The Florida Ethics Commission has dismissed two conflict-of-interest complaints against Gov. Rick Scott, both stemming from his ownership stake in Solantic, a chain of urgent care clinics that’s in the process of being sold, reports the Associated Press.
The commission issued orders Wednesday saying the complaints filed by citizens were legally insufficient to warrant investigation. The panel decided the cases during a closed-door meeting Friday.
Scott transferred his ownership interest in Jacksonville-based Solantic to his wife’s revocable trust prior to taking office in January.
A complaint by Dr. Arthur Palamara, a Hollywood physician, alleged the governor had a conflict and improperly benefited because Solantic has done business with the state and that Scott’s policies could create more state business for the company. The other complaint, by Clearwater activist David Plyer, raised similar accusations.
In a written response, Scott’s Washington, D.C.-based lawyers said the governor has no conflict because of the ownership transfer to his wife’s trust.
