Gillum releases his travel receipts
Nominee’s records detail trips to Costa Rica, New York
TALLAHASSEE — Andrew Gillum’s campaign released late Tuesday a series of records about his travels to New York and Costa Rica, two trips in 2016 tied to an FBI sting into corruption in the state’s capital city.
Gillum did not throw away his shot to see “Hamilton,’’ the records show. The Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee for governor received the tickets indirectly from Adam Corey, his former campaign treasurer and lobbyist tied to the federal probe.
Scrutiny of the FBI probe and Gillum has intensified since he won the nomination last week, a result that shocked the Democratic establishment as he beat four other candidates, most of whom outspent him handily. Gillum met with FBI officials last year and says he was told he wasn’t the target of the investigation.
The records show Gillum spent $1,000 on a five-day trip to Costa Rica with his wife in May 2016. The campaign billed it as a trip to celebrate his wife’s birthday, but 10 others came on the trip, including Corey. Gillum’s campaign says he paid cash for his portion of an Airbnb-type group lodging.
During the trip, Corey set up a meeting between Gillum and a man who later turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.
On a three-day trip to New York City in August 2016, Gillum spent $430 on a twonight stay at the Ameritania Hotel, and stayed with his brother Marcus the following night. He also received tickets for “Hamilton” the Broadway hit from Marcus, who received them from Corey.
Gillum went to New York
for an Open Society Foundation meeting as part of his job for the People for the American Way, a liberal advocacy group, his campaign said.
Gillum also met with Florida Ethics Commission officials Tuesday morning after a complaint by a local businessman was filed over the trips.
The FBI investigation is more than 3 years old but so far no indictments have been handed down. It first came to light in 2017 when the FBI subpoenaed city records dating back five years. The FBI and Justice Department have declined to comment.
Gillum’s campaign stressed that he has cooperated with the FBI and called for anyone involved in corruption to be held accountable. Gillum also called for the records received by the FBI as part of the investigation to be posted online.
That, he said, sets him apart from his Republican rival for governor, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, Gillum’s campaign stressed that he has cooperated with the FBI and called for anyone involved in corruption to be held accountable. who has defended President Donald Trump and criticized the FBI’s handling of investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“The FBI has a job to do — and whether it’s Washington, D.C., or Florida, Congressman DeSantis and President Trump should allow the agency to do its work,” said Gillum. “Here in Florida, we’ve done everything we can to aid the agency, while Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump have done the exact opposite — demonizing the FBI and making the case that collusion is not a crime.”