Former President Barack Obama, center, raises arms with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, left, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., right, during a campaign rally, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
As my colleague Jennifer Van Laar reported, it didn’t seem like former Florida gubernatorial candidate, was practicing social distancing when he was allegedly found in a hotel room too impaired to speak with a man who police suspected was suffering from an overdose and three baggies of crystal meth on the floor, according to the police report. Both were vomiting. The man who found them, allegedly Aldo Mejias, was according to the report supposed to meet Travis Dyson, the other man allegedly in the room.
Gillum, who was allowed to go home by the police, later released a statement saying that he was drunk from having been at a wedding and had never used meth. He had been traveling without his wife and was staying at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel, a hotel employee said, which is near the Icon in Brickell where Dyson told officers he lives, according to Local 10.
6. Gillum says he was drunk, not on meth: "While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines." pic.twitter.com/eGJcbvrq8C
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) March 13, 2020
Dyson, allegedly a gay male escort, told a reporter that Gillum hadn’t said anything about a wedding.
Updated story with @jerryiannelli here: https://t.co/zeJ5a4itMP pic.twitter.com/Nf64ad3GO2
— Jessica Lipscomb (@jessicalipscomb) March 13, 2020
Gillum asked reporters for “privacy” on Friday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl) teased Gillum after the news broke, according to the Washington Examiner:
Everyone should respect @AndrewGillum’s privacy as he explains why he was one of three men in a hotel room w 3 bags of meth, too impaired to talk to first responders.
I know what you’re all thinking – this is not very COVID-19 hygienic. #GillumSurge https://t.co/HVjBDNRlZA
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 13, 2020
“Everyone should respect @AndrewGillum’s privacy as he explains why he was one of three men in a hotel room w 3 bags of meth, too impaired to talk to first responders,” the Republican congressman said on Twitter. “I know what you’re all thinking – this is not very COVID-19 hygienic. #GillumSurge.”
Oofa!
Gillum, who is now a CNN contributor, has a wife and three children.
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