(State Senator Maria Sachs today released the following statement. It is accompanied by copies of a notarized affidavit dated Jan. 21, 2016, and a related document regarding the employment separation of a former member of her Senate staff. See the attachment below.)
Early in 2016, I first learned that a member of my staff in the Florida Senate, Matthew Damsky, had engaged in a protracted pattern of abusing his position and our trust to fraudulently obtain compensation and purchases of products and services.
When he was confronted about these misdeeds, he confirmed that he had acted without my authority or knowledge to impose charges on my personal credit cards. My greatest concern is the thousands of dollars of unwarranted compensation of Florida taxpayers’ funds that this individual received through his duplicitous actions. He betrayed his professional responsibilities to taxpayers and the proper administration of our office.
For my family, we are still calculating the depth of deception that resulted in a loss of at least $100,000 in charges that he racked up on credit cards in my name and the names of my family members, without our knowledge or approval.
As soon as we learned of these apparent criminal acts, I immediately notified the general counsel of the Florida Senate and we have actively cooperated in investigations and queries undertaken by the Senate, the Office of the Attorney General of Florida, FDLE and federal investigators.
I have repeatedly rejected any and every effort or offer by this individual, or on his behalf, that would allow him to avoid accountability or deprive the taxpayers of Florida full restitution for their loss. He must be held accountable.
Only after my refusal to enable him to avoid accountability and restitution did he file an EEOC complaint in the spring. I unequivocally deny the ludicrous and scurrilous groundless accusations in this filing. This transparent and cynical tactic will not delay, deny or dilute my intent to seek the fullest measure of justice on behalf of Floridians and my family.
This individual betrayed the trust placed in him as a steward of a public office and its funds. This is intolerable, it is unacceptable, and it will not go unpunished.
During these past six months, we have patiently cooperated with all appropriate authorities and have respected and abided by the processes under way. But I am compelled to speak out today and to respond based on this malicious effort to tarnish my name and reputation with falsehoods.
As a former prosecutor and as someone who has served in elected office for 10 years, I consider public service a great privilege and a solemn public trust. I will continue to zealously protect that trust in all that I do.
Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, successfully ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 2006, and after two terms there, has served in the Florida Senate since 2010. She is not seeking reelection in 2016 and will instead run the Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which she founded.
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