Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum is once again behind bars after he allegedly missed a court-ordered drug test and then tested positive for consumption of methamphetamine, according to new reports being shared around the internet. Gillum, who Democrats once considered to be a rising star within the party, was taken back into police custody following a court appearance in Alabama.
The arrest marks the second time the former Tallahassee mayor found himself in hot water with the law over alleged drug activity. Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney John Oxford stated that Gillum has been participating in random drug testing through a system that is known as “color code drug testing.” The system assigns defendants a color and requires them to call a hotline every day to find out whether they must report for testing.
Oxford said that Gillum’s assigned color was called and he failed to show up for a drug test on that day. He was then tested during a court appearance last week and the result came back positive for methamphetamine. The former mayor was then taken into police custody, which seems to be a new habit for him.
According to a report from Trending Politics News, this second arrest comes after Gillum was taken into custody in July during a traffic stop in Daphne, Alabama. Police then conducted a search of his vehicle where they discovered marijuana and three packages containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
The latest case adds yet another devastating layer to the downfall of a politician who was being viewed as one of the Democratic Party’s brightest prospects. Gillum ran against current Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018, losing a narrow race. His campaign was heavily backed by national Democrats and he was a fan favorite of progressive activists.
But then a series of scandals and legal troubles began to emerge that torpedoed his once blossoming political career. In March 2020, Gillum was involved in a highly publicized incident at the Mondrian South Beach hotel located in Miami Beach. Law enforcement officers and paramedics arrived at a hotel room after calls that a male suffered an overdose.
Gillum, along with another man, were found inside the room. Police body-camera footage showed a number of prescription bill bottles and small bags containing what many believed was methamphetamine. Prosecutors decided not to press charges against Gillum or the other man, stating there was not enough evidence to directly connect either of them to the drugs that were found in the hotel room.
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The latest allegations against the former mayor are vastly different, as they involve a court-supervised testing program and a positive result. Many have wondered if Gillum can mount a comeback, seeing as he was once within striking distance of the governor’s mansion. While anything is possible, it’s critical to note that Gillum’s climb out of the hole he’s dug for himself will be a difficult one.
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