The report being conducted by a special master into the sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala is expected to be given to the Senate president sometime next week.
Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said Friday that “we do not expect that the report will be complete until next week.”
Betta says once the report is received by Senate President Joe Negron, the report will be reviewed by an outside attorney who was retained by the Senate to advise the chamber regarding the Latvala case. She says following that review, the special master’s report will be made public.
Betta says it’s difficult to say at this time when the report will be made public. She says Senate attorneys must still make decisions regarding the redaction of information in the report, including names of witnesses who came forward to testify in the matter.
A formal sexual harassment complaint was filed against Latvala by Senate staffer Rachel Perrin Rogers on Nov. 5. She claims the Clearwater Republican made lewd comments to her and groped her during the past four years.
Perrin Rogers was one of six women who anonymously went to Politico in early November with charges of sexual harassment against Latvala. She was the only one of the six to file a formal complaint with the Senate. She went public with her story two weeks ago after she said Latvala tried to intimidate her and reveal her identity to reporters.
The Senate hired retired Judge Ronald V. Swanson to serve as the special master in the Perrin Rogers case and retained an outside special counselor to investigate the claims of the other five women who charge they were harassed by Latvala. The special counselor’s investigation continues.
Latvala has denied he ever touched anyone inappropriately, although he admits he may have made inappropriate comments. Despite calls for his resignation, including from House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, Latvala has vowed to stay in the Senate and fight to clear his name.