Latest news with #Rudman
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rudman resigns from Pensacola college board; UWF trustee questions continue
Adam Kissel, Gov. Ron DeSantis' appointee to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. (Photos via UWF website) Senators have made clear their hesitation to confirm some gubernatorial appointments this session, particularly for higher education institutions in Pensacola. Tuesday, the Ethics and Election Committee rejected one University of West Florida trustee, Adam Kissel, and questioned five others who appeared before the committee before being approved, while advancing another 120+ appointees for various boards across the state in one vote with no discussion or public appearances. Two other UWF trustees resigned from that board after intense public pushback. Also in Pensacola, former state Rep. Joel Rudman resigned Tuesday morning from his governor-appointed spot on the Pensacola State College board of trustees. Sen. Don Gaetz, chair of the committee, invited Rudman to appear Tuesday but was informed by Rudman the day of the meeting that he was resigning, despite previously saying he would be there. Senators on the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education voted unfavorably on Rudman's appointment last week. Rudman previously indicated he had a list of lawmakers who he said were violating drug laws and would release the names depending on how senators behaved in his confirmation hearings, according to Gaetz. Rudman posted from Barcelona on X over the weekend. Gaetz said he asked Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers to be prepared to take evidence and names from Rudman during the Tuesday morning meeting, 'but Dr. Rudman has not favored us with his appearance.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Much of the pushback stems around DeSantis' stated desire to steer UWF in a more conservative direction. The eight appointees to the board by DeSantis and the Board of Governors in the span of a month helped elect Idaho professor Scott Yenor to chair the board. Senators have also complained about appointees who live outside of Florida — including Yenor in Idaho and Kissel in West Virginia. Yenor faced backlash for advocating for fewer women in higher education and said that if only men won the Nobel Prize, 'that's not a failure. It's kind of a cause for celebration,' The Associated Press reported. Yenor resigned earlier this month, as has Gates Garcia, a private equity CEO from Tampa, while Sen. Gayle Harrell told the remaining trustees that the Senate would 'be carefully watching the board of trustees at the University of West Florida.' Senators had told Garcia he should come to the next committee hearing prepared to further defend his vote to make Yenor chair of the board. That chance never came. DeSantis said last week that UWF would see 'big changes,' after boasting about the political overhaul of New College of Florida. UWF trustees Paul Bailey, Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moya, Ashley Ross, and Chris Young were approved Tuesday and their nominations will head to the Senate floor, while Kissel's will not. DeSantis has until 30 days after the legislative session to reappoint Kissel before he would have to vacate his seat. If reappointed, he must be confirmed next session. If not confirmed next session, he would have to leave the board. During the committee meeting, senators asked UWF trustees whether they were concerned about 'woke' administrators or teachings on campus — Sen. Tina Polsky, for example, asked whether UWF is 'an indoctrination camp with marxist professors,' as DeSantis has alleged. Ross called UWF 'a tremendous diamond in the rough,' but also said, 'I'm not here to ever disagree with the governor.' Bailey, Matthews, Moya, and Young said they saw no need for major changes in regards to administrative or political problems. 'He has said he wants to take it over like he did New College, so the people who are on the board have to be willing to do that or have had conversations to be chosen to say, 'I am willing to do that kind of takeover and change the whole atmosphere of a school,'' Polsky said, referring to the governor, asking Ross if he was part of the 'overhaul.' 'My understanding of what I'm here to do today is to answer the questions that you have about my ability to serve as a university trustee,' Ross responded without directly answering the question. Kissel faced questions in Higher Education Appropriations committee last month about his published writings expressing a desire to privatize public universities and grievances with the GI bill. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis loyalist bails on his own nomination hearing
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A former state lawmaker stood next to Gov. Ron DeSantis at his press conference last week, lambasting legislators for attacking the governor, the first lady and the controversial Hope Florida charity and claiming he had dirt on his fellow Republicans. But a week later, Dr. Joel Rudman had left the country and withdrew his nomination to a college board in Pensacola — an appointment made by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 'Dr. Rudman was first an aggressive nominee who couldn't wait to come before the committee, then he decided to decline to come before the committee,' Republican state Sen. Don Gaetz said. Rudman, a Panhandle physician known as 'Dr. Rock' for playing guitar in a bar band, claimed he had information about GOP members — including alleged illicit drug use — who were going after DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis. 'Their intentions were very clear from the outset, what you're looking at this was a planned ambush,' Rudman said in Pensacola last week at a DeSantis press conference held to defend Hope Florida, a state-run alternative to traditional welfare embraced by his wife, Casey. Hope Florida is embroiled in controversy and under investigation by the House, where Republican lawmakers are demanding answers on how $10 million from a state Medicaid settlement ended up with the Hope Florida Foundation. DeSantis, standing in front of a podium with a Hope Florida sign, blasted House leaders for attacking the charity. Rudman and several other DeSantis loyalists took the stage to join in that criticism and voice their support for the governor and first lady. On Tuesday, Gaetz told the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, which he chairs, that Rudman had said he had a list that he was 'keeping close to his vest' about GOP legislators criminally violating drug laws. 'Depending on how this committee behaved, he would have to reveal those names. It turns out Dr. Rudman is not the one who has been revealed,' Gaetz said. Rudman was a no-show, however, and withdrew his nomination to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees. Gaetz added that he had planned to give Rudman the opportunity to reveal all of his names and provide the evidence. 'We have individuals from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement here to take all the evidence and names, but Dr. Rudman has not favored us with his appearance and resigned from the board. So we have no action.' Rudman said he was in Barcelona celebrating his wife's birthday when he typed up his resignation letter Monday night. 'Pensacola State College is too important to me to have it get caught up in all this theatre surrounding the behavior of the Florida House,' Rudman said in a text message to the Sentinel. 'It was becoming exceedingly difficult for me to bite my tongue while former House colleagues were taking potshots and lobbing offensive accusations at our Governor.' Last week, the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee unanimously rejected Rudman's nomination because of the threats he made on X about naming names, knowing where the bodies are and that all state legislators should be drug-tested. Republican Sen. Tom Leek of St. Augustine said those comments were meant to intimidate the senators voting on Rudman's nomination. Rudman resigned from the Legislature in November, after he was reelected to a second term, to run for a congressional seat vacated by Matt Gaetz when President Donald Trump nominated him to be U.S. Attorney General. Matt Gaetz, who is the son of Don Gaetz and a former state House member, withdrew his nomination after a flurry of allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, both of which he denied. After Rudman resigned, all the bills he filed for the current legislative session were killed. He ultimately lost the Republican primary to Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, who went on to win the congressional seat. Rudman characterized the investigation into Hope Florida by fellow Republican Rep. Alex Andrade of Pensacola as a politically motivated witch hunt orchestrated by House leadership. At last week's press conference, Rudman described an orientation for lawmakers at the state Capitol in November where House leadership 'used our time to tell us we're not going to listen to Ron DeSantis. They literally said we are not going to be Ron DeSantis' dog, only they didn't use the word dog, they used a vulgar term instead' He said he could not go along with that agenda because he was the 'second most conservative in the Legislature.' He also criticized Andrade, whose name elicited boos from the audience, as someone who is 'actually taking shots at our governor.' Someone from the audience shouted that Andrade should be recalled. 'When I had a blogger harass me on the campaign trail and get in my wife's personal space, I sued for a restraining order' Rudman said. Andrade defended the blogger. _____
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis loyalist bails on his own nomination hearing
TALLAHASSEE — A former state lawmaker stood next to Gov. Ron DeSantis at his press conference last week, lambasting legislators for attacking the governor, the first lady and the controversial Hope Florida charity and claiming he had dirt on his fellow Republicans. But a week later, Dr. Joel Rudman had left the country and withdrew his nomination to a college board in Pensacola — an appointment made by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 'Dr. Rudman was first an aggressive nominee who couldn't wait to come before the committee, then he decided to decline to come before the committee,' Republican Sen. Don Gaetz said. Rudman, a Panhandle physician known as 'Dr. Rock' for playing guitar in a bar band, claimed he had information about GOP members — including alleged illicit drug use — who were going after DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis. 'Their intentions were very clear from the outset, what you're looking at this was a planned ambush,' Rudman said in Pensacola last week at a DeSantis press conference held to defend Hope Florida, a state-run alternative to traditional welfare embraced by his wife, Casey. Hope Florida is embroiled in controversy and under investigation by the House, where Republican lawmakers are demanding answers on how $10 million from a state Medicaid settlement ended up with the Hope Florida Foundation. DeSantis, standing in front of a podium with a Hope Florida sign, blasted House leaders for attacking the charity. Rudman and several other DeSantis loyalists took the stage to join in that criticism and voice their support for the governor and first lady. On Tuesday, Gaetz told the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, which he chairs, that Rudman had said he had a list that he was 'keeping close to his vest' about GOP legislators criminally violating drug laws. 'Depending on how this committee behaved, he would have to reveal those names. It turns out Dr. Rudman is not the one who has been revealed,' Gaetz said. Rudman was a no-show, however, and withdrew his nomination to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees. Gaetz added that he had planned to give Rudman the opportunity to reveal all of his names and provide the evidence. 'We have individuals from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement here to take all the evidence and names, but Dr. Rudman has not favored us with his appearance and resigned from the board. So we have no action.' Rudman said he was in Barcelona celebrating his wife's birthday when he typed up his resignation letter Monday night. 'Pensacola State College is too important to me to have it get caught up in all this theatre surrounding the behavior of the Florida House,' Rudman said in a text message to the Sentinel. 'It was becoming exceedingly difficult for me to bite my tongue while former House colleagues were taking potshots and lobbing offensive accusations at our Governor.' Last week, the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee unanimously rejected Rudman's nomination because of the threats he made on X about naming names, knowing where the bodies are and that all state legislators should be drug-tested. Republican Sen. Tom Leek of St. Augustine said those comments were meant to intimidate the senators voting on Rudman's nomination. Rudman resigned from the Legislature in November, after he was reelected to a second term, to run for a congressional seat vacated by Matt Gaetz when President Donald Trump nominated him to be U.S. Attorney General. Matt Gaetz, who is the son of Don Gaetz and a former state House member, withdrew his nomination after a flurry of allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, both of which he denied. After Rudman resigned, all the bills he filed for the current legislative session were killed. He ultimately lost the Republican primary to Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, who went on to win the congressional seat. Rudman characterized the investigation into Hope Florida by fellow Republican Rep. Alex Andrade of Pensacola as a politically motivated witch hunt orchestrated by House leadership. At last week's press conference, Rudman described an orientation for lawmakers at the state Capitol in November where House leadership 'used our time to tell us we're not going to listen to Ron DeSantis. They literally said we are not going to be Ron DeSantis' dog, only they didn't use the word dog, they used a vulgar term instead' He said he could not go along with that agenda because he was the 'second most conservative in the Legislature.' He also criticized Andrade, whose name elicited boos from the audience, as someone who is 'actually taking shots at our governor.' Someone from the audience shouted that Andrade should be recalled. 'When I had a blogger harass me on the campaign trail and get in my wife's personal space, I sued for a restraining order' Rudman said. Andrade defended the blogger.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Armed man who tried to enter Tampa strip club wearing devil mask sentenced to prison
A man accused of trying to enter Tampa's Mons Venus strip club armed with a gun and wearing a devil mask has been sentenced to a decade in state prison as part of a deal with prosecutors. Michael Rudman, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and four other charges. As part of a plea agreement, Rudman was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will receive credit for the two years he has spent in the Hillsborough County jail waiting for his case to be resolved. He faced as many as 30 years in state prison if convicted at trial. 'The brave actions of a security guard named Manny Resto prevented this case from becoming what could have been a much more violent crime,' Hillsborough State Attorney's Office spokesperson Erin Maloney said in an emailed statement. 'This 46-year-old defendant will spend 10 years day-for-day behind bars for his assault of Mr. Resto, who was merely doing his job. This resolution puts this defendant in prison for a significant amount of time and spared the taxpayers the expense of a trial that would likely have resulted in a similar resolution.' The resolution came two years and a day after Rudman's arrest at the club after a physical struggle near the front door that Resto later called 'a fight for my life.' Police Chief Lee Bercaw said at the time that he believed the guards prevented a mass shooting, but Rudman's attorney told the Tampa Bay Times that he doesn't believe that was his client's intent. Rudman arrived at the club, located at 2040 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in a silver Toyota pickup around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2023, according to court documents. Rudman parked the truck on the side of the building, left it running and got out holding a Glock 9mm pistol and wearing a red and black 'Satan mask,' documents state. Resto saw Rudman coming and tried to wrestle the gun out of his hand. Rudman hit Resto multiple times during the struggle, according to prosecutors. The gun discharged once during the fight but no one was shot. Rudman was carrying three magazines, each with a 17-round capacity, documents state. One of the magazines had seven live rounds and the other two were fully loaded. Inside his truck, investigators found nine knives. At a news conference two days later, Resto, a former professional wrestler known as the 'Puerto Rican Punisher,' said he initially thought Rudman was another guard trying to play a prank on him, but then realized that wasn't the case and immediately concentrated on getting the gun out of Rudman's hands. He called on his days as a wrestler and previous security guard experience to get Rudman — whom Resto described as a 'very big man' — on the ground. 'I decided that he was not going to enter the club and hurt anybody,' Resto said. 'I wasn't going to let this happen. I was not going to let him win.' Resto got Rudman to the ground and was trying to hold him down when two more guards came to help. Surveillance video from the club shows Resto then picking up the gun and pointing it at Rudman, who rushed at him. A round discharged from the gun during the confrontation and hit the door. One security guard sustained minor injuries. No one else was hurt. As part of the deal approved Thursday by Judge G. Gregory Green, Rudman also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon, possessing a firearm while under a risk protection order, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rudman's attorney, Jawdet Rubaii, said in an interview that the minimum allowable prison sentence according to state guidelines — about 4½ years — would have been more appropriate, but they agreed to the deal because Rudman faced a much longer prison sentence if convicted at trial. Rubaii said Rudman has schizophrenia and was off his prescribed medication at the time of the incident due to supply shortages and a lack of contact with mental health care professionals stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Rubaii noted Rudman does not have a lengthy criminal history but does have a history of being taken into protective custody under Florida's Baker Act. Rubaii said he understands why Bercaw and others believe Rudman was at the club intending to commit a mass shooting, but Rubaii doesn't believe that. He said Rudman never pointed the gun at anyone. 'What about all the people outside? Why not start there? Shoot your way in,' Rubaii said. 'And why, when you get in a tussling match with a guy who's grabbing the gun from you, you don't point it and shoot anybody? It doesn't make sense.' Rubaii said his client's life was likely saved when he was stopped by security guards because he could have been shot by someone in the club had he gained entry. Rudman was under a risk protection order in Pinellas County at the time of his arrest that prohibited him from possessing a firearm. The orders are issued by a judge at a law enforcement agency's request if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. In Rudman's case, a Pinellas judge had extended a risk protection order until October 2023 because the court found, among other factors, Rudman 'engaged in a threat of violence against themselves or others,' 'has violated a previous or existing risk protection order,' and 'has stalked another person,' court documents state. After his arrest in Tampa, Rudman was charged in Pinellas with violating the order, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Records show that case is still pending.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man accused of plotting mass shooting at Mons Venus accepts plea deal, gets 10-year prison sentence
The Brief Michael Rudman accepted a plea deal in a Tampa courtroom on Thursday. Rudman was suspected of plotting a mass shooting at the Mons Venus adult club in March 2023. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with credit for time served. TAMPA, Fla. - The man suspected of plotting a mass shooting at the Mons Venus adult club in Tampa two years ago was sentenced to 10 years in prison after accepting a plea deal in court on Thursday. The backstory Michael Rudman was arrested on March 19, 2023, after prosecutors say he tried to walk into the crowded club armed with a Glock 9mm and wearing a devil's mask over his face. Security footage shows Rudman pulling open the door to the club when he was stopped by a security guard who was able to knock the gun away and wrestle Rudman to the ground. Tampa police believe the security guard, Manny Resto, likely saved many lives that night. "It is believed Rudman's intent was to commit an act of mass violence and kill multiple people inside the club," according to court filings. Resto was later awarded by Tampa police with a citizen medal of valor for stopping a mass shooting. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in 2023 that detectives also found additional ammunition, gun accessories and nine knives in Rudman's truck. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What's next Rudman will serve his 10-year prison sentence with credit for time served. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kellie Cowan, with additional details from previous FOX 13 News reports. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
