The Republican-led Florida Legislature is being accused of allegedly abusing drugs, as former State Rep. Joel Rudman (R) recently stated that the entire legislature needed to be drug tested.
Rep. Rudman, who recently resigned to run to campaign in the special congressional election in District 1, made the remarks during an “X” Spaces event hosted by the DeSantis Appreciation Society, an “X” handle that is entirely in support of Governor Ron DeSantis and his agenda.
Rudman, who Gov. DeSantis appointed to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees in February, will face a confirmation hearing in front of the very lawmakers that he insinuates could have abused drugs.
The former state representative said that he was not ready to show all of his hands because of his upcoming confirmation hearing in front of the Florida Senate.
“I did want to let you guys know, and again this one I'm going to keep a little close to the vest ladies and gentlemen because like I said I do have a confirmation hearing in front of the Senate this Tuesday, so some of these cards I have to keep on me,” said Rep. Rudman.
Rudman continued, asserting that lawmakers in Tallahassee needed to be drug tested.
“But I'm going to say one thing and I want you to listen very carefully, we need to drug test our legislators. We need to drug-test our legislators,” he added.
When you talk about common threats, these legislators, I mean you've already seen what they do they vote and they file bills in their self-interest, right? So if you can read between the lines we need to drug test our legislators.”
Rudman alleges that he has been “told by lobbyists” that “a whole hell of a lot more than marijuana” would have been found if he would have filled a bill he contemplated filing that would mandate random drug testing of legislators.
“So when I got to Tallahassee and this last term, I even said hey this is the you know this I'm considering filing the bill that we're going to drug test all of our legislators— it's going to be random and it's going to be 3 times while we're in session, and a lobbyist called me and said he says ‘I know you're thinking about marijuana,’ he says ‘you're going to find a whole hell of a lot more than marijuana if you do that.’
Rudman concluded by making what appears to be a threat of divulging names of lawmakers he alleges have done drugs, if lawmakers “come after” him and do not “behave on Tuesday.
“I won't name any names. I know where the bodies are buried, but if they come after me in this confirmation hearing on Tuesday maybe we can do another space and I can give you some names. let's see how they behave on Tuesday,” Rudman added.
We reached out to several lawmakers for comment about the drug use allegations but have not yet heard back from anyone.
