Dying of official at Ron DeSantis’s workplace went undetected for twenty-four min : NPR

Florida’s prime election fraud officer collapsed within the hallway of the governor’s workplace after a heated assembly final 12 months, then lay useless or dying for twenty-four minutes earlier than somebody got here to his help, in accordance with a brand new report from a neighborhood watchdog group.

Peter Antonacci, who was appointed to steer Florida’s controversial new elections fraud workplace in July 2022, died on the state Capitol constructing weeks later, on Sept. 23, 2022.

Preliminary stories of his loss of life have been scant on particulars, saying solely that he died of a coronary heart assault “whereas at work within the Capitol constructing.” The 74-year-old had a recognized historical past of coronary heart illness and cardiac circumstances, in accordance with his spouse.

On Sunday, a legislation enforcement investigation into the loss of life was launched by the Florida Bulldog, an unbiased on-line watchdog group that displays state politics and authorities.

The 17-page investigation, retrieved by way of a public information request, paints a fuller portrait of Antonacci’s loss of life, together with that he’d simply left a contentious assembly with a number of the state’s prime officers contained in the workplace of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

What’s within the information?

The investigation states that Antonacci had been assembly with 11 individuals, however only some are recognized by identify, together with:

• James C. Byrd, Florida’s secretary of state
• Bradley McVay, Byrd’s normal counsel
• Scott McInerney, a director of govt investigations with the Florida Division of Legislation Enforcement (FLDE) 
• Shane Desguin, FDLE chief of employees
• Mark Glass, FDLE commissioner
• Ryan Newman, FDLE normal counsel
• Scott Strauss, Antonacci’s deputy

DeSantis was not named as an attendee.

The assembly was known as to debate “an election subject,” in accordance with Desguin, however different particulars on its agenda seem to have been redacted from the information. The information additionally comprise references to surveillance video (with out audio), however that materials wasn’t included with the general public information launch, the Bulldog reported.

A number of of the attendees provided investigators an identical account on Antonacci’s demeanor.

Glass mentioned Antonacci had been “agitated.” McInerney mentioned that the assembly contained a “backwards and forwards dialogue with everybody concerned,” and Antonacci “abruptly bought up from his seat and walked out.” Desguin mentioned that Antonacci had moments of being “pissed off” and left after roughly half-hour of dialogue.

Antonacci was seen leaving the convention room at roughly 1:46 p.m. ET. Surveillance video reveals him “staggering as he moved ahead till he collapsed to the ground,” hanging his head on a door body on the best way down, in accordance with investigators.

It was one other 24 minutes earlier than anybody was seen coming to his help.

Glass had stepped out from the convention room and into the hallway to talk together with his normal counsel when he caught sight of what gave the impression to be Antonacci’s slacks and footwear mendacity toes-down round a nook, in accordance with his account within the information.

Glass discovered that Antonacci didn’t have a pulse and appeared blue within the face, however he started doing chest compressions.

Glass known as for Desguin, who left the convention room considering there was probably an energetic shooter on the premises. Desguin un-holstered his gun; these within the convention room began to maneuver below the desk.

However after assessing the scene, Desguin ordered somebody to name 911, tried CPR and retrieved an AED machine and “Ambu Bag,” a synthetic respiratory unit.

Capitol police and EMS employees additionally tried the AED machine, however the machine “by no means indicated {that a} shock was suggested,” investigators mentioned. Antonacci was transported to a neighborhood hospital, the place he was pronounced useless by medical employees. An post-mortem was not carried out.

Investigators state clearly within the information that no foul play or suspicious circumstances gave the impression to be concerned.

What has Antonacci’s workplace been investigating?

The Bulldog mentioned it requested the information in February after receiving a tip that Antonacci had died following an argument with DeSantis, however the information comprise no point out of the governor.

NPR requested remark from the governor’s workplace however didn’t obtain a response by the point this text was printed.

DeSantis established the Workplace of Election Crimes and Safety with legislative approval in 2022, as former President Donald Trump continued to hawk claims of widespread election fraud.

The governor hand-picked Antonacci, a former election supervisor for Broward County, to move the hassle to root out election fraud, though such fraud is exceedingly uncommon within the state. DeSantis himself praised Florida’s election integrity in 2020.

Up to now, the workplace’s work seems to have targeted on ex-felons who acquired voter registration playing cards after a state poll initiative handed.

Judges have largely dismissed makes an attempt to prosecute these voters, saying the state cannot punish individuals for election fraud after indicating they have been eligible to vote.