The chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Joe Gruters is being investigation by the party over allegations that he sexually harassed a male legislative staffer, according to Politico.
Four party officials and an additional source who works with the state party told Politico that the allegations stem from an evening at a Tallahassee bar during the 2021 legislative session.
Sources told the outlet that the male aide offered to drive Gruters home from the bar and at some point Gruters allegedly sexually harassed the aide.
“The Republican Party of Florida has a zero tolerance policy towards harassment of any kind,” Executive Director of the state GOP Helen Aguirre Ferré told Politico. “Any complaint RPOF receives regarding harassment towards its employees or members is taken very seriously and thoroughly reviewed in accordance with RPOF HR policies and all applicable laws and regulations.”
But, there are complaints from some officials that the party was engage in a cover-up. The issue was not raised during the party’s most recent quarterly meeting last month and when contacted by Politico, Gruters said he was not aware of any open investigation against him, even though a formal complaint was filed with the state party after the incident.
A source close to the chairman told Politico that Gruters was informed last week that the investigation, which is led by prominent GOP attorney Ben Gibson, was closed.
Some party executive committee members are frustrated that they are just learning about the investigation of their chair.
“It feels like a Greer-style cover up,” one official told Politico, referencing Jim Greer, who served as chair of the Florida GOP from 2006 to 2010 and later pleaded guilty to laundering party funds and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2013.
Gruters is a close ally of Donald Trump who served as Florida co-chair for his 2016 campaign. He also spoke at Trump’s rally earlier this month in Sarasota.
