In an effort to make certain all appropriate officials are clear, Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to Florida’s locally-elected supervisors of elections on Wednesday highlighting the state’s partnership with them.
According to the governor's Communications Office, under Scott’s leadership millions of dollars have been invested in strengthening cyber security in Florida’s local and state elections systems. See the full letter by clicking here.
Scott did not name his election opponent, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, in the letter, but he did allude to Nelson's "unsubstantiated" claim that Russians "have already penetrated certain counties in the state and they now have free rein to move about."
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI both confirmed in a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner that they can find no evidence the elections system in any one of Florida's counties has been hacked.
"My message to you today is simple: according to the DHS and the FBI, there is no ongoing intrusion into Florida elections -- but we must remain vigilant," wrote the governor. "You are each tasked with a sacred duty to protect the right of Florida voters to choose their elected representatives, and nothing can get in the way of that mission. ..."
