Screenshot via Florida Politics
Now for your daily dose of disappointing, we have someone who lied about helping Pulse victims after the shooting.
Elizabeth McCarthy is currently in hot water. According to recently released documents by the Florida Department of Health, the former Democratic state House candidate confessed to a state investigator that she lied about being a medical doctor and treating Pulse victims. As such, she is now being charged of violating state law under the state’s unlicensed activity statues.
The issue began when McCarthy was originally running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 28. During several campaign and political events, McCarthy made these medical claims. This then prompted a formal investigation by local news site Florida Politics in mid-June. It was then in late June, after receiving major complaints, when McCarthy withdrew from the HD 28 election. That said, she did not acknowledge the accusations.
The investigation came up empty with no proof to back up McCarthy’s statement. That’s when the Health Department got involved with its own investigation. Rafael B. Aponte questioned McCarthy on July 9th. Then after he filed his report, the department released a cease-and-desist on this past Wednesday.
On top of the $1,000 fine charged against her, McCarthy is standing against a total penalty of $3,094.95. Despite having 30 days to refute the two investigations’ findings, evidence states that McCarthy already confessed to lying. According to the charging affidavit, which notes the conversation between her and Aponte, McCarthy simply stated, “I lied. It is a false statement. I just made it up.”
According to the affidavit, she later apologized and added:
“I wanted to be somebody in the community, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I gave any impersonation. I knew it was wrong and I should have stopped — by no means did I ever mean to put anybody in jeopardy.”
Again, Elizabeth McCarthy has 30 days to refute this investigation or else she’ll be out several thousand dollars and the respect of thousands of U.S. (and international) citizens.
