul Jr, owners of Florida Crystals.

Tammy Meyerson, CEO and president of Preferred Medical Plan,

Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, Inc. the parent company of FPL.

Jeffrey Soffer, owner of Turnberry Associates.

George Zoley, founder of the private prison company GEO Group.

We suspect this gathering will be closed to the media.

Wouldn't it be fun if former Republican Charlie Crist dropped by to his old friends?