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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has accused Florida’s chief financial officer of political motives behind the recent scrutiny of the county, following subpoenas issued to government employees amid a recent audit. During a news conference on Wednesday, CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced subpoenas involving Orange County employees accused of altering emails related to certain programs.”Upon our team’s arrival, we started receiving those tips that Orange County employees were possibly tampering with documents to circumvent our review of their egregious spending,” Ingoglia said.Ingoglia’s office received a tip from someone within the Orange County government alleging that people were changing the names of DEI files. This comes amid a recent audit alleging excessive spending within the county.16 Orange County employees and six grant programs the county supports are under the state’s microscopeThe Florida CFO wants all records on:The Black History Project, Inc.Central Florida Urban League, Inc.Zebra Youth, Inc.Caribbean Community Connections of Orlando, Inc.Orlando Youth Alliance, Inc.Stono Institute for Freedom, Justice, and Security, Inc.”It’s a critical program. I have no problem if the CFO wants to take a look at the program because we are very confident in what we’ve done,” Jeremy Levitt said.Jeremy Levitt is president of the Stono Institute.He says the program has received under 75,000 dollars over two years, and the grant expired last December.”We need to solve one of the critical issues between citizens and law enforcement. So, what we do is train young people in de-escalation.”” You normally ride around this neighborhood and hang out?” Eatonville Police Chief Stanley Murray said during a role-playing event with Levitt.Levitt teaches de-escalation during a traffic stop by knowing your rights and responsibilities.He says they’re a non-partisan and multi-ethnic racial justice and human rights organization.“We’ve trained entire groups of young white children. We’ve trained entire groups of young black and brown children. It doesn’t make any difference to us.Mayor Demings responded to the allegations on Thursday. He said, “Certainly, from a county perspective, we fully cooperated with the DOGE inquiry that was being done here. They didn’t talk to me, but they talked to our staff. And what our staff has said is that they answered whatever questions and provided whatever information was requested of them.”Demings believes the state has not shown any evidence to support the allegations and claims the county has been tried and convicted before the investigation is complete. “This community is a target. This is not about Orange County, and this is not about the employees. This is politically motivated for other reasons,” he said.Demings urged the public to “stand by” as the situation becomes clearer, emphasizing that the attacks are occurring on “good, hard-working people here within Orange County.” Ingoglia says after interviewing county employees, if more subpoenas need to be issued, he will.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has accused Florida’s chief financial officer of political motives behind the recent scrutiny of the county, following subpoenas issued to government employees amid a recent audit.
During a news conference on Wednesday, CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced subpoenas involving Orange County employees accused of altering emails related to certain programs.
“Upon our team’s arrival, we started receiving those tips that Orange County employees were possibly tampering with documents to circumvent our review of their egregious spending,” Ingoglia said.
Ingoglia’s office received a tip from someone within the Orange County government alleging that people were changing the names of DEI files. This comes amid a recent audit alleging excessive spending within the county.
16 Orange County employees and six grant programs the county supports are under the state’s microscope
The Florida CFO wants all records on:
- The Black History Project, Inc.
- Central Florida Urban League, Inc.
- Zebra Youth, Inc.
- Caribbean Community Connections of Orlando, Inc.
- Orlando Youth Alliance, Inc.
- Stono Institute for Freedom, Justice, and Security, Inc.
“It’s a critical program. I have no problem if the CFO wants to take a look at the program because we are very confident in what we’ve done,” Jeremy Levitt said.
Jeremy Levitt is president of the Stono Institute.
He says the program has received under 75,000 dollars over two years, and the grant expired last December.
“We need to solve one of the critical issues between citizens and law enforcement. So, what we do is train young people in de-escalation.”
” You normally ride around this neighborhood and hang out?” Eatonville Police Chief Stanley Murray said during a role-playing event with Levitt.
Levitt teaches de-escalation during a traffic stop by knowing your rights and responsibilities.
He says they’re a non-partisan and multi-ethnic racial justice and human rights organization.
“We’ve trained entire groups of young white children. We’ve trained entire groups of young black and brown children. It doesn’t make any difference to us.
Mayor Demings responded to the allegations on Thursday.
He said, “Certainly, from a county perspective, we fully cooperated with the DOGE inquiry that was being done here. They didn’t talk to me, but they talked to our staff. And what our staff has said is that they answered whatever questions and provided whatever information was requested of them.”
Demings believes the state has not shown any evidence to support the allegations and claims the county has been tried and convicted before the investigation is complete.
“This community is a target. This is not about Orange County, and this is not about the employees. This is politically motivated for other reasons,” he said.
Demings urged the public to “stand by” as the situation becomes clearer, emphasizing that the attacks are occurring on “good, hard-working people here within Orange County.”
Ingoglia says after interviewing county employees, if more subpoenas need to be issued, he will.
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