Florida official who refused to falsify Covid facts is suing regulation enforcement above ‘retaliatory’ raid on her residence

The data scientist fired for refusing to “manipulate” Florida’s Covid figures has sued state law enforcement who raided her dwelling to seize pc gear.

Rebekah Jones posted online video footage of the raid earlier this month and claimed Florida governor Ron DeSantis had “sent the gestapo” for her.

Ms Jones, who produced Florida’s Covid-19 portal,  has claimed she was fired from her position for the reason that she refused a request to censor facts to raise the state’s system to re-open up.

Now she has submitted a lawsuit towards the Florida Division of Legislation Enforcement, declaring that the 7 December raid was a “sham” and carried out to retaliate from her.

Ms Jones, who saw $200,000 raised for her legal fees right after the raid, was fired in Might and introduced her individual on-line dashboard to monitor Florida’s virus scenarios.

Mr DeSantis claimed she was fired for refusing to obey her superiors, but she claims it was because she would not adjust facts to justify the governor’s reopening of the financial system.

Ms Jones submitted the lawsuit versus FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen, the department and several agents in Leon County Circuit Civil Courtroom.

She statements her constitutional rights have been violated, which include in opposition to illegal lookup and seizure.

Ms Jones is in search of much more than $100,000, the lawsuit states.

“We are trying to realize some form of redress,” said her legal professional Rick Johnson.

“This is however The us. This is the variety of matter that comes about in tinhorn dictatorships in 3rd globe nations.”

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There will be no update nowadays.

At 8:30 am this early morning, point out police came into my dwelling and took all my hardware and tech.

They were serving a warrant on my laptop or computer after DOH submitted a criticism.

They pointed a gun in my experience. They pointed guns at my young children.. pic.twitter.com/DE2QfOmtPU

— Rebekah Jones, MS, GISP (@GeoRebekah) December 7, 2020

Law enforcement raid property of former Florida Covid information scientist

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Mr Swearingen has defended the actions of the officers, who entered the property with guns drawn and blamed Ms Jones for any risk faced by her household.

“As I have explained just before, I am happy of the professionalism revealed by our FDLE agents as they served a legal research warrant on the home of Rebekah Jones,” he mentioned in a assertion.

“Our prison investigation proceeds, and when I have not observed this lawsuit, I think the facts will occur out in courtroom.”