State Rep. Bob Allen loses committee posts over prostitution charge
August 15, 2007
TALLAHASSEE
State Rep. Bob Allen was removed from his committee assignments today by House Speaker Marco Rubio, who said his fellow Republican can no longer effectively represent his constituents while he faces a prostitution charge.
Allen, R-Merritt Island, was charged with misdemeanor solicitation for prostitution after allegedly offering an undercover officer $20 to perform oral sex July 11 at a Titusville park, police said.
Rubio said in a statement that the House will respect Allen's right to defend himself against the charge but that public officials are judged by a higher standard than other citizens. The speaker removed Allen from the Energy Committee, which he had chaired, and the Environment and Natural Resources Council.
"The mere presumption of impropriety can interfere with our official function," Rubio said. "It is my personal belief that because of the allegations against him, Rep. Allen can no longer effectively serve the people of his district in the Florida House."
Allen, 48, said he respected Rubio's right to make committee changes, but that the speaker's comments insinuated he had already been proven guilty.
"There's political pressure at work here," he said, "and I haven't had my first day in court yet."
The representative again denied the charge. Term limits prevent him from seeking re-election to the House but he said he still planned to run for the state Senate.
Gov. Charlie Crist defended Rubio's move earlier today.
"I have to respect the wishes of the speaker," he said. "It's a House issue, and the speaker's trying to do what's best for the body."
While Rubio stopped short of asking Allen to resign, civil rights groups have called for him to quit because of racially tinged comments he allegedly made to police after his arrest.
An audiotape indicates he told Titusville Assistant Police Chief John Lau that he felt intimidated by a "stocky black guy" in the park's restroom and thought the man, an undercover officer, and other "stocky black guys" were going to rob him.
Allen also told Lau the officer first mentioned oral sex for money and that he simply went along with discussing the transaction to avoid becoming a "statistic."
The lawmaker has been meeting with the NAACP to explain his remarks, saying they were out of character and taken out of context.
Allen said he had no immediate plans to resign, but left the door open.
"If this thing became protracted into a long legal battle then that would be the time to evaluate whether my time would be best spent being a legislator," he said.
