In Florida, Rick Scott Sues: 'Votes Coming Out of Nowhere'

Trump weighs in, too
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 9, 2018 7:48 AM CST
Trump Touts 'Big Corruption Scandal' in Fla. Senate Race
President Donald Trump stands behind Florida Governor Rick Scott as he speaks at a rally in Pensacola, Fla., on Nov. 3.   (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

President Trump says law enforcement is looking into a "big corruption scandal having to do with Election Fraud" in Florida's US Senate race, now poised for a recount. "Florida voted for Rick Scott!" Trump continued in a Thursday tweet shortly after Scott sat for an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. At an earlier press conference, Scott demanded the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate what he says "may be rampant fraud" in the Democratic stronghold counties of Broward and Palm Beach, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Votes are coming out of nowhere," Scott said as his lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson fell to 15,079 votes (down from 38,717 early Wednesday), for a margin of 0.18%, per the Hill. In Florida, an automatic machine recount is triggered at 0.5%, while a hand recount comes with a margin of 0.25% or less.

Scott, the current governor, alleged "rank incompetence" by elections chiefs in both counties, but filed a lawsuit Thursday against Broward County's Brenda Snipes, alleging her office failed to turn over full voter and ballot information according to public records law. "I will not sit idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election," Scott said. A rep said the FDLE would follow up on Scott's request. Asked about the investigation, however, Snipes noted Scott "owns the FDLE," per the Sun-Sentinel. "The goal here is to see that all the votes in Florida are counted and counted accurately," added a Nelson rep. Per the AP, Andrew Gillum has hired the lawyer who represented George W. Bush in the 2000 recount as Florida's gubernatorial race looks headed in the same direction. (More Florida stories.)

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