Claims Of DeSantis COVID Data Cover-Up In FL ‘Unsubstantiated’: Report

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Claims by a former Florida data scientist that state health officials fired her for refusing to manipulate COVID-19 data are “unsubstantiated” and “unfounded,” an investigation shows, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

A report from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Inspector General found “insufficient evidence” to support the accusations from Rebekah Jones, a vocal critic of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pandemic response who is challenging Rep. Matt Gaetz for his District 1 House seat.

Investigators determined that Florida’s COVID-19 data wasn’t falsified, and there was no manipulation of information, reports said. DOH employees denied ever being asked to alter data related to the pandemic.

The inspector general report also exonerated employees Jones accused of organizing a cover-up, reports said.

In her complaint, Jones, who managed Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard during the early months of the pandemic, said the health department directed her to remove a “data hub” from the dashboard and reactivate it within 24 hours, CNN reported.

While the inspector general report found this claim to be true, the investigation determined that the data was removed because of concerns that it included patients’ personal health information and that the removal didn’t violate any state policy.

She was fired from the Department of Health in May 2020 for what Gov. Ron DeSantis described as "insubordination." Jones, considered a whistleblower by many, said she was let go for not manipulating data to support the state's reopening, according to NPR.

She went on to create her own independent coronavirus tracking dashboard, Florida COVID Action.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Jones said that she felt “vindicated” that the inspector general report corroborated her claim that she was asked to remove data from the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

“How awful is it that the state determined I was ordered to hide data exactly as I said and I told the absolute truth, but since there's no specific policy against doing so the state will get away with it?” she wrote.

She added, “I'm relieved to be vindicated and to close this chapter of my life before taking them to court to seek justice not just for myself, but also for my family and the people of Florida, who deserve the truth after everything this corrupt agency and government has done to us. It feels like a massive weight taken off me to be vindicated finally, after all this time, all the efforts by the state to defame and smear me, and the failed attempts to discredit me with baseless claims that have finally been proven false.”

Jones has faced legal issues since her firing. According to a warrant, an unauthorized message compelling DOH employees to speak out was sent from the state's emergency management account on Nov. 10, 2020. It was traced back to an IP address at Jones' home, which was raided by Florida Department of Law Enforcement in December 2020, reports said.

While she has denied sending the message, Jones turned herself in to authorities after learning there was a warrant for her arrest. She was charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices, according to an FDLE news release.