Photo via Daphne Campbell/Facebook
The often-unconventional Miami Democrat went on Facebook late Sunday to defend texts showing she tried to use political connections with Florida Power & Light to get electricity restored to her district —- as well as to several family members —- and to allege that those texts were acquired by a local reporter through less than noble means.
“I did not expect that anyone would come to a `feed the community' event, in order to sneak away my phone to steal information from the text messages that I use to help my people,” Campbell posted. “Unfortunately, one of the text messages taken from my phone was the one concerning my two children and sick mother.”
Campbell also wrote that she didn't know the person who sat next to her and her unattended phone at an event she organized —- a post-storm “massage and pizza party” hosted by the District 38 Church of Scientology Youth Task Force —- turned out to be a local reporter.
“I have apparently found out that this media is located within my very district. It would be an understatement just to say how disappointed I am in this despicable, atrocious, and malicious behavior,” Campbell wrote. “I am aware that there are hundreds or thousands of competing news media out there, and I know that it is rough for them. For many, if they do not have false news, they won't make it. But, why choose NOW? My constituents have been suffering, still suffering and a few will continue to suffer without electricity for a short period of time; but by the grace of God with my due diligence, the suffering will end soon.”
Online website Rise News of Miami offered a much different take, along with a rebuttal that noted the reporter wore a press badge around his neck and that a hand seen cradling Campbell's phone while shots were taken of different texts is the senator's.
“Obviously Campbell did not like the facts that were reported in our article,” Rise News posted. “That's too bad for her.”
Rise News reported that Campbell was boasting about her contact with an FPL lobbyist and made her cellphone and texts readily available for publication.
“While most politicians usually downplay their relationships to lobbyists, Campbell is proud of her connection to FPL, especially at a time when millions of Floridians have had to rely on the utility to turn their power back on,” Rise News reported. “Campbell is so proud of this connection that she let Rise News take pictures of text messages between herself and FPL lobbyist John Holley.”
The texts show Holly responding, but FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski disagreed that Campbell's efforts altered any restoration efforts, saying she is “mistaken” to believe that the lights coming on at her mother's home was the result of texting for help.
According to FPL, crews were already in the area as part the massive storm-recovery effort before Holley submitted a request to the company's customer advocacy group regarding Campbell's mother being added to a “medically essential program” for power restoration. The power came back on for Campbell's mother before Holley could submit the request, FPL said.
