State attorney clears former state Rep. Carolina Amesty of all charges

Florida State Attorney Andrew Bain has dropped all four felony forgery charges against former Florida District 45 state Rep. Carolina Amesty.

After a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, a grand jury in August indicted Amesty. FDLE investigators said Amesty had improperly notarized and forged documents on a form for Central Christian University, the private college her family operates.

The charges were dropped after Amesty completed 30 hours of community service and a financial crimes course.

“This weekend, the Orange County State Attorney's Office dismissed all charges against me,” Amesty said following Bain’s action. “This was a just and correct decision. I am very grateful that this legal matter is finally over, and I can look to the future to continue to help improve the lives of all Floridians. 

“It is not easy to be a young, conservative leader who places people first, no matter their political affiliation, race, gender or beliefs,” she said. “As a first-time legislator, I passed groundbreaking legislation honoring our veterans, combatting human trafficking, protecting our state security, creating jury duty exemptions and much more. A powerful alliance of influential organizers, certain media outlets, agenda-driven institutions and corporate entities with political agendas have demonstrated their capacity to challenge those who oppose their worldview. During my first term in public office, I found myself navigating the difficult task of standing firm against these combined forces. I will never back down.” 

Amesty lost her District 45 seat Nov. 5newsto Democrat challenger Leonard Spencer. She had won the seat in 2022 to represent the district, which includes Windermere, Horizon West, Disney World and part of Osceola County.

“The Orlando Sentinel was the tip of the spear in the effort to destroy my political career, using misleading attacks and playing fast and loose with the truth,” Amesty said. “The partisan newspaper weaponized its reporters in a coordinated effort to pressure all types of government agencies into scrutinizing every aspect of my life, family and friends. I will not give up protecting the rights of families and individuals against powerful political and corporate interests. Government has a special role to play in ensuring that the voices of all citizens are heard without regard to partisan politics or corporate greed.”