Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a rising star in the Florida Democratic Party was recently removed from office by Jeb Bush after a special prosecutor appointed by Bush obtained a grand jury indictment for alleged election law violations; this rocked the Florida Democratic Party, and gave rise to claims of a political prosecution (Secretary of State Glenda Hood and Senator Mel Martinez apparently had engaged in the same absentee ballot activity). A special election has been scheduled to replace Dyer.
In a stunning reversal, the charges will be dropped today, and Dyer should be reinstated forthwith.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a rising star in the Florida Democratic Party was recently removed from office by Jeb Bush after a special prosecutor appointed by Bush obtained a grand jury indictment for alleged election law violations; this rocked the Florida Democratic Party, and gave rise to claims of a political prosecution (Secretary of State Glenda Hood and Senator Mel Martinez apparently had engaged in the same absentee ballot activity). A special election has been scheduled to replace Dyer.
Today, according to the Orlando Sentinel, at 9:37 AM EDT:
The special prosecutor who brought a case against ousted Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and three others for violating state election law will dismiss all the charges this morning, according to attorneys involved.
Dyer's attorney, Robert Leventhal, said today that State Attorney Brad King will drop charges brought by the grand jury last month against Dyer, campaign manager Patti Sharp, absentee ballot coordinator Ezzie Thomas and Circuit Judge Alan Apte.
King could not immediately be reached for comment.
The dismissal is expected to lift a suspension imposed by Gov. Jeb Bush, allowing Dyer to return to the mayor's office and heading off a special election scheduled for May 3 to pick his temporarily replacement.
"There's no plea -- he's not pleading to anything," Leventhal said of Dyer. "This case is being dismissed this morning."
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Charges to be dropped against Buddy Dyer, others".