Week In Review

This week, we recognized the one-year anniversary of our Back the Blue Award. When I became Attorney General, I wanted to create a program to foster respect for our great law enforcement officers and recognize those working hard to support them. Then I had this idea of creating an award to…

The 2020 Census is underway, and this week, we issued a Consumer Alert to warn Floridians that scammers may try to exploit this mandatory count to steal personal information. The U.S. Census serves a critical role in the function of our representative government, and participation is mandatory.…

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking to local government officials at the Cyber Florida workshop in Marion County. Local governments are increasingly coming under attack by cybercriminals. Last year, several cities, and at least one Florida school district, were held hostage by these tech-…

In recognition of National Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, I issued a Consumer Alert full of tips to help taxpayers protect their personal information. Tax season is a prime time for criminals to try and steal your identity or file for a return in your name. Luckily, there are steps you can…

This Sunday, Super Bowl LIV will light up South Florida. It’s an exciting time and we are lucky that Florida has the honor of hosting this worldwide event. Hundreds of thousands of fans are in Florida to watch the game and participate in the festivities. While the visitors create a boom for our…

This week, my service as a Commissioner on President Donald J. Trump’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice began. I am honored to serve as the sole state Attorney General appointed to this national Commission by United States Attorney General William P. Barr. On Oct.…

Informing you about deceptive tactics used to rip off Floridians is vital in our fight to stop scams and prevent fraud. This week, I launched a webpage dedicated to keeping consumers up-to-date about emerging scams and steps they can take to avoid fraud. Shortly after taking office, I launched…

One year ago this week, I stood on the steps of Florida’s Historic Capitol, placed my hand on the Bible, and pledged to protect Floridians and defend our state laws. It’s an oath I take seriously. One I live out daily. As we recognize this milestone, I remain as committed as I did on day one to…

This week, I convened the final meeting of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse of 2019. The meeting focused on the recovery process and innovative programs to promote and sustain long-term recovery for Floridians struggling with Opioid Use Disorder. The meeting highlighted barriers to…

We recently received some good news about our efforts to stop trafficking and rescue survivors. Florida earned an A grade from Shared Hope International for our anti-human trafficking laws and advances made to protect children from these horrific crimes. The report highlights Florida’s strong…

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and this week we issued several alerts to help Floridians avoid scams as they buy gifts and give to charity in celebration of the season. It’s important to give and to experience the joy and kindness that accompanies these holidays, but we want to…

This week is National Utility Scam Awareness Week. Utility scammers prey on unsuspecting consumers’ emotions and scare them into giving up personal and financial information. I don’t want any Floridian to feel helpless against these fraudsters, so I issued tips directly to consumers this week…

Florida is litigating one of the most comprehensive state opioid cases in the country. Our case seeks to hold the nation’s largest opioid distributors, manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies responsible for their roles in fueling the opioid crisis. This week, a Pasco County judge ruled in…

The Florida Medical Examiners released new statistics this week highlighting a decrease in drug-related deaths. Opioid-related deaths declined by 10 percent and overall it appears Florida is moving in the right direction. While this is encouraging, far too many people continue to die from drug…

Reporting back to my bosses, the citizens of Florida, is important to me. Open government and transparency are vital components of any well-functioning democracy, and it is a duty I take seriously. This week, I had the opportunity to speak with news reporters and editors from around Florida who…

This weekend, the Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 18th National Drug Take-Back Day. Since the program’s inception, more than 11 million pounds of expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications have been removed from Americans’ medicine cabinets. This is so important because…

This week, I announced the most expansive state vaping investigation known publicly to date. As many of you know, I spent the summer traveling the state to find out what was behind the dramatic increase in vaping among our youth. According to the Florida Department of Health, nearly one in four…

This week, I convened the first meeting of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse. Florida is losing 17 lives a day to the national opioid epidemic and this new task force will help the state better coordinate efforts to stop the destruction caused by addiction. As Chair of the task force, I…

To recognize this month as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I issued a Consumer Alert this week with tips for Floridians to protect themselves from scams on the internet. We have made significant strides in technology in the past few decades. The world is more connected now than ever…

Ending human trafficking is one of my highest priorities. It will take collaboration and efforts from leaders at the local, state and national levels to eradicate this horrific crime. As Florida’s Attorney General and Chair of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, I am honored to be…