TAMPA

Trying to quell a growing scandal that is threatening to derail the start to his second term, Gov. Rick Scott apologized Thursday for how his office handled the dismissal of the states former top law enforcement officer.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott gestures during a cabinet meeting at the Florida State Fair, Thursday in Tampa, Fla. Scott said Thursday that he mishandled the ouster of Gerald Bailey, the head of Floridas main law enforcement agency. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

It is clear in hindsight that I could have handled it better, Scott said. The buck stops here and that means I take responsibility.

But the governor continued to deny allegations made by ousted Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Gerald Bailey that he was fired, in part, for refusing to target an Orange County official in a criminal investigation.

Scottmade the unusual admission that he acted inappropriately during a Cabinet meeting at the Florida State Fair.

It came as the governor is fighting to maintain his credibility during one of the most trying episodes of his administration and to ward off a potential criminal investigation.

The three other members of the Cabinet, all prominent Republican elected officials, have been critical of the governors office during the episode. They seemed to ease up on Thursday, with only Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam calling for an investigation into Baileys most explosive allegation.

Cabinet members who share authority over certain state agencies have said they were not properly informed that Baileys dismissal was involuntary before voting on the issue and selecting a replacement.

Putnam and Scott proposed a series of new rules for appointing and reviewing agency heads that were embraced Thursday by the Cabinet, which includes the governor, Putnam, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

View original post here:
Scott apologizes over firing of FDLE chief

Related Posts
February 6, 2015 at 5:51 am by Mr HomeBuilder
Category: Cabinet Replacement