A secret audio recording captured inside the state capitol over the summer has a former top aide for Florida's Lieutenant Governor in legal trouble.
Carletha Cole, an analyst who served as Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll's spokesperson, was arrested and charged with a third degree felony earlier this week.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators say she recorded a conversation with Carroll's chief of staff John Konkus without his knowledge, then sent the recording to a reporter with the Florida Times-Union.
The recording, in which Konkus is heard saying Governor Rick Scott "is not leading," among other very non-public opinions, was posted on the Times-Union's website.
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Cole is just the 10th person in Florida in the past 10 years to be arrested for making an illegal recording -- and many people don't even know it's a crime.
In fact, the FDLE says, it's only a crime if one is caught and the victim is willing to press charges.
"This was a conversation between two individuals much like you and I are having right now. The only difference is I know you have a microphone I know you are recording this," said State Attorney Willie Meggs, who is prosecuting Cole.
Cole, 48, was fired in September after speaking publicly about troubles within Carroll's office.
Interestingly, while audio recordings are illegal, video recording in public places or surveillance cameras on private property are legal as long as they aren't set up to capture people in private situations.
