Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum says he’ll fully cooperate with an FBI investigation of a series of businesses and developers with ties to City Hall.
Mayor Gillum says the FBI approached him days ago about its probe into a number of redevelopment deals in the city. Gillum says he was assured he is not the focus of the investigation.
Gillum released the following written response Friday afternoon.
“Last week the FBI approached me about several people and businesses here in Tallahassee. I spoke with them, and told them they could expect both the City and my personal cooperation with their investigation. They assured me I was not the focus of an investigation, and that they would be moving quickly with their work. “I take any allegation of corruption in the City of Tallahassee very seriously, and I am committed to rooting it out in its entirety. If corruption has taken place in our city, those parties must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate, enable, or turn a blind eye to corruption. “While no one likes the City being under the FBI’s scrutiny, in light of what is happening nationally, we must remember that the FBI is here to protect us and we must aid them in their work. They have my full support and cooperation as the Mayor, and the full cooperation of the City of Tallahassee.”
The FBI is requesting records from the City of Tallahassee and its Community Redevelopment Agency involving a number of contractors, business owners and the developers behind The Edison Restaurant and Hotel Duval. It’s not yet clear how the probe, which could last months, will affect the democrat’s bid for governor.
