Sheriff Pearson (again) under FDLE for alleged election law violations

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson for alleged election law violations.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed in an executive order issued on June 4 that the FDLE is investigating Pearson. You can read the executive order online.

The order is only a few pages long, but DeSantis announced the news about the FDLE investigation right at the beginning:

“WHEREAS, the Honorable THOMAS BAKKEDAHL, United States Attorney for the 19th Judicial District of Florida, has informed Governor RON DESANTIS that Keith Pearson of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is under investigation for election law violations,” the order began.

The order states that because Bakkedahl is supporting Richard Del Toro, one of Pearson’s opponents in the August Republican primary, any charges would have to be handled by Phil Archer, the United States Attorney for Florida’s 18th Judicial District.

St. Lucie’s top cop may have legal problems of his own

This is only logical. As the District Attorney for the 19th Judicial District, Bakkedahl must work with the St. Lucie County Sheriff. Therefore, common sense would dictate that he should recuse himself from any investigation involving the Sheriff, whether or not he holds political office.

In fact, Bakkedahl said Thursday that he asked the governor to find another prosecutor for the case when he learned that the FDLE was investigating and there was a possibility that charges could be filed.

These are, so to speak, standard legal matters.

But let’s not forget that St. Lucie County’s top law enforcement officer is himself under investigation for possible criminal activity. Again.

It is important to remember that Archer’s office was tasked with leading an investigation when Pearson and his predecessor, Democrat Ken Mascara, were accused of supporting a “ghost candidate” in the 2020 Republican primary. In that investigation, Mascara was accused of recruiting a Republican candidate to run against a primary opponent whom Mascara reportedly did not want to run against in the general election.

Pearson was up to his neck in that investigation. He is accused of creating and displaying campaign signs for Kevin Carter, a retired St. Lucie County deputy who defeated former Highway Patrol Officer Richard Williams in the Republican primary. Mascara defeated Carter in the general election that same year.

The FDLE report on the case contained some pretty harsh allegations about Mascara and Pearson. The summary of the FDLE investigation stated quite conclusively: “Mascara and others developed a plan in May 2020 to install a straw man candidate to run against Williams in the Republican primary in the hopes that Williams would lose the Republican nomination and not run against Mascara in the general election.”

The FDLE said of Pearson that he “knowingly conspired, colluded, incited and assisted Ken Mascara … in facilitating the creation of an alleged sham candidate.”

Another election-related case involving Pearson

Archer’s office concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Mascara, Pearson or others involved in the investigation. However, given the evidence uncovered by the FDLE, many questions remain about whether the decision not to prosecute was the right one.

The St. Lucie County Republican Party filed an ethics complaint against Pearson on the same allegations, but the complaint was later dismissed by the State Ethics Commission.

Bakkedahl said he was not familiar with the details of the FDLE’s latest investigation into Pearson. But he said it was independent of the investigation into the 2020 election.

“This is something new,” Bakkedahl said. “It has nothing to do with the (previous investigation).”

The FDLE did not respond to a request for comment on the latest investigation. This, too, is not unusual. The state agency rarely, if ever, releases details about investigations before they are completed.

Neither the governor’s office nor Pearson’s office responded to a request for information Thursday afternoon.

Since this investigation has been going on for several months, Pearson probably has a pretty good idea of what the FDLE is investigating. He could reassure the public by telling us what he knows, especially if he believes he has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide.

Finally, at his very first press conference after his appointment last December, he told us that transparency was his “top priority.”

When will we start achieving this transparency?

He has not been very transparent about many things related to his more than six months in office.

He didn’t tell us that one of his political allies organized a major fundraiser for DeSantis’ presidential campaign at the time, and that ally and several family members then donated six-figure sums to the campaign. This happened just days before Mascara mysteriously resigned and DeSantis named Pearson as his successor.

Pearson admitted he was surprised by the appointment, although records from the governor’s office clearly show that preparations for the transition of power had been underway days or even weeks earlier.

Therefore, it would be a shock if Pearson decided to reveal his knowledge of the recent FDLE investigation, but each new day brings new hope.

It would be great to hear more about this investigation, but I doubt the FDLE will be making TikTok or other social media videos of Pearson like he does with suspects officers have arrested.

Pearson certainly treats the suspects he presents in his social media videos as if they were found guilty, even though our legal system is not set up that way.

I wonder if he will have a different opinion on the presumption of innocence now that he is under investigation. Again.

Maybe the FDLE will complete its investigation and Archer’s office will again decide there isn’t enough evidence to press charges. Still, it’s not a good sign when a sheriff is under investigation himself.

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