Mad about Snowden? Did you hear about Rebekah Jones?
The Ron DeSantis-Rebekah Jones controversy in Florida, explained.
Who is Rebekah Jones, why did the state law enforcement raid her home and what does it have to do with coronavirus data?
The Rundown: Florida is in the national spotlight … again. The Monday morning raid of former Department of Health employee Rebekah Jones by state law enforcement is a strange twist in a months-long controversy that has at times included multiple police agencies, hacking allegations, DeSantis, a whistleblower complaint and state COVID-19 data. Jones’ footage of agents executing a warrant at her Tallahassee home went viral and she later accused DeSantis on CNN of attempting to silence her criticism of his response to the pandemic.
There’s a lot to sort out here. Let’s go back to the beginning.
Who is Rebekah Jones? Until early May, Jones worked as a data analyst in charge of maintaining the state’s popular online COVID-19 dashboard. She said she was reassigned then fired after objecting to an order to remove key data from the website. She accused the department of trying to downplay the outbreak in rural counties ahead of DeSantis’ order to reopen the state. Emails we obtained confirmed some of these details.
The state denied these accusations. But it’s worth noting that around this time, multiple news outlets were asking about missing data and the state has never adequately explained why information was suddenly removed.
DeSantis strikes back. Vice President Mike Pence visited Orlando as this saga unfolded. With Pence by his side and the cameras rolling, DeSantis blew up. He said Jones was fired for insubordination, not retribution. He then dished that Jones was the subject of criminal charges for sexual cyber harassment (which was dropped) and cyberstalking.
After leaving the department, Jones started her own competing COVID-tracking website that included metrics the state didn’t publicize, like hospital bed availability. And she continued to lob accusations that the state was manipulating data (like this), earning her an interview on CNN.
Rebecca is a piece of cake when you compare to edward snowden and specially Julian Assange who is now almost dead in captivity because he exposed the government crimes.
Piece of cake how? She revolted against DeSantis and almost got shot in the raid by gods grace she is alive, only difference is one had to flee the country .
She is alive and well but Julian Assange who is also a victim of US dictatorship is dying in captivity.
She had to sense to record the raid that is why she is alive, selective outrage?
Last edited: 24-Feb-24 10:45 PM
She went thru some stuff but she is fine now while assange is still suffering in captivity.
You are the one with selective outrage for minor discomfort compared to years of captivity and torture.
Nope I was mad when Snowden got jammed, i was mad when Rebecca got jammed, it is not me who said piece of cake.
Rebecca is a piece of cake compared to snowden who had to leave everything and everyone he loved to live in exile forever and Assange is even worse. So stop with your sob story.
Selective outrage against Obama but not DeSantis for revolution against government, ok
Last edited: 24-Feb-24 11:00 PM
Outrage depends on the degree of pain inflicted not who the politician is. It could be a republican who prosecuted assange or snowden and i would still call a spade a spade. Not like your extreme partisan rhetoric
What partisan rhetoric? So don't be outraged by attempted murder only be outrage by murder?
You get a more severe sentence for killing, not for attempting to kill. At this point of our conversation I am getting the feeling like i am talking to a two year old brain so I am afraid I will let you enjoy your own righteousness on this subject.
Enjoy your selective outrage. I know now it is not about the principle revolution against government but about what happened afterwards, thanks for clearing that up.
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