Latest news with #JamesUthmeier
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Florida's New Attorney General, a DeSantis Appointee, Is Making Waves
As chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, James Uthmeier worked behind the scenes to cement the Republican governor's national reputation as a culture warrior. Mr. DeSantis rewarded him this year by appointing him attorney general. It was Mr. Uthmeier who announced last month that the state was opening its own immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades. He made international headlines by referring to the swampy, remote location as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The detention center's first weeks have been chaotic, and something of a mystery. But it has amounted to a political coup for Mr. Uthmeier. President Trump visited before it opened and praised the attorney general. 'You do a very good job,' Mr. Trump told him during a visit to the center early this month. Then, referring to Mr. Uthmeier, Mr. Trump remarked to others in attendance, 'He's even a good-looking guy. The guy's got a future.' The moment offered Mr. Uthmeier hope that Mr. Trump might consider endorsing him when he runs for a full term as attorney general next year, despite Mr. Uthmeier's close ties to Mr. DeSantis, who ran against Mr. Trump in last year's presidential primary. And it raised the profile of Mr. Uthmeier, a 37-year-old lawyer who has never been on a ballot, just as the term-limited Mr. DeSantis's power wanes. Florida Republicans have speculated that primary races in next year's midterms could pit a slate of Trump-backed candidates against a slate backed by Mr. DeSantis. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Jim speaks with Jose Javier Rodriguez about his run for Florida attorney general
Jim talks to the former democratic state senator who is running to be the next Florida attorney general. James Uthmeier, a Republican, is Florida's current attorney general. Guest: José Javier Rodriguez/D- Florida Attorney General candidate Republican leaders from 17 other states Tuesday filed a brief at the U.S. Supreme Court backing Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's push to enforce a law targeting undocumented immigrants who enter Florida. The brief came after Uthmeier last week asked the Supreme Court to step in and at least temporarily allow enforcement of the state law after a federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction to block it. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in April ruled that the law likely was preempted by federal immigration authority. Uthmeier appealed the preliminary injunction, but a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his request for a stay of Williams' ruling. Uthmeier last week asked for the Supreme Court to issue a stay, which would effectively allow the state to enforce the law while the underlying legal battle plays out.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Florida AG investigating drag show at bar owned by Vero Beach vice mayor
VERO BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office is opening an investigation into a 'sexualized performance advertised to children' that took place in Vero Beach last month. Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Linda Moore, the Vice Mayor of Vero Beach and the owner of the Kilted Mermaid, a beer and wine bar. Florida woman vanishes under 'suspicious' circumstances; car last seen in Tampa On June 29, the bar hosted a 'Pride Tea Dance' featuring drag performances and other entertainment. Uthmeier said there was evidence that during the event, 'sexualized adult performers wore revealing attire and burlesque outfits while interacting with the children.' The subpoena is asking Moore to provide the following: Surveillance video recordings Documents identifying camera locations, retention policies, or personnel responsible for maintaining said recordings Employee work schedules showing which employees were working on the dates of June 28 to June 30 Documents identifying anyone who performed or provided entertainment on the premises on June 29 Copies of any guest lists, reservation logs, ticket sales records, entry logs or other documents identifying who attended the performance Documents identifying all individuals responsible for checking identification, verifying age, controlling admission, or allowing entry on June 29 Guidelines in effect on June 29 regarding age verification, admission policies, security screening, and ID checks Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Florida representative enters race to replace Ingoglia's former senate seat
INVERNESS, Fla. (WFLA) — Former State Rep. Ralph Massullo has entered the race to fill the now-vacant state senate seat after Blaise Ingoglia was appointed Chief Financial Officer. District 11 covers Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties. This is not the first time Massullo has had his eye on the senate seat. Back in 2022, he ended his bid following Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsing Ingoglia. Now that the seat is open again, Massullo has thrown his hat in the ring. Fired federal prosecutor based in Tampa plans to sue Trump administration 'We're emphasizing workforce and career development. We're incorporating AI into a lot of our services that the state is suing, as well as trying to incorporate that into workforce as well as education and also trying to improve health care,' Massullo said. Massullo also said he wants to focus on improving the environment along with agriculture. Massullo, who's a dermatologist, has support from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier through a post on X and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, with an official endorsement. 'I'm extremely happy. I'm a small business owner myself. I've worked with the chamber for many years,' Massullo said. This week, Gov. DeSantis issued an executive order calling for a Special Primary Election on Sept. 30. So far, no democrats have entered the race. But if that happens, both sides will face off on Dec. 9. Candidate qualifying is Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. After that, voters officially know who will appear on the ballot for the Special Primary Election. 'I ask all of your viewers to investigate the various candidates that are running, particularly the ones that running in my district, and go out and vote,' Massullo said. Massullo served in the Florida Legislature from 2016 to 2024, when he couldn't run again to remain in the state House because of term limits. The campaign for Republican Anthony Brice confirmed he will enter the race for the Special Election. He already had plans to run for the seat in 2028. However, with the vacancy, he will ramp up campaign efforts now ahead of September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Florida vice mayor faces subpoena over investigation into drag show held at her bar
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Vero Beach Vice Mayor Linda Moore in connection with a state probe into the "Pride Tea Dance" event held at her Kilted Mermaid bar late last month, according to a press release issued by the attorney general's office. The Vero Beach establishment shared a poster on social media ahead of the event that included the phrase "ALL AGES WELCOME." "Florida law protects children from sexualization. There is evidence that at the 'Pride Tea Dance' on June 29, 2025, sexualized adult performers wore revealing attire and burlesque outfits while interacting with the children," the press release from the attorney general's office states. The Sunshine State attorney general "issued subpoenas to Moore and Kilted Mermaid seeking" materials such as any surveillance footage, materials pertaining to those who performed at the establishment on June 29, materials regarding event attendees and more, according to the press release. "Moore and Kilted Mermaid are required to produce the necessary documents by August 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.," according to the release, which links to a copy of the subpoena. Fox News Digital reached out to the Kilted Mermaid to request a comment from Moore, who co-owns the bar with her husband Rick Norry, but they declined to comment. "We have the event every year; it's our gay pride event, and it is all ages," Moore said, according to NBC News. "It's a family-friendly event, and then once the drag show actually starts, we tell the parents who have small children that they can't stay for the show." Sometimes parents wish to remain, Moore said, according to the outlet, indicating that she has a policy that the initial drag performance will be "really tame"— after the kids are gone performances can get "a little racy," she reportedly said, noting, "there's never nudity at any drag show." Fox News Digital reached out to the Florida attorney general's office, but did not receive a comment by the time of publication. "In Florida, we don't sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults," Uthmeier said, according to the press release. "The Office of Statewide Prosecution opened an investigation into this sexualized performance to determine the extent of the content and exposure to children." The bar is slated to have a "Drag Queen Bingo" event later this month, but social media posts by the Kilted Mermaid describe that event as "18+."
