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Calling BS on the way Gainesville Police handled Keith Perry video

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State Rep. Keith Perry found himself in the middle of a maelström this week after a video emerged showing the Gainesville Republican striking a man during a dispute over campaign yard signs. But the circumstances around the video suggest deeper motives might be at play. If you’ve seen the 30-minute clip, released by the Gainesville Police Department Wednesday, you know it consists of three things: the guy, identified as Norman Leppla, pushing Perry; Leppla allegedly spitting in Perry’s face; Perry…

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Gainesville PD: Complaint withdrawn in Keith Perry case

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A Gainesville man has withdrawn his complaint against Rep. Keith Perry. Norman Leppla withdrew his complaint against Perry on Thursday, according to the Gainesville Police Department. The notice of withdrawal comes one day after the police department released surveillance video that showed Perry striking Leppla after a disagreement over a yard sign. But Leppla’s decision to withdraw his complaint doesn’t automatically put an end to the issue. In an email Thursday, a spokesman for the Gainesville Police Department said the agency…

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Keith Perry apologizes for striking a man after a dispute over campaign signs

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A disagreement over a yard sign turned into a physical altercation between Rep. Keith Perry and a Gainesville resident over the weekend, according to records released by Gainesville police Wednesday. The Gainesville Police Department released the incident report, surveillance video and a sworn complaint affidavit related to a Saturday incident involving Perry. In an email Wednesday, a police spokesperson said while the department generally does not release information on “open criminal cases where an arrest has not yet been made,”…

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Keith Perry says alleged battery incident resolved, calls it a ‘misunderstanding’

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A Gainesville state lawmaker said a complaint against him alleging battery has been withdrawn. In a statement Monday evening, Rep. Keith Perry said an incident over the weekend involving an alleged battery “has been resolved.” According to police reports, Perry was involved in an incident Saturday that included battery and trespassing. The weapons used in the incident, according to the one-page report, were “hands, feet, fists, spitting.” The incident occurred in the 2200 block of West University Avenue in Gainesville.…

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Keith Perry wins last SD 8 primary money report, still lags behind Rod Smith

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Gainesville Republican Rep. Keith Perry scored a fundraising win over former Sen. Rod Smith in his final report before Florida’s primary election, but he still has a long way to go to catch up to his Democratic Senate District 8 rival. Perry, who currently holds the HD 21 seat, brought in $48,850 between Aug. 13 and Aug. 25, including a whopping 37 checks for the maximum contribution of $1,000. The performance was a huge jump from previous two reports, which…

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Gwen Graham says she gets part of Donald Trump’s appeal

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Gwen Graham cut short her trip to Tampa Thursday, returning to Tallahassee to contend with Tropical Storm Hermine, which is expected to make landfall as a hurricane by early Friday in North Florida. The Tallahassee-based Democratic representative, already considered a leading candidate to run for governor in 2018, has been hobnobbing around the state this week. She appeared at a campaign phone bank with New Port Richey state Rep. Amanda Murphy on Wednesday before attending a house party for Hillary Clinton supporters at a private residence in…

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Donations from committee backing Rod Smith came within weeks of FDP ad buys in SD 8

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A political committee tied to Democrat Rod Smith has given more than $393,000 to the Florida Democratic Party since May, around the same time party began airing TV ads supporting him. The state party can purchase ad time at a more affordable rate than candidates’ committees, but state law prohibits political parties and affiliated committees from accepting contributions that have been earmarked for a particular candidate. Independent Leadership for Florida, the political committee backing Smith’s Senate District 8 bid, gave $393,900 to…

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