House GOP members refute reports of leadership coup

TALLAHASSEE — Republican members of the most recent class of lawmakers elected to the House are pushing back hard on reports in blogs that members are attempting to overthrow Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R- Orlando, as House Speaker for 2020-22.

“I would say that we have reconfirmed a majority of our class and they have emphatically said that they’re in full support of Eric as our leader,” said Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, a top Eisnaugle supporter.

The East Orlando Post blog first reported the “coup” against Eisnaugle, quoting an anonymous member of the freshman crop of House Republicans saying that members of the group were frustrated with his leadership, especially his inability to deliver votes on a bill to strike the state’s ban on gay adoption.

But Eisnaugle supporters are denying members’ pledge cards are moving. Plakon specifically denied the gay adoption story.

The East Orlando Post and Saintpetersblog, which also wrote about the coup attempt, mentioned Reps. Jay Fant of Jacksonville, Shawn Harrison of Tampa and Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill as possible picks to unseat Eisnaugle.

Ingoglia is chairman the Republican Party Florida.

“I don’t know where they got their information from. I have no comment. I really don’t’ know where they got their information from,” Ingoglia said, adding he didn’t put his name forward as a replacement for Eisnaugle.

Harrison tweeted out his rebuttal of the story.

“Honored but not sure where this came from. I support my friend @EricEisnaugle. My pledge is my bond,” Harrison posted. of of