JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's quickly becoming a “she said, she said” battle at the state capitol with Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll at the center of some serious allegations.
Action News has just obtained a court filing, a motion made by Carroll's former top aide, Carletha Cole, claiming not only is the relationship between the Governor's office and the Lt. Governor’s office "dysfunctional,” she’s alleging they're involved in widespread illegal tape recordings.
The motion says, “Governor Scott’s communications team had specifically instructed staff members to covertly record communications within the Lt. Gov.’s office, as well as any and all communications with a member of the press in order to permit rebuttal of any misquotes or inaccurate attributions.”
If true, that would be illegal here in Florida which is a two-party consent state.
"These aren't allegations that we would make lightly. We just believe, with all of the corroborative proof, that she is telling the truth,” said Cole’s attorney Stephen Webster.
The motion also alleges interoffice hostility, potential arson of Cole’s trashcan, as well as claims that Carroll (a married mom of three) was caught in a compromising position in her office with another top female aid.
But some would argue Cole has a bit of an ax to grind.
She is currently facing 3rd degree felony charges for unlawfully recording a conversation she had with another staffer.
We reached out to both the Lt. Gov. and the Governor’s offices, but are still waiting to hear back.
Webster said, "It's up to I guess ultimately a jury of Ms. Cole's peers to determine who's telling the truth."
Carroll did deny all of these allegations to the Associated Press. She is not being charged with any wrongdoing.
Cole is facing up to five years in prison. She’s currently out on bond and waiting for a formal hearing to be scheduled for this motion, which was made in response to a push by the State Attorney’s Office to keep some information in the case confidential.
