Andrew Gillum’s campaign for Florida governor was rocked Tuesday by a former friend’s release of documents involving the mayor’s trips around the world, from New York City to the Middle East, including outings with people he didn’t realize were undercover FBI agents.

Among the documents are text messages showing that during a 2016 trip to New York City, Gillum attended “Hamilton” with a ticket obtained by an undercover agent posing as an Atlanta businessman named “Mike Miller.” Gillum and his campaign, in previous explanations about the trip, never mentioned that fact and insisted the ticket came from his brother, Marcus Gillum.

The revelations could tarnish Gillum at the same time voters in Florida are casting early ballots in the governor’s race. Gillum scored a surprise victory in the August primary against several better-funded Democratic challengers and has out-performed his GOP opponent, former Congressman Ron DeSantis, in recent polling.

Chris Kise, a Tallahassee attorney representing Gillum’s one-time close friend Adam Corey, released 150 pages of documents involving Gillum’s travels in 2016 to New York City and Costa Rica. In a news release, he said he turned over the same documents last week to comply with a subpoena from the Florida Commission on Ethics, which is investigating the trips.

On Tuesday, Gillum responded by saying the texts cleared him of allegations he didn’t pay his own way during out-of-town trips. He also took the opportunity to attack his GOP rival.

“These records vindicate and add more evidence that at every turn I was paying my own way or was with my family, for all trips, including picking up tickets from my brother, Marcus, who was with a group of his own friends,” Gillum said. “But this isn't about a Broadway show, it's about a sideshow, because Ron DeSantis and his associates have no vision, no healthcare plan, and are running the most false, negative campaign in Florida history. Floridians deserve better."

In a Facebook Live video later, Gillum called the news a distraction and characterized it as a Republican attack on his integrity.

“The goal is obviously to use my candidacy as a way to reinforce, frankly, stereotypes about black men,” Gillum said.

The document dump came less than 48 hours after Gillum referred to Corey on national television during his first debate against DeSantis. CNN moderator Jake Tapper asked Gillum about Corey, a lobbyist and central figure in the FBI’s long-running investigation into possible public corruption in Tallahassee.

“We all have friends that sometimes let us down,” Gillum responded. “I am not under FBI investigation, and neither is my city government.”

Kise issued a written statement saying Corey released the documents because they had been subpoenaed and would ultimately become public. Kise said in the statement that “no criminal activity took place.” He later clarified to say he was referring only to his client Corey.

“Unfortunately, due to the conduct of others, over (the) past 18 months, Mr. Corey has suffered significant and permanent damage to both his business and personal interests and reputation,” Kise said. “Mr. Corey has been unfairly and inaccurately portrayed in the media as being engaged in improper or criminal actions.”

The documents involve trips Gillum took in 2016 to New York City, where he met up with his brother Marcus, Corey and undercover FBI agents, and Costa Rica, where he celebrated his wife’s birthday with friends including Corey and Sean Pittman, a lawyer, city lobbyist and one of Gillum’s closest political advisers. They also involve other trips he took that year to Amelia Island, Miami and Qatar.

The texts and emails also provide a further glimpse into the FBI investigation. Undercover agents arrived in Tallahassee around August 2015 and got close to a number of prominent politicians, including Gillum and City Commissioner Scott Maddox. Federal court records inadvertently released in February didn’t mention Gillum but laid out a bribery case against Maddox, who has denied the allegations.

Gillum has also denied any wrongdoing. In June 2017, after the federal investigation became public, Gillum said he met with FBI agents and was told he was not a focus of their probe. The FBI has never publicly confirmed that assertion.

'Hamilton': ‘That would be epic!!!!!”

Gillum flew to New York City on Aug. 9, 2016, as part of his then-job with the People for the American Way Foundation. While he was there, he went on outings with Marcus Gillum, Corey and at least two undercover FBI agents posing as Miller, a developer from Atlanta, and “Mike Sweets,” a medical marijuana entrepreneur.

They went on a boat cruise around the Statue of Liberty and took in a performance of “Hamilton.” Photos of the boat ride surfaced last year, though new ones were included in Kise’s documents. After the photos became public, Gillum said they simply showed “people hanging out” and added that he was “deeply offended by folks ascribing other meaning to it.”

Related:Corey's ties to others in FBI probe run deep

Text messages released by Kise show that Miller set up the boat tour, which included catering and cocktails, and procured the “Hamilton” tickets. Miller texted Corey weeks before the New York trip, on July 19, 2016, to discuss their plans.

“On the 11th I was going to have everyone meet at the marina around 3:30 or 4,” Miller said in the text. “We will take the boat out and cruise around… You are welcome to invite people to come out with us. I know you know people everywhere.”

On Aug. 9, Miller texted Corey to see if he’d be interested in seeing “Hamilton.”

“Looks like weather might not be great tomorrow,” Miller said. “Maybe a show instead? Have you seen Hamilton?”

“That would be epic!!!!!” Corey responded. Corey texted Gillum about the “Hamilton” tickets on Aug. 10.

“Mike Miller and the crew have tickets for us for Hamilton tonight at 8 p.m.,” Corey said in the text. “Let me know if you can join us?”

“I can be free by 6 p.m., but I do have mtgs tomorrow as well,” Gillum responded. “Awesome news about Hamilton.”

Millennium Hotel? ‘I got you’

Gillum last year declined to answer yes or no questions from a Tallahassee Democrat reporter about outings in New York. When asked in August 2017 about whether he went to see “Hamilton” or a Mets game or who paid for it, he responded, “I have no knowledge of any of that.”

In September, after his improbable primary victory, Gillum told the Washington Post he got the “Hamilton” ticket from his brother Marcus. Gillum’s lawyer, Barry Richard, gave a similar account in an interview with the Democrat.

"I'm sketchy on the details," Gillum told the Post. "All I know is I got handed my ticket by Marcus. We're going to 'Hamilton.' I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a great time."

In the Post report, Gillum said he assumed at the time that his brother bought the ticket. He said he later learned his ticket had been given to his brother by Corey in exchange for a Jay-Z ticket. Gillum’s campaign told the Post that Gillum didn't know the price of the ticket and never reimbursed anyone for it.

Gillum booked rooms through PFAW at the Ameritania Hotel through the morning of Aug. 11, 2016. On the night of the 11th, he stayed at the Millennium Hotel, where Miller arranged rooms for everyone.

Corey told Gillum in an Aug. 10, 2016, text that he had a room for him at the Millennium. Gillum said he didn’t need the room but texted back that day to say, “I was mistaken, I think I will need a room tomorrow night.” Corey responded, “I got you.”

On Aug. 12, the same day Gillum flew back to Tallahassee, he texted Corey to thank him.

“Thanks so (much) for everything brother!” Gillum said. “Headed back to the grind. I had an awesome time!!!!”

“I had a blast as well brother,” Corey said. “Although I am still trying to piece together most of the evening. LOL. Thank you for spending some time with us. I really do appreciate it!”

Cash in Costa Rica?

The document dump also sheds new details on the costs and payment arrangements of the Costa Rica trip. As previously reported by the Tallahassee Democrat, Gillum and his wife went to Costa Rica May 4-8, 2016, with Corey, Pittman and others. The Gillums were part of a group of approximately a dozen people who stayed at Villa Paraiso, where the lodging was $1,400 a night.

“Mayor Gillum and his wife paid cash for their portion of the group lodging … and paid by credit card for other outings,” the campaign said last month. If pro-rated equally their share should have been about $935 for the two of them.

The newly released documents show Corey’s assistant sent a reimbursement sheet to Corey’s accountant under the header “Unconventional Strategies Client Development Retreat fees for accommodations, food and transportation.” Gillum and his wife’s share of $941.95 is crossed out with the note “HOLD ON BILLING.”

A subsequent email shows that Gillum was not sent an invoice. Kise has said Corey never received cash from the mayor.

The night before Gillum and his wife flew out of Jacksonville on May 4, 2016, they withdrew $400 cash from the Centennial bank ATM at 6529 Thomasville Road. The receipts and bank records the campaign released last month show they bought two plane tickets for $429 each, or $860. Their credit card charges totaled nearly $590.

During that Costa Rican vacation, Corey sent a calendar invite to Gillum scheduling a May 16 introduction at the Edison between himself, Gillum and Miller.

A nearly $6,000 dinner in Amelia Island

The subpoenaed records show Andrew Gillum and his wife R. Jai Gillum were invited to attend a dinner hosted by Corey and Pittman at the Ritz Carlton in Amelia Island on Aug. 19, 2016, during the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s annual conference. Miller, the undercover FBI agent, was also invited, though it’s unclear if he attended.

Corey emailed the hotel to say he wanted to host an event for 20 people “to entertain some of our elected officials, clients and close friends.”

Gillum traveled to Amelia Island at taxpayer expense that weekend on city business. He stayed at the Ritz Carlton for $219 a night, and records show he was invited along with his wife to attend the dinner that was billed at $85 per person.

“Just so you are aware I typically invite more people than we have space for because not everyone makes it and some of the people we invited aren’t even coming to the retreat, but I know they’ll appreciate being invited,” Corey wrote in an email. “Also, several folks will just pop in for a drink and roll.”

The campaign said Gillum was one of those people who dropped by and didn't stay for dinner. According to city records obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, Gillum stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Amelia Island from the night of the dinner to Aug. 21, 2016.

The tab for alcoholic beverages alone totaled $2,700. The final bill, including dinner, totaled $5,909. “Please split the charges between me and Sean Pittman,” Corey said in an email to the hotel.

'Thanks for arranging everything'

The documents also revealed how Corey assisted Gillum in positioning himself for a run at statewide office. In an email trail about a June 17, 2016, Miami trip where Gillum met Corey, Gillum shares his travel plans and says his schedule is flexible.

“I am wondering if you have some folks in S. Florida that you think it would be worth me meeting with, politically?” Gillum asked.

Corey responded by saying he arranged a lunch with “few young lawyers that have a firm in Miami and Lauderdale, and they are expanding to NYC, Dubai and DC.” He also set up a dinner with a Broward College trustee and businessman.

The texts also show Miller was interested in arranging out-of-town trips with Corey and Gillum. Corey texted Miller on June 29, 2016, to say he was meeting with Gillum in the morning for “options” on trip dates. Miller responded with a text that appeared to refer to two other undercover FBI agents, “Mike Sweets” and another man posing as Nashville developer “Brian Butler.”

“I just want to make it a good trip and Sweets and B will be booked on something else if we don’t lock something down,” Miller said.

Corey, in a text the next day, said, “AG thinks Vegas in August is an easier option for him.” Corey later pitched dates for Aug. 10-12, 2016, in New York City and Sept. 7-9, 2016, for Las Vegas. It appeared they settled on the trip to New York.

“I have the boat lined up for the trip in August,” Miller told Corey. “I will get all the rooms booked.”

“Awesome,” Corey responded. “Thanks for arranging everything.”

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter. Naples Daily News reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this article.

Read all the subpoenaed documents here.

Gillum and the FBI investigation: