The Florida officer who set up a vaccine site for rich postal codes and created a VIP list is under investigation, said the sheriff’s office.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said it started the investigation after a watchdog filed a complaint against County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who last week admitted that she chose zip codes and also selected some people from the vaccination list, so that she and others could access the Covid-19 vaccine.

In a complaint to the sheriff’s office, Michael Barfield, a paralegal consultant and resident of the neighboring county of Sarasota, said Baugh, who chairs the commission, may have violated three legal provisions, including the misuse of his public position.

“When Baugh entered individuals and herself on a Covid-19 vaccine distribution list, she acted contrary to the adopted Vaccine Standby Pool and used her official position to secure a special privilege, benefit or exemption for her and others,” which could constitute misuse of his government position, Barfield, who is also chairman of the Florida ACLU board executive committee, wrote in the complaint.

The sheriff’s office is examining the complaint line by line, public information officer Randy Warren told CNN.

CNN contacted Baugh’s office on Wednesday about the investigation and received no response.

Baugh said DeSantis requested the vaccination campaign

Baugh, chairman of the County Commissioners Council and staunch advocate for Governor Ron DeSantis, said the pop-up vaccination campaign was started by the Republican governor after he spoke with Rex Jensen, a real estate developer and CEO of the parent company. Lakewood Ranch, the community where the vaccination campaign was organized.

DeSantis defends a controversial vaccine agreement with the developer - and threatens to withdraw vaccines if authorities don't like it

The commissioner said at a meeting last week that it was “her idea” to choose the two zip codes in the county whose residents were allowed to be vaccinated in the vaccination campaign, although she did not explain her reasons.

The governor has been criticized for pop-ups from vaccination posts he has organized across the state. At a news conference on Tuesday, he referred to the criticisms as an “attack” on him for “vaccinating the elderly”.

“When we visited these communities where we were able to do that, they were very, very grateful,” said DeSantis.

Baugh apologized last week for organizing the campaign, but later said he would “do exactly what (she) did this time” if he had the same opportunity.

The so-called VIP list was mentioned in emails from Baugh obtained by CNN and the Bradenton Herald was the first to report. The few members on the list were eligible to receive the vaccine, but by joining the list, Baugh assured them that they would skip the line, CNN reported last week.

Manatee County had previously been praised by DeSantis for its effectiveness in vaccinating people and for being one of the first drive-thru vaccination programs in the United States. Last week, the governor threatened to withhold additional doses from the county after Baugh was criticized. He did not criticize Baugh or his methodology in organizing his vaccine campaign.

Outraged residents consider their actions shameful

Residents of Manatee County have complained about Baugh for his actions and some have asked for his resignation in emails to the officer, obtained by CNN through a request for public records.

“My blood is boiling from this elitist vaccination event,” wrote one resident, in an e-mail dated February 18. “We all appreciate the extra vaccines, but choosing 2 CEPs to receive them smells of politics, favoritism, elitism and racism. That’s the problem. “

America's largest cities face racial inequalities in vaccine distribution

Baugh replied to at least one of the residents who sent him an email.

In an e-mail dated February 17, a resident of the county wrote: “So, as I live in the wrong zip code, I need to wait for a vaccine. HOW SHAMY.”

“I do not have shame!” Baugh wrote back. “Quite the contrary, the record of the manatee has been reduced by 3,000 people and the manatee is busy calling to fill 5200 vacancies for the vaccine … This is a victory for the manatee thanks to Gov DeSantis … “

A resident, who said she lived in one of the two zip codes that Baugh selected for the trip, thanked Baugh by email and said she “did her job”.

Amid resignations, Baugh issued a statement on Monday to CNN Sarasota WWSB affiliate.

“I apologized to my constituents and my colleagues for the lack of judgment,” she wrote, according to the WWSB. “These insignificant so-called party policies are nothing more than the divisive policy that our nation needs to move away from. I will continue to work to bring more vaccines to Manatee County and lead us through this pandemic.”

The county commission, by a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, rejected a motion asking Baugh to step down as president.

.Source