>> Announcer: LIVE THE NEWS ON
>> Announcer: LIVE THE NEWS ON
NBC 6 AT 11:00 STARTS NOW.
>>> A FORMER STATE SENATOR
EMBROILED IN A POLITICAL
SCANDAL.
WALKING OUT OF JAIL TONIGHT.
THE EX-LAWMAKER ACCUSED OF
MASTERMINDING AN ELECTION SCHEME
MEANT TO CONFUSE VOTERS.
I’M JAWAN STRADER.
>> AND I’M TRINA ROBINSON.
THAT ELECTION WAS LAST YEAR AND
NOW MAJOR FALLOUT.
NBC 6 REPORTER JAMIE GUIROLA IS
LIVE OUTSIDE THE JAIL WITH MORE.
JAMIE?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
THE FALLOUT REALLY IMPACTS
VOTERS AND SHINES A LIGHT ON THE
LACK OF ELECTION LAWS IN
FLORIDA.
TONIGHT A FORMER STATE SENATOR
AND THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND
BEHIND A SUSPECTED ILLEGAL
ELECTION SCHEME SAID THIS WHEN
HE BONDED OUT.
>> I CAN’T SAY ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: FRANK ARTILES ADDED
HIS CASE WILL BE DECIDEDN THE
COURTS.
AND STATE ATTORNEY KATHERINE
FERNANDEZ RUNDLE SAYS SHE’S
READY, ACCUSING ARTILES OF
RECRUITING ALEX PEDRO RODRIGUEZ
TO BE A BOGUS CANDIDATE IN STATE
SENATE DISTRICT 37.
THE GOAL,ONFUSE VOTERS.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ SHARED THE SAME
LAST NIGHT AS INCUMBENT SENATOR
JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ.
>> THE HARM THAT WAS DONE WAS
DONE FOR THE VOTERS IN THIS
DISTRICT.
WE NEED A FAIR PROCESS.
A VOTER SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELY
ON THE FACT THAT THE NAMES ON
THE BALLOT ARE PEOPLE WHO
ACTUALLY SEEK TO SERVE IN THAT
OFFICE.
>> Reporter: THE REAL CANDIDATE
RODRIGUEZ LOST HIS SEAT BY 34
VOTES.
THE STATE ATTORNEY SAYS THE
DUMMY CANDIDATE WHO RAN AGAINST
RODRIGUEZ WAS RECRUITED BY AND
PAID FOR BY ARTILES.
>> SOME OF IT WAS IN CASH LIKE
THE ONE I DESCRIBED IN THE
PARKING LOT THAT HE THEN TOOK TO
CITY NATIONAL BANK TO OPEN THE
ACCOUNT.
OTHERS WERE OTHER TIMES WHEN
RODRIGUEZ WOULD GO TO HIM AND
SAY I NEED MORE MONEY.
SO SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, A MONTH
LATER HE WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE
HIM MOSTLY CASH.
>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT THE
ATTORNEY FOR SUSPECT RODRIGUEZ
DEFENDED HIM SAYING "ARTILES
TARGETED A VULNERABLE FRIEND TO
STEAL THE ELECTION."
RUNNING BOGUS CANDIDATES IN
FLORIDA IS NOT A CRIME.
HOWEVER, ILLEGALLY GIVING AND
ACCEPTING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS IS.