An undercover FBI agent gave Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum a ticket to the Broadway show "Hamilton" and paid for his hotel room during a trip to New York City in 2016, contrary to an explanation provided by Gillum's campaign, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Former lobbyist Adam Corey – once a close friend of Gillum's – released records to the Florida Commission on Ethics showing text messages he exchanged with Gillum regarding trips to New York and Costa Rica.
"Just checking in with you. Mike Miller and the crew have tickets for us for Hamilton tonight at 8 p.m.," Corey texted Gillum on Aug. 10, 2016. Miller is believed to be an FBI agent leading a probe into Tallahassee's Community Redevelopment Agency.
Gillum replied: "awesome news about Hamilton."
Gillum said Tuesday he believed his brother paid for the tickets.
"These records vindicate and add more evidence that at every turn I was paying my own way or was with my family, for all trips, including picking up tickets from my brother, Marcus, who was with a group of his own friends," he wrote in a statement.
During a debate Oct. 21 with his opponent, formner Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Gillum became visibly upset about the issue when pressed.
"The question is, did you pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket, or did the undercover FBI agent pay for the 'Hamilton' ticket?" DeSantis asked.
"I didn't take free trips from anybody," Gillum responded. "I'm a hardworking person. I know that may not fit your description of what you think people like me do, but I've worked hard for everything that I've gotten in my life, and I don't need anybody handing me anything for free."
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