FL Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause That Baugh Misused Power With Vaccine Clinic

Updated: 6:45 p.m., Thursday

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The Florida Commission on Ethics found “probable cause” to move forward an ongoing, months-long ethics investigation into an elite COVID-19 vaccination clinic Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh hosted in Lakewood Ranch earlier in the year moves forward and whether she violated the state constitution and misused her position.

“Probable cause was found to believe Ms. Baugh violated the constitutional amendment prohibiting the abuse of office to obtain a disproportionate benefit by placing her own name at the top of Manatee County's randomly selected list of recipients to receive a COVID-19 vaccination,” the commission said in a news release Wednesday. “In addition, probable cause was found to believe Ms. Baugh misused her position or public resources to assign vaccine distribution priority to serve specific individuals and zip codes, contrary to Manatee County's COVID-19 vaccination policy.”

The commission considered the complaints filed against Baugh at its Dec. 3 meeting in Tallahassee. Baugh told Patch that she attended the meeting but didn’t speak during it.

Baugh said that she has “nothing to hide” as the ethics investigation moves into its next stage. In this step, the commission must decide whether the law was violated and recommend a penalty. It could also call for a public hearing.

“I am looking forward to the next stage of this probe to bring truth and perspective to these allegations and clearing my name,” the commissioner said.

The February pop-up event at Premier Sports Campus targeted those living in two of Manatee County's wealthiest ZIP codes at a time when it was difficult for many Floridians to find and receive the coronavirus vaccine.

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The District 5 commissioner, who also serves as chair of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, organized the vaccination clinic at the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis and with assistance from his office and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The event offered the vaccine only to those living in the 34211 and 34202 ZIP codes, which fall within District 5.

Handpicking these ZIP codes bypassed Manatee County's vaccine lottery system that was in place at the time. Baugh also created a VIP list for the clinic, which included her name, though she ultimately didn't receive the vaccine at that event.

A criminal complaint was filed against Baugh Feb. 22 alleging that she violated three Florida state statutes regarding misuse of public position, official misconduct and misuse of confidential information.

After a four-month investigation, the sheriff's office "concluded that none of Baugh's actions rose to the level of a crime," according to a news release from MCSO.

Senior Investigator Keith Powell with the Florida Commission on Ethics told the sheriff's office that as of mid-May, there were at least 18 ethics complaints filed against Baugh for her involvement with the Lakewood Ranch vaccination event.