Fiery DeSantis Claims Gun-Drawn Police Invasion Of Former State Covid Scientist’s Home Was Done ‘With Honor’

Topline

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) fired back at criticism over the recent raid of former state Covid data scientist Rebekah Jones, saying on Friday that police served a search warrant on her home “with honor” even as many believe the gun-drawn raid may have been a targeted overuse of force.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“It was not a raid,” DeSantis sharply said Friday. “They were serving valid process in accordance with the laws and constitution of the United States and the state of Florida. They did it with integrity. They did it with honor.” DeSantis further said Friday he believes Jones “has issues,” after taking part in a panel where the discussion was erasing the stigma of problems with mental health.

Chief Critic

Ronald J. Filipkowski, who called himself a “DeSantis political appointee,” quit his job after the Jones raid. In his resignation letter from the 12th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, Filipkowski said the raid meant the state Covid response had veered from a medical issue into “now a legal one.”

Key Background

Jones was lauded for creating the state’s first Covid-19 dashboard, but she was fired from her job in May after she said she was asked to manipulate state health statistics. DeSantis said she was fired for insubordination. Jones has continued to operate her own Covid dashboard since her firing, while openly criticizing DeSantis’ coronavirus response.

Further Reading

Armed Police Raid Home Of Ousted Data Scientist Who Alleged Covid-19 Data Manipulation In Florida (Forbes)

COVID data manager investigated, raided for using publicly available password (Are Technica)

DeSantis Aide Quits Over Florida Covid Policy And Police Raid Of Data Scientist (Forbes)

Fired Florida Covid Dashboard Architect Claims She Was Asked To Manually Change Numbers (Forbes)

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