The Florida Commission on Ethics will consider the recommendation of a judge on a case over former state legislator and US. Rep. David Rivera, who was ordered to pay nearly $58,000 in fines and restitution for questionable travel reimbursements and financial disclosures. The commission hearing is set for April 17, according to its newly released agenda.
Last month, Administrative Law Judge W. David Watkins recommended that Rivera pay $16,500 in fines and approximately $41,322 in restitution, as well as face censure and reprimand.
Watkins found last year that Rivera wrongly received state travel reimbursements during his time in the state House while failing to disclose financial information adequately. The Miami Republican served in the House from 2002 to 2010, including two years as appropriations chair.
In 2010, voters elected Rivera to Congress, where he served a single term before losing re-election.
Although the ethics commission can issue orders in Rivera’s case, the final ruling on penalties comes from the House speaker, Watkins ruled last month.
