TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Former Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jennifer Carroll says she does not believe she is a target of a multistate investigation.
Carroll abruptly resigned Tuesday amid the fallout of a scandal involving a purported veterans charity that authorities said was a $300 million front for illegal gambling. Carroll had been a consultant for the company while she was a state legislator.
In a statement, Carroll said it was a difficult decision to resign but that she refused to "allow the allegations facing a former client of my public relations firm to undermine the important work of the Governor and his administration."
She said that she did not believe that she, or her former public relations company, were targets of the investigation.
Carroll also said she would not withdraw from "public life."
MARCH 13, 2013 3:21 PM
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A sweeping multistate investigation of a purported veterans' charity based in Florida has led to nearly 60 people indicted and the resignation of the state's lieutenant governor.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll once did public relations for the charity Allied Veterans of the World. She was questioned in the investigation, but she has not been charged with wrongdoing.
Authorities said Wednesday they have issued 57 arrest warrants in Florida and five other states. Attorney General Pam Bondi says charges will include racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and possession of slot machines.
Carroll's office has had no comment on the matter. Governor Rick Scott released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying " Lt. Gov. Carroll resigned yesterday in an effort to keep her former affiliations with the company from distracting from our important work on behalf of Florida families. I will not elaborate on the details of her resignation further, other than to say that she resigned and she made the right decision for the state and her family."
Scott says that he has no knowledge that former Lt. Jennifer Carroll has broken the law.
He added that he wants to wait until the annual legislative session is over before picking a replacement for Carroll.
You can read his full statement by clicking here.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's lieutenant governor has resigned because of her ties to an Internet cafe company that is now under federal investigation.
Jennifer Carroll's departure Wednesday comes one day after she gave her resignation letter to Gov. Rick Scott. His office says she resigned to ensure her ties to Allied Veterans of the World would not be a distraction for the administration.
Officials from that nonprofit Internet cafe company were recently arrested on racketeering charges. The owner has been arrested on allegations that he made $290 million after supplying illegal gambling software in Florida and claiming the games' proceeds would benefit a veterans group. Authorities also interviewed Carroll.
Carroll's ties to the company were questioned when she was in the Legislature when she proposed a bill that would benefit Internet cafes.
Lt. Governor Carroll is the 18th lieutenant governor, and the first African-American woman to hold the position. She is a navy veteran.
The last lieutenant governor to resign was Frank Brogan. He stepped down in 2003 to take a position as a university's president.
The Governor is scheduled to give a press conference on Carroll's resignation in Tallahassee Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will hold a press conference on their investigation into the Allied Veterans of America at 2:30 p.m. in Orlando.
Stay tuned to ABC 27 as we bring you the latest on the lieutenant governor's resignation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned amid fallout from an investigation into internet cafes that are fronts for gambling.
Carroll's resignation was announced Wednesday, one day after she gave her resignation letter to Gov. Rick Scott. His chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, said her resignation was spurred by an investigation into the Allied Veterans of the World.
Officials from that non-profit internet cafe company were recently arrested on racketeering charges. The owner was arrested Tuesday in connection to allegations that he made $290 million after supplying illegal gambling software in Florida and claiming the games' proceeds would benefit a veterans group. Authorities also interviewed Carroll.
Carroll's ties to the company were questioned when she was in the Legislature when she proposed a bill that would benefit Internet cafes.
