An administrative legislation choose scheduled an August listening to in an ethics case involving sexual-misconduct allegations towards the previous state Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater.
Choose Hetal Desai issued a discover scheduling the listening to from Aug. 14 by way of Aug. 18.
The Florida Fee on Ethics this month despatched the case to the state Division of Administrative Hearings. The fee in July rejected a proposed settlement and located “possible trigger” that Latvala violated ethics legal guidelines.
The case consists of allegations that Latvala sexually harassed a former Senate employees member and had an improper sexual relationship with a lobbyist.
Latvala introduced his resignation from the Senate in December 2017 after a particular grasp really helpful a prison probe into his conduct.
The Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement performed an investigation, however Latvala was not charged with any crimes. The ethics fee acquired a criticism in December 2017.
Throughout an look earlier than the fee in July, Latvala acknowledged his relationship with the lobbyist however mentioned there was no “quid professional quo” involving the connection and his lawmaking duties. He disputed the allegations that he sexually harassed the previous Senate employees member.
The proposed settlement would have admitted “poor judgment” within the sexual relationship with the lobbyist. However the fee determined the allegations ought to go earlier than an administrative legislation choose.