Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis faces a new twist in his long-standing dispute with environmental scientist Tom Van Lent over the Everglades restoration project. A former employee of the Everglades Foundation, Van Lent was jailed for 10 days and ordered to pay $177,000 after being found in contempt of court for allegedly violating an employment contract.
However, Van Lent's lawyer, Michael Rayboun, claims that the foundation fabricated allegations about a non-existent contract. The attorney alleges that the foundation committed "fraud" by claiming under oath that a contract was signed, and is now seeking to reopen the lawsuit against Van Lent.
According to Van Lent, his criticism of the project in 2022 led to the lawsuit, which was settled in 2022 with him agreeing to the terms. However, he claims that the foundation used the alleged contract as leverage to intimidate him into silence.
The Everglades Foundation denies the allegations and has filed a response opposing the motion to reopen the case, calling it "frivolous." The foundation maintains that an employee handbook was a legally binding contract, which Van Lent allegedly signed.
The dispute began in the early 2000s when initial plans for a $4 billion project aimed at addressing Florida's recurrent red tides and toxic algal blooms were proposed. However, state leadership pushed the project down to 10,000 acres, which Van Lent and other scientists argued would not be effective and did not meet federal rules.
The Everglades Foundation CEO, Eric Eikenberg, has ties to DeSantis, having worked with him on the project during his time in the Florida legislature. Meanwhile, the foundation's founder, Paul Tudor Jones, donated $250,000 to a 2018 DeSantis political action committee.
Van Lent claims that the Everglades Foundation's high spending on legal fees – $722,000 in 2022 alone – reveals their true priorities and motives for pursuing him. The scientist also notes that his laptop had personal documents, including tax information, which he destroyed or removed to avoid turning them over to the foundation.
The case has taken a new turn with Van Lent's lawyer alleging fraud by the Everglades Foundation. If the motion to reopen the lawsuit is granted, it could expose DeSantis's allies for their alleged misconduct and potentially undermine the project's legitimacy.
As the project moves forward despite Van Lent's concerns, he remains committed to speaking out against what he sees as a flawed plan that prioritizes politics over science. "We were right along," Van Lent said, implying that his initial criticism of the project was justified.
However, Van Lent's lawyer, Michael Rayboun, claims that the foundation fabricated allegations about a non-existent contract. The attorney alleges that the foundation committed "fraud" by claiming under oath that a contract was signed, and is now seeking to reopen the lawsuit against Van Lent.
According to Van Lent, his criticism of the project in 2022 led to the lawsuit, which was settled in 2022 with him agreeing to the terms. However, he claims that the foundation used the alleged contract as leverage to intimidate him into silence.
The Everglades Foundation denies the allegations and has filed a response opposing the motion to reopen the case, calling it "frivolous." The foundation maintains that an employee handbook was a legally binding contract, which Van Lent allegedly signed.
The dispute began in the early 2000s when initial plans for a $4 billion project aimed at addressing Florida's recurrent red tides and toxic algal blooms were proposed. However, state leadership pushed the project down to 10,000 acres, which Van Lent and other scientists argued would not be effective and did not meet federal rules.
The Everglades Foundation CEO, Eric Eikenberg, has ties to DeSantis, having worked with him on the project during his time in the Florida legislature. Meanwhile, the foundation's founder, Paul Tudor Jones, donated $250,000 to a 2018 DeSantis political action committee.
Van Lent claims that the Everglades Foundation's high spending on legal fees – $722,000 in 2022 alone – reveals their true priorities and motives for pursuing him. The scientist also notes that his laptop had personal documents, including tax information, which he destroyed or removed to avoid turning them over to the foundation.
The case has taken a new turn with Van Lent's lawyer alleging fraud by the Everglades Foundation. If the motion to reopen the lawsuit is granted, it could expose DeSantis's allies for their alleged misconduct and potentially undermine the project's legitimacy.
As the project moves forward despite Van Lent's concerns, he remains committed to speaking out against what he sees as a flawed plan that prioritizes politics over science. "We were right along," Van Lent said, implying that his initial criticism of the project was justified.
I mean, what's next? They're gonna try to silence everyone who speaks out against this project because it doesn't fit their agenda?
At least Van Lent had the guts to speak out against what he saw as a flawed plan. I'd rather have someone like him pushing back on this project than some politician who's more interested in lining his own pockets.
Everglades Foundation is just trying to discredit Van Lent so they don't get embarrassed about their questionable project 
. And now his lawyer is alleging fraud? That's a whole different level of sus 
.
. And with all this money being spent on legal fees? It's like they're more interested in protecting themselves than actually fixing the Everglades 
.
. We need people like Van Lent speaking out against these flawed plans, even if it means going up against powerful politicians and organizations 
.
! So Ron DeSantis's connection to the Everglades Foundation is getting more and more shady by the minute. Like, Eric Eikenberg working with DeSantis on the project? And Paul Tudor Jones donating $250k to a PAC run by DeSantis? That's some serious backtracking going on here 
.
. It's time to hold these people accountable and get back to the science behind saving the Everglades 
#FakingItForDeSantis.
#DeSantisDrama.
#EvergladesDeservesBetter.
. Maybe the Everglades Foundation is trying to spin this as an attack on their integrity? The whole "fabricated contract" thing seems like a pretty big stretch to me 
. And what's up with Van Lent destroying his laptop documents? That just seems super fishy 
. I'm not saying DeSantis or the Everglades Foundation are in the clear, but let's not start making assumptions just yet 
. We need to wait for more info before we can make any real judgments 
.
It just smells like a big ol' mess, you know?
? Like, Eric Eikenberg has been working with Ron on this project since he was in the legislature and now they're besties? That's just fishy. And what's up with Paul Tudor Jones donating that $250k to DeSantis's PAC? It's like they're trying to buy their loyalty or something.