A Leon County jury ordered Republican state Rep. Fabian Basabe to pay $450,000 after finding him liable for sexual harassment, battery and defamation. The case was brought by former legislative aide Nicolas Frevola, former intern Jacob Cutbirth and Frevola's mother. Basabe represented himself despite having no legal training, and the trial was repeatedly interrupted by procedural mistakes and violations of the judge's orders. Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh told Basabe that if an attorney had done half of what he had done, they would have been sanctioned. Basabe told jurors he represented himself because he wanted to demonstrate he had nothing to hide. After the verdict, however, he acknowledged that proceeding without an attorney was a mistake. He continues to deny the underlying allegations and has not been criminally charged. An outside ethics investigation conducted for the Florida House previously reached an inconclusive finding. His political opponents quickly called for his resignation. Basabe is seeking reelection this fall, and the verdict could renew questions about whether House leaders will pursue disciplinary action.
The week also brought a September trial date for Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, who will stand trial the week of Sept. 21 on misdemeanor charges stemming from her May sit-in outside Gov. Ron DeSantis' Capitol office. Nixon and other protesters occupied the area for several hours while objecting to Florida's newly approved congressional map, which could help Republicans add up to four seats in the U.S. House. Capitol Police arrested Nixon after she refused an order to leave. Nixon calls the prosecution political and has incorporated the case into her campaign for U.S. Senate. She said following Wednesday's hearing that if they think the threat of a trial is going to make her back down, they picked the wrong woman. The trial is scheduled after Florida's Aug. 18 primary, in which Nixon is challenging retired Army Lt. Alex Vindman for the Democratic Senate nomination.
Vindman raised $8.5 million during the second quarter, pushing his total receipts above $16 million. He said Republicans woke up with a bit of a panic and there is no denying that the Florida Senate race is in play. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody reported raising another $3.6 million. Her campaign also promoted polling showing her leading either Vindman or Nixon in a potential general-election matchup. Moody was appointed to the Senate after Marco Rubio resigned to become secretary of state. The November special election will determine who serves the final two years of Rubio's term.
Next week will bring another political court fight as Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback defends his eligibility to remain in the primary. Lt. Jay Collins, one of Fishback's opponents, argues that records showing Fishback lived and voted in Washington, D.C., mean he does not satisfy Florida's seven-year residency requirement for governor. Fishback says he was born and raised in Florida and maintained the state as his permanent home. A two-day hearing is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Tallahassee. Because primary ballots have already been printed, the judge has said a ruling against Fishback could require election officials to post notices and decline to count votes cast for him.