The Senate race has gotten most of the attention, in part, because of Scott’s call for an investigation and the fact that he has filed public records lawsuits against both Palm Beach County and Broward County election offices. | Getty After Scott requested investigation, law enforcement says no voter fraud allegations found

TALLAHASSEE — After the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Thursday night it would investigate two local election officials at the request of Gov. Rick Scott, the agency now says that because no voter fraud allegations were made, it is no longer pursuing an investigation.

“What changed is that this morning we spoke with the Department of State and they indicated they had no criminal allegations of fraud,” FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger told POLITICO in an email. “So, after speaking to them, we offered our assistance in the event any criminal allegations are identified.”


During an event organized by his U.S. Senate campaign Thursday night, Scott asked FDLE to investigate Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes and Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. Those two counties have come under heat from Republicans because after Scott, GOP gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis and Republican Agriculture Commissioner candidate Matt Caldwell led their Democratic opponents after election night, their leads have narrowed as the two Democratic stronghold counties continued to find votes.

“Broward and Palm Beach Counties are still finding and counting ballots,” Scott said at the event, which was held at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee. “The people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency, and the supervisors are failing to give it to them.”

A spokesman for Scott’s campaign said Friday that Scott stands by his statements from last night despite the law enforcement agency’s decision to not investigate.

“The Governor’s statements yesterday evening and his interview today were clear — the incompetence, legal violations, and irregularities in vote tabulations in Broward and Palm Beach should be concerning to every Florida voter,” spokesman Chris Hartline said in an email. “He will continue to fight for full transparency and accountability, and to protect the will of Florida voters. His request still stands.“

President Donald Trump has sent a series of tweets Friday about the race, saying in one tweet, he is “sending much better lawyers to expose the FRAUD!“

State law allows local election officials to continue the vote counting process until Saturday. At that point, there is expected to be recounts called in the Senate race, governor’s race and Agriculture Commissioner race. The Senate race has gotten most of the attention, in part, because of Scott’s call for an investigation and the fact that he has filed public records lawsuits against both Palm Beach County and Broward County election offices.

Plessinger could not say when FDLE first got an official request to investigate. Scott’s campaign did immediately respond to a request for comment.

Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson are now separated by just .18 percent of the votes cast. If that margin holds, the race would end up in a manual recount under Florida law.