A Democratic mayor in Florida defended Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, accusing CBS News’s 60 Minutes of “intentionally false” reporting for suggesting the Republican engaged in a “pay to play” scandal with the state’s vaccine rollout.
The 60 Minutes report that aired on Sunday showed Sharyn Alfonsi questioning DeSantis last month over allegations that he rewarded grocery store Publix with virus vaccinations following a $100,000 in donations to his PAC.
“The reporting was not just based on bad information — it was intentionally false,” Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner wrote in a statement. “I know this because I offered to provide my insight into Palm Beach County’s vaccination efforts and 60 Minutes declined. They know that the governor came to Palm Beach County and met with me and the county administrator and we asked to expand the state’s partnership with Publix to Palm Beach County.”
DeSantis, who faced Alfonsi’s questions at a press conference in March, rebuffed the suggestion that he manufactured a pay-to-play scheme with Publix. “I met with the county mayor. I met with the administrator. I met with all the folks at Palm Beach County,” he said, adding that officials told him they agreed Publix distributing the vaccine would be an easy solution for residents.
60 MINUTES SLAMMED FOR MANUFACTURING SCANDAL OVER RON DESANTIS’S VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
“The irresponsible suggestion that there was a connection between campaign contributions made to Governor DeSantis and our willingness to join other pharmacies in support of the state’s vaccine distribution efforts is absolutely false and offensive,” Publix said in a statement on Monday.
Kerner added in his statement that Palm Beach residents are “tired” after a year of dealing with the pandemic, adding, “The media is making it worse. They are hellbent on dividing us for cheap views and clicks.”
“60 Minutes should be ashamed,” he said.
Kerner thanked the Republican governor for coordinating with Palm Beach County officials to help over 75% of the county’s senior population, which is over 275,000 residents, receive full vaccinations.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay posted to Twitter, saying, “I respect” Kerner but disputed his account of DeSantis’s meeting with officials. She said Kerner “never asked for Publix sole distribution.”
“My concern was lack of Publix in Glades, which I warned State about PRIOR to Publix only decision. We never asked for them to be only provider,” McKinlay added.
At least one Florida Democrat, Rep. Charlie Crist, asked the Justice Department to investigate the vaccine distribution controversy.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to CBS but did not immediately receive a response.
