Less than 48 hours after reports surfaced about the existence of policy bodycam footage depicting a meth fueled sex orgy that failed 2018 Florida Democrat gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was a participant in, the rising star and darling of the the far-left has announced that he is checking into a rehab facility.

Citing depression and alcoholism as the reasons, Gillum said that the meth orgy with a gay escort was a “wake-up” call.

“This has been a wake-up call for me,” the former Tallahassee mayor said in a written statement Sunday. “Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles.“ “I will be stepping down from all public facing roles for the foreseeable future,” he wrote. TRENDING: Obama Statement on Ginsburg Demands GOP Senate Honors Her Dying 'Instructions' and Put Off Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Until New President Sworn In Gillum said he would enter a rehabilitation facility. He apologized and asked for privacy.

It’s not a shocking next step for Gillum, who seems to be following the same path that Democrats usually do when caught red-handed, or in his case, drunk and possibly drugged out in a Miami hotel room late at night with a prolific male escort. Like his forerunners, he is refusing to accept blame and is pulling the “I have a problem and need rehab” card instead of submitting to a drug test. He is only doing so to avert criticism and start the path back to power.

The Miami Beach Police Department and local State’s Attorney have declined to press charges.

During his campaign for Governor of Florida, Gillum railed against “privilege” and stoked racial divisions across the Sunshine State. Now, it seems he is benefiting from Democrat privilege, like his high-profile admirers Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

As people await the release of the body cam footage and photographs that allegedly document a hotel room riddled with piles of vomit, fecal and blood stained linens, Floridians are worried that the footage will be erased or never see the light of day. We wrote about how to demand the release of that footage the other day, which is legally required under Florida law.

The choice to check into rehab and retreat from the public space, Gillum is in the first stage of becoming a major candidate for the Democrats once again, with some speculating that he could run for United States Senate in 2022, with seasoned Democrat party operatives and political players already claiming that he has a “bright future,” despite what has transpired over the past few days.