Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody opened an investigation into Michael Bloomberg over his pledge to spend $16 million to pay off fines that are prohibiting felons from voting.
Moody confirmed in a letter to CBS 12 that she had opened the investigation on behalf of a request made by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. She referenced a report from the Washington Post that detailed Bloomberg’s spending plans and said that she had referred the matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI so they can conduct a criminal investigation.
Moody cited a Florida law that prohibits an individual from giving funds as “an incentive simply to vote.” She said she reviewed the reporting about Bloomberg’s donations to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a nonprofit group that is organizing the payments to clear felony fines, and determined that “further investigation is warranted.”
In September, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that individuals with felony convictions must pay all fines and fees before their voting rights can be restored. Because of Bloomberg’s promise to pay such fines, Moody argued that Bloomberg could be breaking the law by “directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another in casting his or her vote.”
The investigation was announced less than one day after Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican, called for an investigation into the issue. Gaetz commended Moody for opening the investigation on Wednesday.
“Bloomberg’s billions will not buy Florida,” he tweeted. “Thank you @AGAshleyMoody for taking bold action to ensure that Florida’s elections remain fair.”
Bloomberg’s billions will not buy Florida.
Thank you @AGAshleyMoody for taking bold action to ensure that Florida’s elections remain fair. https://t.co/gvj8mT7cnI
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 23, 2020
The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has also been working with National Basketball Association star LeBron James to pay fines owed by felons to clear them for voting, according to a report from OutKick. James was not included in Moody’s letter.
The $16 million Bloomberg pledged to spend to help clear fines for felon voters is part of the $100 million he pledged to spend to help Joe Biden win the state of Florida in November.
