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State Rep. Carolina Amesty Vows to Clear Her Name Amid Forgery Charges

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State Rep. Carolina Amesty speaks at a press conference held by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Facing serious legal challenges, State Representative Carolina Amesty is determined to clear her name as she confronts four third-degree felony charges related to forgery and improper notary practices. Amesty surrendered to officials at the Orange County Jail. The 29-year-old lawmaker faces charges including two counts of forgery, one count of illegally notarizing her own signature, and one count of falsely certifying a signature as a notary.

Amesty’s legal troubles stem from her role as an administrator at Central Christian University, a private institution founded by her father, Juan Amesty. The allegations involve notarizing a document with a forged signature, which was part of the school’s licensing submissions to the Florida Department of Education. The controversy, first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, triggered a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation and ultimately led to her indictment by a grand jury on August 28.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Amesty’s campaign swiftly responded with a statement asserting her innocence and labeling the prosecution as politically motivated. “This prosecution, initiated just a few weeks prior to absentee ballots being dropped, is based on misleading reports from a partisan newspaper,” Amesty stated. She expressed confidence in a swift trial and public vindication, urging for a quick resolution.

Political responses have been sharply divided. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has called for Amesty’s resignation, questioning her ability to serve effectively while under indictment.

On the other hand, Republican House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez emphasized that the charges appear unrelated to Amesty’s duties as a state representative and supported her right to defend herself.

Amesty, who won her House District 45 seat with 53% of the vote in 2022, faces a tough reelection battle this November against former Disney executive Leonard Spencer. Her district, which leaned slightly Democratic in the 2020 Presidential Election but supported Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, is expected to be one of the most competitive legislative races in Florida this cycle.

Despite the mounting pressure, Amesty has signaled her intention to remain in the race, bolstered by nearly $123,000 in campaign funds. She continues to rally her supporters, sharing a verse from Psalms on social media and retweeting a post from Donald Trump about political persecution.

As the legal process unfolds, the race for House District 45 remains a closely watched contest with significant implications for Florida’s political landscape.

Politics

Florida Legislature Unanimously Passes “Gage’s Law” to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Florida Legislature has taken decisive action against the deadly fentanyl epidemic. On Monday, HB 1195/SB 1346 – Fentanyl Testing, also known as “Gage’s Law”, passed unanimously in both the Florida House and Senate, marking a major bipartisan step in the state’s fight to save lives. The bill now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk for signature.

“Gage’s Law”, sponsored by Senator Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) and Representative Rita Harris (D-Orlando), is named in memory of Gage Austin Taylor, a bright and promising young man who died in 2022 after unknowingly ingesting a substance laced with fentanyl.

Key Provisions of the Legislation

  • Hospitals and campus emergency departments will be required to test for fentanyl in all suspected overdose or poisoning cases.

  • Mandatory follow-up testing when initial test results are positive.

  • All fentanyl test results must be preserved in the patient’s official clinical record.

Fentanyl tears apart communities by claiming lives too soon,” said Senator Tina Polsky. “I’ve been honored to work with Representative Harris, Gage’s mother Gretchin, and countless advocates to pass Gage’s Law, which is a powerful step in fighting the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

Florida’s Fentanyl Crisis

  • Florida ranks second in the nation for fentanyl-related deaths.

  • Nearly 5,000 Floridians died in 2022 due to fentanyl overdoses.

  • “Gage’s Law” is designed to ensure rapid detection and response, giving medical staff and law enforcement critical tools to combat the epidemic.

This policy will equip hospitals with the guidance they need to treat fentanyl overdoses while giving law enforcement the tools to hold traffickers accountable, all in honor of those we’ve lost,” added Representative Rita Harris.

What’s Next?

If signed by Governor DeSantis, “Gage’s Law” will take effect on July 1, 2025, becoming one of the most impactful fentanyl-related measures in Florida’s legislative history.

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Florida AG James Uthmeier Charges Felon on Probation with Voter Fraud in 2022 Election

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has charged a convicted felon currently on probation with voter fraud in connection to the 2022 General Election. The defendant, Jeffrey Luke Crane, is facing charges of voting by an unqualified elector and false affirmation after knowingly casting a ballot while ineligible under Florida law.

Ensuring the integrity of our elections is important to safeguarding our republican form of government,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “This defendant knowingly participated in the 2022 election as a felon on probation, and our Statewide Prosecutors will hold him accountable for this criminal action.”

Background of the Case

Crane is currently on probation for a string of serious offenses, including:

  • Aggravated fleeing with injury or damage

  • Resisting an officer with violence

  • Failure to stop or remain at the scene of a crash involving injury

  • Driving under the influence

According to a law enforcement investigation, Crane signed a Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) probation form acknowledging he could not vote while on probation.

Despite the signed acknowledgment, Crane went on to vote in the 2022 election and later admitted during an interview that he:

  • Signed the official FDC probation form;

  • Received a letter from the Supervisor of Elections informing him he was ineligible to vote;

  • And voted anyway.

Prosecution and Legal Action

The case will be handled by Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Sophia Birriel-Sanchez under the Office of Statewide Prosecution.

This incident is part of ongoing efforts by Attorney General Uthmeier to safeguard the voting process and prosecute election fraud across Florida.

#ElectionIntegrity
#VoterFraud
#FloridaPolitics
#JamesUthmeier
#FloridaNews

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Florida House Unaninously Passes State Rep. Franklin Bill To Strengthen Home Health Care Services

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – In a major bipartisan victory for patient-centered care, the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed CS/HB 1353 – Home Health Care Services, a bill led by State Representative Gallop Franklin (D-Tallahassee) aimed at expanding access and improving the quality of home health care across the state.

“Floridians deserve high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes—and this bill helps make that possible,” said Rep. Franklin. “I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Florida House for recognizing that home health care is a cost-effective, patient-centered option. This legislation removes barriers and ensures better care for the people who need it most.”

Key Provisions of CS/HB 1353:

  • Empowers contracted registered nurses to conduct initial patient visits on behalf of home health agencies, offering increased flexibility in staffing.

  • Removes outdated geographic restrictions, allowing administrators to oversee up to five home health agencies under the same controlling interests.

  • Directs the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to modernize its standards to better reflect the diversity of home health care providers, ensuring consistent and elevated care delivery.

The bill also seeks to strengthen Florida’s Excellence in Home Health Program, a recognition initiative inspired by the state’s Gold Seal Program for nursing homes. Agencies that meet the highest standards of care can earn this designation—serving as a trusted indicator for patients and families seeking dependable home health providers.

On Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously advanced the companion measure, SB 1412, sponsored by Senator Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami), bringing the legislation one step closer to becoming law.

What This Means for Floridians

If signed into law, this legislation promises to:

  • Expand home health care access statewide

  • Attract more providers to Florida’s excellence program

  • Provide families with more trusted options for in-home medical support

  • Promote innovation and responsiveness in a rapidly growing industry

Stay tuned to Florida National News (FNN) for continued updates as this bill moves to the Senate floor.

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