Former FL Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Gillum To Enter Rehab

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Former Tallahassee mayor and 2018 Florida Democrat gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said he plans to enter a rehabilitation facility days after first responders found him in a hotel room where Miami Beach police recovered three small plastic bags of suspected methamphetamine.

"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time," Gillum said in a statement Sunday night. "This has been a wake-up call for me."

Miami Beach police said Gillum was "under the influence of an unknown substance" and "unable to communicate with officers due to his inebriated state.”

Gillum insisted he was in the Miami area Thursday night to attend a wedding and had too much to drink when first responders were called to help one of his friends in the hotel room.

“While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines,” Gillum said at the time. “I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement.”

Gillum said Sunday he fell into a depression after losing to Republican Ron DeSantis that led to his alcohol abuse.

"I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated," Gillum said. "I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles. I am committed to doing the personal work to heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person."

Miami Beach police said the suspected methamphetamine was in the hotel room, where they found Gillum with two other men, one of whom was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami
Beach for treatment of a possible drug overdose. The third man called first responders to the room.

“The three small baggies of suspected narcotics were impounded at the Miami Beach police station property and evidence unit for destruction,” the incident report said.

No charges were filed against Gillum or the other two men in the room with him. The room was paid for by one of the men, whose names are being withheld by Patch because they were not charged.

The police report said the man who paid for the room arrived shortly after 11 p.m. and spotted Gillum vomiting in the bathroom. He told police the other man was having difficulty
breathing.

The other man “then began vomiting on the bed and immediately collapsed again,” according to the incident report.

The man who paid for the room said he performed chest compressions on the man who collapsed and called police and fire rescue.

"I now need to firmly focus on myself and my family," Gillum said. "I will be stepping down from all public-facing roles for the foreseeable future."

Gillum also asked for privacy for himself and his family.

"I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years," he said. "I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy during this time."